Essential to the health and well-being of every local church is an active ministry of mercy.
The Bible charges Deacons with the implementation and execution of such ministry and in preparation for the ordination of our first Deacons, we are studying what the Bible teaches about this office.
Join us next Lord’s Day as we continue our study, or read past outlines below:
The Need for Deacons – Acts 6:1-7
The Occasion – Some of the widows felt neglected in the daily distribution and this temporal issue turned into a spiritual problem (vs. 1).
The Problem – If the church leaders dealt with this problem, they would be taken away from their chief calling: Word & Prayer (vv. 2,4)
The Solution – Seven godly men were to be elected by the congregation to serve as peacemakers and servants (vs. 3,5).
The Ordination – These men were publicly installed into their office through prayer and the laying on of hands (vs. 6).
The Result – The ministry of the Word & Prayer continued unhindered and the church continued to grow (vs. 7).
The Qualifications for Deacons – 1 Timothy 3:8-12
Reverent – An inward disposition of gravity that results in outward decorum and propriety.
Honest – Sincere, trustworthy, lit., doesn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth.
Discipline – The example here is drunkenness, but a lack of self-control manifests itself in many ways.
Content – Deacons deal with money, so they must not have a heart filled with greed.
Sound – Has a firm grasp of the Christian faith and is conscientious in his dealings.
Proven – Must fulfill some kind of probationary period of service in the church.
Wives – She will serve in an informal auxiliary position, so her character is also crucial.
Fidelity – lit., a one-woman-man (includes emotional and physically intimacy).
Leadership – Has shown himself faithful in the governing of his own household.
The Work of Deacons – 1 Timothy 5:1-18
Review – The Diaconate was instituted by God to guard the ministry of Word & Prayer by supervising temporal relief ministries in the church. Specifics directions:
1. Encourage families to care for their own (vv. 4,16)
2. Support financially the “qualified” widows (vv. 5-6,9)
3. Deny help to sluggards (vs. 8, c.f., 2 Thess. 3:10)
4. Deny help to “disqualified” widows (vv. 8-15)
5. Maintain support for the Elders’ work (vv. 17-18)
The Debate Over Ordaining Women to Serve as Deacons (click to view)