Learning to Work Together! - Tom Shanklin Ministries

Share the Good News!

‭For‭ we are‭‭ God’s‭ fellow workers‭; you are‭‭ God’s‭ field‭, [you are] God’s‭ building‭.‭ (1Corinthians 3:9, NKJV)

Learning to work together is one of the greatest keys to success in any venture.

Whether it be staff members of a large business, church, or ministry, or the Body of Christ at large, we must learn to coordinate our efforts to accomplish great things.

Even in the home, working together is essential. There is usually a division of labor and specialties. For example, in our home, Susan does most of the cooking, and I often do the dishes. Susan tells me that I am good at doing dishes, but I have a suspicion that she tells me this to keep me motivated to continue. 🙂 Seriously, I don’t mind doing dishes, and she’s a much better cook.

We could liken this working together to the meshing together of gears to make a machine accomplish its purpose. A combine, for example, has many parts—an engine, gears, pullies, cutting blades, etc.—all functioning together to bring in the harvest. It is called a combine because it not only cuts the grain but also processes it so that it’s ready to be sold and used for food or seed.

We, too, need to mesh together in proper alignment to bring in the harvest of souls.

The enemy is doing everything he can to sabotage our mission by keeping us from meshing together. We must counter these attacks by recognizing his tactics and then undermining his efforts by walking in love and staying in unity. This takes effort. As the scripture says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3, AKJV)

But unity does not mean uniformity. We are all different. We have different skills, different interests, and we function in different ways. This should not be viewed as a problem but as a benefit. God made us different so that we can accomplish different things. He tells us that we are the Body of Christ and members in particular. The knee is different than the eye, but each part works together to help the body to function and accomplish things. We are not all called to sound the same note but to harmonize together. Like a symphony, we blend together to produce a beautiful sound.

Recognizing Your Special Part

To be effective, each of us must recognize our special role. We are all called to the same mission—to reach the world for Jesus—but each of us has a different part. If we are doing someone else’s job, then they won’t be able to do it. At the same time, we won’t be doing our job because we are doing someone else’s.

Everyone has their part in God’s plan of redemption. God sent His Son to earth. Then, Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Then, God poured out His Holy Spirit on the Church so that we could go into all the the world and spread the Good News of salvation, forgiveness and healing.

But then, there is a division of labor within the Body of Christ. One example of this is what we call the 5-fold ministry gifts. Notice what the Apostle Paul says in the book of Ephesians:

“He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ …” (Ephesians 4:11-12, MEV)

These five special gifts are all ministers of the Word of God, but each has a different function in equipping the saints. We all need to find our place and function there for the best results. Trying to function in a ministry to which God has not called you can cause problems, not only for the minister but for the people to whom he or she is ministering.

It’s important to understand the difference between these gifts in order to function in them … and to relate to them. Here’s a summary:

Apostle—a missionary who is sent by God for a specific work, such as planting churches, overseeing other ministers, and strategically working to accomplish God’s will in a particular region.

Prophet—a minister with special gifts of revelation who is called to help bring the Body of Christ into purity and proper function.

Evangelist—a proclaimer of the Good News of the Gospel who is charged with inspiring, encouraging, and training others to reach people for Christ.

Pastor—a shepherd who is called to care for people who usually functions in the context of a local church.

Teacher—a minister, gifted in teaching Bible truths.

So we see five distinct gifts, and we need them all. The will of God will not be accomplished by pastors alone or evangelists alone or apostles alone. Each of the gifts must function and work together to see the body of Christ built up, and the will of God accomplished. A wise pastor will make use of the various ministry gifts and invite them to minister to the congregation so that the people can grow and fulfill God’s purpose.

God Will Lead You

If you are called as a minister of the Gospel, you need to find out specifically where God wants you to function and then move into that area. This can take time, as God develops you and prepares you to function in your specialty. Don’t try to rush the process. You may function in another area for a time in preparation for what God has for you, but once you find your place, you should endeavor to function there. That is your sweet spot, the place where you will bear much fruit.

One of the keys to moving into your special place is to be faithful in whatever your hand finds to do and trust the Lord to lead you forward. And If God gives you an assignment, do your best to complete it and to not leave a mess behind. In this way, God will be able to reward you and promote you progressively into the place where He wants you to be.

Not everyone in the church is called to one of the 5-fold ministry gifts. There are many other gifts, and they are all important. Just as in the physical body, every part is needed and must function properly for the whole body to thrive.

Notice what Paul says to the church at Rome:

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8, AKJV)

He says we have gifts differing according to the grace given to us. Some of us are gifted by grace, especially in prophecy, some serving, some teaching, some encouraging, some giving, some in administration, and some at showing mercy. All of us can find ourselves somewhere on that list. And all of us should go with the flow of the grace that is in our lives.

Even though we have specialties, we should not hesitate to function wherever we are needed when there is a special need. If a dermatologist were to come upon an automobile accident, he or she would function as a regular M.D. to meet the pressing need. Likewise, all of us, whatever our specialty, should be willing to serve where we are needed in special circumstances. The best gift is the one that is needed at the time. If someone needs mercy, your gift of prophecy may not be the most helpful. Just be a regular Christian, and help them.

We are all called to be workers. Jesus said the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Some people get nervous when you talk about work. They may say, “I’m not into works.” But the Bible says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, AKJV)

No, we are not saved by works. We are saved by grace through faith. But once you are saved, something inside of you wants to work. You want to do something for God.

Work Together!

When you are born again, the Holy Spirit will progressively lead you into your area of ministry. At the same time, it is important that you recognize and respect the gifts that are in others and coordinate your efforts with them. None of us is an island. We are a team, and we must work together.

We can all do something for God in our individual lives, but we can accomplish much more by working together. In my own ministry, I have found the greatest fruitfulness comes from working together with other ministers and members of the body of Christ. We can accomplish much more and see the fruit preserved by teaming up. We are better together!

Let’s pray that we all can find our place and function together to accompish our Father’s will and fulfill His plan.

Father, help us to work together. Help us to let you do your part as we do ours. You have made us all different, according to your will and purpose. Lead us into our particular areas of service in the Body of Christ, and help us to respect all our fellow servants. Help us to defer to one another when it’s appropriate and give you glory and honor in all we do, in Jesus name. Amen.