There's No 'I' in Team: The Power of Unity

Team sports cultivate wonderful values that carry over into other areas of life. My wife and I encourage our children in their athletic pursuits. Our son plays soccer. One of our girls runs track, and the other is a gymnast. Not only is the physical activity good for a growing kid, but sports are a terrific opportunity to gain experience in teamwork. While runners may strive for their PBR (personal best running time), and gymnasts participate in individual competitions, both sports celebrate the more laudable best overall team score. Team success is only possible when each member of the squad collaborates with the others. There is no “I” in team. Teammates push one another to excel, cheer for one another to do their best, and rejoice together when victory is achieved.

Teamwork stands or falls on unity. At the conclusion of Jesus’ parting words of consolation to His disciples on the eve of the crucifixion, He prayed to His Father in heaven that they would press on towards unity.

 I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17:22–23, NLT)

Jesus’ prayer offers assurance that the disciples’ witness to the world would flourish through unity. Although He was soon leaving them to be with His Father above, through the Spirit of truth (John 16:13), He would remain with them and even dwell “in them.” The disciples could look forward to unity with Jesus and experiencing the same unity with one another. This prayer of Jesus meant that the disciples were to live and function as a team—and that their teamwork would resound as a testimony to God’s love for the world.

Christian unity is the foremost vehicle of evangelism. Maybe you’re not on a sports team. You can build teamwork into every sphere of life, including your family, workplace, and local church. When the people of God join together, regardless of their ethnic background, social standing, or denomination, they powerfully communicate God’s love. God calls each of us to make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace (Ephesians. 4:3). We need not be blind to our differences—they are what make us unique—but each has a responsibility to reach beyond those differences, embracing the unity and peace of Christian teamwork.

Lord, help me lead as an example of unity and peace, and thereby show others Your love. I admit that my differences often set me at odds even with my brothers and sisters in You. Today, I lay hold of the “perfect unity” You desire for us so that the world may see the love of Your Spirit in our midst. Amen.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.