On Humility and Authority
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing the elusive balance of humility and Spirit-filled authority found in the true leaders of the church.
Text: Rom. 1:11-12
Date: 10/25/2026, the Combined service.
Series: "Romans: Unashamed of the Gospel" Part 13
Description:
In our last lesson we learned of Paul's great desire to visit the church in Rome in order to establish them on the solid Rock of sound doctrine. Speaking as an apostle who wielded the full authority of Christ, he expressed his desire to impart spiritual gifts to strengthen them in their faith. We will revisit the 11th verse in this message to emphasize and expand upon that authority. But then in the 12th verse, we will see a complete turnaround. No longer speaking as an apostle, but as a Christian man, he humbly reveals he would expect to be mutually encouraged by both their faith and his. We will analyze what Paul meant by this, and find in these two verses the New Testament model for true Christian leadership and authority within the church. We will notice the elusive harmony of the attributes of true leadership: as a man, Paul was humble; as a Christian, he longed for communion with other saints; and as an apostle, he led and taught with authority. It will be in the delicate balance between humility and authority, that we will find the true Spirit-filled model of leadership within the church.
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I. Introduction, Ex. 3:1-6.
II. Exposition of the text, Rom. 1:11-12.
A. Context, Rom. 1:7,9,10.
B. Paul as the humble, Christian apostle, 1Cor. 11:1.
1. Paul as an apostle, vs. 11.
a. Paul's desire to see the Romans.
b. Paul's desire to impart spiritual gifts, Acts 19:6.
c. Paul's desire to "establish" the church at Rome.
i. Assuming the need for "establishing".
ii. Noticing Paul's urgency.
2. Paul as a Christian man, vs. 12.
a. Looking at the language.
i. The turnaround.
ii. Mutual encouragement.
1) Noticing the repetition.
2) The "Communion of Saints".
3) Noticing Paul's sincerity.
4) Noticing Paul's humility.
b. How Paul might be encouraged.
i. An extraordinary, ordinary faith!
ii. The hunger and zeal for the truth of new Christians.
c. An "encourage-able" nature.
i. A humble man, 2Cor. 12:7-10.
ii. Searching for Christ in others.
iii. Reasons we are not mutually encouraged.
1) We don't talk about spiritual things.
2) We can be intellectual and doctrinal snobs.
3) Segregating ourselves according to false standards, Eph. 3:16-19.
d. Paul needed encouragement.
3. On humility and authority.
a. The nature of true authority.
i. The true authority in the church, Col. 1:18-19; Matt. 20:25-28.
ii. The problem of arrogated authority.
1) Glaring examples from history.
2) The root of the problem.
b. A narrow road.
III. Conclusion
