Jesus Style Leadership 4 - Sent & TeamSample

How Teams Grow

Leadership Lesson

Jesus-style leaders can help teams grow to maturity.

Read Ephesians 4:14–16.

Comment

This is one of my favourite passages of Scripture. Paul describes the church functioning at its best - honest, loving, mature, diverse, working together, supporting each other, and growing to look like Christ. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Isn’t that what you dream of? Isn’t that what our world needs to see? Well, maybe your church is not there yet, but your team can be. How does a team grow like that?

1. We need enough trust to speak the truth in love (4:15). We need to be lovingly honest with each other. This means admitting our failures and fears as well as encouraging and challenging each other. Without trust and honesty, a team cannot become mature.

2. Jesus needs to do His work (“from him,” 4:16), forging us together into one.

3. The “supporting ligaments” (4:16) need to do their job. One of these ligaments is the team leader, who has an important role to play in forming the team, developing the team, bringing unity to the team, and assisting the team to function so that each member contributes effectively. None of this happens overnight, but as we honestly serve together, allowing Jesus to do His work and following our leader, real team will develop.

Prayer

Please help my team in its growth to maturity. Help us to be honest with each other, to follow Your lead, to love each other deeply, to work hard, and to hold on to your truth. Pull us together, Lord, so that we can strengthen each other and show the world what you are like.

Personal Reflection

How honest are you with your team? Can you admit your fears or failures? Can you give honest feedback without facing pressure? Can you say what you really think? Trust often grows slowly, but maybe it’s time to set an example and be lovingly honest about yourself with your team.