(January 25, 2009)

Over the next few weeks, we'll be dealing with faith challenges. Jesus said that we would have challenges here on earth, but He also said to seek Him and overcome those challenges. We need to find and connect with new people who attend our church, so it is important for us to get out of our comfort zones and do what it takes to welcome those who are new to our family. Be a good inviter and a good host. Get out of your regular pew and move forward or find a guest to sit with.

We have one goal as a church this year and that is that we are going to double everything we do this year. Doubling our spirituality, our attendance, our giving, our ministries, our faith, among others. We need to have laser focus as to how we are going to carry this out.

Ever get your car stuck in a rut with your car in the middle of winter? Sometime we try to do it all by ourselves by rocking it back and forth with overdrive and reverse. So many times we do the same thing on our own lives. We're in a rut and we want to do it all by ourselves. The fact is that we need a team to get out of that rut, just like we need to have others to help push us out of the snow drift. "One is too small a number for greatness." In order to get out of our ruts, we need to change our paradigm and work on developed teams. There are no one-man shows. God

The harvest is ready; people are spiritually hungry. But, because the church hasn't given them what they need, they are seeking it in other ways. Jesus wants us to rise up and team up to grab the world. The Amish, for example, can raise a barn in one day, something that might take others weeks and months to accomplish. This shows that teamwork works! Reading the Book of Nehemiah shows a classic example of this.

In order for teamwork aspect to work, everyone has to have their nitch. Therefore, everyone has a place on the team. If you don't do your part, then you are robbing someone else's blessing. We are created to be blessed and to be a blessing. No one is unimportant. We have a huge vision to cast a Worldwide Vision for Jesus.

We just elected a new President, but the President knows that his success or failure depends on the team that surrounds him. Every step that the team takes requires deliberate cooperation from everybody in order to succeed together and reach many people. We are each just a part of the whole.

Everyone's individual sacrifice will be far outweighed by the success and championship results of the team. Each person need to understand the sacrifice it takes for the greater good. If it's about us individually, we won't get it done. It may seem painful at the time, but it is miniscule in the end. Can you imagine the great celebration together we'll have when we cross that line as a team? Hallelujah!

The Harvest is the hub, but every ministry is evaluated by how it fulfills the ministry of the hub. The Harvest allows us to fulfill The Great Commission.

Teams that can help us reach our goal:
1. Teams that promote Outreach and Evangelism. These teams work to make our church not just a building, but a society outside of our building.
2. Teams to take care of the sheparding of the church. These teams help with small groups and Bible studies, for example.
3. Teams who work on discipleship. These teams help people to become spiritually healthy.
4. Teams of Encouragement. These teams that pass along a kind word and help others.
5. Teams of Prayer. These teams that create prayer groups.
6. Teams of Hospitality. These teams promote good hospitality. These teams are so important that visitors base whether they stay or leave based on hospitality the most.
7. Teams of Administration. These teams are behind the scenes. They don't get a lot of glory, but they are an integral cog in the wheel.

Do you have an inward desire? Do your spiritual gifts match up with one of these teams? If you answer yes to both of these questions, seek others who fit the same gifts as you and form a team for the Glory of God!