22 Jul W4 | Serving with Bigger Mindset (Team Player)
REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 ESV | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
OBJECTIVE
To promote unity in ministry by serving with humility, resisting envy, and recognizing all roles as part of God’s greater work.
CONTENT
THE POWER OF BIBLICAL TEAMWORK
- The Apostle Paul's profound words in 1 Corinthians 3:6–9 reveal a divine principle for Christian service: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." This simple yet revolutionary statement transforms our understanding of ministry. Paul and Apollos, though performing distinct functions, shared a sacred partnership - recognizing that only God could make their labor fruitful. Their example shatters our human tendency toward individualism, showing that true ministry effectiveness flows from collective effort under God's sovereign hand.
- When Paul declares "we are God's fellow workers" (1 Corinthians 3:9), he elevates our service from mere human activity to divine collaboration. This truth should both humble and energize us. While we are called to faithful labor, the results remain entirely in God's hands. Yet in His grace, He invites us to participate in His eternal purposes through our service.
MARKS OF A KINGDOM TEAM PLAYER
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Valuing the Team's Mission Above Personal Recognition
True servants in God's kingdom measure success by the advancement of God's work, not personal accolades. As Paul exhorts in Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."This selfless approach creates unity and reflects Christ's example of humble service. When we focus on God's glory rather than our own, we become more effective team members in His work, remembering that "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26). -
Willingness to Contribute Consistently and Humbly
Faithful team players don't wait for special invitations or prominent positions to serve. They follow the instruction in Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." Whether their role is visible like preaching or unseen like intercession, they serve with equal dedication, knowing that "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him" (Hebrews 6:10). -
Submitting to Leadership and Supporting the Team's Direction
Healthy teamwork requires respect for godly leadership, as Hebrews 13:17 instructs: "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account." This doesn't mean blind agreement, but rather a willingness to work harmoniously under God-appointed leadership, trusting that "in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others" (Romans 12:5). -
Embracing the Uniqueness of Each Member's Role
Paul's planting-and-watering analogy beautifully illustrates how different gifts work together. As 1 Corinthians 12:18 reminds us, "God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be." When we appreciate rather than envy each other's roles, we fulfill Peter's exhortation to "use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace" (1 Peter 4:10).
CONCLUSION
Serving with a bigger mindset means seeing beyond ourselves and recognizing our place in God’s grand design. As “God’s fellow workers,” we’re not competing for attention but collaborating in Christ’s mission. When we embrace this team mentality – valuing unity over individualism, humility over pride, and God’s glory above all – we position ourselves to be most useful in His hands.
This perspective transforms how we view our service. No role is insignificant when done for God. No contribution goes unnoticed by Him. And when we work together as Paul and Apollos did – each playing our part while relying on God for the results – we participate in something far greater than ourselves. This is the joy and privilege of being team players in God’s kingdom work, looking forward to the day when we’ll hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23).
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What personal barriers might prevent someone from fully embracing the role of a team player in ministry (e.g., pride, fear, insecurity)? How can we overcome them through Scripture and community?
- How does understanding our role as “God’s fellow workers” reshape the way we view our daily responsibilities and contributions in ministry settings?
REFERENCES