Church Matters: Leaders that Serve, Part 3

1 Timothy 3:8–13 ESV

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 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.

Deacons are respected, doctrinally sound, family men, who serve the bride of Christ. Their cry of “My life for yours” is God’s plan of care.

1 Timothy 1:12–17 ESV

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

After addressing the elders and leaders within the church.

Paul is going to lay out the second office within the church.

This should matter to us as much as any other command in the New Testament because Jesus died for His bride the church.

He desires the church to be governed in a certain way.

There are three discernable sections in Paul’s description of deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8 (ESV)

Deacons likewise must be dignified...

A Dignified Man

(1 Timothy 3:8)

Deacons much like elders are to be men of dignity.

These are to be men who are “worthy of respect” within the community.

These are NOT men who nobody respects within the congregation.

They are to be men who are worth respecting.

Respected by All

These ought to be men who people can take serious and whose character evokes respect.

1 Timothy 3:8 (ESV)

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued...

NOT Double Tongued

Not only are they respected, they are NOT “double tongued” or “two tongued”.

Which would be true of people who we would say, “speak out of both sides of their mouths.”

This is the kind of person who says one thing and does another.

This is the equivalent of ‘to speak in two directions’ or ‘to cover one’s thoughts by means of one’s words.’ (Louw & Nida)

1 Timothy 3:8 (ESV)

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine....

NOT Devoted to Alcohol

They are able to control their passions.

That word for “addicted” is the same word used to describe an elders commitment to the Word of God, “devoted.”

In the same way an elder is devoted to the Word of God, a deacon should not be devoted to alcohol.

It does NOT mean they are allowed to drink.

But when they do they are moderate in their consumption.

1 Timothy 3:8 ESV

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

NOT Greedy for Dishonest Gain

This person cannot want money more than they want to serve God.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

To serve money is to serve another master.

Consider for a minute the mischief that an unqualified deacon can cause in a church.

Instead of unity he brings disunity.

Instead of serving others he uses others.

1 Timothy 3:9 ESV

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

A Doctrinally Sound Man

(1 Timothy 3:9-10)

A deacon is one who is well taught.

He doesn’t know everything but he can tell a difference between “good” teaching and “bad”

The difference between an elder and deacon here is:

Well-Taught vs. Teacher

We need to be looking for men who are well taught in doctrine.

1 Timothy 3:9 ESV

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Committed to the Mystery of the Faith.

Anytime the Bible speaks of the “mystery” it is referring to the once hidden reality of the gospel but now revealed.

This mystery is referring to the wonder and amazing reality that Jesus Christ has come and died for sinners.

That Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.

This once hidden reality but now revealed is held firmly and resolutely.

The Triune God - The Father has sent the Son to redeem and works it by the Holy Spirit.

God created everything out of nothing.

1 Timothy 3:9 ESV

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Lives with a clear conscience.

A “clear conscience” is important because it is not held with false motives/secrecy/jealousy/rivalry/dissension.

To live with a clear conscience is to hold to truth with our inward truth compass pointing north.

Unlike false teachers who dwell in deception, lying, and spend their time speaking about myths, endless genealogies...

1 Timothy 1:18–20 ESV

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 3:9–10 ESV

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

Tested with Evidence.

A deacon who is thrust into their position before first seeing what kind of man he is, is a great danger.

A deacon should be tested and examined like the Acts 6 showed us last time.

The church selects deacons from her midst but the elders then test to see how genuine they are.

1 Timothy 3:11–12 ESV

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

A Family Man

(1 Timothy 3:11-12)

The charge for deacons here is the same as elders.

No difference between deacons and pastors.

They are to be faithful to their wives and then they are to be faithful to their families as well.

1 Timothy 3:11–12 ESV

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

A Deacon’s Wife.

(1) Christian - The most basic form of a deacon is that they are primarily a Christian.

If they are not faithful here then they are disqualified from being deacons.

(2) Husband - The second most basic form is of a deacon as a husband.

A deacon must be faithful to his wife.

We typically only ever think about faithfulness in regard to unfaithfulness but we need to realize that to be faithful requires action.

(3) Father - The third form of a deacon is that of a father.

A deacon must first be able to serve his own home.

If he is not able to be a servant to his children then he is not qualified to be a deacon (Ephesians 6:4).

(4) “Do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

1 Timothy 3:12 ESV

Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

A Deacon’s Family.

If a man cannot serve his family, he won’t be able to serve the church.

If a man cannot care for the needs of his family, he won’t be able to care for the needs of the body of Jesus.

Can a woman serve as a deacon?

Does making a woman a deacon send us toward being theological liberals?

Deacons are men.

(1) The first is that “wives” are exactly that: the deacon’s wives.

It is a further qualification for the deacon himself.

Not only does the deacon need to be faithful himself but the deacon’s wife also needs to be faithful.

Deacons are men and their wives.

(‌2) The second is that this means that the men are the deacons but their wives are meant to help in some way.

It is important the way the deacon’s wives function because they either help or hinder the deacon in his role.

Deacons are men and women.

(3) The third interpretation understands the word “wives” to be translated as women.

The same word that is used for wife in the NT is also used for women (1 Corinthians 11), only the context tells the difference of what they are talking about.

It also sees that Paul repeats himself in verse 11, and gives almost identical qualifications for the wife as well.

This view also sees examples of women deacons throughout the NT (Romans 16:1).

This third interpretation seems most favorable with a qualification.

If deacons are functioning biblically, a woman can serve as a deacon.

But if deacons are functioning as pseudo-elders, then it would be unbiblical to have a woman serve as a deacon.

This would violate 1 Timothy 2:12 when a woman is serving a public teaching role within the church.

But if deacons are functioning biblically, then it appears to be appropriate to have women deacons.

1 Timothy What about Deaconesses?

If the problem with feminist theology has been its failure to submit to divine order, the traditional church has often failed to employ the gifts of women to their full biblical extent.

1 Timothy What about Deaconesses?

Whether they are called deaconesses or not, women should exercise servant ministry to the glory of God. They should “minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress.”

Examples of Deaconesses

Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia, Letter to the Emperor Trajan (AD 111–113)

In his letter to the emperor describes women deacons being treated shamefully.

Charles Spurgeon

It would be a great mercy if God gave us the privilege of having many sons who all preached the gospel, and many daughters who were all eminent in the church as teachers, deaconesses, missionaries, and the like.

1 Timothy 3:13 ESV

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.

Rewards for the Man

(1 Timothy 3:13)

Much a deacon’s work is done in private.

I would argue that this is why such a beautiful promise is made for them.

There are two rewards for deacons who serve faithfully.

1 Timothy 3:13 ESV

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.

Well-grounded hope for judgment.

A standing for themselves is not about a rank as much as being recognized for exemplary faithfulness in the church.

Rather than seeing this as an excellent position, it needs to be seen as a “(a well-grounded hope) against the day of judgment.” (Calvin)

When deacons are acting as deacons should act, they serve Christ’s body.

When deacons are acting how Paul lays out here, they attend to the body of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12:27).

1 Timothy 3:13 ESV

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.

Boldness in the faith.

It also gives them a boldness in their faith in Jesus Christ.

The best witness of this is seen in the first deacons, Stephen (Acts 7).

Boldly declaring that Jesus is indeed who He says He is.

Doubting your salvation...

If you doubt your salvation, the way to find assurance is NOT through looking inward.

If we look inward we try to see what is inside of us.

It will lead to despair.

But notice where a deacon’s confidence before the Lord comes from...

1 Timothy A Deacon’s Reward

Assurance of faith does not come through introspection, but through service. Those who labor for the Lord most actively love him most confidently.

1 Timothy 3:13 ESV

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.

Deacons are respected, doctrinally sound, family men, who serve the bride of Christ. Their cry of “My life for yours” is God’s plan of care.