Scripture Passages: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 3:8-13
As Chris taught us on Sunday, the story that surrounds the choosing of the first deacons illustrates how the early church handled two things: (1) growth (Acts 6:1), and (2) conflict (6:1). Acts 6 is the church at her best doing the one thing that seems to be the hardest for us to do – change, adapt, be flexible. The ability to resolve conflict in a healthy way is an important characteristic of a healthy church. The early church recognized that as needs arise, new ministries would need to be raised up to meet the needs. Baptists as well as many other Christians have recognized the continuing need of deacons.
As we begin the process of selecting men to serve at Harvest Pointe Fellowship, it would be good to look at exactly what the ministry of the deacon actually is. In this way, you and I will be able to prayerfully select men for this important ministry.
Let’s look first at the ministry of the deacon. The word Deacon literally means “servant” from the Greek word, “diakonos.” A deacon is one who provides service to another – he is a minister.
The deacon’s ministry is one of serving Gods people. The ministry of a deacon is not so much a position of power and privilege as it is a trust, a responsibility. Above all else, the deacon is to be a minister, a servant. As a servant, the deacon performs many of the same functions as the ministerial staff. The deacons serve alongside the ministerial staff of the church and they are ultimately responsible to the church. Deacons are truly biblical deacons when they serve God’s people.
The deacon’s ministry is one of meeting the practical needs of people. The first deacons served the widows and others in the church that had great needs. Their ministry was both spiritual and administrative as they handled the benevolent needs in the church. This meeting of practical needs extended to taking care of matters that would have taken the apostles away from their main task, that of ministering the word and prayer (6:2, 4). They were to be a help to the apostles. The overwhelming needs in ministry, then and now, make a practical deacon ministry all the more needed.
The deacon’s ministry is one of protecting the unity of the Church. Because godly and wise men were first selected to serve the church body, the early church prospered in unity. The potential rift between the Hebrew-speaking and the Greek-speaking Jews was avoided. The chief duties of a deacon surely include providing for the needy but also include protecting church harmony. As a deacon serves in a godly manner, he preserves and promotes unity.
The deacon’s ministry is one of reaching out with the Gospel. The early deacons (e.g., Stephen and Philip) had a heart to see the Gospel extended beyond the bounds of the church into all the world. Deacons who are truly deacons are men who desire to see God’s kingdom grow and flourish. They are missionary-minded men who desire to see others reconciled to God.
Lets look now at the man who would be a deacon. What kind of man is needed to fill this vital ministry?
A deacon is a man who is “called”. Believers are to “Walk worthy of the calling” (Eph. 4:1). A man who serves as a deacon should sense the call to serve as a deacon. He should have a true desire for the ministry. Men are called to serve as deacons just as men are called to serve as all pastors and ministers. As a church, our first task is to pray about people that God places on our heart and then approach those people. Ask them to pray about this matter, ask them to consider what God might be doing with them.
A deacon is a man who is committed. Faithfulness in service cannot be overstated. A man does not become a deacon in order to become a committed Christian; he is already a committed Christian. He is faithful in attending worship, Bible study, and involved in the ministries of the church. The men who were selected in the early church were men who immediately rose to the top as outstanding men because they were already serving faithfully.
A deacon is one who is qualified. Aside from the qualifications mentioned in Acts 6:3, the specific qualifications of a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. What are the qualifications of a deacon?
- Good Reputation (3:8) The word “reverent” means worthy of respect. He’s respected because he is godly, committed, mature, and wise.
- Man of His Word (3:8) Not “double-tongued” (3:8). He can be trusted; he can keep a matter in confidence. He doesn’t say one thing at church and another outside church. This is crucial to the deacon’s ministry especially since he is may be counseling people and dealing with sensitive personal matters.
- Does Not Cause Others to Stumble (3:8) Not “given to much wine” (3:8). “Addicted” NASB. In general his life will not cause others to stumble.
- Generous Giver (3:8) “Not greedy for money” (3:8). He handles his finances in a biblical way. He will be a one who tithes and is a supporter of the church.
- Solid in God’s Word (3:10) He must have knowledge and an understanding of God’s word. “Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” This means he has a clear understanding of basic biblical teachings. For example, teachings such as salvation by grace through faith and who Jesus is, teachings about the church, and many others. He is sound in the faith and he knows the faith.
Think of how important this is to preserving godliness and harmony in the church. Many problems have occurred in the church because of spiritual immaturity. Godly people handle their business in a godly way. It’s just that simple. The worse thing a church can do is put a spiritual infant in a place of leadership. Unspiritual men have destroyed the fellowship of many good churches.
A deacon is one who is proven (3:10) “Tested.” That is, he will be a proven man, a man that shows evidence in his life that he not only knows God but He is walking with God as well. No man should be elected to serve as a deacon if he has established a pattern of unfaithfulness in areas such as church attendance, tithing, sharing his faith, prayer, and Bible study. Instead, he should be proven in these areas.
A deacon is one who is understood to be blameless (3:10) “Blameless.” is not perfect but the word implies above reproach. To be blameless means that there is no valid accusations being circulated that might indicate or point to problems with his character or conduct.
A deacon is one who is faithful and pure (3:12) “Husbands of one wife” (3:12). He is faithful to his wife, not flirtatious, an adulterer. He is a “one woman” kind of man. His moral integrity is unquestioned.
A deacon is a good father and spiritual leader (3:12) He manages his home well (3:12). He’s a good husband and a good father. He loves his family and desires to set the spiritual example for them. He is a spiritual leader in the home.
The deacon’s wife is very important to his ministry (3:11) When a man is called to a ministry, his wife is too! Just as a pastor’s wife is in ministry, so a deacon’s wife is as well. A deacon’s wife is to be worthy of respect, she is not to participate in malicious talk (gossip), and she is to be temperate and trustworthy.
This is the ministry of the deacon and a picture of what the men who will serve as deacons will look like. The charge to us as the church is the charge found in Acts 6:3, “Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select . . . men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business” (Acts 6:3, NLT).
Deeper In God’s Word
Tom Renew