I thoroughly believe that every Christian is called to work together to fulfill God’s plan on the Earth.

Whether you are in full-time ministry, praying for the people in your small group, or volunteering at church, we are all a part of God’s divine plan.

But that doesn’t always mean it’s easy to work together.

Anytime you’re working in a group, you encounter a variety of personalities. Some of them will annoy you or even make you angry. Even in church! Interpersonal conflict doesn’t go away because you are among Christians.

(Not to mention the negative emotions that come when it seems like God is answering other people’s prayers faster than he is answering yours!)

People who focus on themselves instead of the team will start worrying about whether they stand out or how every decision affects them. They worry about how what God is doing in their life compares to what He is doing in others. They get jealous and forget what they are fighting for.

The Bible says that we are all part of the body of Christ.

“If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell? God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body? As it is, there are many parts. But there is only one body.” - 1 Corinthians 12:17-20

We need each other and need to work together!

Easier said than done, right? Here are four ways to be a team player (both in the church and the workplace).

Be Willing To Serve

Being a team player means serving. You cannot listen to the lie that because you don’t look like the volunteer who welcomed you on your first visit, there isn’t a place for you! There is no excuse for sitting out. We need all hands on deck to complete the plan God has called His Church to in these final days.

In the workplace, this looks like honoring and respecting your co-workers' talents. Find ways to help them shine and offer your support. Every team achieves peak performance when every individual focuses on the team’s success, not their own.

Be a Thermostat

Don’t allow other people’s negativity or poor habits to influence your attitude or effort. From the smallest inconveniences to team meetings that leave everyone wondering what’s next, you can stay positive, focus on realistic solutions, and rally your peers behind common goals. Set the standard for productivity, conduct, and quality, and call other people to that standard, even when facing challenges.

Be Flexible

A good team player is willing to adapt. They are early adopters of new policies and initiatives, even when they don’t want to change. It can be easy to want to do things the way you have always done them. If you can ask questions to your leader, do it! Be willing to try new things and encourage others to do the same.

Be A Person of Integrity

The way that you respond to challenges and victories will affect how the team responds.

Think of it this way. What goes on in one part of the body affects every part of the body. Think about when you have a cold. Your throat isn’t the only part of your body that is affected. Your lymphatic system produces more white blood cells. Your brain raises your body temperature to fight off the disease. The whole body works together until every part recovers.

In a volunteer team, that could look like supporting someone through a trial. It could also mean addressing someone who is harming the team. Leaders are team players when they push back against things that go against the team's values and fight for what is right. Don’t be afraid to confront issues like gossip and selfishness with love and respond with humility when someone confronts you.

When we walk in unity, we invite God into our midst. The Bible says that when two or three gather in His name, He is with them! There is power in our relationships and the worship, prayer, and service we do with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The best part about being in the body of Christ is that when one person has a victory, everyone celebrates because everyone was a part of it!

Whether you were the person who prayed with them, or you were watching their kids while the pastor preached, you were a part of their miracle! Their testimony will inspire faith for the next miracle. The more we work together, the more we will see God!