2.  Commendation Defined  Commendation In The Early Church  Commendation Not Ordination  Commendation Today  Commendation Implications

3.  There are five Greek words translated “Commend” (Vines Dictionary of NT Words)  #1 To Praise  #2 To Deliver Over  #3 To Entrust to Another  #4 To Set Near  #5 To Introduce

4.  Romans 15:11 “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”  Acts 14:26 they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

5.  Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.  1 Corinthians 8:8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.  Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

6.  Ordination; the official act or process of making someone a priest, minister.  First used in the 1300’s  Man appointing man for a position of authority  Christ was “Ordained” to be the judge of men. Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

7.  The Bible teaches the priesthood of ALL believers.  Revelation 1:6  1 Peter 2:5 and 9  We believe it is unnecessary to ordain what God has already established.  We do not want to emphasize the elevating of one man over another.

8.  Many agencies and governments require some formal recognition for those in ministry.  We have chosen to formalize recognition of individuals in ministry, not to elevate them, but to simply introduce and support them.

9.  Others can be comfortable in receiving into fellowship one who is recommended by fellow Christians.  The people commending someone are responsible to provide;  Prayer support  Financial support  Communication  Friendship  Loving care

10.  How Can We Support?