Greetings,
In this past month I have been writing in regard to the corporate connection of a leadership team. I have used the example of the fall of Lucifer as a caution to the flaw of self within a leadership team. Today I want to summarize the issues that make for a united and purpose filled leadership team.
Every leadership team must know that the purpose of the team is dependent upon the connection of each of the team members to their God-ordained commission as a team. Each member of the team is essential to the destiny of the whole. It takes humility on the part of each member to embrace the corporate purpose of the team above any individual agendas of any team member. Each member of the team must give his or her heart to the corporate purpose of the team in bringing glory to God. There is no room for the pride of self within the life of any team member.
In order to fulfill the purpose of the team each member must be a giver of life to the other members of the team and to the function and responsibilities of the team. Team members don’t live for themselves or for their own personal agendas. They live for the team and for the will of God for the team. The product of the team must be to give life to others within and through their role as a team.
A leadership team flourishes and thrives through the testimony of its unity. Unity is a result of diversity working together as one. It is through the diversity of each team member that a team can take on the full dynamic of being a team for the full purpose of its destiny. Team members are dependent upon God and interdependent upon one another. There is no room for an independent spirit in any team member.
Every team has various levels of responsibility within the members of the team. Not all team members carry the same level of responsibility individually, but they carry the same corporate responsibility as a team. Responsibility equals authority, but authority doesn’t equal value. Every team member has an equal value, but not every team member has equal authority. Each team member must carry the load of his or her own authority for the purpose of the team. All team members working together will produce the full authority of the team. Although there are various levels of authority in a team there are not various levels of hierarchy. No team member is allowed to seek to ascend above the other team members as a means of establishing a hierarchy within the team. A point leader of the team is not above the other team members in value. He or she is simply carries the responsibility of leading the team as each member brings their individual contributions to the team for the full corporate purpose of the team. Each individual member contributes their service of ministry to and through the team, but no team member seeks their own ministry. Although the team is made of several individuals, each individual sees himself or herself as someone who makes a valuable contribution to the team and the corporate purpose of the team. They don’t get their value from their contribution. They see themselves as valuable by God’s grace so they willingly contribute their value to the team. Each member recognizes that their individual strength is also their weakness. As long as they recognize the weakness of their strength they can contribute the strength of who they are to one another. Each member’s strength is a potential stronghold of individual pride. Each member must submit their strength to the team and they must receive the strength of each of the others in order to receive the fullness of a team expression.
Team members get their identity from God and from their relational connection with the team. They don’t get their identity from their ministry. The glue of the team is relationship and thus the team and its members are dependent upon their connection with one another. There can be no individual domination of other team members by an individual team member. A team member can never isolate from the other members of the team. A covenant team knows that the life of the team and its members are dependent upon their connection with one another through relationship and not the mere function of their abilities.
A God-chosen team is destined to reveal God in who they are and in everything they do. They exist to reveal God’s will and God’s presence as a team. The team is gifted to reveal who God is and each team member is gifted to reveal a portion of that testimony. Together they reveal the full testimony of who God is in the purpose of the team. It is through the working together of the members of the team that the will of God is sensed and determined. Together they will discover the wisdom of God for each day. They will prove to be a place of God’s habitation. They will discover the favor of God that brings life to others as they work together as a team. The heartbeat of God will be understood, as the team grows in maturity together in living and working as a team. Together they will magnify God. They will know His passion, His presence, and His purpose. They will come to know more as a team then they could ever know as mere individuals. This will be a testimony and an inspiration to those they lead. Every member of the team is perfect as they are and if they embrace who they are for the purpose of one another there will an atmosphere of life in the team and there will be no need for jealousy, envy, or covetousness among any of the team members.
Covenant team members lead others in corporate purposes. Individuals draw others unto themselves, but team members inspire a testimony of community among those they lead. There is a great glory in living for the corporate plan of God. God loves the influence of Zion more than He loves the dwellings of Jacob. Zion is the corporate place of God’s presence and purpose. Jacob’s dwelling is a place of individual seeking.
Psalms 87:2,3 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah
Let’s all embrace the corporate purpose and testimony of being members of God-ordained leadership teams for His glory.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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Great article again Ted?
I like Quote; It takes humility on the part of each member to embrace the corporate purpose of the team above any individual agendas of any team member. Each member of the team must give his or her heart to the corporate purpose of the team in bringing glory to God. There is no room for the pride of self within the life of any team member.
Also; Every team has various levels of responsibility within the members of the team. Not all team members carry the same level of responsibility individually, but they carry the same corporate responsibility as a team. Responsibility equals authority, but authority doesn’t equal value. Every team member has an equal value, but not every team member has equal authority. Each team member must carry the load of his or her own authority for the purpose of the team. All team members working together will produce the full authority of the team. Although there are various levels of authority in a team there are not various levels of hierarchy. No team member is allowed to seek to ascend above the other team members as a means of establishing a hierarchy within the team. A point leader of the team is not above the other team members in value. He or she is simply carries the responsibility of leading the team as each member brings their individual contributions to the team for the full corporate purpose of the team.
It appears to me that humility is the key and ego has to take the back seat. This leads us to our identity in which one can truly relax and be oneself. My experience tells me that one will very often try to dominate or ‘get their own way’ or just fail to accept difference.
Great topic for discussion. Blessings John