A Biblical Approach to Team, its Members, and Healthy Function

Ron Ward

The Helpfulness of the Grip-Birkman Blueprint

in Member Care

Some Implications and Applications of Grip-Birkman for Member Care

Grip-Birkman provides helpful images of what it looks like to be a biblical team

A biblical team functions as the first line of member care to one another

Members of biblical teams practice living out the gospel in healthy ways, and influence others

Some Guiding Principles of Grip-Birkman in Biblical Care

The gifts are His…

not ours(What we deserve vs what He gives)

Some Guiding Principles-2 We all have personality needs and gift

weaknesses…by His designThere is a molding process He is effecting

in each one of usHis purposes will become evident over

time as we believe that who God brought is who was meant to be on our team… for this season

Grip-Birkman in Biblical Care

Working out our salvation in the places we minister is a PROCESS

PIECES OF THE PROCESSGrip-Birkman in Biblical Care

1. He transforms and renews us as part of that process

2. Perseverance is a biblically designed component of the process

3. Through the process we learn the deep joy of living in hope

A KEY PIECE FOR MEMBER CARE

Grip-Birkman is a tool that God is using to mirror and reflect

who we are in Him

Grip-Birkman is a tool and not the point.

The point is PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY…

…And Grip-Birkman helps us see PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY in

unique ways that team members can identify with personally, relationally and functionally

HOW?

In three important ways

From a Scriptural Member Care Perspective:

1. Grip-Birkman brings clarity to our personal identity: natural wiring nurtured by others noted by His presence

From a Scriptural Member Care Perspective:

2. Grip-Birkman identifies the gardens of fruitful joy in ministry:

empowered gifts edification and unity of the Body (and

teams as a ministry body) practiced “one anothers” transferable Scriptural teaming

(modeled for other teams and local churches)

From a Scriptural Member Care Perspective:

3. Grip-Birkman gives purpose to the team vision: sharing the vision discerning roles that fit each member measuring progress meaningfully adjusting direction as needed

Member Care Helps for the Birkman LifeStyle Grid

INTERESTS: Encourage one another in their high Birkman Interest scores:

an easy and positive accountability tool for team members to help spur them on, by asking how they are investing in their interests

leads to very natural opportunities to mix and match interests with team members

Scripture tells us, in the one another passages, to build up, teach, exhort

Member Care Helps-2

USUAL STYLE: Affirm one another when you see examples of them operating in their Happy Place!

be specific (when, where, what, why) be genuine (to be meaningful and received well)

be thankful (give glory to God for the way their example has blessed you or others)

Scripture teaches us to build up one another

Member Care Helps-3NEEDS: Asking with a heart of interest and

understanding is key. Practice “station identification” with one

another. Even when time is short, you can connect, communicate, and care.

Ask caring questions. Listen carefully to their responses. Note their expressions.

The nourishing effects of intentionality in caring is a necessary ingredient in forming and sustaining Productive Community.

Member Care Helps-4

STRESS: Conflict is inevitable. Suffering is a part of our walk in Him. Responding biblically makes the difference in how we approach and work through it.

practice confession with an honest heart acknowledging the logs in your own eye

practice forgiving from a heart of restoration with the desire to be reconciled

Stress Helps-2

practice speaking truth in love from a right spirit and clear conscience

practice affirming areas where gifting is evident

practice bearing up one another in times of personal or team persecution and suffering

Grip-Birkman Blueprint: Foundation Stones of

Productive Community

Foundation Stone-1TRUST:

Trust is built and sustained on these Scriptural principles:

being servants to one another (Gal 5:13-14) bearing one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2) blessing through hospitality (1 Pet 4:9) being kind to one another (Eph 4:31-32) praying for one another (James 5:16)

Foundation Stone-2FAMILY: A team that views itself as a family breeds these

kinds of character qualities (Phil 2:1-16) understands that we are His and not our own celebrate each member in their diversity of

gifts, abilities, and personalities believe fully that God brought every person to

that team by His plan purpose reflects oneness of spirit and focus

Foundation Stone-3

FRUITFULNESS:

Joy in ministry glows when the expression of gifts is noticed, encouraged and affirmed…

and potentially the opposite

when they are not

Touch Points of Productive Community

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS CHECKPOINTS: Know God Treat your team as family Learn your place in the family Faithfully steward Refresh regularly on your purpose