Godly Friendships - Week 6, Day 1

Not Such a Silly Goose (Teamwork)

This fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in a V formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

Similarly, people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are. When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing, and another goose flies point.

Geese also honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed.

Finally, and this is important, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshots and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with the goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

time out

1. The early church in the book of Acts had it going on when it came to teamwork. Look up Acts 2:42-47. What were the things they had in common? Verse 42 has four things. What are they?

2. What was the result of their teamwork?

3. According to verse 44, how many things did they have in common?

4. What did they do together every day?

5. How did the Lord bless them?

6. Looking at your Student Ministry, how together is it as a team?

7. Are you a team member or a spectator?

8. If you're a spectator, what is it going to take for you to get on the team?

9. If you are already a team member, what kind of a team member have you been?

10. Talk to God today and ask Him to bring unity of purpose and vision to your Student Ministry. Ask Him to show you how you can become the ultimate team player.