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Six Principles for Getting People to Work Together

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The Purpose Driven Life Book

God's Power to Change Your Life

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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Remember God’s Promises When Leadership Feels Heavy

One of the hardest parts of leadership is carrying a God-given assignment while feeling the weight of your own limits. You can run on adrenaline, discipline, and experience for a while. But sooner or later, the pressure of ministry shows you what you’ve really been leaning on.In Joshua 1, God points Joshua to something sturdier than willpower. He did not just hand Joshua a job to do. God gave him promises to stand on. And if Joshua was going to lead faithfully, he had to stay conscious of God’s dependability.God gave Joshua four promises that every pastor needs to hold onto when the work gets tough (as it always will).1. Remember that God promises power.God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). That was not a promise that leadership would be easy. It was a promise that God’s power would be enough.Pastor, the assignment in front of you may be bigger than your natural strength. That does not mean you are in the wrong place. It may mean you are right where God wants you—so you can learn again that ministry is sustained by his power, not yours.Do not measure the size of the challenge before you remember the size of your God.2. Remember that God promises protection.God also said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). Joshua was not being sent out alone. The presence of God would go with him.That matters because leadership can feel lonely. Criticism is lonely. Big decisions are lonely. Carrying spiritual responsibility is lonely. But if God is with you, you are not abandoned, even when you feel outnumbered.Your safety is not in having a trouble-free ministry. Your safety is in the faithfulness of God.3. Remember that God promises provision.Joshua 1:8 says that obedience leads to a life that is “prosperous and successful” (NIV). That does not mean every ministry grows in the same way. It means God provides what you need to do what he has called you to do.Pastor, God’s provision is not about platform, size, or ego. It is about having God’s hand on your life and ministry. It is being able to say, “By God’s grace, I am becoming who God wants me to be, and I have what I need in order to do what God has asked me to do.”So stay close to God’s Word. Meditate on it. Obey it. Do not pick and choose the parts you like. God’s provision often shows up as you take the next obedient step.4. Remember that God promises his presence.The promise that frames this whole idea is simple: “The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV). That is the best promise of all.God does not just give direction. God gives himself. God does not just send leaders into the work. God walks with them in the work.If you are heading into a hard week, that truth changes everything. You may still have the same meetings, the same burdens, and the same unfinished problems. But you do not face them alone.If you’re entering a hard week, do not just admire these promises. Use them.When you feel weak, remember God’s power. When you feel exposed, remember his protection. When the future feels unclear, remember his provision. When leadership feels lonely, remember his presence.Joshua’s success did not begin with self-confidence. It began with God-confidence. And that is still where faithful leadership begins.Pastor, do not build this week on your experience, your energy, or your best instincts alone. Build it on the character of God. God is dependable. So take the next obedient step.

Slow Down and Hear the Hurt

“The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him.” Proverbs 18:13 (CSB)Pastor, one of the hardest parts of ministry is resisting the urge to fix things too quickly.When someone comes to you hurting, confused, or overwhelmed, your mind often moves fast. You want to help. You want to solve the problem. You want to bring clarity and move things forward.But Scripture says, “The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him” (Proverbs 18:13 CSB).That is an important word for shepherds.People do need wisdom. They do need truth. But often, before they are ready for your answer, they need your presence. They need to feel heard. They need to know you care. They need space to speak their pain out loud.There is healing in being heard.Your ear is one of the tools God will use most in your ministry.Jesus shows us this in John 11. When he arrived after Lazarus had died, he already knew what he was about to do. He was not confused. He was not powerless. He knew the solution before anyone else did.And still, when he saw the grief around him, he did not rush past it.The Bible says, “Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. . . . Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35 GNT).Jesus knew resurrection was coming, but he still entered their sorrow.That is pastoral wisdom.Pastor, sometimes the most loving thing you can do is to not speak first. Instead, stay present long enough to feel what someone else is carrying. Yes, there may be a time to guide, correct, or counsel. But often ministry begins by listening well.So this week, before you rush to fix, slow down.Listen fully.Enter the pain.Let people feel heard.A shepherd’s heart is often seen first in listening.

Four Marks of Holiness From Psalm 24

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Who Is Watching Out for You?

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)Pastor, you probably know what it’s like to watch over others while quietly feeling unseen yourself. You help people stay steady in temptation, grief, conflict, and doubt. You pray for them, counsel them, and carry burdens you cannot always share.So here is a Monday-morning question worth asking: Who is watching out for you?When you go on vacation, you ask someone to keep an eye on the house. That is wisdom. But in ministry, it is easy to let the “watching out” stop with everyone else. And when a pastor becomes isolated, discouragement can deepen, temptations get louder, and blind spots grow.Scripture gives a better way: “Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own” (Philippians 2:4 GNT). God intends for the family of God to be a protective gift, not just a place we serve.Ecclesiastes calls it a braided cord. Strength comes from connection. Not performative connection. Not “I have plenty of people around me.” Real, honest, mutual care.Pastor, you were not meant to stand alone.Here’s a simple encouragement for this week: Choose one trusted person and invite a real check-in. Not a ministry update. A soul check. The Lord often protects pastors through faithful friends who lovingly “look out” when you cannot see what is happening in your own blind spots.You are better together.

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