What position did you play on
the school team?
Questions:
- What position did you play on the school team?
- Did you ever want to play a different position?
- What was your school’s mascot?
- What character did you play in the school play?
- Have you ever been part of a mission team at Church?
Part of playing a position on the team is being part of the
team, and being able
to participate with the team. There is a
sense of belonging and a sense of team
work. There is a sense of being on a
“winning team.”
Below I have listed two definitions from www.dictionary.com for the word “part”:
-
an
essential or integral attribute or quality: a sense of
humor is part of a healthy personality.
- any of a number of more or less equal quantities that compose a whole or into which a whole is divided . . .
God wants us to be partners on His winning team, let’s take
a look at some
of the relevant Scripture:
Romans 15:15-17 (NIV):
15 I have written you quite boldly on some points, as
if to remind you of them again,
because of the grace God gave me
16 to be a
minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of
proclaiming the gospel of God, so
that the Gentiles might become an offering
acceptable to God, sanctified by the
Holy Spirit.
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my
service to God.
Romans shares
with us one “duty” that can be a part of the team.
Let’s see what Ephesians adds to this .
. .
Ephesians 4:14-16 (NIV):
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and
forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all
things grow up into him who is the
Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the
whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up
in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians
shares with that we can be a part of the team, and that we all
have are own unique role. Let’s see what
Corinthians adds to this . . .
1 Corinthians 12 (NIV):
Spiritual Gifts
1 Now about spiritual gifts,
brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other
you were influenced and led
astray to mute idols.
3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by
the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be
cursed," and no one can say,
"Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts,
but the same Spirit.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same
Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God
works all of them in all men.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is
given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message
of wisdom, to another the message
of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to
another distinguishing between
spirits, to another speaking in different
kinds of tongues, and to still another the
interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,
and he gives them to each one, just
as he determines.
12 The body is
a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it
is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one
body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave
or free—and we were all given the
one Spirit to drink.
14 Now the
body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 If the foot
should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,"
it
would not for that reason cease to
be part of the body.
16 And if the ear
should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,"
it would not for that reason cease
to be part of the body.
17 If the whole body
were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole
body were an ear, where would the
sense of smell be?
18 But in fact
God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he
wanted them to be.
19 If they were all
one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is,
there are many parts, but one body.
21 The
eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot
say to
the feet, "I don't need
you!"
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we
treat with special honor. And the
parts that are unpresentable
are treated with special modesty,
24 while our presentable parts need no special
treatment. But God has combined the
members of the body and has given
greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25 so that there should be no division in the body, but
that its parts should have equal
concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if
one part is honored, every part rejoices
with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you
is a part of it.
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all
apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, then workers of miracles,
also those having gifts of healing, those able to
help others, those with gifts of
administration, and those speaking in different kinds of
tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?
Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in
tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent
way.
Summary: Being part of a team is trying different roles, and
finding out where
we are best suited . . . however, please
remember that in Christ we become
complete. Hence do not feel locked into
only one role. Look for positive
opportunities and positive mentors, and be brave to try different roles.
References:
The following websites were referenced on Dec. 14, 2006:
http://dictionary.reference.com