Deacons
The Church: Standards and Leadership • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 40:04
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The Body
The Body
The church is described as a body:
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
One of the benefits of studying the scriptures is that it gives us a deep understanding of how important the individual in an organization is. We are part of Christ’s body. We are all responsible to do our part. In doing our part, the whole body is built up and strengthened. God’s design for leadership in the church is a crucial part of this functioning. Today we are going to talk about the office of deacon and discuss how it fits into the unity of the body of Christ.
Pray
Read
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.
Deacons (Διακόνους)
Deacons (Διακόνους)
The Greek word is Diakonos (Διακόνους). It means servant, minister, or deacon. It is likely, that the term was used in a general form at the beginning of the church and took on a more formal meaning as the church grew and became more organized.
Although this narrowing of focus likely occured from what we see in the biblical text, the word still carries a more general tone that lends me to think that the office of deacon is more open than that of the Elder/Overseer. This should lead to a larger number of people filling this roll than that of overseer. One of the clear distinction between the office of Elder and that of Deacon is the absence of the requirement for deacons to be able to teach. This does not imply a lack of faithfulness to the scriptures or a lack of knowledge. It points to the necessary gifting of an elder to be able to teach and guard the teaching of the church.
Likewise
Likewise
Just as the Elders of the church are held to a standard so those that serve as deacons are held to a high standard. Let’s take a look at these 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.
Qualifications for all deacons:
Qualifications for all deacons:
Dignified
Not Double-tongued
Not Addicted to much wine
Not Greedy for Dishonest Gain
Hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience
Tested
Approved if blameless
There is an interesting break at verse 11.
11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
The greek word translated wives is also translated women. To help with english reading, the word “their” is included but this is not in the greek and shows a bias towards an interpretation of these women being the wives of deacons or possibly deacons and elders.
How exactly to translate this phrase is widely debated amongst scholars but all come to a similar conclusion. Within the ranks of ministers/servants/deacons/ in the church their are women.
Whether this is just women in general who qualify or qualified women married to other church leaders the intent of the section doesn’t change.
Qualifications for female deacons:
Qualifications for female deacons:
Dignified
not slanderers
sober-minded
faithful in all things
From here we move to men specifically:
12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.
Qualifications for male deacons:
Qualifications for male deacons:
One woman man
Manages their home well
Returning to Deacons in general.
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 who serve well:
Deacons who serve well:
The walk of faith, in the life of a deacon, has these added benefits:
Good standing
Great confidence in the faith
What it looks like in action.
What it looks like in action.
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.
Principles for the role of deacons in the church:
Support those who are Elder/Overseer/Pastors in the church
Good reputation
Full of the Spirit
Full of wisdom
Known to the body of believers.
The results of the body working together:
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.
How do you fit in?
How do you fit in?
Make godly character your aim.
Serve the church with the gifts God has given you.
Be patient to grow.
Be consistent in your witness.
Be honest about where you are at so that you don’t harm the witness of the church.
Step with the Spirit, whether that is a step into service, or a step out of service for a season.