Pitfalls in Ministry - Check These 4 Common Mistakes From Leaders Who Fell Morally!

1. They experienced a breakdown in their personal walk with God.

When someone falls sexually, you are guaranteed to see a broken relationship with the Lord. While they might still attend church and even teach the Bible, true Bible study, prayer and sharing the faith are no longer found. Instead, you find an increase in cultural Christianity and a lack of dependence on Jesus.

John 15:5 says,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

What are you doing every day to abide with Christ and to grow in your personal relationship with The Lord?


2. They had no accountability around them. 

An accountability group will not guarantee success, and an absence of a group will not guarantee failure. However, you are an accident waiting to happen if you think you can move through life without an accountability or small group around you. Leaders who fall often have no authentic accountability to help them and often fail to submit to the authority above them.

Hebrews 13:7 says,
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”

Proverbs 18:1 says,
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”

Who is your community/accountability? Do you have leaders you willingly submit to?

3. They counseled someone of the opposite sex one-on-one.

Leaders who fall sexually often meet, counsel, travel, and eat alone with people of the opposite sex without any boundaries, wisdom, or accountability in place. Often the inappropriate relationship doesn’t start physical, but those who fall, always cross boundaries emotionally with someone of the opposite sex, which can lead to crossing physical boundaries as well.
Pitfalls in Ministry - Check These 4 Common Mistakes From Leaders Who Fell Morally!
Kristen and I are super conscious about this. We have some very strict boundaries in place in our relationships with people of the opposite sex. We work hard to protect our marriage from anything that could threaten our oneness. Check out these posts on Avoiding Sexual Temptation as well as this one on marriage Great Ways You Can Strengthen Your Marriage.

1 Corinthians 10:12 says,
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

What kinds of boundaries do you currently have in place to protect you from being alone with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse?

4. They thought it could never happen to them.

No one who falls sexually and who loves Jesus ever plans their infidelity on the wedding day. In our vows, we promise to be faithful to one another for as long as we both shall live. We think it won’t happen to us, but the ones who fall sexually become prideful, lazy, and irresponsible.

Proverbs 16:18 says,
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Are you diligently working on your marriage? Are you pursuing and dating your spouse? What ways are you fighting against pride, laziness, and irresponsibility?

There’s Still Some Good News

If you’ve fallen sexually, the good news is God isn’t done with you. There is hope, grace, and forgiveness in Jesus (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 2:4-5). Connect with Apostle Pride Sibiya and he will help you to find hope and healing in your marriage.

The Most Important Thing In Your Ministry:

The trust factor. And by ‘ministry,’ I don’t just mean those of us who get a paycheck from a church or parachurch organization. The trust factor applies to every one of us. You are building (or tearing down) trust in marriage, in ministry, with your kids and friends, today. Do whatever you need to do to protect your relationship with Jesus and with your significant other from these four common pitfalls of those who fall sexually.

Challenge

Reflect on the accountability questions listed in this post. Discuss it with your spouse and come up with some action items if needed.
- What are you doing every day to abide with Christ and to grow in your personal relationship with The Lord?
- Who is your community/accountability? Do you have leaders you willingly submit to?
- What kinds of boundaries do you currently have in place to protect you from being alone with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse?

Are you diligently working on your marriage? Are you pursuing and dating your spouse? What ways are you fighting against pride, laziness, and irresponsibility?

About the Author

Scott Kedersha serves as the Director of Marriage Ministries at Watermark Community Church. He’s been married to Kristen since 2001 and together they are raising four boys. Scott writes about marriage, ministry, parenting and books at Scottkedersha.com, and is working on his first marriage book. You can follow Scott on twitter @Skedersha.
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