11) 1 Timothy Sermon - Deacons
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today we come to the second office of the church. These are the deacons of the church.
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The title of deacon is one the comes with many assumptions. Some churches have them. Some don’t. When churches do have them, what they do and what there role is have a large variety. Different denominations have different traditions and though out the history of the church deacons have changed in many ways.
So when you have a topic like this, that has many opinions and practices where do you start? The one and only place that we should start with God’s own words. So we are spending our time today working through what God has said and then deciding how we are to respond to what he said.
What is a Deacon?
What is a Deacon?
First lets look at the word used for deacon.
diakonos
This word is used in the New Testament about 30 times in the bible and is translated into English in many different ways.
For instance, in Matthew it is translated as attendants
Matthew 22:13 (CSB)
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The most common in the CBS is servant.
Mark 9:35 (CSB)
Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”
John 2:5 (CSB)
“Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants.
Romans 15:8 (CSB)
For I say that Christ became a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises to the fathers,
Romans 16:1 (CSB)
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae.
1 Corinthians 3:5 (CSB)
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.
Ephesians 6:21 (CSB)
Tychicus, our dearly loved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed.
It is translated into minister in a couple places.
Colossians 1:7 (CSB)
7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
Then it is translated into Deacon in two places.
1 Timothy 3:12 (CSB)
Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
Philippians 1:1 (CSB)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
The most common translation in the CSB is 20 times it is servant and them 4 times as minister.
In the ESV, 18 as servant and 7 a minister with the NASB only having servant one more time.
NKJV 17 and minster and 12 and servant
We have a fairly common Greek word translated into 3 to 5 different English words with the least common deacon.
The translators are communicating that servants and ministers were called diakonos. The English language does not have enough variety in its words to describe the nuances that were in the Greek.
We also find many Greek words translated into a few English words. Though diakonos was used about 30 times the CSB and translated into servant 18, there are 138 other instances of servant in the New Testament.
Along with the noun form are also two similar words.
Diakonia
which is used 32 times and was likely to be the word for the task or work of the diakonos.
Acts 6:1 (CSB)
1 In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
Acts 12:25 (CSB)
25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark.
Acts 6:4 (CSB)
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 (CSB)
18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
Ephesians 4:11–12 (CSB)
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
Diakoneo
Then you have the diakoneo which is similar and used 31 times and this is the verb form.
1 Timothy 3:10 (CSB)
10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
1 Timothy 3:13 (CSB)
13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
This is the verb form of this word and in both of the previous verses the term “as deacons” has been added by the translators for clarity in the interpretation.
It simply is the act of service.
Matthew 20:28 (CSB)
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
John 12:26 (CSB)
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
The majority of the time it is translated as service, but also help, looked after, took care, supporting, assisted, to wait on , delivered, administered and a couple of others.
So out of 100 or so instances of these three words only two places are deacons elevated to an official status. the 98% of the other times they are used in a general sense of believers and others serving and ministering to one another or being a servant or serving God.
Their use included everything from menial tasks, like waiting on tables, to a specific office. By the time of Paul’s writing it was the common words used for any type of service.
Any of Paul’s readers would have been called diakonos many times in their lives. To follow Christ was to be a servant
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Every Christian is given a service to perform. No one is exempt from service or ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:5 (CSB)
5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.
Ephesians 4:11–12 (CSB)
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
All believers have a general service. But there are other that have a gift of service.
Romans 12:6–8 (CSB)
6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.
We see examples like Stephanas.
1 Corinthians 16:15 (CSB)
15 Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. ...
These would have been recognized in the body of believers, the saints, but they may not have ever held the office of Deacon.
It is typically believed that the appointment of the seven in Acts 6 was the precursor to those that would eventually hold the office of deacon.
1 In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The church was growing. When 3000 are added to the number after Peter’s sermon, we can definitely say that the early church was growing rapidly. So there came moment that the apostles were at risk of turning from their main ministry to deal with the needs of the growing community. So in their wisdom they have the community select seven men to help in the ministries to the saints in the church.
This was to allow the apostles to continue in their primary service, preaching the word. So that they can continue to “devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
These men were set apart for the work. They had to be men filled with the Spirit and selected by the community. They were sent out in the service to the apostles to serve the saints, so that the apostles could continue to serve.
This was the result.
7 So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
None of these men are ever referenced as a deacon in the scriptures. The book of acts actually never uses the word diakonos. but it is likely that this practice of the church selecting men to serve the church leaders continued. They worked to aid the church leaders by taking on tasks and ministries that allowed the leaders to focus on prayer and ministering the word to the flock. Watching out for their souls.
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
These men would be set apart for this special service by the laying on of hands. They worked closely with the church leaders.
As the main theme of Paul’s letter is correction and direction it is likely that there were people who had been appointed that shouldn’t have been.
15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
If the deacons of the church were conducting themselves correctly it is likely that Paul wouldn’t be addressing them as up to this point he has been charging Timothy with things to fix in the church. Paul addresses this by giving qualifications for Timothy to use in his correction of the church, either to remove them or to appoint them.
A Deacon’s Qualities
A Deacon’s Qualities
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
Men Worthy of Respect
Men Worthy of Respect
First they are to be worthy of respect or men of dignity. This parallels the qualification that overseers are to
4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity.
This is a man who is serious or stately. In the sense that they are not flippant with their walk with God. They are men who other people look to with respect and in some ways adoration. In simple terms we look up to them. Think of all of the people you looked up to in life, teachers, coaches, parents, family members. Was it the real fun uncle that was never serious that you really looked up to? Man he was fun to hang out with but when there was something you needed or advice you sought, didn’t you go find the respected coach or family member.
Along with being men worthy of respect they were not to be hypocritical.
Not Hypocritical
Not Hypocritical
Your translation may say not double tonged or without devious speech or insincere.
This is not simply gossip, slander, malicious speech, crude language as we see in other places. This word is only used here in the new testament and it is conveying a person with two tongues. They speak and say one thing to one person and something else to another. They are manipulative and devious in what they say and how they say it. They may not even lie about things but based on what they say or don’t say they convey different information to different people.
Have you ever had a boss tell you to do one thing and then in a meeting when they totally deny ever telling you that.
Deacons as they work with the pastors will be sent out into the flock to minister in an innumerable amount of ways. As they work closely with church leaders and the people they will be privy to information that is to be guarded as it has been given in trust.
When they are sent out they are not to cause dissension by reinforcing disagreements or arguments. They are to represent the church leaders when they go out and the people when they come back. They are to be truth speakers not playing information between parties. This type of behavior harms people, and the church and must never be allowed to be nurtured.
As bothers and sisters in Christ we have a God of reconciliation and we are to be a people that is unities in Him. He has given us everything to break down all disagreements and to come to the common place, side by side, at the feet of the cross.
28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.
There just isn’t a place for double talk in the church, especially in deacon and pastors.
And like the elders they are also not to be drinkers of much wine.
Not Drinking a lot of Wine
Not Drinking a lot of Wine
The word here means to turn one’s mind too or to occupy oneself with. Some translations will add addicted to try to convey the intent of the word. He is not to have his mind constantly thinking about drink. They were to be temperate.
The deacon is to be in service to the church and an example like the pastors. They are to lead lives that don’t lead other people into temptation. in this case they are not to be consumed with the desire to drink.
Not Greedy for Money
Not Greedy for Money
The first seven selected in Acts to hand out the food distribution were probably given money to purchase the bread or to manage. There must be trust in a deacon that financial decisions and responsibilities that are given to their care are to be carefully administered. Not that there are not checks and balances but that deacons are not known to be willing to gain wealth in dishonest ways.
4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.
They are to be men content with what the Lord provides and they are thankful and honoring to God with that money. They see themselves a stewards and though he blesses them with a lot or a little they have a high ethic in regard to personal finances.
Deacon ministry was not ment to be a way for men to make money off of the community of believers
Spiritually Mature Men
Spiritually Mature Men
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
The mystery that has been revealed in Christ
3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
The mystery of faith that was pointed to in the old testament has been revealed in the work of the cross. In Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The deacons of the church should live in faith
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
They live in the reality of what is hoped for. They trust in what God has promised. That they have been pardoned from the punishment of their sin before a holy God due to the saving work of the cross. And this hope determines how they live in this life.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.
The deacon must live this out his faith with a clear conscience. Their own minds must not condemn them.
12 Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.
A clear conscience will create assurance, confidence, and boldness.
Tested Men
Tested Men
10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
A deacon is to be tested or examined. There is no specific test given in the bible and you can probably go online and find hundreds of testing and examinations and methods. So what is the test?
The word for tested is in the present Greek tense which means it is a test that is continual. It also means “to approve after testing” so the testing is to have happened before there is ever an appointment. So when does the testing start.
If you are a born again believer please stand. The day you were saved your test began. Remember the 98% of the times the various forms of diakonos were uses relating to all believers. Each believer is tested as they serve one another. Using their gifts for the edification and growth of the body.
Each and every born again believer here could go home to today and ask themselves how the test is going.
10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
Everyone of us is commanded in scripture to serve, Deacons are to be proven as faithful servants already. They are also to be tested to the word and this list as well and if they prove blameless, let them serve. There was only one perfect man and his name was Jesus, so we are not looking for that man. We are looking for the man that look to Jesus. The man who’s life demonstrates a man who loves God and his neighbor.
36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Paul now gives an instruction on the home life of the deacon.
A Deacon’s Home Life
A Deacon’s Home Life
A Deacon’s home life is also an important indicator of the man and effects his qualification to be appointed as a deacon by the church. Much like the qualification for elder that we looked at a couple of weeks ago.
11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. 12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
The word here translated into wives can also be translated into women. This word is either wife or women depending on the context. There is some debate about whether this is in context of a deacon’s wife or another group. But, the majority of English translations commonly used today have translated it as in context of the deacons home life.
It is likely that Paul is addressing the close relationship between a deacon and his wife. as she will serve in the ministry with him in different ways. there are certain qualities that must be seen in his wife in order for him to be qualified to be a deacon.
11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.
They are be like their husbands dignified and worthy of respect. Women who can be looked up to.
They are not to be slanderers. A malicious gossip. This is the word translated into the devil in Matthew.
Matthew 4:1 (CSB)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Their words are to be pure and honoring, building up one another.
They are also to be self-controlled or temperate. Not responding rashly to the ups and downs in life. They are to be cool headed and not prone to angry out bursts. This was the same qualification for overseers and deacons. They respond to situations with sound judgment.
And finally they are to be faithful in everything. They must be trustworthy women.
I think it is easy for us to see how these qualities are needed in the wives of a deacon. A woman that has earned the ire of the church and not the respect of the people, who are known to have malicious and hurtful language, who do not have the ability to control themselves in situations, or women who have proven themselves untrustworthy. A wife with this type of character would be a detriment to his ability to serve as a deacon.
They are to be women that their husbands, the elders, and the church could trust and count on.
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
They are women who fear the Lord. A deacon must have a wife who is known to fear the Lord as she serves with her husband both in the home and in the work of the church.
Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
Deacons are to be shown to be competent managers of their own homes. We looked at this in depth when we looked at overseers. This once again is a one woman man. A deacon by Paul’s instruction is a man who is faithful to his wife. He has shown that he manages his own home well. This includes all aspects of the home, including finances, activities, behavior and any other instruction given in God’s word relating to a deacon’s home.
Their families show the fruit of their management as they instruct their homes in the word and obedience to God’s commands.
Challenge
I will say there are highly esteemed Pastors and theologians have come to different conclusions on this verse.
I have chosen to not go into the details of those today because of the technical and in depth analysis that is entailed in these different ideas. But I find this interpretation consistent with scripture and wisdom.
In the end the different ideas really boil down to titles and what those titles mean or don’t mean. For me the primary thing we should focus on is that all men and women aspire to live out the word in their lives. That God produces a work in them that glorifies God.
That we will have men and women who live out
1 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. 2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us. 9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. 15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
It is my hope that we will have men and women who see this vision in their families first and then in other families. As people come to know Christ as their savior at different times in their life or as 1st generation Christian families are starting out. There are those that need to be teaching other the good things of God.
A Deacon’s Reward
A Deacon’s Reward
Paul finishes the instruction on deacons with an encouragement to men who are appointed as deacons.
For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
He says they will acquire a good standing. The word used here means a step or an elevated stand. They will metaphorically be elevated above others. This is not some thing sought to be obtained. It is not the goal of their lives it is a by-product of their walk with God.
They will be elevated not due to their pride but due to God.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,
They will also find that they will also gain great confidence in their faith that is in Christ. This is boldness. Paul says they will gain confidence and boldness as they serve along with the elders in the church. This will be the reward for faithful deacons.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We come to the end of the 1st part of the letter written to Timothy. Much has fallen from where it should be and Timothy has a great charge set before him to correct the church. So far Paul’s instruction can simplified down to him teaching correction on those who have failed to humble themselves before the Lord. They have taken to exalting themselves before elevating God.
And in a church of Christians that are living out the word, these are things that shouldn’t be found among the people especially when we gather together to worship. We gather each week to worship God. Whether parent, child, pastor, deacon, husband, wife, or any other role that we have, we come to exalt the one who saved us from the punishment of God that we justly deserved. We come in gratitude and honor to God the creator.
He will be exalted, he will bring forth his leaders to oversee and serve his church. He is faithful to do so.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one voice.