Letters To Leaders 3
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRO
Ministry is hard and there is lots to do
How can we expect 1 man to do it all?
We can’t and it is not supposed to be a one man job
PRAYER
A - Ps 99.1 = LORD God as we gather today we recognize that you reign supreme. Therefore let us be reminded today not to be proud before you. You sit enthroned upon the cherubim above the heavens and so our hearts melt before you.
C - Father we confess that we often think more highly of ourselves then we ought to. We think we don’t need help from others, we can manage on our own we say. However you have designed us for fellowship, for community, for a one-another experience as members of your body and your church.
T - Therefore Father we thank you for your goodness and faithfulness in designing the church body to have overseers as well as deacons to help lead, to guide, and to care for the body of believers.
S - As we look at the office of deacon this morning please help us to personally understand and apply the texts we examine as well as aspire as a church to appoint the right men for these positions. May you be honored and glorified by our obedience to you in all things.
MESSAGE
Deacons First Described…Acts 6.... get to that txt in a moment
Deacons first Mention… Phil 1.1… get to in a moment also
Leading One Another: Church Leadership (Main Idea)
Deacons are to serve the church by caring for its practical needs and freeing up the elders to devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer.
Deacon = Diakonous = Servant = Assistant
Regulated By… 1Tim 3.8-13.
Deacons Standards
Deacons Standards
8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
Deacons are required to meet specific qualifications
Deacons wives also have to meet certain standards
Deacons must be Dignified.
Not Double Tongued
saying one thing to one person and another to another
duplicitous speech undermines credibility
Deacons - between Elders and people = conceal the truth or bend the truth
Eph 4.25 “25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
Not a Drunk
not a complete ban on drinking
alcoholism hinders growth
2 Pet 2.19 For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”
Eph 5.18 “18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”
Secret drinking… functional alcoholism
Not Greedy for Dishonest Gain
1 Tim 6.10 “10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
using influence to take advantage
carrying out financial decision
Deacons must Hold the Mystery of the Faith.
A deacon must know the beliefs of the Christian faith, possess the faith, hold firmly to the faith, and live life consistently with “the mystery of the faith.”
Clear Conscience
Deacons are not required to teach
Deacons must be Tested.
Blameless
One Wife… MEANING??
Manage Household Well
Deacons are required to be examined and approved by the church and it’s leaders
Deacons are office holders like Overseers/Elders
Wives… often may be serving together !!… Does not require marriage
Dignified
Not Slanderers
Sober Minded
Faithful in all things
Deacons Service
Deacons Service
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Deacons are to Assist the Elders.
Overseers are always mentioned before deacons
Overseers are to appoint the deacons
Overseers are to delegate work to deacons
Office of Deacon is a leadership office
Deacons are to Care for the Flock.
Domestic Attendance
care for widows and orphans, physical care of the body
feeding the hungry
fixing, building, carrying, etc.
Communication + Delivery
buffer between Overseers and outside organizations
buffer between body and Eldership
working as emissary or ambassador on behalf of another
Agency + Instrumentality = logistical action on behalf of Eldership
carrying out the will of another
Deacons need not teach.
Deacons Standing
Deacons Standing
13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Deacons enjoy a great confidence in Christ Jesus.
Do you wonder if you are serving the LORD well?
See God work through you
Deacons gain a good standing for themselves.
self respect
sense of purpose and fulfillment in serving Christ
Deacons should be given great respect from the congregation.
Living as Christ commanded His disciples to live
Leading as Christ would lead
Deacons will have great reward from Christ Jesus.
Eternal reward for feeding the sheep of Christ
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
CLOSE
Matthew 20:25–28 (ESV)
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your Deacon, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Group Questions
Group Questions
What are some of the practical needs that arise in your church? What challenges can they pose to:
the unity of the church?
the church leaders?
When practical needs arise in your church, who tends to take care of them?
Why do you think Paul insists that deacons be tested before they serve?
In your opinion what does it mean to “hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience”?
Why is this so important?
Why would the elders want to involve the congregation in the examination and approval of new deacons? What scriptures would you use to justify your answer?
Why should there be some kind of formal, public installation of a deacon before the church body? What would the laying on of hands mean to the church into the deacon if it is done at the installation of a new deacon?
What are some specific ways you think deacons should serve in the church? What are some needs in your church that deacons could address?
What are some challenges deacons face? What are some ways you can encourage and pray for your church’s deacons in light of these challenges?