John 17; John 21: 1-19; Luke 22: 31-32; 

Recurrent Thought 

A healthy body naturally produces its fruit. A team that is refreshed and cared for grows into a well performing community (Mark 4:26-27)

All forms of teams hit bumps and face challenges from time to time. Therefore, teams must regularly heal themselves for them to be meaningful. It is essential that both the team leaders and members deliberately practice self- care for their team to remain effective. Team Care is an aspect all of us must be responsible for, whether we are team leaders or team members. An environment that makes teams succeed is where there is a demand for accountability for results and an atmosphere undergirded by care. Jesus took care of the healthiness of his team. Jesus acted towards the disciples with deliberateness. He acted to influence or change behaviour. Apart from infusing his team with purpose and vision, he also worked diligently for the cohesion and healthiness of his team. Jesus cared when his team was exhausted (Read Mark 6: 31-32)

Care is seen through cultural lenses. What we may deem cruel in one culture may be celebrated in another. It is also observed that newer civilization invests more in emotional care as compared to older ones. Thus, what may have been deemed as care then, may be seen as cruelty from today’s lenses

Here are four significant practises Jesus used to care and ensured the healthiness of this team

1. Modelling One’s Life (John 17:7-8)
   • A good and healthy team is an active learning community. 
   • Healthiness is impacted by what we know
   • All members are responsible to be life-long learners. However, the leaders of teams are especially responsible to provide adequate and challenging leaning content for their teams. 
   • The team’s learning should include acquisition of superior knowledge, skills and character.
   • Jesus is known as a Great Teacher, the Rabbi, and through this emphasis he taught his disciples issues to do with vision, knowledge etc.
   • The whole purpose of the Apostles to be with Him was to learn from him. The followers are known as Disciples which means learners. 
   • He taught them by modelling His life among them. He was both the teacher and the content of his training process.
2. Praying for the Team
   • All human activities are done on two plains: On the natural and spirit plain. 
   • There is always an interaction between these two realms. The spirit realm has a powerful influence on the processes and outcomes of human activities. 
   • Whatever human beings initiate, it is impact by the spirit realm. How you engage the spirit realm affects the effectiveness of what you do in the earth. 
   • Therefore, anyone who has the capacity to influence the spirit realm then have the capacity to impact human civilization in incredible ways.
   • Spiritually perceptive team leaders understand that the spirit realm immsenly affects their teams. Therefore, they take praying for their members a serious responsibility.
   • Jesus used to pray for his team. He prayed for them when he selected them. He prayed for them, individually. He prayed that they should not be tempted; he prayed that they should not be destroyed.
   • John 17 is the loftiest Prayer Jesus, the messiah, did. He prayed for their growing understanding. He prayed for their protection, their consecration and their standing in the Lord (John 17:17).
   • He prayed for the team and he prayed for the individuals
   • We see him praying for Peter as an individual. He prayed for specific issues 
     
     Luk 22:31  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 
     
     Luk 22:32  but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers
      
   • Caring for you team must including praying for its members. The people you pray for, you have difficult to backbite, hurt damage or malign. 
   • Praying for the members of the team is one best way to care for the team.
3. Disciplining, Rebuking & Correcting Others
   • Disciplining people you work with closely is the most difficult leadership task. To suspend, or to fire is never easy or delightful but extremely necessary.
   • From time to time, members of the team do things that needs addressed sternly.
   • Disciplining is an obvious extension of accountability. As a leader, calling you team members to the right ways, is your responsibility,
   • Jesus consistently, disciplined, rebuked and corrected his team members in different ways,
   • He rebuked them when they did not even know that they were being tempted by evil spirits. He looked at Peter and spoke to the spirit using him, “’Get behind me Stan’’ Math 16: 
     
     Mat 16:23  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 
      
   • When John and James wanted to pray fire on the towns that rejected them and the gospel. Jesus rebuked them: You don’t know the spirit of which you speak.
   • He rebuked them when they showed lack of faith as in Mark 4:40. When he woke up he said why did you not speak to the storm.
   • He rebuked John and James when their desire to sit on the right and left of Jesus in the new kingdom almost destroyed the unity of the team (Mathew 20:21) 
   • He rebuked all of them, when they clamoured for positions in the New Kingdom and declared: 
     
     Mat 20:26  It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
     Mat 20:27  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave
4. Restoring the Wounded and Broken
   • Sometimes members become so broken that they are ineffective and may want to leave the team altogether
   • Sometimes members may be so hurt and wounded that become poisonous to others.
   • Peter was so broken after denying Jesus. Despite that he had been confronted by the resurrected Saviour, Peter’s life was so shattered that he decided to go fishing. This meant leaving Jerusalem and go back to Galilee
   • Peter was not the only whose life and hope was shattered. When he said I go fishing, others who were equally disillusioned joined him, they were seven altogether.
   • Their depression, disillusionment and hopelessness was deep. They travelled from Jerusalem all the way to Galilee under the same stupor. 
   • However, Jesus appeared just had he promised that he would meet them in Galilee (Mark 14:28) Jesus tenderly came spoke to them and restored them. 
   • Restoring those whose lives are broken is one major way to care for the team
   • The Spotlight once again is on Peter: Jesus took three times to address lapses in his pursuit of his calling. It is almost like aligning the times he denied him (Read John 21:15-21)

Altar Time

• Lord, increase my capacity to understand the challenges of my teams.
• Lord, cause me to be deliberate in caring for my team members.