New Page 1

Our Home Page More lessons on leadership More Sermons

Presented, August 12, 2007 am

LIMITATIONS OF LEADERSHIP

We have been studying the subject of leadership throughout this year. Thus far we have noted the need for more leaders and how each of us needs to be a leader to some degree and strive to develop ourselves to our greatest ability. In our last lesson on this topic, we began examining the character of godly leaders which includes integrity at its foundation. That of course, is a characteristic that EVERY Christian must possess.

I. God placed limitations

a. As you study the Bible, you quickly learn that God has placed limitations upon who can serve in certain capacities.
Even under the Old Law there were limitations. Priests had to be of the tribe of Levi. And even then there were restrictions and some who simply did not qualify.
Where God places limitations – we have no right to overstep those boundaries.
1 Cor. 4:6 notes that we are not to think beyond what is written.
Col 3:17 – do all in the name of the Lord.

b. Elders – in times past we have noted that elders are the shepherds of the flock among which they have been made overseers (1 Peter 5:1-3). We have the responsibility to submit to them (Hebrews 13:17).
However, not anyone can be an elder. First, for one to be an elder they must meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Note in these qualifications there personal attributes, family responsibilities, and even responsibilities toward those outside. In vs. 1 we note that only men can serve in this capacity.
Incidentally, they are also limited in the scope of their authority.
1. They are limited to the local congregation. Elders have no authority to oversee the activities of anything larger than the local church.
2. They are not to lord it over the flock – 1 Peter 5:3, but rather they are to be examples.

c. Deacons – according to 1 Timothy 3 there is a position that we have named that of a deacon. Interestingly the term, deacon is actually a word that means a servant and is often translated minister. Like elders they have to meet certain qualifications as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Among these qualities are character, control and family responsibilities.
They are men entrusted with tasks by the elders to assist them in managing the flock.

d. Preachers - are proclaimers of the gospel.
In scripture we find that they were always men. The books of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus were written to young preachers. Rather than describing their qualifications, these books outline some of the responsibilities they have. Among these are qualities that limit who can preach
1) They must be able to preach the word – 2 Tim. 4:2-4 – with courage and without corruption.
2) 2 Timothy 2:24 describes the “servant of the Lord” which is probably referring to Timothy as a preacher, and as such he must not quarrel, be gentle, able to teach, patient, etc.
3) Young preachers (and old alike) are to be humble – 1 Timothy 4:12 says they are to live in such a way that none will despise youth.
4) They have to be able to “do the work of an evangelist” – 2 Timothy 4:5.
5) They are certainly teachers – which James 3:1 says that not many should be teachers – in this capacity.

e. The Limitations of Women – Contrary to the teachings of society, the Bible places limitations upon what women can do. Woman cannot be elders, deacons or preachers as described above.
1 Timothy 2:12-15 states that a woman is not to teach or have authority over a man.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 speaks of women learning “in silence” in the assembly. It is obvious from this text and others that it is not dealing with complete silence (e.g. singing, asking questions, even prophesying at times back then, but it was to be done with an understanding of total subjection – 1 Cor. 11:5-6). Much more could be said about this as an emotional issue, etc., but the facts remain that such is what God instructed.
But they can still lead and serve in certain capacities – including older women teaching the younger women – Titus 2:3-5, etc. They can also serve with responsibilities (cf. Romans 16:1-2).

II. Personal limitations

a.       The Limitations of Ability – There is no person that has the ability to do everything. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It has been said that one the qualities of a good leader is his realization of his or her personal limitations. A good (and godly) leader will delegate or defer to others more qualified to accomplish a task.
The scriptures teach that we have limitations.
    Romans 12:4-8 describes how we are one body, but we do not all have the same function. We are all needed in different ways. 1 Corinthians 12 in dealing with spiritual gifts warns against jealousy because you do not have the same abilities as someone else.   This also leads to a description of the body being made of many parts.
   In Matthew 25 when Jesus describes a master giving talents to his servants to care for, each was given “according to his own ability” (15)
   James 3:1 clearly notes that not everyone can be a teacher. And the text doesn’t just deal with preachers and elders. Paul also warned Timothy of unqualified teachers who were “always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7).
    Paul had physical limitations. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 he spoke of a thorn in the flesh that in some way limited his abilities – but he accepted those limitations and worked with them. In fact he used his weaknesses to make himself stronger (8-10).
    In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul acknowledged, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”
   You have to be honest with yourself.
     1) There is much damage done when one acts beyond that which he is capable of doing. Unqualified teachers (either in a class setting or a private setting) can do irreparable harm in trying to win a prospect.
     2) Not everyone man in the congregation is qualified to lead every act of worship. Some simply do not have certain abilities (and some will never have certain abilities). And there is nothing wrong with that provided you are willing to acknowledge your inadequacies and become the best you can at what you are able to do. There is no shame in stepping aside so that the church can be edified in what it does (1 Cor. 14).
    3) Not everyone has the ability to physically help someone else – whether it be cooking, fixing a car, painting a house, giving money, providing transportation, etc. They may try but in the end they might tear something up and make matters worse when they finish than before they started.
NOTE: In all this we must forever remind ourselves that we should not use undeveloped talents and abilities as a cop out to avoid fulfilling one’s own responsibilities.   I am talking about those thing we simply are not capable of doing.
But, I firmly believe that one of the most serious problems we face is the fact that most of us CAN do more but we choose to bury our talents instead of using them. Colossians 3:23 says that whatever we do, it ought to be “heartily, as to the Lord and not to man.”

b. Limitations based upon our character –
One of the qualifications of an elder is that they are to have a good reputation without. 1 Tim. 3:7. Peter, while playing the hypocrite was in no condition to lead (at that time) – Gal. 2:11-14 – which caused Paul to challenge him.
Paul told Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth…” (1 Tim. 4:12). The way he avoided that was by being an example to the believers in all things including purity of life.
Jesus taught in Matthew 7:3-5 that before we worry about the splinter in our brother’s eye, we must first remove the plank from our own eye.
There are some who are not able to lead in a given capacity simply because of character weaknesses in their lives. Put more simply, if you are a hypocrite – you should not be leading. And until you clean up your act – it will remain so!
The thing to understand about these limitations is that they are often temporary – meaning that in time, you can overcome them by proving yourself. For example – if you have been overtaken in a given sin, you are in no position to condemn others of that sin until you have truly repented and proven yourself clear. If you have acted dishonorably toward others (in business or in life) you have to rebuild your reputation. But these limitations do not necessarily mean you cannot lead in some other capacity.

c. Limitations placed upon us by our elders, parents, etc. You may have ability (or think you do) but those who have authority over you may restrict what you can do. And unless their demands are unscriptural they need to be respected.
We are told in Ephesians 6:1-2 that children are to obey their parents. This is not an option!
We are told in Hebrews 13:17 that we are to respect and submit to our elders. And we HAVE TO obey them, unless they place demands upon us that are ungodly or self-serving or unreasonable (as being lords over us). They may have reasons for making specific requests or forbidding us from doing something at a specific time. We need to respect their decisions for the sake of the church.

Thus we can see that we all face limitations in this. And even though we have responsibility to lead in whatever capacity we can, we must not overstep our boundaries. John wrote, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.” (2 John 9). The word transgress means to go ahead of which indicates to go beyond what is written. God has given each of us limits – let us graciously accept them