The Value of Team

Terry and Sandy Kreuger with three of their children relocated to Denver, CO in June of 2010 where they serve on the NCMI Trans-local team as well as the Church Planting / Leadership Team of Redemption City Church.

Just a quick blog post on the value of team. Having church planted and been involved with many other church plants I am more convincend than ever that some right thinking about team will help us and acclerate us, while wrong thinking on the matter will slow and impede us. 

It fascinates me that after some of the high profile disasters of the past in the greater church that there are still some who question the value of ministering in team! There are unfortunately also those who even though they may have a verbal commitment to team they live outside of the team reality. As Dudley Daniel was fond of saying “There is a difference between having a team and being a team” His thought, by my interpretation is simply that there are those who in spite of their verbal and physical appearance of team in actuality stand outside of that team with little or no input from the team as well as little or no real accountability. 

Team in our context is simply two or more people whom God has put together to walk in unity and mutual accountability to achieve a task. 

I believe this to be true of all teams, secular or spiritual. I tell the boys on the rugby team that I coach. “You guys are only accountable to yourselves - if you can walk off the pitch able to look each other in the eye say ‘I gave my best’ thats all we can ask of you” 

Unfortunately many leaders in our day prefer the ‘Lone Ranger’ model even though he had Silver and Tonto so even there we could make an argument for team. 

I am fully convinced that God never intended for one man to carry the load of ministry by himself and that is why we have seen so many leaders overcome physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually. God has ordained ministry to be a team effort. 

Lets look at some Scriptures ... 

Let us make man ... Gen 1 

“us” ... God the Father 

God the Son 

God the Holy Spirit 

Jesus had the 12 apostles 

Peter and John - Acts 

Phillip, Peter and John - Acts 8 

Paul and Barnabus - Acts 13+14 

Paul Silas and Timothy - Acts 16 1 Thess 

There are many more examples i.e. Mosses and the seventy .. Davids Mighty Men but for the sake of time and space lets leave it there 

The first and most important aspect here is that we are in ‘team’ with Christ himself 

Mark 16:20 ... Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Team ministry of and active, ongoing demonstration of body ministry 

1 Cor 12 

Team can more accurately find the heart of God and present truth than a single voice

Matthew 18:19 ... “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

As the church grows leaders can become “unquestionable” subtly sending a message that what they say goes. Even though the team may have in-put and debate, at the end of the day the team does what the leader says EVERY TIME! It is a short step from ‘unquestionable’ to ‘untouchable’. Once we get here then we have a team rather than we are being a team!

Team is more effective. 

Eccl 4:9-12 ... Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Team is a protection for those in team as well as those the team is ministering to. 

Prov 11:14 ... For lack of guidance a nation falls,
    but victory is won through many advisers.

Lets remind ourselves that team is Gods intended plan for ministry. Rather then ridiculing it or spending time trying to find our way around it lets embrace it - see God bless it - live in the benefit of it and complete the task he has assigned us! 

NCMI National Elders

Hey Guys and Gals 

I trust this finds you all well. 

This is just a quick reminder about our National Elders gathering in Denver in Sept! 

We have strategically chosen to make this “all elders” rather than “Lead” elders as we have in the past. It promises to be a great time of strategic in-put as well as an opportunity for new and current relationships. 

Registration is FREE ... but please go ahead and register if you are coming as it will help us with the logistics of the event. 

Hosting is available on a limited and first come first served basis. 

We look forward to seeing you and your team. 

Here is the link ... NCMI National Elders

Yours in His grip. 

Terry Kreuger

PRIORITIES OF PROPHETIC CHURCH

The Prophetic Church will be about God’s 

- PRIORITIES

- PURPOSE

- POWER

- PERSPECTIVE

- PLAN

Acts 1:1-8  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized withthe Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

A) PROVING He is alive (v3) ... he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive

1 Cor 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Our preaching is useless and so is your faith is futile! Strong words from the Scriptures 

Without the RESURRECTION the church is speechless!!

"Gospel isn't about making bad people good but about making DEAD people ALIVE!"

B) PREACHING the Kingdom (v3) He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

C) POWER of the Holy Spirit (v8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you

D) PURPOSE to witness(v8) and you will be my witnesses...

E) PLACES - everywhere, all the time! (v8) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Prophetic means..

See - Prepare - Become - The FUTURE!

1) FUTURE (Is 39 Hezekiah)

A) DECISIONS

All have ramifications for the future

If you are a follower of Christ then every decision is spiritual!!

B) DREAMS 

Build His dream and His dream will build you!

Don't allow the details to destroy the dream!

C) Difficulties 

1. Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light!!

D) Desires

1. Not what I want, but what God wants!

Why did God choose Abraham?

Gen 18:19..I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord...

He was future focussed!

Next generation is living with broken promises!

2) FOCUS

BUILD with intention!

LIVE with intention!

KEEP the main thing the main thing!

Live with distraction without becoming distracted!

Matt 13:44..."the kingdom of heaven is like a TREASURE hidden in a field.When a man FOUND it, he hid it again and then IN HIS  JOY went and sold EVERYTHING  he had and BOUGHT that field"

3) FLEXIBLE

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known ,along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth"

Put our hands in His!

Religion is what is left behind when God has moved on!

4) FIRM in Scriptures

Ps 19:7-14..

.. law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul..

.. statutes of the Lord are perfect, making wise the simple

.. precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart..

.. commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes!

NB.... EVERYTHING we major on must have a biblical backing!

If we are building for the future..we must do what the bible says!

Is 40:8..the grass withers, the flowers fall but the word of the Lord lasts forever!

5) FRIENDS

Importance of our relationships!

Carry no offences / suspicion!

No second hand offense

Have fun together!

6) FAMILY

1. David built nations but messed up his own house!!!

a) Marriage

b) Children

We cannot be about winning the world while we are loosing our families!!

7) FINANCES

Jesus spoke around money and possessions 15% of all His teaching ... more than all He said about heaven and hell combined!

Why did He emphasis these so much, because there is a fundamental connection between our spiritual lives and how we handle our finances!

God sees our faith and finances as inseparable.

Tithe 10%

Sow 10%

Save 10%

The Church should be known for it's generosity!!

Tyrone Daniel 

TEAM BUILDING by Ian Mckellar

TEAM BUILDING

"Ian & Nola McKellar relocated from South Africa to Asia in 2002.
They went to help build up local churches that relate to the NCMI team.
In 2009 they started leading Church of Joy in Singapore. They have a passion to see God's Word and God's Spirit build the beloved community and bless the city."

As a church grows the pioneer team needs to expand.

A church moves from the planting phase to the building phase by enlarging the team involved.

David had to move from a freedom fighting phase to a nation building phase. He had to enlarge his team in order to be an effective builder.

The warrior spirit is great for building, but we must add to this quality and not try to replace it.

 The pioneer team needs to be enlarged with others that bring in a different perspective and skill set so that effective building can take place.

The Biblical qualifications for deacons (i.e. servants !) are helpful for us when thinking of expanding our initial core team.

Looking at 1 Timothy 3:8-13 will help us understand the kind of people we are looking for.

We could summarize as follows:

1.)        A good reputation with all (1 Tim 3:8)

2.)        Spiritually minded (1 Tim 3:9) See also Acts 6:3 that calls for those who are wise and filled with the Holy Spirit

3.)        Living their faith with conviction (1 Tim 3:9).

4.)        Must be tested (1 Tim 3:10). Testing brings maturity, wisdom and empathy.

5.)        Must know how to build up and not undermine the building process, in their own home, church and community.

6.)        Willing to serve. They must be servant hearted. They must care about people.

We are building a worshipping community centered on the truths of Christ revealed in his Word.

The practical aspects of what we do are to build up a “dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

Leaders help each one in the church community to build each other up “as each part does its work” (Eph 4:16).

David Breashears, the Mt Everest Mountaineer, says, “In selecting teammates, choose people to get stranded with.”[1] I think that’s good advice for a church team.

When David captured Jerusalem he was looking for a central hub to unite the nation of Israel. He was looking for safe place of worship, that could be an economic and political capital. From this capital he knew he would influence the whole region. He was not settling, just building a base to further extend the kingdom.

David moved from a freedom fighting phase to a nation building phase. But he still retains all the qualities of a good military general. Building plans get added to the military strategy, they do not replace it.

Southwest Airlines was one of the only profit producing airlines in USA directly following 911.

Southwest cultivated a culture of high-spirited passionate people infused with a rebellious “Warrior Spirit.”[2]

David brought the ark to Zion as a military and a religious strategy. He wanted to enquire from God. His spiritual life directly affected the governmental decisions he took.

Once the ark had been brought to Zion David taught the nation a song. A new anthem, if you like, to unite the nation in purpose. He recalls their history, and reminds them of their future.

He remembers the covenant made to Abraham, and the promise of the inheritance in the land of Canaan (1 Chron 16:15-18).

He remembers how God redeemed his chosen people from Egypt with signs and wonders (1 Chron 16:12-13). He also remembers how Israel is called to make known God’s deeds, his glory, his salvation and his kingdom to the nations (1 Chron 16:8,23, 25, 31),

so that all nations can worship the creator who is full of splendor, majesty, strength and joy (1 Chron 16:27-29).

David had to enlarge his team of advisors. When he was a freedom fighter he needed military generals to give a military perspective. Now that he is nation building he enlarges his team to include priests. He also includes civil administrators and advisors to build his capital city (1 Chron 18:14-17), as well as personal bodyguards and advisors (1 Chron 27:32-33).

Freedom Fighters focus on survival: freedom to bring dignity and choice. Nation Builders focus on sustainability: freedom to bring justice, peace and prosperity. For both their goal is freedom and happiness.

Nation Builders focus their efforts on a capital city that can be a hub -a hub of communication, commerce and ideas. The personal benefits to security and freedom are potentially far greater for nation builders.

Freedom Fighters need a team of courageous warriors. Those who need to take risks that will not bring total defeat. High personal risk with small teams is tolerated.

Nation Builders need a team that can represent the whole nation and who can have wisdom to know how to advise and administrate strategies taken.

Much more unity in the community is needed with nation building. Risk taking is different for nation builders. Many more lives need to be considered.

David needed courage to move ahead.

---

[1] Collins & Hansen, Great by Choice, p130

[2] Ibid, p22