Producing a Team that Produces Fruit
In our staff meeting yesterday Ps Steve Penny shared some great principles on the Five Commitments for Lasting Fruit from John 15:1-8.
I’ve taken the liberty of modifying this slightly in a way that my simple mind can handle!
Every team member must make personal decisions that will enable them to be a fruitful member of the team – and not just fruitful, but fruitfully producing lasting fruit which in turn produces more fruit!
There are 5 Qualities and 5 Decisions which will help to produce this result:
Quality #1 FUNCTION. Decision #1 CONTRIBUTING
The first step is to identify your gifts and start contributing to the team and vision by functioning in them.
Quality #2 FAITHFUL. Decision #2 COMMITTED
You must faithfully serve in whatever opportunity is presented, with a commitment to commitment.
Quality #3 FRIENDLY. Decision #3 CONNECTED
Now you need to work hard at being a valued part of the team beyond your area of service. Everything works best through relationship. This is about developing your Social IQ.
Quality #4 FIT. Decision #4 CONTENT
Now you’ve passed from being a servant to a steward and you get to find where you really fit best. What gives you the most joy? For the sake of the bigger picture you may still need to work in an area which is not your dream, but the joy of the Lord should be your strength.
Quality #5 FRUITFUL. Decision #5 CHARACTER
Now you decide to continue serving with the right spirit through the continual shaping of your character so that you can produce fruit which remains. A wrong spirit will produce fruit as well – but it will have the wrong taste. You can tell when a department is led by the wrong spirit – it just doesn’t taste right.
