Faithful & Mature: The character & ministry of deacon (Acts 6, 1 Timothy 3)
Notes
Transcript
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
The life of a church is filled with celebrations and challenges.
For example: Acts 6:1–7 (ESV)
“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.”
You can see here the cause of the celebration was the growing number of new believers!
But, the challenge was the fact that some of the widows were being neglected.
The disciples had to maintain what they were doing, and as a result they led the church to set aside 7 other men to take on the ministry of serving those who were being neglected.
The outcome of this decision was two-fold. First, the women who were being neglected had their needs met and they were cared for. Second, God’s Word continued to increase and the number of new believers continued to increase in Jerusalem. To the point that many of the priests who had once opposed Christ as the Messiah were turning from their sin and coming to faith!
The solution that addressed the challenge and increased the reasons to celebrate was the ministry of deacon.
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
The Deacon ministry is a fixture in the church from this point forward. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he addressed the letter to the church and its overseers and deacons.
In 1 Timothy 3 Paul lists the qualifications for both overseers and deacons. We know overseers as elders or pastors. The NT uses three different words to describe the same position, largely because the role itself is multifaceted in leading the church. Today, most churches today simply refer to this position as pastor, but the role is still called to fulfill the various aspects for the glory of God and the good of the church.
Like the role of pastor, the role deacon is conveyed in the word itself.
Deacons (διάκονος = “servant”)
The word deacon is a transliteration of the Greek word, its not a translation because the title is the meaning- A deacon is a servant, and a servant is a deacon.
In Acts 6 the church set aside “seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” and appointed them to the task at hand.
Since this moment in Acts 6 the role of Deacon has been focused on the task at hand.
Deacons serve the church by meeting the physical and practical needs of the members.
This will depend on the physical and practical needs of the church at that time. The deacons in many ways are a responsive group. Responding to the every growing and ever changing physical and practical needs of the congregation.
The tasks Deacons carry out help preserve the unity of the church and promotes the ministry of the Word.
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
In Acts 6 the church wasn’t divided over doctrine, it was divided over the care of its members. The task of meeting the needs of members was two-fold. First it met the needs, and second it helped to mend the disunity that existed between two groups in the church.
Today’s churches are the same, they are often divided over who is meeting the physical & practical needs or divided over who isn’t meeting the physical and practical needs.
The ministry of the deacon is significant because it makes the increase of God’s Word possible.
It is also significant because the needs of the congregation are real and each member is important.
Both pastors and deacons serve. You could say that where the deacons are the servants of the physical and the practical- pastors are the servants of the Word, primarily through praying, preaching the Word, teaching the Word, equipping members with the Word.
Responsibilities of a Deacon at Harrisburg Baptist Church
Here are some of the ministry areas designated to our deacons:
1. Visiting our members in the Hospital
2. Ministering to our widows & widowers
3. Welcoming new members and celebrating with new believers
4. Caring for our members who are homebound, in nursing homes, and
through the grief of losing loved ones.
5. Assisting with Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
6. Assisting with funeral services held in the facility
7. Assisting with the benevolence ministry of the church
It’s helpful to know what deacons do, but in Acts 6:1-7 it seemed more important who the deacon were than what they were going to do. The men were to be of good reputation and full of the Spirit and wisdom.
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
And what does that look like? Turn with me to 1 Timothy 3:8-13 as we take a look at who deacons are.
1 Timothy 3:8–13 (ESV) says,
“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. 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.”
1. Deacons are faithful and mature followers of Christ. (expound here) Not just men who show up or who are popular... Barna “Revolutionary”
Being here is one of the most basic ways we consider who should be a deacon at HBC... but of the men who are are committed to our congregation, those who serve as deacons are to be exemplary examples for us... and that means they are to be mature and faithful followers of Christ.
But, being a deacon is something a man is to be already when he is appointed. It’s not something to learn on the job, it’s a way of Christ-like living that we should all aspire too, and then from the throng of faithful followers the church can then set aside members to serve and carry out the tasks that help care for our members and promote the ministry of the Word.
So, what does it look like to be a faithful and mature follower of Christ? Let’s look closely then at 1 Timothy 3:8-13
6 Characteristics of a faithful and mature follower of Christ:
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
Worthy of respect
“Dignified”
This suggests that deacons are to be serious minded men whose character merits respect. The term combines such ideas as dignity, earnestness of purpose, and winsome attractiveness.1
A deacon is a man who’s way of life is worthy of respect, because he lives his life in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Truthful & consistent with his words.
“not double-tongued” or hypocritical
The nature of ministering to others requires the deacon be consistent and Christ- like in His speech. A deacon serves the church with his words.
What a deacon says should be true, because what Christians say should be true. The life of a deacon should match his words, because the life of a Christian should match his words.
Satisfied by Christ
“not addicted to wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.” Or, not drinking much wine.
A deacon serves the Lord and not fleshly addictions. Any addiction and desire of the flesh is to be avoided to be dependent upon the Lord, His Word, and the Holy Spirit and not fleshly indulgences. This is not the time for a conversation on alcohol, but its worthy mentioning that the life of every church member reflects on both God and the church to whom they belong. Don’t indulge the flesh because you “can.” Make every effort to live dependent on the Lord and not on what this world offers or others think.
The deacon must be trusted to have God’s motives and intentions for his work in the church. Deacons don’t serve their own agenda’s or their own reputations, but the reputation of the Lord and the church. A greedy deacon isn’t a deacon at all.
1 Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, vol. 34, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 116.
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
This heart attitude is inconsistent with a servant in both heart and action. God is ultimately concerned with our hearts, and greed reveals the treasure of the heart... whatever it is that you covet and chase after is what you treasure.
Know, believe, & respond regularly to the Gospel
As a servant of God and His church 1 Timothy 3:9 reveals that the Deacon believe the Gospel and responds to it regularly. “9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”
A clear conscience is the result of consistent repentance and the pursuit of obedience to God and His Word.
Deacons must be men who serve the church as godly examples of faith and obedience.
A deacon must know the Word and serve God in obedience to the Word. He doesn’t need to be an elder, but he needs to be firm in his faith as evidenced by his way of life, his words, his obedience to the Word, and his willingness to be corrected.
Above reproach
Deacons are men who have been tested and found to be consistent with the description of the office in scripture. “10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.”
Deacons are found faithful when tested. They live in a way that removes doubt and honors the Lord.
Faithfulness or blameless doesn’t mean perfection, but repentant and obedient as described in 3:9. The way of life, words of the man, and the fruit of his faith are constant with Christ and His Word. There is ample testimony to the godliness of the deacon.
He should be open to the question... “does anyone have a reason...?”
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
Faithful in his heart and his home
A Deacon is faithful in his heart... His faith is genuine, its been tested. He not only knows the gospel, he believes it, and seeks to live according to it in everything he does.
“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.”
A Deacon is faithful to his wife... this means more than providing financially and not cheating. This means he leads her spiritually, he ministers to her the way Christ loves the church. He is faithful to God in the way that he is faithful to his wife.
The wife of a deacon is also to be faithful to the Lord in everything. God’s expectation is that the faithfulness of the deacon at home is the resume for the deacon in the church. Not only is he to follow the Lord faithfully, but so is his wife... (tied to the management of his household.) If his wife isn’t following Christ, he doesn’t need to be spending time ministering to the other members of his church, he needs to be cultivating his relationship with his wife and leading her to know and follow Christ. Once married the number one responsibility for every husband is his wife... there is no room for other ministries when your family isn’t walking with the Lord.
A Deacon is faithful to his children... this means he prays for them, leads them in their walks with Christ, and raises them to be faithful to Christ and His church.
A deacon is faithful in the way he leads his home to be faithful to Christ. Personal spiritual growth, family spiritual growth, handling your finances in the way that pleases the Lord, etc.
2. Deacons are godly examples for the church to imitate. (expound here) Humble is worth imitating...
That list is amazing... and it’s not that deacons are the only ones who are to be this way...
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
I mean pastors/elder are called to the same kind of life in the 7 verses before, they are also called to do a few things different like Preach/Teach and lead the church in its hospitality to outsiders and new members... but you begin to see a massive similarity in the kind of person that Deacons and Pastors are to be.,.. and they are to be exemplary in the life of the church as godly men with godly wives who are raising and leading godly families... and the reason why is because God calls all of us to be faithful and mature.
3. God saves all of us to become faithful and mature disciples... Jesus is the example all Christians should aspire too!
Jesus is perfect and lived a perfect and sinless life.
Jesus is humble and kind and made the perfect sacrifice for the good of others.
Jesus saves, sanctifies, and sustains those who belong to Him.
Jesus calls us to follow Him and to live our lives according to what He said, did, and who He is.
The men who serve as deacon should not be the only men living for the Lord. They are simply some of the ones living faithful who are set apart for an important task.
Deacons and pastors are not set apart to be holy for everyone else... We are all called to be holy, but they are set apart and called to serve the Lord in specific ways, and those ways come with the burden to live an exemplary life in the Lord.
This is not without the need to grow, continue maturing, and even learn from mistakes and repent from sin. But, it means that the first thing a church looks for when setting apart deacons is men who carry the reputation of being a faithful and mature Christian... which is what we are all called to be.
So... this is a moment and opportunity for reflection for each one of us... What is your life like?
“Faithful and Mature: The character and ministry of a deacon” Acts 6:1-7 & 1 Timothy 3:8-13
Do you aspire to be a faithful and mature Christian, or do aspire to accomplish certain things and perform certain tasks... regardless of your actual relationship with God?
Is it possible you have focused your life on performing tasks more than you have aspired to be faithful and mature?
Is it then also possible that you considered Christianity a list of tasks more than a real relationship with God that began when were saved and continues throughout eternity?