Teamwork/Serving

READY: We are all here because you are a part of the team. Think back to a successful team, whether it was one of your teams or a team that you follow. What were some of the attributes that made those teams successful?

illustration - ever hear of the best player getting traded and think…they are stacked…they will win everything!

Phoenix Suns… Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal...

On paper - wow!

SET: You are only as good as the team functions as a unit. Working together and picking up each other’s slack is what is needed to perform at your best. Not every game will be your best game, but how you interact and encourage each other is not dependent on your performance.

Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other’s burdens.

Often times, we can carry non-sport issues, hurts, and complications of life onto the court.

What defines us a team is how well we lift each other and help one another both on and off the field of play.

ILLUSTRATION: One of the most successful teams in our area was the St Mary of the Woods basketball men’s team from last year. They were more than a team, they created the culture of family, a brotherhood. That led them to the best record in school history and a birth into the national tournament.

There will be a day where a teammate might have an off game or practice and it is up to one of you to help pick up the slack. We aren’t always going to be perfect in our sport, but we should excel in how we lift and encourage one another.

GO: How can we accomplish this?

Work extra hard.

Give them encouragement. Your words and actions go a long way.

These are ways that we can serve our teammates specifically, our team as a whole and your coach as well.

Galatians 5:13 - Serve one another humbly in love.

For serving and teamwork to work, it must be done out of love, not because of duty. That was the difference in SMWC team. It must become your culture.

Think about: Do you have a time when you wish you would have had a teammate lift you up? What are some practical ideas that you can put into practice on your team?