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

3. Deacons Office. Purpose. Qualifications.

4. Deacons Qualifications. Wives. Selection & Appointment.

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

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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. 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

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

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

21. 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

22. Deacons Qualifications. Wives. Selection & Appointment.