Watch The Perfect Game (Start time: 23:59-End Time: 30:12) (6:13 min.)
*(Clip not available online. Watch The Perfect Game to take advantage of this lesson.)
Discussion Questions
1. Who was the leader of this team? (Cesar) What were some of the talents Cesar mentioned to the team in the market that would help make them a good team?(Cesar talked about the five skills in baseball: running, catching, throwing, hitting and hitting harder.) At this point in the movie, were these young men working together as a team? (No. Reference the fight between the two players at the end of the clip.) Did their teamwork improve over time? (Yes. If you didn’t watch the whole movie, let students know that through working together the team from Monterrey won a LLWS.)
2. Cesar said, “There are two kinds of players: those who can play as a team and those who won’t be on this team.” Later, he said, “You all rise and fall together.” What do these two statements say about teamwork? (That a team is all about members working together. To be a true team, all members have to work together for the good of the whole. One member not doing his part can destroy the whole team.) Do you think Cesar thought teamwork was important to the success of a team? (Yes.)
3. Where do you find the need for teamwork in your everyday life? (Answers will vary.) Do you think your teachers, coaches, friends and family would consider you a team player? (Answers will vary.) Explain. (Answers will vary.)
4. Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. According to these verses, what are some of the advantages of working together as a team? (Team members can encourage and support each other.) Why are encouragement and support important as you try to accomplish tasks in your everyday life? (Sometimes life is hard, and encouragement and support from others can give us hope that can help us overcome difficult situations and accomplish hard tasks.)
5. Would you describe Jesus as a team player, a team leader, or both? (Both.) Explain. (Jesus did whatever it took to show God’s love to others.) Name some times when Jesus put His team (the disciples, believers, you and me) before Himself. (Many times, Jesus put others before Himself; the greatest example of this was His sacrifice of His life on the cross for all who believe.)
6. Read Mark 3:13-19. Would you consider the disciples a team? (Yes.) To reach its maximum potential, does every team need a leader? (Yes.) Who would you consider the leader of this team? (Jesus.) What are some of the problems a team without a leader can face? (Many times a team without a leader has no direction. Each individual team member may be talented, but that doesn’t translate to the success of the team because there is no one person to lead those talents.)
7. According to the verses from Mark, what were some of the responsibilities within this team? (Two of their responsibilities mentioned in these verses were to preach, and they were given the authority to drive out demons.) Name some advantages of dividing up tasks and responsibilities on a team. (It helps keep everybody involved and lessens the workload on each team member.) From what you know about the disciples, do you think they were good at working together as a team? (At times they were very united and worked together well as a team.) Did they ever fail to work together as a team? (Yes. Reference Peter denying Jesus, and Judas betraying Him as two examples of team members being more focused on themselves than on the team.)
8. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10. This verse talks about being united in the same mind and the same judgment. Is unity a characteristic of teamwork and a successful team? (Yes.) Explain. (It is very hard for a team to work together if there is conflict among them.) Is there any room for division within a successful team? (No.) What normally happens to a team when divisions have replaced teamwork and unity? (It fails to reach its goal.)
9. Read Romans 12:3-8. What do we find out about God’s team and teamwork in these verses? (Members of God’s team should not think more highly of themselves than they ought to; members of God’s team belong to each other [great example of teamwork], it’s about each other not one person; members have different gifts and are expected to use them.) Does everyone have the same responsibilities on God’s team? (No.) Do you consider yourself part of God’s team? (Answers will vary.) What gifts or talents has God blessed you with that can help strengthen His team? (Answers will vary.)
10. How will knowing that you are a part of God’s team make a difference in your life and the lives of others this week? (Answers will vary.) When Jesus calls you to serve others on His team, tell His story to those who aren’t part of His team and to use you gifts and talents to strengthen His team, will you immediately be a team player by answering His call? (Answers will vary.)
Closing Thought
Being part of a team means putting personal accomplishments and glory aside for the good of the team. The devil pushes us to focus on ourselves instead of working together as a team. We are reminded in Romans 12 that each of us serves a vital role in the church and on God’s team. Teammates often make sacrifices for each other, and no greater sacrifice has ever been made than that of Jesus. Without His sacrifice, we would not have made the cut on God’s team. Thank God for sending you and me the ultimate team player: Jesus.
Closing Verses
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Rom. 12:4-5).
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecc. 4:9-12).
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him” (Mark 3:13-19).
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Cor. 1:10).
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Rom. 12:3-8).
