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

3. Plan & Process for Deacon Appointment
Lessons:
Aug. 14 – Office of a Deacon
Aug. 21 – Work of a Deacon
Aug 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

4. The Office of a Deacon Term Means: Special Sense Office of Work
Lesson 1
The Office of a Deacon
Term Means:
Servant
Minister
Special Sense
Qualifications
More than saints
Office of Work
Under elders
Job = work

5. The Work of a Deacon Lesson 2 I. Their Work
II. Deacons Are Appointed Because There Is Work To Do
III. Deacons - Those Who Can Be Trusted With The Work/Task Given
IV. Our Responsibility Toward Deacons

6. Deacons
The Qualifications
of a Deacon

7. 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.”

8. 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.”

9. Nature of Qualifications
Same attitude & strictness as with elders
Not as rigid as with elders
“Likewise” attaches importance to them
Can’t add to or take from

10. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent

11. Reverent (1 Tim. 3:8) Translated: “Grave” (KJV; ASV)
“Worthy of respect” (NIV)
“Men of dignity” (NASV)
“Serious” (RSV)
“Dignified” (ESV)
Serious approach to life - not lighthearted
Not irresponsible

12. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued

13. Not Doubled Tongued (1 Tim. 3:8) Translated: “Sincere” (NIV)
“Not false in word” (BBE)
Not “devious in speech” (ESV fn)
Not two-faced / unstable / unreliable in word
All should be that way (Matt. 12:36-37)
Not say one thing to one person opposite to another
Not promise one thing - do another
In reporting to elders - reliable

14. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine

15. “Much Wine” Mean Can Drink A Little?
Not Given To Much Wine
(1 Tim. 3:8)
Translated:
“Not addicted to much wine” (NASV; RSV)
“They must not be heavy drinkers” (TLB)
Forbids drinking of wine - intoxicated
Alert - sober minded
“Much Wine” Mean Can Drink A Little?
Forbidding extreme - not allow for the less

16. Drinking Is Condemned 1 Pet. 4:3 1 Pet. 5:8 “Banqueting” – Drinking
“The drinking bout, the banquet,… not of necessity excessive.” (Trench, 225)
1 Pet. 5:8
“Sober”
“Free from influence of intoxicants” (Vines)
Means to abstain (Donnagan’s Lexicon)

17. “Wine” (Greek: Oinos) Unfermented Fermented Matt. 9:17 Mark 2:22
(Alcohol Content)
Eph. 5:18
“drunk with wine”
Unfermented
(No Alcohol Content)
Matt. 9:17
Mark 2:22
“new wine in new
bottles”

18. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy

19. Not Greedy For Money (1 Tim. 3:8) Translated:
“Not pursuing dishonest gain” (NIV)
“Not greedy of filthy lucre” (KJV; ASV)
“Not fond of sordid gain” (NASV)
“Not seeking gain by base means” (Darby)
“Not try to get rich by cheating others” (NCV)
Not have a lust or love for money (1 Tim. 6:9-10; Matt. 6:33: Col. 3:2)
Reasons:
Work may involve money (Acts 6)
If money is goal - no time to be a deacon

20. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery

21. Faith With A Pure Conscience
Holding The Mystery Of
Faith With A Pure Conscience
(1 Tim. 3:9)
Translated:
“They must be earnest, wholehearted followers of Christ...” (TLB)
Mystery of Faith = Word - Source to educate our conscience (John 8:32)
Conscience must be pure (Acts 23:1; 26:9)
A deacon must hold to the faith not yielding to violate his conscience

22. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested

23. First Be Tested (1 Tim. 3:10) Translated: “Proved” (KJV; ASV)
“Put to the test” (BBE)
“Before they are asked to be deacons, they should be given other jobs in the church as a test of their character and ability, and if they do well, then they may be chosen as deacons.” (TLB)
Means: “to test as metals (1 Thess. 2:4….” (Rob)
Proved: by word / not novice / demonstrated

24. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested
Blameless

25. Blameless (1 Tim. 3:10) Translated: “Nothing against them” (NIV; BBE)
“Without charge [against them]” (Darby)
“Unblameable” (YLT)
“Beyond reproach” (NASU)
Result of being tested
No evil report can be established

26. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested
Blameless
Husband

27. Husband of One Wife (1 Tim. 3:12) Married - “Be” - not have “been”
Only have one wife

28. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested
Blameless
Husband
Rule Children & Houses Well

29. and their Own Houses Well
Ruling their Children
and their Own Houses Well
(1 Tim. 3:12)
Translated:
“Manage his children and his household well” (NIV)
“Conducting their children and their houses well” (Darby)
Have Children
Not required that they be Christians
Allow for younger men to serve as deacons
Training or trained his children well

30. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested
Blameless
Husband
Rule Children & Houses Well
Wife - Faithful

31. 1. Grave 2. Not Slanderers 3. Sober 4. Faithful in all Things Wife
(1 Tim. 3:11)
1. Grave
2. Not Slanderers
3. Sober
4. Faithful in all Things

32. 1. Grave Lexicon: Translation: Means: “gravity, dignity,
“Worthy of respect”
(NIV)
“Dignified” (NASV)
“Reverent” (NKJV)
Lexicon:
“gravity, dignity,
serious - what
inspires reverence
and awe” (Vines)
Means:
Take’s life serious
Not indifferent
Sound judgment

33. 1. Grave 2. Not Slanderers Translations: Lexicon: Means:
“Not malicious talkers” (NIV)
“Not malicious gossips” (NASV)
“Not false accusers” (YLT)
Lexicon:
“False accusers”
(Thayer)
Means:
Control Tongue (Jas. 1:19, 26)
Not a Busybody (1 Tim. 5:13)
Keep Things Confidential

34. Temperate - Self Control Control Temper / Tongue
1. Grave
2. Not Slanderers
3. Sober
Translations:
“Temperate”
(NASV, NIV, ASV)
“Vigilant”
(YLT)
Means:
Sound in thinking
Temperate - Self Control
Control Temper / Tongue
Level Headed

35. 1. Grave 2. Not Slanderers 3. Sober 4. Faithful in all Things
In All Areas - Faithful:
In her marriage relationship
In rearing her children / Keeper at home
Submission to her husband / In her role
Personal godliness / Example to others
Control her tongue

36. Qualifications of a Deacon
Reverent
Not Double Tongued
Not Given - Wine
Not Greedy
Hold Mystery
Tested
Blameless
Husband
Rule Children & Houses Well
Wife - Faithful