Deacons Under appreciated by many. A blessing to the church. –Function. –Fabric.

Deacons Office. Purpose. Qualifications.

Deacons Qualifications. Wives. Selection & Appointment.

Deacons Desire. –“To stretch one’s self out in order to…grasp something…” (Thayer). –“To reach…longing after it” (Vine). –Not coerced. Qualifications

Deacons Reverent. –“August, venerable…” (Thayer). –“…serious, grave” (Vine). –Dependable, trustworthy. Qualifications

Deacons Not double-tongued. –“double in speech…” (Thayer). –“Saying a thing to one person and giving a different view of it to another” (Vine). –Consistent, accurate. Qualifications

Deacons Not given to much wine. –Control Senses. Desires. Qualifications

Deacons Not greedy for money. –“eager for base gain” (Thayer). –“…denotes greedy of base gains” (Vine). –Not covetous, materialistic, cf. Jn. 12:6 Qualifications

Deacons Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. –Knows the truth. –Follows the truth. –Stands for the truth, cf. Rom. 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:15-16 Qualifications

Deacons First tested, then appointed. –“…examine…scrutinize” (Thayer). –“…prove with the expectation of approving” (Vine). –Reputation precedes responsibility. Qualifications

Deacons Husbands of one wife. –Scripturally married, cf. Rom. 7:1-3; Matt. 19:9 –Experience with care and service. Qualifications

Deacons Ruling their children & houses well. –Good father, Prov. 22:6; 19:18 –Experience in “demanding” service. Qualifications

Deacons Full of the Holy Spirit & wisdom Acts 6:3 –Full of gospel, Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16 –Applies knowledge practically. Qualifications

Deacons Reverent. –“August, venerable…” (Thayer). –“…serious, grave” (Vine). –Serious minded, not silly, 1 Pet. 3:1-4 Wives

Deacons Not slanderers. –“prone to slander…” (Thayer). –“Accusing falsely” (Vine). –Control tongue. Wives

Deacons Temperate. –“sober, temperate…” (Thayer). –“…free from the influence of intoxicants” (Vine). –Clear-headed, right thinking, exercising self-control. Wives

Deacons Faithful in all things. –God, Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thes. 5:17 –Husband, Titus 2:4-5 –Children, Titus 2:4-5 Wives

Deacons By members of the church, Acts 6:3 –Work with them. –Know them. –Respect them. Selection & Appointment

Deacons Judgment must be used. –Number. –When. –How. Selection & Appointment

Deacons Appointed by those who oversee, Acts 6:6 –With prayer. –“Lay on hands,” cf. Acts 13:2-3; 1 Tim. 5:22 Selection & Appointment

Deacons Qualifications. Wives. Selection & Appointment.