Question 1

What are some guidelines for successful teamwork?

Accepted Answer

Amos 3:3Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?Choose team members who share your basic set of values and assumptions; otherwise, you will be heading in different directions.Psalm 133:1How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!When cooperating with others, always seek unity. Disagreements should never turn into personal attacks.1 Corinthians 12:20-12Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”Recognize the value of each member on the team.Philippians 2:3-5Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.A humble attitude is most effective!

Question 2

What are some of the benefits of cooperation?

Accepted Answer

Mark 6:7He [Jesus] called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.Teaming up with another can give strength and encouragement when times get rough.Philippians 2:1-2Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.Working together in loving unity, with one mind and purpose, reflects the character of Christ to the world around you.Ephesians 4:11-13Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 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.Cooperation exercises your spiritual gifts, allowing you to be more productive for God and to mature in your faith by sharpening one another and holding one another accountable.

Question 3

Why should we cooperate with those we don’t get along with?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 17:12-13Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.Moses and Aaron did not always see eye to eye (see Num 12:1), but in this instance of cooperation, the result was a decisive win for the Israelites. When you cooperate together, God can accomplish remarkable things through you.Proverbs 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.Disagreements can produce a positive result—to introduce new ideas that may challenge and stimulate your thinking.1 Corinthians 1:10I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.We must always recognize the importance of Christian unity. Loving confrontation is different from argumentativeness. Conflict is inevitable. When it arises, true cooperation seeks the highest good for all. Working together meets many needs.

Question 4

Why is it that even though I love God, I often find it difficult to cooperate with him and follow him faithfully?

Accepted Answer

Jonah 1:1-3The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction. . . . He found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.Sometimes fear keeps you from following God—fear of failure, fear of being ridiculed for your faith, fear of persecution. When God calls you to a specific task, don’t let fear get in the way.Romans 7:15, 17I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. . . . So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.Even Paul found himself caught up in his old sinful nature. You will often face internal battles between your sin nature and your new nature in Christ. At those times, you have the power of the Holy Spirit to help you do what is right.

Question 5

How is cooperation accomplished between me and God?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 37:5Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.Proverbs 16:9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.You need to be intentional in letting God lead in order to cooperate with his plans. Pray about your life; this will broaden your awareness and keep your mind on the Lord.John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”John 15:4“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”John 14:16-17“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”Colossians 2:6-7Now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.God has offered you his unconditional love and all the blessings that go along with it, including his Spirit. Now established in a right relationship with him, he invites you to bear fruit, to participate in his work in the world. You can do this as you remain in Christ, guided by the Spirit, reflecting on the gospel and the Scriptures.