"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This definition of synergy is packed and offers excellent insight for community. Communities are made up of parts. There are communities that are made up of "parts" but also there are communities that are a "whole". The "whole" is greater than the parts. More importantly the "whole" is greater than the "sum of its parts."

The christian faith is full of these so called parts. They are all Jesus followers that have been given a spiritual gift. Each christian has been specially designed by God -- wonderfully and marvelously made by God (Psalm 139.13-16). Jesus followers are all children of God. This means we are a part of a family. We are part of a community and not just any community -- we are the Church.

Again, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The Church as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Its hard to argue that the Church stands as a whole right now. We are broken in the sense that we are divided, that we do not use are spiritual gifts proactively. This idea of "whole" versus "sum of parts" means that the whole is able to accomplish more than what just a "sum of parts" can.

I could put the most amazing team of athletes together but unless they function as a whole, they would eventually fall apart. They could exercise each of their skills individually and do okay but they could do great when the use their skills to compliment each other in whatever event they may be competing. It seems churches have gotten caught up in being individual churches instead of being capital-C Church. An individual church is not bad but when you forget or alienate yourself from big-C Church then something has gone wrong.

To often, all responsibility is diffused onto those with the spiritual gift of leadership. God created more than just leadership as a spiritual gift. These different spiritual gifts help to make up the body of Christ as a whole -- the Church. If a church were synergistic, the believers would be exercising their different spiritual gifts as a whole and some amazing things would be happening -- a healthy community of believers. We as leaders provide direction and a part of this direction is letting the communities that we lead know that they have spiritual gifts as important (if not more so) than our spiritual gift of leadership. We should be encouraging them to pursue and use them.

I can have a group of believers together in one spot. Unless they are using their God-given spiritual gifts, all we have is a "sum of parts". We strive for being "whole". To be a whole, we use these gifts that God has given us. Every believer is gifted. There are no spectators in the synergistic Church. As a leader, I will seek to pursue synergistic Church. Will you join me? The Church as a whole is greater than the the church as individual parts.