Reading: What Damages Your Ordination Credibility? (Slides)

What Damages Your Ordination Credibility?

Henry Reyenga

Lukewarm Relationship With God

Be all for God and grow in that relationship.

Rev. 3:16  So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Confuse Calling With Vocation

It's not just a job.

Acts 8:13  Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Gossip

Confidentiality is essential. 

Proverbs 11:13  A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret

Lying

Slandering, excessive exaggeration, untruth of any kind.

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.

Stealing

Keep accurate records when dealing with church resources. 

Ephesians 4:28  He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 

Bitterness

Unresolved conflict or lack of forgiveness.

Hebrews 12:15  See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 

Lack Of Relational Boundaries

Maintain sexual boundaries.

Hebrews 13:4-5    Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

Lack Of Relational Boundaries

Maintain friendship boundaries.

1 Corinthians 15: 33  Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.” 

Lack Of Relational Boundaries

Maintain emotional boundaries - avoid over empathy or "The world rests on me” mentality. 

1 Kings 19:14    He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 

Lack Of Relational Boundaries

Maintain emotional boundaries - be a thermostat, not a thermometer. 

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 

Lack Of Relational Boundaries

Maintain healthy family boundaries.

1 Timothy 3:4-5  He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.  5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 

Slacking In Your Work

Do what you are asked to do - be diligent and productive.

Proverb 18:9   One who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 31 Woman

Meddling

Watch what battles you take on...

1Pet. 4:15  If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 

Proverbs 26:17   Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own. 

Being A Know It All

Let love guide your knowledge.

1 Corinthians 8:1   Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 

Ignorance Of Sound Doctrine 

Keep learning and growing in Biblical knowledge.

Titus 1:9  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Judgmental Spirit

Galatians  6:1   Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,  5 for each one should carry his own load. 

Being Offensive

Stay away from: 

- Sarcasm including cutting down humor 

- Passive-aggressive barbs 

- Course and cutting language

1 Peter 3:4  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Prejudice

Show no favoritism.

James 2:1   My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 

Conclusion

Colossians 3:12-14    Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.