Do You Have Your Own Dream Team?

Dateline Barcelona, 1992.  The Summer Olympics are hosting the first-ever competition of the truly-best in their respective nations, as professionals and amateurs are all invited to the party.  The United States has assembled a collection of NBA-plus-one stars that may be the best roster to ever take a tip-off.  And their nickname:  “The Dream Team.” 

This isn’t about basketball.  It’s about teams, and how you need a “dream team” of your own.  Not the kind the wins medals, but the kind that empowers lives.  While our culture idolizes the individual, the truth is, you were designed by creation and redesigned by gifts and talents to need the contributions of others in order to maximize your potential.  I’d like to show you how to go about doing it.

Why You Need a Dream Team

Paul cautions the Roman Christians,

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other (Romans 12:3-5, NLT)

You need a dream team because of the hidden dangers of pride.  Proverbs 18:14 says that “before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, but before honor is humility.”  When you begin to get the big head about not needing anybody else, you’re getting stupid.  You’re setting yourself up for your own destruction.

You need a dream team because of how God has “shown up” in other people’s lives.  God has dealt to every person in His kingdom a measure of faith and gifts, and each comes packaged differently.

You need a dream team because of the limitations in your own abilities. No matter how smart, talented, or gifted you may be (and you are), you don’t know it all, and can’t do it all.

You need a dream team because of the interdependence of our design.  “We are many parts of one body,” Paul says, “and we all belong to each other.”  Other Christians are a part of you already, and have something to offer that you badly need.

Dream Team Positions to Fill

You don’t need power forwards or point guards for your dream team, but you do need some key roles filled.  And while there are many ways you can approach it, I would suggest building your team the way God did His.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly (Romans 12:6-8).

This passage suggests seven kinds of people to add to your life to make up your dream team:

1.  Prophet.

I’m not talking about the Old Testament caricature of the guy who dresses funny and thunders out the judgments of God.  This person has the unique capacity to discern what God is saying and communicate it to you clearly, truthfully, and lovingly.  A prophet’s love language is honest communication.  Who do you trust to tell you the truth, whether it feels good or not?

2. Servant.

Servants are need-based and action-oriented.  They tend not to ask, “Do you need me to do anything?” They just do it.  They show up early, stay late, and only leave when the job is done or you run them off.  The servant’s love language is helping out.  Who can you turn to for help, even when your pride makes you want to avoid it?

3.  Teacher.

This is not necessarily a formal position, though it may be.  The teacher is the person who helps you understand spiritual and practical truth.  This can also be a trainer, who helps you understand how to do what you’re supposed to do.  The teacher’s love language is increasing understanding.  Who in your life has the ability to take complicated truth or information and make it understandable?

4.  Encourager.

This is everybody’s favorite because it can feel so good.  Encouragers are people who are walking alongside you.  They listen.  They offer wise counsel. They motivate.  They challenge.  They literally give you courage to take the next right step.  The encourager’s love language is stimulating action.  Who do you depend on to give you reasons not to give up, or to do the next right thing?

5.  Giver.

Hmmm.  Maybe this one is everybody’s favorite.  Givers are exactly what the word suggests – they have a unique love for, and capacity to, give to meet physical and material needs.  They are delightfully generous people who go above and beyond what is customary or expected.  The giver’s love language is meeting needs.  Who do you turn to when your back is to the wall – or your vision is to the ends of the earth – and you need financial or material help?

6. Leader.

The leader is someone who can provide direction and influence.  Uniquely contagious people, leaders tend to model the way, then show the way to others.  They are people of vision, who tend to be committed to a cause or direction.  But in the process of pursuing their own direction, they are uniquely gifted to inspire direction in you.  Your leader(s) may have nothing to do with formal positions of authority, but do have everything to do with inspiring a shared vision.  In fact that – shared vision – is the leader’s love language.  Who do you turn to for inspired direction?

7.  Mercy Source.

“Showing kindness” is the way the NLT translates this.  But mercy is all about feeling.  And a mercy source is someone who has the unique capacity to feel your pain.  Everyone should have compassion.  But these people make it a supernatural art form.  They truly understand the value of “weeping with those who weep” – and you need somebody like that.  The love language of the mercy source is showing compassion.  Who do you trust for comfort when your heart is heavy or broken?

Tomorrow I’ll show you how to actually build your team, then use it.  In the meantime, remember that nobody is committed to your success – or the realization of your dreams – than you are.  But there are plenty of people who are willing and powerfully able to help.  Who will you look to help make you a champion?

Tagged as: Communication, Encouragement, Leadership, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Success, Support, Team Building