And in doing so, the deacons guard and encourage the church's love for one another. A deacon. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. F Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. Get our latest tips and leader helps with our free monthly e-newsletter. You would think that after Jesus comes in His glory and everyone is subject to His rule, He would shed the servants role and demand that everyone serve Him. Amen. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 3. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. While all Christians must serve in various ways, God specially gifts some for service in supportive, practical, and often behind-the-scenes ways. Thats a crucial distinction because it helps us understand that when Paul speaks of deacons in I Timothy 3 and Philippians 1:1, hes not simply talking about an office but about the quality of the people who fill the office. The word deacon simply means a servant. R The greatest among you shall be your servant. Do you see trash on the floor at church? Exodus 29:29-46 "The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them they may be anointed and ordained. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Many believed. 2. 1 Timothy 3:11 sets the qualifications for certain women. Romans 16:1-2 describes Phoebe as a deacon or servant who assisted Paul in his ministry. Blog, A Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. by Gerhard Kittel, 2:83). Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. You could literally translate it, Lord, when did we see you and did not deacon unto you?, 2. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Not an embezzler. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 9. When your deacon ministry is built on a relentlessly optimistic, forward-leaning hope, you will see the congregation pull together and move forward like never before. The text mentions two rewards for faithful deacons: 1. In any local church, the elders cant (and shouldnt) do all the work of the ministry themselves. In favor of the view that Paul is referring to women deacons is the word likewise (parallel to 1 Tim. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Just be faithful and reverent. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.". Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. Q They must be spiritually mature men and women. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Peter says that we are to use whatever gifts we have in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Pet. A deaconess is either a woman deacon or any godly woman filling a recognized position of service in the local church. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Trustworthy in everythingFaithful in all her relationships. G The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 09.24.2014. 2. I believe the Bible offers guidance to answer many of these basic questions. What prevents me from being baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Labs 3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. As we saw in the case of elders, the term refers to a man of moral purity. I Also, you are allowed to use (an ellipsis) in order to connect two nearby verses or to omit an off-topic phrase. The principle is the same: if a man cant manage matters in his home, dont promote him to manage matters in the church. Paul mentions four qualifications: First, they must be dignified. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. The qualifications especially stress honesty and family life. Test him first and then recognize him. Pitch in and help. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. In the same way, deacons encourage the church in their work of ministry. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. How are deacons chosen? Apparently, many who had visited Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost and were converted stayed on to grow in their new faith in Christ. Beyond that, they were a mysterious presence, a group both frightening and reassuring. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Their main job was to free up the apostles from administrating the distribution of food to the Hellenistic widows so that the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Still later, I pastored a church in California that had neither elders nor deacons. You never know what he or she is dealing with, and your message will be uplifting and life giving. Another passage from the Passion Week. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Q The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God could have chosen for His Son to be born in Herods palace, where He would have had the best of every worldly comfort. Diaconal Ministries of Canada (DMC) has created a set of 12 devotions, designed specifically for deacon meetings, based on the charge to the deacons. 4. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Salem Media Group. But in Acts 6:3, the men had to be of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Except for being able to teach, the qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3 are comparable to those for elders. Only a few refer to the office of deacon in the church (J. Stam, Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible [Zondervan], ed. How long should deacons serve? How can we promote a servant mentality in the church instead of here I am, serve me? And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, For by grace you have been saved through faith. Deacons | Presbyterian Mission Agency 4. To me, he was the epitome of what a deacon should besomber, serious, well-dressed, very old (anybody over 30 was old to me), a man you never dared to speak to unless he spoke to you first. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Probably they assessed whether the needs were legitimate or not. 3. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Great assurance in their faithGrowing sense of personal confidence that comes from serving the church of God. Key roles included: Visit the sick, care for the needy, handle benevolence, prepare candidates for baptism, assist the elders in behind the scenes ministry. Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 9. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. The answer to that question is not difficult to find. The Best Calls to Worship When an Ordination orInstallation Is Included in a Worship Service. A woman needs to be able to discern truth from error if she is to serve effectively. 2. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. by Merrill C. Tenney, 2:48-49). It is impossible to escape the fact that the New Testament is not entirely clear on the question of deaconesses. 1 Timothy 3:12 - Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. A high standing probably refers to respect in the church along with good standing in Gods sight. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 3:4 ). Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Deacons can encourage, strengthen, and help the pastor as he does his daily work in the church. We can find the office of a deacon established in Acts 6:1-7 . 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. Fourth, they must be faithful in all things. They must follow through on assigned tasks. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 12 Refreshing Spring Devotions to Uplift Your Spirit - Guideposts Instead He chose a poor carpenter and his wife! W Deacons are an example to people. A deacon often ministers to widows and single women, and so its especially important for him to be a man who is pure in thought and deed. Incidentally, a brief survey of church history shows that the deacons in the early church did function as described above. Not emotionally unstable. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Consider how the various Greek words mentioned above are applied in the New Testament: 1. In favor of the view that he is referring to the wives of deacons is the fact that the reference is sandwiched between the qualifications for deacon. Whenever I hear the word deacon, I always think of Hilliard Felton. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. That means helping with jobs that need to be done. by Walter Elwell, p. 296; Theological Dictionary of the New Testament [Eerdmans], ed. The question is, does this refer to deacons wives (NIV, ESV, HCSB) or to women deacons (or deaconesses)? But assuming that the seven men in Acts 6 were prototype deacons, we can see some ways that they served. Matthew 20:24-28. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. The concept of women serving as deaconesses appears very early in church. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. But I am among you as the one who serves.. They are given oversight over all aspects of church life. Its not optional; its mandatory. He probably mentioned the deacons because of their help with the financial gift that the church had sent to Paul. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 1 Timothy 3:11 Verse Concepts Above reproach is used in Titus 1:6, 7 as a qualification for elders (the Greek word in 1 Tim. B. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. cf. P Here are 6 reasons why they are a blessing: Deacons are valuable, needed, and wanted in the church. In my 23 years serving both as a staff and a senior pastor, I have been blessed to work with some amazing, godly deacons. Honest and unhypocritical. 3:13) Yesterday I received a kind note of encouragement from a friend. They couldnt be goof-offs. Three interpretations are popular: A. Most of the time they do not refer to the office of deacon. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Note the closing phrase. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Thus. Note these conclusions about the ministry of the deacons: 1. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. To find the full context of shorter scripture quotes, click on "Chapter" above each verse. Encourage One Another: Giving Grace with Your Words : 9Marks The Lord promised that all who serve Him will be rewarded, both in this life and in eternity (Matt. Titus 2:4 directs the older women to teach and minister to the younger women. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Thus in the New Testament the word was used to describe the office of those who cared for the poor in the church and who distributed to them the money collected on their behalf. A second thought comes into my mind as I ponder the subject of deacons. For the church of Acts 6, that meant making sure everyone was fed. Publication date: Mar 12, 2023. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. Fifth, a deacon must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Do you do the unpleasant servant jobs? Larger Text. The deacon is not out for power or prestige. He was one of the old men who ran the church along with our pastor, Dr. J.O. What is the difference between being a volunteer in the church versus being a servant? 1 Timothy 2:12 - But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 27 Powerful Bible Verses for Pastors to Encourage Those in Ministry Bible verses about "Deacons"? - BibleGateway How so. Im sure he must have spoken to me a few times (I know he knew my father very well), but I do not remember it. 7. But every Christian should have the mindset, I am a servant (or a slave) of Jesus Christ. Theres a difference between those terms, and yet Jesus used them interchangeably when He told His disciples (Mark 10:42-45): You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.
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