WARM-UP
In our last meeting, we talked about what it looks like to give 100% of yourself to Jesus through complete surrender. Much the same way that we give up our time, our personal goals, and our personal desires in order to subscribe to the coach’s plan for success, as Christians we must surrender old habits, destructive behaviors, unhealthy friendships and negative attitudes in order to conform to God’s plan for our life.
But it’s difficult to follow after God on your own. We need to find people who are willing to walk the journey of faith with us. We need to align ourselves with people who have trusted in Jesus for their salvation and are doing their best to live like Him.
It’s all about surrounding yourself 100% with the right team!
Dream Team
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally a group of athletes come together that represent the very best a sport has to offer. For instance, the world famous 1992 U.S. Men’s Basketball Team contained some of the greatest NBA players to ever play the game. They became known as “The Dream Team” and went on to dominate the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and easily win the gold medal.
“You will see a team of professionals in the Olympics again,” head coach Chuck Daly said. “But I don’t think you’ll see another team quite like this. This was a majestic team.”
Whether you compete in a team sport or as an individual, the idea of surrounding yourself with the best is always an appealing proposition. Take a moment to think about your sport and make a starting lineup of athletes that you would love to play with as part of your own personal dream team. If you compete as an individual, think about the perfect support team (coaches, trainers, managers, etc.) that you could assemble.
Now, let’s have some fun with this. We’re going to get a volunteer to announce their starting lineup using some of the other campers—just like they do at the college and professional games!
Q: Who did you pick for your dream team and why?
Q: In what ways would that team make you a better athlete?
WORKOUT
Team Of The (First) Century
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He spent 40 days preparing His disciples for a big assignment. They would be tasked with building the first Church and taking the message of salvation through Jesus Christ (the gospel) to the world. Their story can be found in the Book of Acts and the impact of the amazing things this unlikely team accomplished is still being felt today.
Although the early Church was focused on sharing this awesome hope with anyone who would listen, its members never lost sight of the fact that it takes great commitment to one another for a team to thrive and grow in spite of intense opposition and difficult challenges. Here’s how the apostle Luke documented their inspiring display of teamwork:
As time passed, the leaders (also known as apostles) began teaching and encouraging this growing body of Christ followers. They held each other accountable to a high standard of integrity and lifted each other up through godly, wise counsel.
They didn’t always agree on everything, but they were diligent in their efforts to stay unified no matter what. The apostle Paul knew understood how important that was going to be if the gospel was going to be spread throughout the land.
Us Against The World
As you embark on your journey with God, it might seem like the world is against you—because in many ways, it is. Jesus explained this reality to His disciples:
But the beautiful thing is that Jesus modeled what it looked like to have a team (His disciples) and launched them into even greater things as that team became the early Christian Church.
There are people in your community, in your school, and in your local church that can help you take on the challenge of following after Jesus in a time when doing so isn’t the most popular road to travel.
You can find people to add to your team through godly friendships and teammates, through mentoring relationships, and through church-based discipleship. Surrounding yourself with mature, like-minded believers will help make you stronger in your areas of weakness.
You don’t have to take on the world alone. In fact, the Bible tells us we can’t do it alone. That’s why Jesus demonstrated the concept of team so we could embrace the value of working together others towards the most important common goal ever—reaching the world for Him.
As you embark on your journey with God, it might seem like the world is against you—because in many ways, it is. Jesus explained this reality to His disciples:
Q: What is the most overwhelming aspect of being a follower of Christ?
Q: How do you think having a solid team around you might help you in your walk with Him?
Q: What is your game plan in surrounding yourself with a trustworthy, like-minded team?
WRAP-UP
100% Team
Don’t go it alone. Find people that will help you mature in your walk with Christ. Here are three qualities you should be seeking as you put your “dream team” together:
Key Training Points
• Surround Yourself With Accountability: The members of a dream team make sure each other are holding up a high standard of integrity and character. They do this by asking each other tough questions and helping them do what they’ve said they’re going to do.
• Surround Yourself With Support: The members of a dream team look after each other and take care of each other’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs:
• Surround Yourself With Wisdom: The members of a dream team are always aiming to gain knowledge and seeking to apply that knowledge through the godly counsel of the most experienced among them:
As you surround yourself with other believers that you can trust, you will grow deeper in your relationship with God and begin to walk out the beautiful image that the apostle Paul wrote about in today’s key verse
OVERTIME
Find some time to get alone and ask God to help you build a team of people that will commit to encouraging you and keeping you accountability throughout your faith journey.