Leading Groups and Teams

2.1 Assignment: Devotional - Red-Letter Team Leadership (Part 2)

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 look at an example of ten of the disciples being angry with two disciples for sneakily trying to gain a place of glory and how Jesus addressed this team dysfunction.

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

· Appraise a biblical perspective regarding team dynamics.

Background Information

Read(new tab)  or  listen(new tab)  to Mark 10:35-45 (NIV)

The Request of James and John

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

You can imagine it, can’t you? You have been working at your organization for just as long as your co-worker, you think you are a good team, you seem to be on the same page and working toward the same goals. And then he or she starts to try and get a little more of the boss’ attention, start to claim a little more of the responsibility for the tasks you definitely worked on together. It could drive a wedge between you, poison the team dynamic, and cause division. The disciples went through this too. First of all, Jesus, as their leader, addressed the issue and did not let it fester. Second, he helped them grow by teaching them that in God’s economy, praise is gained by serving, not by being served. To be effective, the other 10 would have had to forgive James and John and move on, something that likely happened considering how the disciples went on to work together after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Instructions

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

2. Review the information in the Getting Started section.

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

a. Identify a team member that is either on your team now or one you worked with in the past that causes you frustration. What positives did that member bring to the team?

b. How could you develop now, or could have developed in the past, a better relationship with that person that would have led to a more positive team dynamic?

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

4. Reflection papers are to be written in accordance with APA Guidelines (7th ed.) including format guidelines. Papers must be logical, well organized, grammatically correct, and have correct spelling and sentence structure. Write in complete paragraphs.