Leading Groups and Teams

1.2 Assignment. Devotional. Red-Letter Team Leadership (Part 1)

Getting Started

Throughout the Holy Bible, we are able to see ways in which Jesus demonstrated leadership principles that we today hold up as best practices. Throughout the class we will look at this Red-Letter Leadership (in many Bibles the words of Jesus are printed in red) as it applies to teams. This week, we see how Jesus gave his team a purpose from the very beginning.

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Appraise a biblical perspective regarding team building.

Background Information

Read(new tab)  or  listen(new tab)  to Luke 5:1-11.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Watch  Jesus calls Simon (Peter), James and John(new tab)

The video clip is from a TV show called The Chosen. If you have not watched it, I highly recommend it. In the video clip, which is a portrayal of Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls his first four disciples. What is interesting is that, in this very first interaction, he gives them a new purpose – You are no longer fishermen, now you will be fishers of men. This is your purpose, to go out and bring in as many as you can. When a leader provides a purpose, or a “why” as  Simon Sinek(new tab)  says, it provides inspiration. It turns groups into teams.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Review the information in the Getting Started and Background Information sections.

3. Write a 250-300 word reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts/perspectives on the following:

a. How do you think having a purpose helped form the disciples into a team?

b. How would it have helped them work together going forward?

c. Can you identify the purpose of the teams on which you serve? If not, how could you help your teams settle on a unified purpose?

d. What personal, professional, or even spiritual insights might you glean from your reflection on the devotional materials this worksho