Teamwork works. Successful people in the business world and creative field have known this for some time. And now pastors and preachers are discovering the power that comes from shedding the “do it all” mentality for a team-based approach to ministry.

One area greatly aided by teamwork is sermon prep. In the past, senior pastors were expected to study and prepare in isolation, writing up to three sermons per week from scratch. Many still think this is the best option. It’s clear that today’s demands of ministry don’t allow enough time to go it alone. Could a team-based approach to sermon prep help you be a better communicator though?

When you harness the power of teamwork in any area of ministry, great things happen. You not only free up time for other tasks, but you find that your focus increases. When teams get involved, your individual abilities are exponentially improved. Two is always better than one.

Teamwork can make your sermon work better. Here are four benefits of team-based sermon prep:

Different Points of View
Each person is unique and has a unique life experience. But if you’re only depending on your own perspective, you may not be connecting with large portions of your audience. Instead, find different people who have alternative points of view to help you. Seek out moms and grandmothers, blue-collar and white-collar people, young adults and seniors for your team. Cover as many bases as you can.

One pastor I work with quite often has developed a close relationship with his plumber, Vern. They talk sports, politics and especially church. Vern comes from a vastly different background than the pastor does. He’s also a good example of a “regular guy.” When this pastor is preparing his sermons, he’ll often ask, “What would Vern think about this?” In fact, he’s even called up Vern on the phone while in his study to run his sermon by him. Everybody needs a Vern in their life who can help him or her relate to as many people as possible.

Fresh Ideas
You may have some great ideas. But let’s face it, eventually you’ll run out. If you ever feel like your messages have hit a rut, it probably means you need some fresh ideas. With a great team around you, you’ll have a good resource to draw from.

When teams get involved, your individual abilities are exponentially improved.

This is where balance plays a crucial role. You want your team large enough that you are able to get fresh ideas on a regular basis, bouncing thoughts off of each other. But you also don’t want it so big that it becomes unmanageable. Keep these things in mind as you get ready to start or add to your sermon prep team.

Broad Insights
The individuals on your team will have their own points of view and fresh ideas. But they also have insights you don’t. Good pastors pull from their own personal study. Inspiration may come from listening to a podcast in the car or a sermon while working out. You may find some great information while reading a journal or blog post. When you have a team working with you, you multiply that insight.

During planning meetings, encourage your team to throw out insights they’ve gotten from listening to other sermons, visiting other churches or attending ministry conferences. Great leaders always leverage information from multiple sources, and that includes their team.

Strategic Skills
As a pastor and preacher, you’ve got great skills. But you are limited in that respect. As you add to your team, you also add to your combined skill base. Maybe you love research, but you’re lacking in the creativity department. Chances are there’s someone on staff or in your church who is very artistic and ready to help you. God has placed people with certain skills in your life for a strategic reason. Will you be willing to find them and release them to use their gift set?

Knowing the benefits of a team is the first step. But without taking the next step of asking for help you’ll never be able to realize the power of teamwork. A hallmark of great leaders, whether coaches, presidents or generals, is the ability to assemble a great team. When it comes to preaching, why not let teamwork work for you?