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Six Principles for Getting People to Work Together

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40 Days of Love

You can't succeed in ministry without getting people to work together. It's a crucial leadership skill. Chapter 3 of Nehemiah is a powerful illustration of effective leadership. When God put a dream on Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem, he successfully led a team to finish his goal. Pastor, as you rally your team around the dream God has given you, these six principles can help you get the most out of those you lead.

Divide a big dream into smaller goals and tasks.

Nehemiah broke down a huge dream into manageable chunks. If you read Nehemiah 3 in the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, you'll see the word "section" used 28 times in 32 verses. Repeatedly, the Bible tells us that particular groups of people helped to build specific sections of the wall. A section is simply a smaller part of a whole. Nehemiah took this very large dream and split it into manageable tasks. I followed Nehemiah’s example when I started Saddleback Church. Before we began, I split my 40-year dream into 480 monthly goals. Over 40 years later, I still have that same chart.

Let others share ownership of the dream.

You'll never accomplish your dreams until they become our dreams. In 1980, before I had my first Saddleback member, I wrote an open letter to the community, sharing my dream of starting a brand-new church called Saddleback. I never used the personal pronoun "I" in that letter. Instead, I used the word "we." We hadn't even held our first service yet. Kay and I were the only two involved, but I wrote that letter in faith. When 205 people showed up for the first service, "me" became "we." We never looked back. Another key phrase you'll see in Nehemiah 3 is "by his own house." The word "own" reminds us that Nehemiah employed the principle of shared ownership. Ownership increases motivation. In this case, people were allowed to serve in their area of interest. They did their best because they were building the part of the wall that protected their own homes.

Organize around natural relationships.

Nehemiah did this in multiple ways. For example, he organized groups around four things:

Families (4:13)
Ministry relationships (3:1)
Geography (3:2)
Careers (4:32)

We did something similar at Saddleback. We formed natural groups around families, ministries, geography, and careers. Why? People respond better when serving together in groups of similar-minded people.

Develop team spirit.

Focus on cooperation rather than competition. You do this by getting your team to focus on those who are working alongside them. Your team members won't value their teammates if they're only focused on what they are doing. Nehemiah succeeded where others failed in rebuilding the wall because he encouraged team spirit. He helped people feel like they were part of something bigger than themselves. In fact, he used the phrase "and next to them" 21 times. This is to remind the Israelites of the larger work they were a part of.

Love everyone, but invest in the willing.

Jesus modeled this. He loved everyone. He fed the 5,000. He preached to large crowds of people—but he trained the 70, he discipled 12, and he mentored three. Jesus loves everyone, but he spends the maximum time with those who bear the maximum responsibility. Nehemiah wasn't discouraged by those who would not help build the wall. Nehemiah 3:5 says, "Next were the people from Tekoa, though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors" (NLT). Nehemiah just barely mentioned their reluctance, and then he focused on those who actually wanted to be part of the work. Pastor, not everyone will want to be part of your God-given dream. Don't fret about it. Focus on those who want to join you.

Never stop saying thanks.

The first duty of a leader is to communicate the dream clearly. The second duty of a leader is to always say “thank you.” Nehemiah modeled this throughout chapter 3. In fact, he showed four specific ways to be appreciative of others:

Recognize individuals by name. It's not enough to say a general “thank you” to those on your team. Be specific. Nehemiah singled out 71 individuals in 32 verses.
Recognize specific work. Don't just say, "You did a great job." Point out the details. Nehemiah did this over and over.
Recognize great attitude. Nehemiah pointed out the attitude of Baruch in Nehemiah 3:20, saying he "zealously repaired an additional section" (NLT). You'll see a lot of people with bad attitudes in our world today. When you see someone with a good attitude, make sure you recognize them.
Recognize extra effort. Nehemiah noted one man, Meremoth, who repaired two sections of the wall in chapter 3. When you see a goes-the-second-mile person like Meremoth, it's important that you reward their effort.

Great teamwork is counter-cultural today. So often people work against each other. That’s why leaders who create harmony and teach people how to work together are rare. God is honored when we, in our broken and divided world, stand together shoulder to shoulder to do God's work. This is our greatest witness to the world.

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Is God Waiting on You?

Pastor, as you step into another week of shepherding God’s people, remember this: God wants to bless you and your ministry. But he ties his blessings to a condition—obedience.The Bible contains over 7,000 promises where God essentially says, “If you do this, I will do this.”If you confess your sins, I will forgive you.If you call upon me, I will save you.If you obey me, I will bless you.When it feels like you’re waiting on God to move in your church, he may actually be waiting on you—to trust him more deeply, to walk in obedience, and to follow his lead in your ministry.Take Deuteronomy 28:2-6 as an example. Notice the blessings and the condition: “You will experience all these blessings if you obey the LORD your God: Your towns and your fields will be blessed. Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed” (NLT).You may not tend fields or flocks, but you do tend the flock of God. This promise still applies. God will bless your family and the work of your ministry. He will sustain you in preaching, in counseling, in leadership, and in carrying the unseen burdens of your congregation.God not only wants to bless everything you do in service to him—he also wants those blessings to be visible to others. His goodness in your life becomes a testimony to his faithfulness.Psalm 31:19 reminds us: “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you” (CSB).God already has blessings stored up for you as a pastor—encouragements, provisions, fruitfulness—that he intends to pour out as you walk in obedience.As Ezekiel 34:26 says: “I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing” (NIV).That’s what God wants for your life and ministry: showers of blessing.So don’t miss what he wants to do this week. Lean into obedience. Follow his directions. Trust that he is faithful—and watch him fulfill his promises in your life and your church.

Why Your Quiet Time Is a Pastoral Lifeline

“Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” Proverbs 8:34 (NIV)Mondays can feel like a deep exhale for many pastors. The adrenaline of Sunday is gone, the sermons have been preached, the conversations had, the crises handled—and now you’re left with both the joy and the fatigue of pouring yourself out for your people.That’s why God’s promise in Proverbs 8:34 is so vital: “Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway” (NIV). He blesses those who daily come to him, not just for personal refreshment, but for the sake of the people they lead. Shepherding God’s flock is never meant to be done on yesterday’s strength.Your “quiet time” is more than a devotional habit—it’s a lifeline. Whether it’s five, 10, or 15 minutes, set aside time today to meet with the Lord. Find a quiet place and ask him, “Father, what do you want to say to me as I lead your people this week?” Bring him the names and needs that weighed on you yesterday. Lay before him the decisions you face.Read his Word slowly, letting him speak through it. Be still enough to listen for his guidance. Let him shepherd you before you shepherd others.For many, mornings are best for this sacred appointment. But if your Monday mornings are slow to start after a long Sunday, don’t force it—find the time of day when you can be most alert to his voice. The key is consistency.Psalm 31:19 reminds us, “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world” (NLT). That “watching world” includes your congregation, your community, and even your family.When you give God the first and best of your time, he blesses you with wisdom, peace, and strength that overflow into every sermon you preach, every meeting you lead, and every hurting heart you comfort.

When You Hurt But Still Have to Lead

“Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power.” 1 Peter 4:1 (TLB)Pastor, let’s be honest: When you’re hurting, it’s hard to think about anyone else. That’s true of all of us—it’s human nature. When you’re in pain, everything in you wants comfort. You long for rest. You wish someone would just stop and care for you. And that’s completely normal.But as a pastor, you’re not just called to endure pain—you’re called to minister through it.Jesus models this for us on the cross. In his final, agonizing moments—while carrying the full weight of the world’s sin—Jesus looked around and saw others. He prayed for his executioners: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34 GW). He gave assurance to a dying thief: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 GW). And he made sure his mother would be cared for.Even while suffering more than we can imagine, Jesus wasn’t consumed by himself. He noticed the hurting around him—and responded with love.Paul tells us to adopt the same attitude: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NKJV).That’s not easy. Especially when you're leading a church while carrying hidden pain of your own—grief, disappointment, anxiety, or spiritual exhaustion.But with God’s grace, you can lift your eyes. You can choose to see the pain of your people. You can comfort others, even as you wait for comfort yourself.And something happens when you do: Sin loses its grip. The self-centered pull of pain loosens. You become more like Jesus. And your suffering becomes sacred ground where healing begins—for you and for those you lead.So as you start this week, pastor, take heart. Jesus sees your pain. He’s using it. And through it, he’s shaping you into a shepherd who reflects his own heart.You’re not alone. You’re not forgotten. And your pain is not wasted.

Call Your Leaders to More

Pastor, one of the clearest signs your church is growing in maturity is this: The standards for leadership keep rising. As your people grow deeper in Christ, your expectations for leaders should grow with them. Every year, raise the bar of leadership commitment—and you'll raise the spiritual depth of your entire church.When Saddleback first began, our only requirement for serving in some ministries was that you had a pulse! But over time, we realized that raising the standard helped everyone. We strengthened expectations for lay pastors, musicians, and other ministry positions—and each time, the whole church took a step forward.A rising tide lifts all boats. When you elevate leadership commitment, you set the pace for your congregation.1. Focus on Your Leaders, Not the CrowdYou can't lead your church by catering to the least committed. Even the semi-committed can't set the tone. Your leaders set the example for everyone else. Raise their level of commitment first, and the rest of your church will follow.2. Ask Boldly for CommitmentScripture says, "You do not have because you do not ask God" (James 4:2 NIV). That principle applies to leadership too. If you don’t ask people for commitment, you won’t get it.Other organizations require serious commitment. If you've been a Little League parent, you know: snacks, rides, uniforms, victory parties—it takes a lot! Yet churches often ask for less.One of the most loving things you can do is help people choose their commitments wisely. Many believers are over-committed to causes that don’t really matter. Jesus warned us in Luke 8:14: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature" (NIV). Help your people make commitments that lead to maturity.3. Make Big Asks with Big VisionJesus never hesitated to ask for total commitment. He called grown adults to drop everything and follow him. In Luke 14:33, he said, "Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (NIV). That’s a bold invitation.People respond to vision, not need. Most stewardship campaigns fail because they highlight the church’s needs, not its mission. People want to be part of something significant. Cast a compelling vision, and people will gladly rise to the challenge.4. Be Specific about ExpectationsVague commitments lead to shallow results. Clarify what you’re asking of people. At Saddleback, we asked our members to make four specific commitments, each with a corresponding covenant:Membership CovenantMaturity CovenantMinistry CovenantMissions CovenantEach covenant outlined what was expected. Don’t just say, “Be committed to Christ.” Spell out what that means.5. Explain the Benefits of CommitmentGod never commands without attaching a promise. Remind your people of the blessings that come from obedience.Talk about how commitment changes lives:Personally: They grow spiritually and emotionallyFamily: Their home becomes more groundedChurch: They contribute to a stronger, healthier bodyCommunity: They live as salt and lightEternally: They store up treasures in heavenPeople have a deep desire to grow—you just need to help them see the value.6. Build on Commitment, Not toward ItDon’t wait for perfect commitment before involving people in ministry. Start with the willingness they have, then help them grow into deeper commitment.That’s how parenting works. Most couples don’t feel ready before the baby comes. But they grow into the role.You can also break big commitments into small steps. That’s the idea behind Saddleback’s CLASS system. Let people take baby steps—and celebrate each one.Pastor, your leadership sets the tone.If you raise the commitment of those closest to you, the ripple effect will impact your entire church. Don’t be afraid to call people to a higher standard. Jesus did—and he changed the world.

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