"The Dream Team" - Eph. 4:11-16 - August 6, 2000

This past week St. Paul’s Church held our annual Vacation Bible School. I always make an attempt to be in town to be supportive of the program and provide whatever talents I have to help.

On the very first evening of the program I came to the church to see if there was some area in which they needed me. It was obvious from the first minute I entered the building that everything was running smoothly. The children were gathered in the sanctuary and there were plenty of adults to supervise and provide leadership. So rather than stay and be in the way, I returned home with all the confidence that this was going to be a good week.

Sometimes we pastors think that only "professionals" can do ministry. We underestimate the energy and faith of our laity to build the faith community. When Paul addressed the Church at Ephesus, he emphasized the fact that everyone is in ministry and that people have different gifts. "Some are apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers." Only through the efforts of everyone, is the body of Christ built up. Together we are a "team" who nurture one another, teach one another and most importantly, love one another.

Last Monday was the deadline for major league baseball to make their final trades for the season. A number of teams spent millions of dollars, all for the purpose of winning the world series. Each was attempting to build a "dream team" that would aspire to championship status. The Cincinnati Reds traded away their number one starting pitcher to the New York Yankees. Ironically, the day after he left, they started winning ball games.

I believe that Paul wanted to have a dream team for the Church. The Church had to get its act together if it was going to compete with the secular world. To be successful the people had to change their ways. They had to work together and be a team. But, it wouldn’t be a team filled with superstars, professionals and high achievers. To be on Paul’s team you had to believe in unity, contributing your individual gifts while practicing patience, gentleness and humility.

You know what its like to be on a team with slackers. That is when some of your teammates don’t give 100% effort. They just go through the motions and fail to do their share of the workload.

Paul is saying that for the Church to be successful it can’t have any slackers either. He coaches them with words of encouragement and reminds them of the traits necessary to build the body of Christ. He begins and concludes this section by reminding his listeners to be eager with love. Love is the glue that makes teamwork a reality. As for teamwork in the church, it is the slackers who fail to love.

The kind of love Paul advocated was one that makes every effort to maintain unity and peace. He goes on to say, later in the chapter, we are to be "kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us."

Two brothers worked together on the family farm. One was married and had a large family. The other was single. At the day's end, the brothers shared everything equally, produce and profit.

Then one day the single brother said to himself, "It's not right that we should share equally the produce and the profit. I'm alone, and my needs are simple." So each night he took a sack of grain from his bin and crept across the field between their houses, dumping it into his brother's bin.

Meanwhile, the married brother said to himself, "It's not right that we should share the produce and the profit equally. After all, I'm married, and I have my wife and children to look after me in years to come. My brother has no one, and no one to take care of his future." So each night he took a sack of grain and dumped it into his single brother's bin.

Both men were puzzled for years because their supply of grain never dwindled. Then one dark night the two brothers bumped into each other. Slowly it dawned on them what was happening. They dropped their sacks and embraced one another. From, A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Neither brother was a slacker in this story. Both brothers demonstrated unconditional love for the other, expecting nothing in return. The result was peace and unity, exactly the kind Paul advocated to his Church.

Since I had no direct responsibilities in our Vacation Bible School I had the opportunity to be an observer. What I observed was a lot of love taking place in a variety of forms. There were small children being nurtured by young mothers. The children were singing at the top of their lungs while being inspired by an adult member of the choir. Leaders were teaching the basics of the faith. The adults present were modeling positive role models as they related to the children on their level. And, some of our youth were involved too, providing creative theatrical performances.

What impressed me the most was the way in which everyone worked together. This was a good example of the "dream team" Paul had in mind for the Church at Ephesus. It is people working together for the common good, while "equipping the saints" for the future. It is people, eager to love, each doing what they can to enhance the community of faith.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio