Deacons The Office of a Deacon The Work of a Deacon The Qualifications of a Deacon Acts 6:1-6

Plan & Process for Deacon Appointment Lessons: Aug. 14 – Office of a Deacon Aug. 21 – Work of a Deacon Aug. 28 - Qualifications of a Deacon Sept. 4 – Acts 6:1-6 Names to be submitted – Sept. 4 – 18 Looking for 2-3 new deacons Names presented Sept 25 – asking for objections Objections due: Oct. 9 Appoint new deacons – Oct. 16

Deacons The Office of a Deacon

Beginning Thoughts Bible says very little about deacons Office not honored as it should be Not as careful in selection as with elders No definite work to do Elders / preacher do work of deacons Hardly know what their assignments are Appoint men w/o work for them to do

Beginning Thoughts Bible says very little about deacons Office not honored as it should be Misunderstood Office Deacons are Junior Elders Elders & Deacons oversee church Deacons must be able to preach / teach Deacons have oversight of all material

The Office of a Deacon I. God’s Plan Is For Deacons

Phil. 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

1 Tim. 3:8-13 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Not Deacons - “office of deacon” Acts 6:2-6 “2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.” Not Deacons - “office of deacon” Are Deacons - Servants Parallel in Principle

The Office of a Deacon I. God’s Plan Is For Deacons II. Term “Deacon” - Means “Servant” or “Minister”

Meaning of the words

“Deacon” English word means: “Servant” “Deacon” is an anglicized form of the greek diaconos which means runner, messenger or servant (Easton’s)

“Deacon” (Greek: diakonos - dee-ak'-on-os) Thayer: “One who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master: a servant, attendant , minister” (138) Strong’s: “probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands; compare NT:1377); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess).”

Meaning of the words How Word is Translated

Minister: Mark 10:43; 1 Cor. 3:5; Word for Deacon: (diakonos) Used 30 times in the NT “Deacon” - 3 times “Minister” - 20 times “Servant” - 7 times Servant: Matt. 23:11; John 12:26 Minister: Mark 10:43; 1 Cor. 3:5; 1 Thess. 3:2

Acts 6:1-4 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution (diakonia). 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve (diakoneo) tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry (diakonia) of the word.“

Meaning of the words How Word is Translated Same Word & Idea (Not Same Meaning)

Same Word Though Not Same Thing Christ (Rom. 15:8) Apostles (2 Cor. 3:6) Evangelist (1 Cor. 3:5-6) Any Faithful Christian (John 12:26) Civil authorities (Rom. 13:4) Satan’s ministers (2 Cor. 11:15) Women - Phebe (Rom. 16:1) Waiters at feast (Matt. 22:13)

The Office of a Deacon I. God’s Plan Is For Deacons II. Term “Deacon” - Means “Servant” or “Minister” III. Office - In A Special Sense

General Sense Special Sense (Most passages where used) Phil. 1:1 1 Tim. 3:8-13 Deacons are more than just “servants” in the sense that all Christians are (Phil. 1:1). Qualifications - more than required of faithful Christians (1 Tim. 3:8-13) Context of 1 Tim. 3:8-13 suggests it is an “office”

The Office of a Deacon I. God’s Plan Is For Deacons II. Term “Deacon” - Means “Servant” or “Minister” III. Office - In A Special Sense IV. What Is This Office?

No Authority Except - Delegated Elders Authority “oversee” (Acts 20:28) “Rule” (Heb. 13:17) Deacon Under Elders very term suggests “submission”

No Authority Except - Delegated Misconception: Elders over Spiritual / Deacons over Material Elders have oversight of all the church (1 Pet. 5:1-3) When dealing with material - sent to elders (Acts 11:27-30) Instruction about oversight given to elders (Acts 20:17, 28) No such distinction in the New Testament

No Authority Except - Delegated Misconception: Elders over Spiritual / Deacons over Material Office is a Work

The Office of a Deacon I. God’s Plan Is For Deacons II. Term “Deacon” - Means “Servant” or “Minister” III. Office - In A Special Sense IV. What Is This Office?

The Kind Of Deacons We Need A man who can keep a confidence. A man who finishes a work he starts. A man who is individually productive. A man who is spiritually minded. A man who is able to listen. A man who has a vision for the church. A man who is flexible in his submission to the elders and church he serves. A man who is not dictatorial in nature. A man who looks for the positive, not on the negative. A man who is of faith, communicating with God.