“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” – John 17:4
What makes a successful team? Recently I was thinking about some of the most successful teams and franchises in the history of sports. I thought about storied franchises like the Yankees or the Cowboys or the Chicago Bulls of the 90s.
I thought back to the Celtics of yesteryear or the New England Patriots in the early 2000s or even the Golden State Warriors as of late. And as I thought about what set these teams apart, I asked, what is it that makes a team special? What makes a franchise successful?
I narrowed it down to five words or 5 ingredients that make up a successful team. Over the next 5 days, we are going to look at each of those ingredients one by one. As a church, if we can figure out what makes a successful team, we can use these ingredients to find success as our own team.
The first ingredient is VICTORY. Now, I know what you are thinking, “Well DUH, Pastor, you can’t be a great team if you don’t win.” But it’s not just that they win; they know HOW TO WIN. Great teams have a mission, and they accomplish their mission.
In John 17:4, we see Jesus talking to God about His mission when He said, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”
Jesus, the greatest example we have of how to live our life, came to earth on a mission. He lived a perfect life. He taught about His Heavenly Father, and He died for our sins. Jesus had a mission, and He accomplished that mission. He was victorious.
What is your mission? What is the mission of the group of people you call a “team?” Without a mission, how can you please God? What are you pursuing? All great teams reach victory, but that victory isn’t random.
Great teams are on a mission. What is your mission?