 Okay, so this morning I just wanted to share two verses which are from Proverbs and one is from Proverbs 18 and verse 7, I think. Proverbs 18 and verse 7, it says, a fool's mouth is his destruction and his lips are the smear of his soul. The verse before that also talks about speaking correctly and then wrong speaking and all that. And it says a fool's lip enters into contention and his mouth calls for blows and all that kind of talking and maybe provoking to anger, etc. But verse 7 says a fool's mouth is a destruction and a very interesting thing and his lips are the snare of his soul. So that's one thing that we see. Then we move to Proverbs 21 and verse 23. It says, whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. So we see that there is a connection between the words that we speak and our thoughts, imaginations, everything that goes in the soulish realm. Imagination, thoughts, thinking, maybe whatever we discussed this morning about anxiety, worry and so on. So there is a link between the words that we speak. So it says whoever guards his tongue keeps his soul from troubles, which means that you're actually keeping yourself, your thoughts, your worries and everything. And if you look at the, sorry, why is John wanting to join this class? Bless thee. Bless thee is first year student, right? Okay, I'll just admit him. Okay, so verse 7, Proverbs 18 verse 7 says, you know, lips are the snare of the soul. Okay, so which means what is a snare? Snare is a trap, right? So, which means the words that we speak are actually a trap. Trap for our thoughts, imaginations, worries and so on. It's like a, if you imagine a trap and you want to trap an animal or trap something, just imagine are the words that we speak are actually similar to that. So, which means if you put it in a positive way, like this year it says the words that we speak are a snare for the soul. If you turn it around, which means that the words that you speak, edifying the truth of God's word, it is actually a snare, it is a trap, but it's a trap for the good things, right? Which means your soul, your thought realm, the whole realm of imagination, the whole realm of, you know, whether you're worrying or going to be full of faith, it's connected to the words that you speak and it's going to be in a positive way. It can either be in a negative way where you're catching worry, where you're catching anxiety and you're trapping in all these things which are affecting you, or it can be in a positive way where it is faith and, you know, peace and all the other good things, right? So, that's one thing that I just wanted to share, that there is a link between the words that we speak and what goes on in our minds, right? And if we would be careful, if we would be discerning, if we would actually quieten ourselves down, right? We will save ourselves, our thought realm, a lot of trouble, right? Okay, so let's pray. Father, we thank you, Lord, for these two verses and the instruction that is there and the wisdom that is there, Lord. And I just pray, Father God, that we will be discerning. Lord, the words that we speak are directly connected to our thoughts and what goes on in the thought realm. Lord, maybe fear or anxiety or worry or... Lord, I just pray that we will speak those right words and may the words that we speak be edifying and when we speak the truth and declare the truth, Lord, may be a snare, a snare for good things, Lord. Faith and love and peace and joy. Lord, I just pray all these, Lord, would be ours, Lord, even as we speak edifying words. We thank you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Okay. Right. Okay. Just wanted to share. Okay, so we've been looking at the last aspect of the partnership principle and then I think we looked at the... I think we stopped there, right? Partnership, okay. So partnership, we understand that we can do so much more when we collaborate because we have the common resources, we have the common abilities and everything, you know, it works together so that your strength is multiplied greatly, right? And there is a greater impact when we always collaborate. You know, if you actually look at the success of some of those... some of the things that are, you know, made available for us in terms of technology, right? We were looking at how a Google search or how the sharing of information has actually resulted in, you know, greater learning, right? And also if you look at... if one were to look at, for example, the success of, let's say, Facebook or the success of Instagram and so on, you know, the whole, you know, the concept behind this is that you share, you connect and share, right? That's the basic premise, right? You connect, you share and everybody wants to do that and therefore these platforms have, you know, either... they've grown to such an extent. Of course, it has its positives, it has its negatives and the fact is that there is a multiplying effect when we partner, right? Okay, so the next one that we... the last one that we see in the win-win, you know, creating a win-win situation or relationship is the satisfaction principle, okay? So it means that when we say satisfaction principle that, you know, a team is together, at the core of it is that when they enjoy being together, right? When the companionship or they're working together, learning together and, you know, there are maybe common activities that are being done, then there is a deep sense of contentment and satisfaction, okay? Because you're achieving things together, you're growing together and so on, okay? So John C. Maxwell talks about how shared memories create a bonding environment. So maybe, you know... so what is a shared memory? Shared memory. So when you say something is memorable, okay? Let's say you... okay, like, this is Srirada's birthday and then you're... okay, she didn't come to class. But then let's say you have a... you know, you have a... you do something, some surprise or something. Now that becomes a shared memory, right? So that shared memory in any team or any... you know, even if you look at, like, a working professional office kind of environment, these shared memories actually create bonds, you know, brings the team together, right? So we are looking at win-win relationship. So these things would actually help, right? They come up with a very task-oriented, okay? I want to get the job done and then that's it. I want to go my way, right? But then if you look at, you know, maybe as a leader, if you're looking at a team as small as maybe two people, three people, you know, are we creating shared memories or opportunities for shared memories, right? Like for example, in our office, we have potluck three times in a year or whatever, twice. So everybody brings cooks. So we have three different teams for three different potluck, the lunches. So everybody cooks something, brings, and then we all eat together, right? So we had one recently, and there's a team which brought... and pasta is a great cook. If in case you haven't tasted it. So, you know, so all these things actually create a bonding environment, brings the team together, you know? So are we creating that? So you can intentionally, as a leader or even as a team member, create, you know, opportunities for shared memories, right? Okay. Opportunities for learning as well. You know, when the team grows, when the team is, you know, out of the tasks that they're doing and out of the... maybe some learning that they are experiencing, when they share the learning, right? When they share the learning, like, you know, typically in a work environment, you can create an opportunity to share the best practices, right? So maybe there is, you know, there is an accounts team, maybe there is a media team, you know? So they can share their best practices, you know, which has actually resulted in accomplishment, right? So this is what we did, and therefore we were able to achieve this. We were able to get this kind of success. So these shared practices or shared learnings, rather than saying, okay, this is our secret, you know, we are keeping it to ourselves, and we will not share it with others, and we will continue to, you know. Other than doing that, when we share, what happens is that everybody grows together. Okay, whatever you have learned and whatever has caused a broad success in your life when you share, then it is crossing the growth of another person, right? So that also, you know, creates an environment and people become more committed and so on, right? Mutual respect, of course, you know, removes all toxicity or anything that is, you know, which is opposite of health for a relationship, right? So this brings about a fact that, okay, people are actually looking forward to working together. You know, they are satisfied. And this satisfaction factor is very important to create a win-win relationship, right, when it comes to leadership. So when a person is like totally, you know, they are staying in and they're saying, okay, I have to do it. Let's say a job, you know, I have to do it. What to do? I have to survive. I have to pay bills. Then it won't be for a long time, but they're always looking out, when can I move out? When can I move out for a better place, better opportunity? When can I move out, you know? That is their constant thing. They're not able to give their best. But if we create an environment where people are saying, okay, you know, I really enjoy being with these people. I really enjoy working together, because I'm learning something. I'm giving something, contributing something. And therefore I'm also growing, right? Now that gives a sense of satisfaction. Now when that is there, and people actually look forward to it saying, okay, you know, I look forward to, you know, being with these people. I look forward to working together with these people, no matter what, how big the challenges are, right? How tough the situations are. Okay, right. So that is the satisfaction principle. So that brings us to the end of that section on working with people, winning with people. Okay, any questions on that? Okay, so what we do is we'll move on to the next section which is on teamwork. This is also a very practical section, just like the previous one. So we're just kind of moving up, you know, as individual leaders, then we looked at winning with people because people are part of, you know, what we are leading and what we are doing. And then we look at teamwork. So this is something again we can put into practice, right? Okay. So if you look at the word team, okay, several things come to our minds, you know. I think the, if you're a sports person, you think of the team, right? Cricket or football, you know. If you're, you know, a person who's involved in music, then you can think of music teams or choirs and so on, right? So a team is just two or more people, okay? Even if there are two people, then you call it a team. It's a two people. Now, are they just two disjoint people who are there? You know, that's not what a team is. A team is two people who are actually working together and they're working together for a common purpose, right? There is a common purpose, which means in a team, there is a common purpose. In a team, there is this understanding that we are working together for that common purpose, right? There are several, you know, acronyms or short forms for team, right? Together, everyone achieves more. That's the most common thing, T-E-A-M. Together, everyone achieves more. Or together, each achieves more. Together, everyone achieves miracles and so on, right? So actually, we used to do this small exercise when we had the, you know, where if you tried writing out new things, new acronyms, right? T-E-A-M, you know, probably you can even try it out. Okay, apart from the ones that we see in the notes, if you can think of anything else, maybe one or two, wouldn't you take a minute to do that? T-E-A-M. Right now, right now, you can just try that. You can think of how many can you write, but it has to make sense, okay? It can't be tomorrow, every day, something, but it has to be, you know, something on team and you can actually leave out the ones you see in the notes. There are about three listed here. So you can, yeah, online class also, you can just see how many, we'll just take a minute, okay? Done. T-E-A-M, right? Okay, so now, yeah, what we'll do is let me, okay, so I just want us to, okay, maybe three of you and then three of you. Okay, so how many did you write? Okay, what is the first one? Team Effort Achieves Miracles, okay? Okay, online you can just post it, okay, whatever you wrote down. Anyone else? What did you, did you write something? Try, try everyone across Milestones. Try, it's a little disjointed, but I think you can refine it. Okay, so now what, Anand, anything? Trust, enthusiasm, ambition, motivation, okay? So again, four separate words that you just put together, okay, so that's there in the team, okay? So what I just thought, you know, maybe the three of you can join together and see what else and maybe the three of you can, Nina, Francis and Nikhil, and join together and see, okay, so each of you had what, two, one, one each, right? Now, just by putting together, you have three, but see how many more you can come up with, okay? Same, yeah, and okay, together everyone achieves more is, Nina, that is there in the notes, so I was just thinking apart from that, okay? So what I'll do is, I just want to put you in breakout rooms, online folks, okay? Let's see if I can, and just set up, right? Okay, there's, is everyone in breakout rooms? I think you will have to accept, I think. Okay, are you all in breakout rooms? Rupas, Patel, okay, only Rupas is missing. Let's see if I can assign. I think you'll have to click on join, accept it, I think. Okay, so, see how many, how many more you can come out with, right, come up with what you did to Google. So you can then, there'll be the fourth person in the team, chat GPT. Okay, I think Nina has come out of the breakout room. It's, you're done, is it? Okay, okay, so 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, okay? Okay, so everybody's out, out of the rooms, online folks, okay? Oh, there wasn't anyone there, okay? Okay, I don't know, actually I assigned. I'm not sure what happened. I see. Okay, so, yeah, so maybe breakout room one, who was in breakout room one, maybe you can share whatever you, whatever you came out with. Okay, so let's hear from the in-person class. You can use the mic. How many, okay, somebody can pick up the mic and then share, time is over, time is over now, yeah, yeah, yeah. Time is over, so, yeah, you can share like how many you receive, I mean, how many you've got? Actually not, only one also completed, but in progress more than five. More than five, okay. Together, together, together, talent topper is the first line. What, what, what? We found the T and somehow the other letter, but E is little confusing. Okay. We are working on that. Oh, I see, so you decided to write some five things, but then to first word you got, okay? I see, first letter you finished. Anything completed? Together, sorry, sorry, sorry. Total engagement and the motivation. Total engagement and motivation, nice, right. Anything else that you completed? And motivation. Anyone online? What you were able to discuss in your groups? You can, you can just post it on the chat so I can see it. Okay, you guys, yeah. One more thing, try it till end of the time, always motivated. Try? Till end of the time, try it till end of the time, always motivated. But till, try till is one, one, okay. Try, try and off. So off is actually, it has to be just four words. Okay. Okay, go ahead, yeah. Topper, efficient and multi-purpose. Okay, these sound like hashtags. Okay. Jackiness, share something. Together everyone achieves marvelously, marvelously well. Actually, it has to be one word. Together everyone are, see there are and more. Probably we can just drop the more. Together everyone are powerful. Together everyone achieves more is, I think it's already there. Try everything and maximize. Nice. Okay. I think Ravalli was in a group, right? Ravalli and two others. What is it? Was it Jackens group? Okay, so you guys. Yeah, we wrote the more faster. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven you got. Okay. Yeah. Trust and trusted abides more. Trust and? Trust, interested, abides more. Trust, interest and? Trust, interested. Trust, interested. Abides more. Trust, interested, abides more. So what does it mean? It has to make sense. Okay, next one. And next one is trust everyone to accomplish more. Trust everyone. To accomplish. To we added is between. To you added. All this within brackets is not allowed. But trust everyone. Accomplish more. Accomplish more. Okay, then? And. Together everyone accomplishes more. Trust we made it to together. Achieve. Instead of achieves you put accomplishes. Achieve is already there. Accomplish is okay. Then? And another one is. Truth and trusted achieves more. Truth, interested. So what does that mean? When the truth is trusted more. We can achieve. Oh, I see. When you trust the truth. Okay. Another one is. Talent, energized, accomplishes more. Talent, energized, accomplishes more. Okay, that makes sense. There is another one. Everyone together annoys me. Together everyone annoys me. Who came up with that? Okay. So we have Schumacher's total experience. Attains miracles. Okay. Nice. Okay, so the thing is this that. You know. You realize that. You know, there are there are definitely more ideas when you put. When you come, you know, you put your resources together when you think together. When you brainstorm together, there are definitely, you know, more ideas. Some. So, so that just goes on. You can. Oh, sorry. Yeah, I can continue that. So, so it just means that. You know, when we say more people. It's, it is more resources. More strength. More ideas. That is definitely, you know, it's, it's an own thing. It also increases, you know, if you're a leading a team. If you're a team leader, it increases the potential of the leader. In what way? The leaders free to focus on his or her strength, right? And there are others who are able to focus on their strength. What is their strength? So, which means the potential of the team and the team leader goes up. And the weaknesses, right? In case there are weaknesses, those are minimized. Because by, you know, suppose I am weak in another area, but someone else is strong. So that balances out, evens out, right? So, so that happens. And of course, when you win, you share the credit, you know, you share. And then when there's a loss, or if there's a mistake, then you share the weight of that responsibility. Also, you know, the fact that, okay, something didn't go well. But as a team, we would take the responsibility for it. So it's not just one person who's bearing the brunt, right? Of a failure, or even one person taking pride in or, you know, boasting in success or achievement, right? There is a team and it keeps us grounded. It keeps us humble, right? Okay. So a lot of, a lot of things happen because of teams, right? And the Word of God, you know, we see, like we were sharing in the previous class, that the Lord sent out the disciples 2 by 2. Okay. Just reading from some scriptures here, Mark chapter 6 and verse 7, and he called the 12 to himself and began to send them out 2 by 2 and gave them power over unclean spirits. Luke 10, again, when he sent the 70 also, he does the same thing. After these things, the Lord appointed 70 others also and sent them 2 by 2 before his face into every city and place where he himself was about to go. Then he said to them, the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, therefore pray and so on we see, right? Pray a lot of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. So the Lord, when he's sending commissioning, he's sending them as a team, as a small team of just one other person who's additional to yourself, right? Ecclesiastes talks about how two are better than one and there is good reward for the laborer. When they fall, one will lift them up and companionship, et cetera, right? So this is what happens, right? If there is interest or passion in a team, it just energizes the team, right? And if there's a courage, it is tested and so on. Being teachable expands the team, relationships influence the team, responsibility strengthens and when we work together as a team, it greatly multiplies whatever the team is doing, right? Then why is it that some people avoid teams, right? So there is so many advantages when you work together as a team. We see a biblical pattern also, like the Lord sending out two by two and then we see Paul as being used powerfully, anointed person whom the Lord used to write two thirds of the New Testament, great revelation and the great power in ministry. At the same time, he worked together as a team, right? We see and who are part of Paul's team? Just one look at Romans chapter 16 gives us, you know, we see so many people who are part of it at different points in time. So that's the thing. So why is it that some people still avoid teams? One could be that because when you're working in a team, that means that you are not supposed to do everything, right? You do what you can do best and you understand what your responsibility is and you carry that out and the other person does the other part, okay? So if my pride does not allow me to let go of certain things, I'm saying, oh, only I can do it, only I can do it well, right? And I don't want to let go. Or if I'm unwilling to admit that this other person also can do a good job, they can maybe even do a better job than me, right? If I'm unwilling to do that. So pride comes in the way of working together as a team, okay? And the other thing is also insecurity or a kind of fear that if I let go, you know, it's actually when you're working in a team, you're actually empowering the other person, okay? So you're empowering the other person and saying, okay, you do this. You're saying, okay, this person, well, this person does a good job, they will get recognition, okay? And you're willing to let go of that, right? Empowering the other person. So if you're unwilling to empower saying, oh, then the credit will go to this person. Yes, of course, obviously it is a team, but then what if this person goes beyond where I am, right? What if this person gets recognized more? What if this person gets appreciated more? So that prevents people from working together. You know, that kind of thinking, that kind of mentality, okay? Now, we might say, okay, that will never happen in ministry. That can only happen only in, you know, so-called quote-unquote secular workplaces. No, it can happen everywhere. It can happen anywhere. Anywhere where people come together for a common cause, this can happen. Okay, there could be insecurity because of which people don't work together in teams, right? Or it could even be, you know, what if my skills and abilities become redundant? Okay, sorry, redundant in the sense. See, I'm no longer wanted. This is a fear. So I am skilled in this. Now, here comes another person who's also skilled in the same way I am. And so, you know, what if, you know, I become obsolete or my skills are not wanted, right? So fears like that. Another reason could be just a very simplistic understanding, okay, of the task. You think that, okay, yeah, I can do it. I can do it by myself. No problem. I can do it by this time, by this day. And I can do it myself, which means that is a very naive or simplistic understanding of the bigness of the task or the complexity of the task, right? Maybe there are certain things that we can do by ourselves. But the more complex the task is, the project is, and if there are so many things involved, then we or one cannot do by themselves, right? So, especially if it's a big production, like a theater production, you know, church is planning. You see that so many people are involved. So many people are involved. How many of you were part of the creative arts conference? Yeah, we were all part of it, right? We participated part of the creative arts conference. And so we see all that everything was done in a very seamless manner. There was no break. You know, one thing flowed into the other and just, but then behind the scenes, you see that a whole lot of people were involved, involved in the ideation, you know, generating ideas involved in planning out whole thing, involved before the thing, during the meeting, I mean, during the whole conference and then even after that. So you see that there's a whole bunch of people involved in it. It cannot be done by one person, you know, because the task is so complex. There are so many things involved and one cannot do it. So if I have a simple understanding, no problem, I can do it. You know, then if it's, it is what we would call as a very simplistic or a naive understanding of the, we underestimate, underestimate the effort, underestimate the complexity of the task. And then as a result, there is, you know, you don't participate in a team or get a team together. Right. The fourth one would also be temperament, you know, in the sense, if I as a person, if I'm used to working alone. Okay. I just work alone. I get the job done because team involves interacting. Team involves a few other people apart from myself. So temperamentally, if, if I prefer to just be by myself. Okay. I'm not outgoing. I don't want to participate. You know, it involves talking. It involves asking questions. It involves so many other things. So if I'm not comfortable doing that temperamentally, you know, if I prefer to be by myself, then that is also a hindrance to working together in teams. Right. And lastly, it could be because of our past experience. You know, maybe you work together in a team and maybe some things did not go well. Right. We were unsuccessful. And, and maybe because of that past experience of failure of some hurt, you know, so some people will say, you know, I'll never worked in a team. You know, we've heard, you know, people say, you know, I'll never, I'm never going to be part of a team again. I'll just come and I'll go. I'll never do anything together in a team. I've had enough. I will just come. I'll just go, I'll do what is bare minimum. And then I will go. So, so what happens is we miss out on the joy of, you know, accomplishing something together, you know, as a team. Okay. So, so which means that we need really need to realign. Okay. Think about it and say, okay, if that is because, you know, we cannot avoid working in teams. Okay. As, as people who are getting trained for ministry, either we will be part of a team or we will, you know, we will be leading teams. We cannot avoid that. Okay. So we need to get used to that idea of teams and get better at how we can function as a, you know, in a team, right? Either we are part of a team and, you know, there are certain things that, that involve how a team can actually do well together. Okay. So we need to kind of reflect and realign and, you know, pray and all that. So, so here are some questions, you know, that we can look at, you know, am I unwilling to admit that I cannot do everything? Am I unwilling to admit that others can do a better job than me? Right? These are, you know, these are questions of humility. Right? We need to ask insecurity and am I willing to empower others because they might go beyond me or they might be successful, more successful than me? Right? Or do I desire to maintain control over everything and I'm unable to trust others? Right? I want to control everything. I want to control the outcome to such an extent that I'm unable to do I fear being replaced by someone who is more capable than me? Right? See, one thing that we talk, when we look at insecurities, one verse which I think we've looked at it over and over again, but just worth mentioning again is John chapter 14. Right? John chapter 14. And this is the Lord's instruction to the disciples. John chapter 14 and verse 12. Okay. You see the Lord saying that more assuredly, most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also and greater works than these he will do because I go to my father. So the Lord is talking about the Empowering of the Holy Spirit that he will go to the father, he will send the Holy Spirit who will empower the believer, empower the church. Right? And so he's saying that he will do the works that I do. So he's comfortable, absolutely comfortable with that. And in fact, he desires for us to do that. And he's also talking about the greater works, right, than these he's saying he will do and he is desiring that. Right? So the Lord Jesus being our example in team leadership or being a member in a team. Right? He's the example. So which means that we are comfortable. This is what the Lord desires of me. So why can't I have the same expectation and the same desire of others for others as well? Right? So it means that you empower someone to do the things that you do, you know, teach, train, empower. So you don't have to fear being replaced. You don't have to fear being, you know, actually the more you give, the more understanding and learning you receive. Right? Okay. Then do I underestimate the effort involved, the difficulty of the task and therefore fail to accomplish them? Temperamentally, do I feel introverted and therefore find it difficult? You know, I don't partner with people. I create barriers. So these are some questions for us to think through, you know, and every season of our lives, right? Whatever kind of leadership we are involved in, it's good to think about this, reflect and say, you know, what is actually preventing me from working together? Right? What is preventing me from reaching out and involving another person in this task? Okay. Okay. Right? Some interesting quotes. I think we'll, yeah, probably we wind up after this. How many of you know Michael Jordan, basketball player? Huh? What? Michael Jordan. Okay. So he's a basketball player. And I think the shoe also Nike Air Jordan. It's named after him, branded after him. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. Okay. So I forget which World Cup it was where I think it was the work of finals or semi-finals. I don't know Germany versus Brazil, I think. Okay. If you're watching, if you watch football. So in fact, let me, let me see if I have those pictures. One second. Yeah. Okay. This is an old one. So let me share that with you. I'll stop with this one second. Okay. Is everyone able to see this now? Okay. So this is, okay. So, Portugal has Ronaldo. This is slightly old, 2019 we're talking about. So it means 2018 World Cup. Okay. Brazil has Neymar. Right. Argentina has Messi. Germany has a team. Right. So that year, Germany actually won. None of these other teams who had star players, you know, highly build, highly, the celebrity players, none of those teams won. But Germany, you know, has a team and Germany won. Okay. Just to go on to say the fact that, you know, teamwork, you might have great talent. But teamwork is what will win, give you endurance, long-term wins. Right. So that's what Michael Jordan says that it's teamwork actually that that wins championships. Okay. You can win a couple of games because of talent. But if you, if you're winning a championship with the big one, the big trophy, then you need teamwork. Okay. Steve Jobs, does everyone know? Steve Jobs. Apple, iPhone. Okay. Visionary has no more. Okay. Great things in business are never done by one person. Right. They are done by a team of people. Okay. The business world understands that. Right. John C. Maxwell says teamwork makes the dream work. Okay. Sorry. A team of two friends is what? Oh, I see. Okay. So they, they want a team of two friends. Is it? Oh, yeah, yeah. Correct. All these big organizations. Yeah. True. Very true. Okay. So teamwork makes the dream work, but a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad, big dream, dream and a bad team. Okay. Next class we'll look at, you know, we'll go through a checklist. Okay. If we are leading a team, okay, if you want a team to do well, what are some things that needs to be there? Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. God bless.