Week #4: The Power of Collaboration: Building a Church that Works Together
Blog Series Intention Recap
When you ask someone what they think about the church, be prepared for any response. What they say may inspire feelings of anger, sadness, joy, or hope, depending on what they have experienced in their dealings with believers. This five-week series explores five congregational values that should define our relationships with those inside and outside the church. When we fulfill our biblical call to the four C’s—commission, community, commandment, and collaboration—we can be the church that glorifies Jesus.
This post is the main page of the series “Our House.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #4:
Collaborative Community: Working Together for the Common Good… In Acts 6:1–7, we see the early church demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing challenges and expanding the reach of the gospel. No one can do it all alone. By working together, the church can serve the needs of the community, build one another up, and effectively spread the message of Christ. Collaboration within the body of Christ strengthens the church and amplifies its impact. Collaboration is key to fulfilling the mission of the church. As we unite our gifts, resources, and efforts, we not only meet the needs of others but also expand the Kingdom of God. This week, let’s reflect on how we can work together more effectively in our local church to serve our community and reach the world for Christ.
Why it Matters:
The Early Church’s Collaborative Spirit: The church faced challenges but responded with unity, collaboration, and a shared focus on mission.
The Necessity of Teamwork: No one person can meet all the needs within the church, and it is through teamwork that the body functions as God intended.
Spiritual Gifts and Service: Each believer has been given unique gifts to serve the body of Christ. By working together, we maximize the impact of those gifts.
Expanding the Kingdom through Collaboration: When the church collaborates effectively, it not only grows internally but also becomes a powerful force for change in the world.
Go Deeper:
One of the greatest challenges in any community is how to meet the needs of its members while staying true to its mission. The church is no different. From the beginning, the early church faced challenges—growing pains, cultural tensions, and logistical issues. Yet, through it all, one thing remained clear: collaboration was essential to fulfilling their mission. In Acts 6:1–7, we see the church’s response to one such challenge: the need for fair distribution of resources. Their solution was not to rely on a few leaders or to isolate themselves; it was to come together, use their collective gifts, and serve the community.
This collaborative approach to ministry is as relevant today as it was then. The church is called to be a community that works together, not just to meet the needs of its members but also to reach the world with the gospel. In this post, we will explore how collaboration is foundational to the mission of the church, how it empowers the body of Christ to function effectively, and how it amplifies the church’s ability to expand God’s Kingdom.
The Early Church’s Collaborative Spirit
In Acts 6:1–7, we read about a challenge the early church faced: the Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This issue threatened to divide the church and distract from its mission. The apostles could have handled this problem themselves, but instead, they called the congregation together and chose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to oversee the distribution of food. The apostles, then, focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word.
This decision highlights the importance of collaboration in the church. The apostles did not try to do everything themselves, nor did they let the problem go unresolved. Instead, they empowered others to take leadership, trusting that working together would benefit the body of Christ as a whole. Their approach was one of humility and wisdom, recognizing that God had gifted others in the congregation to serve in specific ways.
The early church demonstrated that collaboration is not a sign of weakness but of strength. It acknowledges that no one person can do it all, and it values the contributions of every believer. The result of this collaborative spirit was not only the resolution of the immediate problem but also the continued growth of the church. “The word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” (Acts 6:7). When the church works together, it flourishes.
The Necessity of Teamwork
One of the most fundamental truths about the body of Christ is that we are not meant to serve in isolation. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the analogy of the human body to describe the church. Just as a body has many parts that work together, so too does the church. “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Teamwork is essential for the church to function properly. Each member of the body has a unique role to play, and when we work together, we become stronger and more effective. The church is not just a collection of individuals; it is a unified body, each part contributing to the whole. Just as a hand cannot function without the arm, the church cannot fulfill its mission without the contributions of every member.
In practical terms, this means that no one person should be expected to carry the weight of the church on their own. Pastors, leaders, and volunteers all play vital roles, but it is the collective effort of everyone that makes the church effective. Collaboration ensures that the needs of the community are met and that the mission of the church is fulfilled.
Spiritual Gifts and Service
One of the most important aspects of collaboration in the church is the recognition of spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:4–7, Paul writes, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Each believer has been given a unique set of gifts that are meant to be used for the good of the church and the glory of God. These gifts are not for personal gain but for service to others. When believers collaborate by using their gifts together, they create a powerful force for the Kingdom of God.
Collaboration allows us to maximize the impact of these gifts. For example, someone with the gift of teaching may serve in the children’s ministry, while someone with the gift of mercy may minister to those who are sick or struggling. Others with administrative gifts may organize outreach events, and those with leadership gifts may guide teams of volunteers. When all these gifts work together, the church is able to reach and serve more people.
Expanding the Kingdom through Collaboration
The ultimate goal of collaboration in the church is to expand the Kingdom of God. When the church works together, it becomes a powerful witness to the world. In Acts 6, we see that as the church worked together, the word of God continued to spread, and many people came to faith. This is the natural result of a church that collaborates effectively. It not only grows internally but also becomes a beacon of hope to the world around it.
The church is called to make disciples of all nations, and this mission cannot be accomplished without collaboration. Whether it’s through local outreach, global missions, or supporting one another within the church, collaboration expands the reach of the gospel. Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) requires the church to work together in unity and purpose. When the body of Christ collaborates, it becomes a powerful force for change in the world.
How does this help me understand, “Our House?”
The Call to Collaborate
As we reflect on the example of the early church, we are reminded of the power of collaboration. No one person can do it all, and the church is not meant to function as a collection of isolated individuals. When we work together, we reflect the heart of God and fulfill His mission in the world.
This week, take time to reflect on how you can contribute to the collaborative efforts within your church. Are there areas where you can serve and use your gifts for the common good? How can you partner with others to expand the reach of the gospel? The mission of the church is too great for any one person to accomplish alone, but when we work together, the impact is multiplied. Let’s commit to working in unity, using our gifts to serve the body of Christ, and ultimately expanding God’s Kingdom on earth.
