Podcast Summary: Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode Title: November 23 - Credibility: Character and Competence and Commitment and...
Speaker: Jared Kirkwood
Date: November 24, 2025
Theme: The Roots of Credibility in Life and Leadership — Lessons from Nehemiah

Overview

This episode centers on the concept of credibility—the essential foundation for living a life of purpose and influence, as modeled by Nehemiah in the Old Testament. Jared Kirkwood uses Nehemiah’s leadership journey to explore the five “roots” of credibility: Character, Competence, Chemistry, Commitment, and Capacity. The conversation blends Biblical narrative with practical applications for personal growth and leadership, challenging listeners to prioritize inner qualities over outward success and inviting them to join God’s mission.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Story: Learning About Credibility (05:50)

• Jared shares a formative experience trying out for a college Christian sketch comedy team, only to be cut not because of a lack of humor, but because “there’s more to representing the school than just being funny. You have to be a leader, a servant. You need to have character.” (Jared Kirkwood, 08:32)
• Lesson: Outward talent alone doesn’t build credibility—what’s beneath the surface, especially character, makes all the difference.

2. Credibility: The Five Roots (10:25)

• Commitment
• Character
• Competence
• Chemistry
• Capacity
• “Credibility has five roots beneath the surface… character, competence, chemistry, commitment, and capacity.” (Jared Kirkwood, 11:31)

Alliteration for Memory:

“If you’re a fan of alliteration, you’re going to enjoy today because credibility starts with C. And then there are five more Cs beneath the surface.” (11:20)

3. Facing Temptation and Attacks: Lessons from Nehemiah (13:00)

Temptation #1: People-Pleasing (Nehemiah 6:2–4)

• Passage Reading (13:50): Sanballat and Geshem repeatedly ask Nehemiah to meet, but he refuses because, “I am doing important work and I cannot come down.” (Nehemiah cited, 15:02)
• Insight: There’s a difference between serving others and being a people-pleaser.
  • “The mission and burden that God gave Nehemiah meant his job was not to make everyone happy. His goal was to complete the project.” (15:20)
• Root Displayed: Commitment—staying focused on God’s calling.

Temptation #2: Defending Reputation (Nehemiah 6:5–9)

• Nehemiah faces slander and rumors of rebellion; he refuses to spend time defending himself, trusting God to be his defense.
• Memorable Quote:

  “Nehemiah doesn’t waste a minute... Instead, he allows God to be his defense.” (17:42)

• Response to Rumors:

  "There’s nothing to these rumors you are spreading. You’re inventing them in your own mind.” (quoting Nehemiah 6:8, 18:10)

• Root Displayed: Character—truth and integrity speak for themselves.

Jared’s Personal Reflection (19:30):

• Shares a high school memory of being confronted by his mom, prompting an “inventory” on hidden things, illustrating how shaky character triggers anxiety.
• “That walk, you know, was 30 ft. But the amount of character inventory that I had to take was honestly so shameful… It began a good work years later.” (20:18)

Temptation #3: Compromising Integrity Out of Fear (Nehemiah 6:10–13)

• Nehemiah is urged by a false prophet to hide in the temple (a violation reserved for priests) to save his life.
• Insight: Nehemiah chooses the fear of God over the fear of man, refusing to sin even under threat.
• “He decides that he is not going to enter into the temple. His credibility remains intact even in the face of losing his own life.” (24:44)
• Root Displayed: Character (again)—valuing God’s law and presence over personal safety.

4. Success and God’s Glory (Nehemiah 6:15 – 7:5, 26:31)

• Outcome: The wall is completed in 52 days—an astonishing feat recognized by surrounding nations as God’s work.
• “When all our enemies heard this… all the surrounding nations… realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.” (Nehemiah 6:16 cited, 26:45)
• Leadership Growth: Nehemiah’s competence (planning, management), chemistry (building teams), and capacity (growing in leadership roles) are showcased.
• Rebuilding the wall was only half the mission—the city must now be repopulated, requiring new skills and wider leadership.

5. Redefining Success—Trading Ambition for Mission (31:10)

• Challenge: Our culture equates success with money, degrees, or accolades, but “success in the kingdom of God has more to do with serving others and caring for those in need.” (31:55)
• Illustration: Jared’s story about a fly buzzing in his car—“If you’d calm down and just ride with the car, you’d go further and faster than ever before”—is a metaphor for letting go of our frantic dreams to join God’s greater movement. (34:45)

6. How to Grow the Five Roots of Credibility (36:40)

• Character: Fear God above all else.
  • “The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.” (Proverbs 29:25 cited, 37:15)
• Chemistry: Love the people you serve—know them and celebrate them.
• Commitment: Let your yes be yes; do what you say you’ll do.
• Competence: Accept your placement; go beyond mere presence to lead excellently where you are.
• Capacity: Transferable skills—vision, clear direction, team galvanizing—equip you for future challenges.

Evaluation Questions (39:50)

• Character: Can I trust you?
• Competence: Can you do the job well?
• Chemistry: Do you fit the team’s culture?
• Commitment: Do you want to go where we’re going?
• Capacity: What potential do you have?

7. The Foundation Underneath It All: Jesus and the Cross (42:00)

• The episode connects Nehemiah’s temptations and resilience to the temptations of Christ in the wilderness—reminding the listener that character and credibility are only truly sustainable by depending on Jesus' sacrifice and help.
  • “The greatest risk to your credibility is you… The invitation is to submit and surrender ourselves to Jesus.” (43:11)
• “Nehemiah wasn’t the only one who faced temptation… It is through the cross in which you and I have all of our debt and our sin paid for by Jesus doing the one thing for us we could never do for ourselves.” (44:15)
• Credibility can take years to build and be lost in an instant—usually because of a flaw in character.

Illustration (46:05):

• Jared compares a beautiful Land Rover with no engine to a life of “success without character”—outward appearance is pointless without an inner foundation.

8. Application & Invitation (48:00)

• God invites you not to hide your flaws, but to “bring him anything”—character cracks, team struggles, capacity gaps—for healing, growth, and renewal.

• Quote:

  “He’s not asking you to just gloss over your character. He’s inviting you to do work with Him… He is the one who can repair it, heal you, and restore you.” (49:35)

• Practical moment: Bring to God what’s beneath the surface—character, chemistry, competence, commitment, or capacity concerns—in prayer and worship.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Credibility is the currency for meaningful work—and the way God invites us into future opportunities.” (10:15)
• “Nehemiah’s credibility allowed him to complete not just the project, but ultimately the mission God had invited him into.” (41:30)
• “Success without character is not success in the kingdom of God.” (47:25)
• “Isn’t it amazing that (God) actually wants you? Because we are confronted all the time with our own brokenness… and yet God looks at you and he already sees all those things. He sees them and says, ‘Come on, jump in. Let’s do something together.’” (49:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 05:50 — Jared’s personal story about credibility
• 10:25 — Outline of the five roots of credibility
• 13:50 — Temptation to people-please (Nehemiah 6:2-4)
• 17:42 — Responding to slander and defending reputation (Nehemiah 6:5-9)
• 19:30 — Personal character inventory story
• 24:44 — Temptation to compromise integrity (Nehemiah 6:10-13)
• 26:45 — Wall completion and God’s recognition (Nehemiah 6:15-16)
• 31:10 — Redefining success
• 34:45 — The fly in the car metaphor
• 36:40 — How to grow each root of credibility
• 39:50 — Self-assessment and team evaluation questions
• 42:00 — The role of Jesus and the cross in sustaining credibility
• 46:05 — Land Rover/Car without engine analogy
• 49:05 — God’s invitation to authentic partnership

Conclusion

Through Nehemiah’s story and real-world illustrations, Jared Kirkwood delivers a practical, heartfelt message: credibility is built on deep, unseen roots—character, competence, chemistry, commitment, and capacity—all ultimately sustained by God’s work in our lives. Lasting success, in the Biblical perspective, is about aligning with God’s mission, serving others, and becoming the kind of person who can withstand trials and temptations because what’s beneath the surface is solid and true.

Listeners are invited to examine their own roots and turn to Jesus for help—not just to achieve but to become the kind of credible, rooted people through whom God can do his best work.