The First Deacons Chosen

If you had to spend next Saturday morning leading a Bible study, praying with other Christians, or serving breakfast to a group of widows, which activity would you choose?

What complaint arose amongst the people? (6:1)

Some of the widows were getting more attention than others.

Hellenists were Greek-Speaking Jews. These people had either been raised within the Greek culture or given themselves over to it.

They spoke the Greek language, wore the Greek clothes, and followed the Greek culture despite their Jewish lineage.

Though they were ethnically Jewish, there was a separation between the Hellenists and traditional Jews.

Because this natural separation existed anyway, it was easy for their to arise a complaint that some were being treated better than others.

How did the apostles respond? (6:2-4)

They decided that other men needed to be enlisted. They could not handle all of their duties while handling these issues as well.

They gathered the disciples (the church) together and said that 7 men needed to be chosen from amongst them to serve tables.

What were the main responsibilities of these chosen men? (6:2-3)

They were to handle the day-to-day ministerial tasks of the church. They were to serve the people by meeting their needs, whatever that might have entailed.

Why did the apostles choose prayer and teaching over caring for the poor (6:4)

Prayer and Teaching the Word of God were tasks that required spiritual maturity, but even more importantly, spiritual authority.

These men had been called by God. They were specially endowed with the ability to understand Scripture and then teach it to others. These were the greater responsibilities. These were the responsibilities of called men.

Who chose the seven candidates? (6:5)

The people (the church) chose these men.

Why was this significant?

These men were going to be the ones responsible for service. If these people chose them, they would obviously choose men they felt would do their best, seeing that they were the ones who were going to benefit from them.

The Church must take responsibility for its people. God calls those whom He designates to be spiritual leaders of His people (pastors/elders), but all other positions he leaves up to the people.

What was the effect of this delegated ministry model? (6:7)

The Church flourished. The Word of God spread and the number of disciples multiplied.

The apostles were now able to focus on their appointed tasks.

More people had stepped up to serve, which is according to the will of God.

Does our current church model mimic that of Scripture? If not, how?

Pastors/Elders

The Bible teaches a plurality of Elders. We operate with one....

Acts 20:17 NKJV

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.

1 Timothy 5:17 NKJV

17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Titus 1:5 NKJV

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—

James 5:14 NKJV

14 Is anyone among you sick? 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.

1 Peter 5:5 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

According to the teaching of elders within the church, it seems as if God desired to have multiple elders within each local assembly. This would allow for multiple spiritual leaders, all collaborating together concerning the will of God on any given issue. This would also allow for better clarification according to the will of God. Multiple minds all praying for the God’s guidance over any issue is better than one. This also takes the pressure off of one man being the sole spiritual guide of the church.

Deacons

Deacons are elevated to a status of spiritual leadership when their roles are primarily to serve the church.

This is not fair to the church or to them.

There is a distinction between elders and deacons. If we try to force those who are called as deacons to serve in a capacity of an elder, it can cause multiple issues.

In my experience, there are multiple deacons who should be serving in the role of elder.

Church Polity

We have a congregational rule church model, which seems to me as the most Biblical.

Congregational

Final authority rests with the active members of the entire congregation.

Presbyterian

There is a group of leaders at the head of the church who are responsible for making decisions.

Episcopal

There is a single church leader at the head of the church who is responsible for making decisions.

Do we follow this same process when attempting to alleviate issues within the church today?