Thrive Week 8 | Building Teams That Build Teams

Summary

In this inspiring church leadership session, the focus is on building and empowering through the teachings of Ephesians chapter 4. Leaders are encouraged to identify, instruct, impart, implement, and enable others to make an impact, fostering a culture of servant leadership that aims to advance the kingdom of Heaven. The session emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing the unique gifts in individuals to equip them for ministry and to grow the church community.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The sermon emphasizes the importance of building up the church community through leadership, as leaders are 'builders' who invest in team and people.
• 📖 The speaker encourages the congregation to read Ephesians chapter 4, which discusses the special gifts given by Christ to the church for the purpose of equipping God's people for His work.
• 🎁 The special gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 are Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher, which are given to the church to equip the believers for ministry and to build up the body of Christ.
• 🔍 The process of building leaders involves identifying potential leaders who have a 'giftedness' or special anointing from God, recognizing their unique abilities and character.
• 👨‍🏫 After identifying potential leaders, the next step is to instruct them with basic tasks to test their teachability and adherence to the vision and parameters set by the church.
• 🔑 Teachability is a critical quality for leaders, as it demonstrates character and the ability to learn and grow within the church's guidelines and vision.
• 🤝 The impartation step involves deepening the spiritual connection with the potential leaders, sharing the church's vision, and encouraging them to take on more responsibility within the set boundaries.
• 🚀 Implementing is about releasing the leaders to carry out their tasks with oversight, ensuring they understand and communicate the vision effectively while making an impact.
• 💥 The ultimate goal is for these leaders to make an impact in their sphere of influence, advancing the kingdom of Heaven and fulfilling the calling God has placed on their lives.
• 🔄 The process of identifying, instructing, imparting, implementing, and impacting is cyclical and aims to create a culture of leadership development within the church.
• 🌱 The sermon concludes by inspiring the congregation to be part of this process, to recognize and develop leaders, and to empower them to fulfill their God-given calling.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the Thrive meeting discussed in the script?

The main theme of the Thrive meeting is about building and equipping leaders within Mercy City Church, focusing on identifying and nurturing the spiritual gifts in people to serve the church effectively.

What does the speaker emphasize as the role of leaders in Mercy City Church?

The speaker emphasizes that leaders in Mercy City Church are builders who invest in teams and people, aiming to equip them for ministry and to build up the church body, rather than just doing things on their own.

Which biblical passage does the speaker reference to discuss spiritual gifts?

The speaker references Ephesians chapter 4, specifically starting from verse 7, to discuss the spiritual gifts given by Christ to the church.

According to the speaker, what are the five key roles mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 for the church?

The five key roles mentioned are the Apostle, the Prophet, the Evangelist, the Pastor, and the Teacher, whose responsibility is to equip God's people for the work of the ministry.

What is the purpose of these spiritual gifts within the church as per the script?

The purpose of these spiritual gifts is to equip the church for works of service, until all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, thus maturing in the Lord to the full measure of Christ.

What are the steps the speaker outlines for building and establishing leaders?

The steps outlined are: 1) Identify giftedness in individuals, 2) Instruct them with basic guidance, 3) Impart spiritual wisdom and encouragement, 4) Implement their roles with oversight, and 5) Enable them to make an impact within the church and community.

Why is 'teachability' important in the process of identifying and nurturing leaders?

Teachability is important because it indicates a person's willingness to learn and grow within the set boundaries and vision of the church. It's a sign of character and a prerequisite for moving forward in leadership roles.

How does the speaker define 'character' in the context of leadership development?

In the context of leadership development, 'character' is defined as the ability to honor the instructions and maintain a teachable spirit, especially when given basic tasks and responsibilities.

What does the speaker mean by 'implementing with oversight'?

'Implementing with oversight' refers to the process where leaders are given the freedom to carry out their roles and responsibilities but under the watchful guidance of more experienced leaders, ensuring they stay within the church's vision and values.

What is the ultimate goal for leaders who have been identified, instructed, and imparted according to the script?

The ultimate goal is for these leaders to make an impact in their sphere of influence, both within the church and the wider community, fulfilling their calling and contributing to the advancement of the kingdom of Heaven.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between the vision of the church and the individual visions of its leaders?

The speaker describes the relationship as one where individual visions should align with and contribute to the overall vision of the church, allowing for growth and expansion within the set boundaries and parameters.

Outlines

00:00

🙌 Building Leaders in the Church

The speaker opens by expressing excitement about the growth and impact within the church community, emphasizing the role of leaders as 'Builders.' They encourage the congregation to invest in people and build them up, rather than working alone. The scripture reference to Ephesians chapter 4 is introduced to discuss the special gifts given by Christ to the church, such as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers, whose purpose is to equip the church for its work and to build up the body of Christ. The speaker prays for guidance and understanding in leadership and calls for active participation in identifying and nurturing these gifts within the church members.

05:01

🔍 Identifying and Nurturing Giftedness

The second paragraph delves into the process of identifying potential leaders within the church. The speaker outlines the importance of recognizing the 'giftedness of God' in individuals, which could be anything from common sense to character and compatibility. Once identified, the next step is to instruct these individuals with basic tasks to gauge their teachability and character. The speaker stresses the necessity of a teachable spirit for anyone aspiring to leadership, as it is a key indicator of their readiness to learn and grow within the church's vision and mission.

10:02

📚 Instruction and Spiritual Impartation

Continuing the leadership development theme, the speaker discusses the importance of imparting spiritual wisdom and knowledge to those who have shown consistent teachability and character. This involves giving more responsibilities and guidance while maintaining oversight to ensure they stay within the church's vision. The speaker highlights the significance of honoring the instruction phase, as it is a critical step in determining whether an individual is ready for greater responsibilities and can be entrusted with the church's mission.

15:03

🚀 Implementing Vision with Oversight

The speaker introduces the fourth step in the leadership process: implementation. This is where leaders are given the opportunity to carry out tasks with a clear understanding of the church's vision, but under the watchful eye of more experienced leaders who provide direction, correction, and continued vision casting. The emphasis is on maintaining the integrity of the vision while allowing room for individual growth and contribution. The speaker stresses the importance of clear communication and the use of common language to ensure everyone is aligned with the church's mission.

🌟 Making an Impact Through Leadership

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the ultimate goal of the leadership development process: making an impact. Leaders are encouraged to not only fulfill their calling but also to bring their own vision within the broader church vision, thereby expanding its reach and influence. The speaker expresses the honor and joy of witnessing the impact of their leadership on others and the importance of empowering individuals to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others, advancing the kingdom of God in the process.

Keywords

💡Thrive

In the context of the video, 'Thrive' appears to be the name of the program or initiative being discussed. It represents a movement or a community that is focused on growth and development in a spiritual sense, as indicated by the phrases 'another week of Thrive' and 'as leaders in Mercy City Church we are Builders'. The term is used to inspire and encourage participants to advance in their spiritual journey and leadership roles.

💡Leaders

Leaders in the script are individuals who are responsible for guiding and building up others within the church community. The term is integral to the video's theme as it emphasizes the role of leaders in identifying, instructing, and empowering others to fulfill their spiritual calling. For example, the speaker mentions, 'as leaders in Mercy City Church we are Builders', highlighting the active role leaders play in nurturing and developing the congregation.

💡Equip

The term 'equip' refers to the process of providing individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge, or abilities to perform a task or fulfill a role. In the video, it is mentioned that leaders are responsible for equipping God's people to do His work, as seen in the line 'their responsibility is to equip God's people, to do his work and build up the church'. This concept is central to the idea of building up the church community.

💡Gifts

In the script, 'gifts' are the special abilities or talents that individuals possess, which are given by God to serve a specific purpose within the church. The Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher are mentioned as examples of these gifts, which are meant to build up the church and prepare believers for spiritual maturity. The term is used to emphasize the diversity of roles and talents within the community of faith.

💡Teachability

Teachability is the willingness to learn and be instructed. In the video, it is a key quality that leaders look for in individuals they are equipping for ministry. The script states, 'cannot move forward with somebody in leadership if they're not teachable', indicating that being open to learning and guidance is essential for personal and spiritual growth within the church.

💡Character

Character in the video refers to the moral and ethical qualities of an individual, which are highly valued in leadership and ministry. The script mentions that 'character is the most important thing that we look for in somebody as we move them forward in leadership', showing that integrity and ethical behavior are foundational for those who are being developed within the church.

💡Impart

To 'impart' is to give or bestow, especially to share knowledge, wisdom, or abilities with others. In the script, imparting is a spiritual step where leaders share their insights and spiritual gifts with those they are equipping. The process is described as 'where we've begun to see a consistent pattern of teachability... that's when we begin to realize okay, this person can be trusted with those Mo, with more of those next steps so they can take on a little bit more'.

💡Implement

Implementation in the video is the practical application of the teachings and gifts received. It is the stage where individuals, having been identified, instructed, and imparted to, are released to carry out tasks and responsibilities with oversight. The script mentions 'this is where we begin to release them into doing what needs to be done with some oversight with some Direction with some correction and with lots and lots and lots of vision', illustrating the balance between autonomy and guidance.

💡Impact

Impact in the script refers to the influence or effect that individuals can have on their environment and others' lives after being equipped and released to implement their gifts. The goal is for these individuals to not only fulfill their calling but also to contribute to the growth of the church and the kingdom of Heaven. The speaker says, 'the goal is we know that it's that it's the goal of the people of God to come together and to build the life of the local church to advance the kingdom of Heaven', indicating the broader purpose of personal development within the church.

💡Vision

Vision in the video is the shared goal or aspiration that guides the actions and decisions of the church community. It is the overarching purpose that individuals are encouraged to align with and contribute to. The script speaks of 'casting a lot more Vision' and 'communicating a lot of the why behind what it is that we're actually doing', emphasizing the importance of having a clear and shared vision for the church's mission and growth.

Highlights

Introduction to the theme of building and investing in people within Mercy City Church as leaders and builders.

Emphasizing the importance of recognizing and utilizing the special gifts given by God to each individual as described in Ephesians 4.

The role of leaders in identifying and nurturing the unique anointing and giftedness in others to build up the church.

Teaching on the spiritual gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher, and their purpose in equipping the church for God's work.

The process of identifying potential leaders by recognizing their giftedness and character.

The necessity of teachability in leadership and how it is assessed through giving basic instructions.

Importance of maintaining character and honor during the instruction phase to ensure future leadership potential.

The impartation process where leaders share their spiritual gifts and insights with those showing consistent teachability and honor.

The implementation phase where leaders are given more responsibility with oversight to carry out tasks and fulfill their calling.

The significance of maintaining clear communication and common language within the church to ensure the vision is understood and carried forward.

Encouraging leaders to take initiative within the set vision to expand and enrich the overall church mission.

The ultimate goal of leadership is to empower individuals to make an impact in their sphere of influence and the world.

The joy and honor of witnessing the impact of leadership on others' lives and their subsequent influence on the community.

The scriptural basis for the five-step process of identifying, instructing, imparting, implementing, and impacting in leadership development.

The vision for Thrive to see not just the leaders but also those they lead make a significant impact and fulfill their God-given calling.

The call to action for leaders to lean in, identify potential leaders, and empower them to advance the kingdom of Heaven.

Transcripts

well welcome back to another week of

Thrive man we are so excited and pumped

for the way that you guys are leaning in

the reports that we're continuing to

hear are just so exciting about what God

is up to uh within this group and uh

we're just excited to see what's going

to happen as you move forward so here's

the deal everybody tonight we're g to be

talking about how we build build because

as leaders in Mercy City Church we are

Builders we are people who are going to

invest in team we're going to invest in

people and we are going to build we're

not going to be the team we're not going

to be the people the type of leaders

that only and forever do things on our

own we're going to build people so if

you have a Bible you can open up to

Ephesians chapter number four I'm going

to pray for us and then we're going to

rock and roll father thank you for today

thank you for the wonderful opportunity

we have to be in your presence to gather

around your word to deepen our uh

our understanding of leadership and our

calling and who we're called to be God I

pray that you would speak to us

specifically by the power of your word

that you would um intentionally lead

us father let us draw something from

your spirit today during this teaching

that you have specifically for us in the

future of our leadership in Jesus name

amen so Ephesians chapter 4 everybody I

love this portion of scripture and I

would really really really encourage you

to read it in its entirety at some point

but for the sake of this teaching we're

going to start at verse number seven the

Bible says this the Apostle Paul writing

to the church in Ephesus he says however

each he excuse me let's back up however

he has given each of us a special gift

through the generosity of Christ okay I

love teaching about this special gift

it's the anointing of God each of us has

a unique and a special anointing a

measure that Christ through the

anointing has brought to our lives the

giftedness on us but that's not what I'm

teaching about tonight so let's keep

going that is why verse eight says the

scriptures say when he ascended to the

heights he led a crowd of captives and

he gave gifts to his people again he's

given us gifts now let's jump down to

verse 11 and Di and dive right back in

now these

gifts Christ gave the church the the

Apostle the prophet the Evangelist the

pastor and the teacher their

responsibility is to equip God's people

to do his work and build up the

church the body of Christ this will

continue until we all come to such unity

in our faith and knowledge of God's son

that we will be mature in the Lord

measuring up to the full and complete

standard of Christ so we're going to

break right there and I want to jump

back and talk to you about these gifts

the the measures that God has given the

church specifically to be able to equip

people for his work okay it's the the P

the the the Apostle the prophet the

pastor the teacher the Evangelist those

are the gifts that he's placed in the

church now why so that we can then

Empower those who don't have those gifts

or those measures of anointing to do the

work to become the the the chief Builder

if you will now it's so it's my

responsibility as one of the apostolic

leaders in the church to equip the

Saints or the people in the life of the

church to do the work of the ministry

and some of you may have experienced a

giftedness like this on your life and

probably that's where you're beginning

to level up and realize that there's

something else on your life that you're

in turn going to be identifying

giftedness in people to call them to a

higher level and so here's what I want

us to take a look at this uh during this

teaching I want us to kind of you know

Zoom back if we will and look at the

full scope of everything so there's you

know these different gifts in the the

the body of Christ but there are these

types of unique gifts that God has given

throughout and the Bible says this it's

their responsibility to equip okay so

you're in this class because you have

have responded to some kind of a calling

some kind of a recognition that there is

a unique or special giftedness on your

life I don't know whether it's Apostolic

prophetic or whatever it might be in

this season that doesn't necessarily

matter as much as the fact that matters

it's now our responsibility as somebody

who is beginning to grow and to mature

in that gift to build up and equip the

people in the body of Christ and that's

what we do in leadership the higher you

rise in the leadership ranks if you will

here in the life of the church it's

actually the lower you go and the more

you're here to serve and to put people

in position to discover the fullness of

what God has for them and so the way

that we do that is to um to to really

take on this responsibility and to

become serious about the way that we're

building and establishing leaders so

there are a few ways that we

specifically do that here that I'm going

to walk you through during this teaching

way number one here they are here are

the ways here are the ways that we take

this uh responsibility seriously way

number one we identify let me say

identify exactly so here's what you're

looking for you're looking for um

someone we're looking for something in a

person that identifies a giftedness of

God as we're looking across our rooms as

we're looking across our teams the

people that we're doing life with that

we're leading we're looking to identify

something on the inside of them that

identifies the giftedness of God that we

can say Okay God's doing something in

their life God's doing something in

their heart and you know it might be

something as small as common

sense it's a giftedness of God not

everybody has Common Sense guys let's be

honest okay so you're identifying things

and you're seeing these Seas that are

inside people and you're you're

beginning to take note and you're

identifying obviously within yourself

okay um Sam has this gift he has this

ability he has some common sense there

is a a level of character about him that

not everybody else has there is a

compatibility within um within this

relationship a chemist a chemistry

within the room and the way that he

interacts with people that not everybody

has there's a competence there's a level

of understanding that he has that not

everybody else has so what you're doing

is you're identifying these giftedness

in people that you're taking note of as

we're identifying um this responsibility

that we're called to take and when you

identify one or more of these things the

common sense the character the

compatibility the chemistry or the

competence so one is like okay but when

you maybe see

two three you're like okay maybe this is

a leader maybe this is somebody who's

supposed to carry forward uh some of

this Vision so when you identify one or

more of these things what I'm going to

get what we're going to encourage you to

do is really begin to draw that out okay

so you see one thing you don't you don't

call it out you see two things maybe you

start to call those things out you see

three of those things not only are you

calling it out you're beginning to draw

it out as well and so once you identify

number one number two what you begin to

do is you begin to instruct so identify

is kind of a spiritual thing you're

praying through you're Discerning these

things but then practically you begin to

instruct this is where you begin to give

very basic instructions to see what form

of teachability they are operating in

okay you cannot move forward with

somebody in leadership if they're not

teachable they could have as many of

these se's as they want to have but if

they don't have a teachable spirit then

we cannot move forward with them okay

and teachability really really really

drives home the fact that they've got

some character established which in um

as far as I'm concerned aside from

calling character is the most important

thing that we look for in somebody as we

move them forward in leadership and if

they don't have because if they don't

have character they're not going to move

forward with some basic instructions

here's what I like to do every time I uh

I begin to see some of these things

Identify some of these things in people

is I give them very basic instructions

and I and I just see can they fulfill

these basic instructions now uh sure I

love when people go above and beyond but

when they go above and beyond and it's

beyond the vision then we want to kind

of pump the brakes we want to pull back

a little bit we want to make sure that

even though they might be going above

and beyond that they stay within the

vision or the parameters that have been

set uh for that specific spefic task so

that we can identify their teachability

do do you do you hear what I'm saying

and so we begin to give those B basic

basic basic instructions and people

inevitably they will you know might get

frustrated and say gosh give me some

more I can handle it I can handle it I

can handle it well give them maybe next

step okay can they stay within this

because what you're doing as you're

giving these instructions is you're

beginning to realize if it's going to be

worth what number three is because

number three is another spiritual step

so you got a spiritual step with number

one and identify okay you got a

practical step and number two just given

some basic instructions and then number

three is another spiritual step which is

impart okay this is where we've begun to

see a consistent pattern of teachability

where someone can take some basic

instruction and they can fulfill it but

not take their own Vision on uh from

from there right so they stay within the

vision and they are they are willing to

be teachable and stay within the

boundaries or parameters the guidelines

that we have established for them and

that's when we begin to realize okay

this person can be trusted with those Mo

with more of those next steps so they

can take on a little bit more and a

little bit more and a little bit more

but what we want to be doing spiritually

not just practically more instruction

spiritually we want to begin to impart

into them this is again you've seen that

consistent pattern of teachability where

they've begun to respond consistently

with Excellence but they've also kept

hearts of Honor okay this is important

they've also kept hearts of Honor during

this instruction phase because we don't

ever want to impart into somebody uh the

giftedness of God the anointing of God

the power of God if they can't hold it

in their character and if they aren't

willing to honor in this instruction

phase well I'm more gifted than they're

giving me credit for and I could be

doing five times as much as what they're

offering me and they're only giving me

two steps at a time and I could I could

take five steps at a time whoa whoa whoa

whoa whoa we're looking for hearts of

Honor those are the people that we're

going to impart into okay because the

more the the the more opportunity uh you

want the more align ignment you need to

be in so that we can do ministry

alongside one another see the goal isn't

for me to be going and doing Ministry or

for them to be going and doing Ministry

it's for us to be doing Ministry

alongside one another and that's where

uh that's where this next there's a

there's another step so this impartation

where we're we're putting our hands on

them more we're encouraging them more

we're we're pushing them forward more

we're saying hey here's the giftedness

here's the promise here's the plan of

God more we're praying over them more

we're releasing things to them a little

bit more obviously not without oversight

okay not without oversight but we're

casting a lot more Vision we're

communicating a lot of the why behind

what it is that we're actually doing in

this uh in this very very important

third step of the process so again it

goes spiritual we identify it goes

practical we instruct it goes spiritual

again we impart and number four is

practical again Implement Implement

everybody this is where we begin to

release them into doing what needs to be

done with some oversight with some

Direction with some correction and with

lots and lots and lots and lots of

vision we don't just let them run but we

say hey okay we heard you in step two as

we were instructing you after step one

where we identified some some things in

you you were excited you wanted to do

more and you did it you did it really

good so we began to impart some things

we shared the why we cast some vision

and so now what we're going to do is

we're going to release you to implement

but we're going to keep our hands near

we're going to continue to give

oversight we're going to continue to

give direction we're going to continue

to give correction and like I said lots

and lots and lots of vision this is a

point where they've proven that they

understand the why but we still want to

make sure that they're consistently

communicating the why we've consistently

communicated the why to them but we need

to ensure that they're now communicating

the why on your behalf as uh as somebody

who is taking the vision from you to the

next level it's very important that as

Vision flows down that it's very very

very clear that's one of the reasons

that we really overstate common language

here at Mercy City because we want to

make sure that not only are we saying

the same things but we're saying the

same things for the right reasons and if

we're really really really on top of

that common language then we can we can

ensure that people are at least aware of

the why so it's important that as we're

releasing them to implement they are

also learning how to communicate that

Vision because ultimately at the end of

the day this is of course the portion of

you know the discipleship process that

is often referred to as you know what

you go do it and I'll watch you I'll

bring some oversight and some direction

and correction and different things like

that but what we're doing is we're

setting them up for step number five in

this process which is impact so again

let's revisit these it's identify

instruct impart Implement and now impact

the goal is we know that it's that it's

the goal the scriptures showed us it's

the goal of the people of God to come

together and to build the life of the

local church to advance the kingom of

Heaven man and we're not going to do

that alone so we need people to do that

alongside us it's our goal to see

everybody who feels called who's been

identified who's who's been instructed

and parted to you know these different

things we want them to be able to

implement in a way we're number five

they make an impact they make an impact

so this is where we're saying to them

hey go and fulfill your calling carry

forward the

vision but now you can also bring your

own Vision with in the vision that has

been cast so this is the opportunity now

they've proven their heart they've

proven the character we know that

they're confident we we've understand

that there's a little bit of calling in

them and so we're releasing them a

little bit to say Hey listen here's the

vision now get some Vision that's within

the vision and make the vision greater

that's the goal is for the vision to

become greater if the vision is always

always only and forever limited to one

person or to one couple then man we're

missing it Vision should be big enough

to have room to grow within the vision

there's going to be boundaries there's

going to be parameters there's going to

be tracks that we run along but from

within those tracks within those

boundaries within those parameters man

we want to see people really go for it

and fulfill all that God has called them

to fulfill because we want this to be a

dream not just for us not just for you

who are leading but we want it to be a

dream for those who are following us as

well because we want more and more

people to identify you know what I need

to be a part of Thrive you know what I

need to be a part of leading groups you

know what I need to be stepping up in my

leadership responding to what may just

be a call we want people to make an

impact in not only their life in world

but in the life and the world of other

people as

well this portion this step is where

people that we've had the honor of

leading begin to make that impact and we

see the impact of our leadership on

their life and we realize that the lives

that they impacting is actually stem

from our leadership and impact in their

life am man I'm telling you what there's

no greater honor than seeing somebody or

hearing a story of

somebody who's experiencing the Overflow

of God or the the lifegiving power of

the Holy Spirit through vision that I

didn't directly communicate with them

but I've indirectly communicated through

other leaders and that's what we want to

do as a leadership team here in the life

of our church is we want to always and

forever be empowering people to make an

impact in their world and fulfill the

calling that God has placed on their

lives why because Ephesians 4 says each

of us have been given a special gift

some of us are going to work full-time

in the church some of us are going to

work full-time in some of those

positions in the marketplace but all of

us are called to identify people's

giftedness to bring some

instruction okay to issue an impartation

release them with some limited

implementation so that they can make an

impact guys that's what we're here at

Thrive to do is to see people not just

us but people that we lead make an

impact so come on everybody let's lean

in let's begin to identify some leaders

who are going to make an impact on our

behalf to advance the kingdom in

Nebraska Alka and Beyond