The Essential Role of Deacons

Servants of the Church: Honoring the Role of Deacons

Summary: This theme explores the vital ministry of deacons within the church, emphasizing their role in service, support, and leadership as modeled by Christ and outlined in Scripture.

Application: Understanding the role of deacons can help church members appreciate the importance of service in the body of Christ and encourage them to use their gifts to support one another and the church’s mission.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that deacons are essential for the church's health and function, serving as examples of Christ-like leadership through their service and support of the congregation and its elders.

How this passage could point to Christ: Deacons exemplify the servanthood of Christ, who came to serve rather than to be served (Mark 10:45), showing how leadership in the church is fundamentally about humility and service to others.

Big Idea: The role of deacons is essential to the life and health of the church, reflecting the servant leadership of Christ and calling all believers to serve one another.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider looking into the qualifications and responsibilities of deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. You might also want to explore the historical development of the diaconate in the early church using Logos resources. Investigate the Greek terms used for deacon and service to better understand the scriptural context of their ministry.

1. Character Counts for Service

1 Timothy 3:8-10

Perhaps one can view these verses as a guide to identify the high calling and character required for deacons. Emphasize how deacons must embody integrity and faithfulness, serving as Christ served, by demonstrating these qualities in their work and in their personal lives. This echoes the Big Idea that deacons reflect the servant leadership of Christ and inspire the church community to follow his model of humility and service.

A DEACON IS A SERVANT / Table waiter

"1 Tim. 3:1-13 thus presents a twofold pattern for the official ministry of the church, that of oversight (episkopos) and that of service (diakonos)." 1 Timothy 3:8-13

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.

Unlike the Elders , 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:5

12 QUALIFICATIONS

1. "Men of dignity" (Gr. semnos, v. 8) means worthy of respect. 2. "Not double-tongued" (Gr. me dilogous, v. 8) means not two-faced, saying one thing or living one way part of the time and another at other times; honest, not hypocritical, sincere; men of integrity. 3. "Not addicted to much wine" means not an addict (Gr. me oino pollo prosechontas, v. 8; cf. elder qualification #8). 4. "Not fond of sordid gain" means he does not love "dirty money" (Gr. me aischrokerdeis, v. 8; cf. elder qualification #12). 5. "Holding the . . . faith with a clear conscience" (Gr. echontas to mysterion tes pisteos en kathara syneidesei, v. 9) describes a man of conviction who behaves in harmony with his beliefs. "The mystery of the faith" is the body of doctrine that God has given us by special revelation. Today "mystery" implies knowledge withheld, but in the Bible it often means knowledge revealed. 6. "Beyond reproach" (Gr. anegkletoi, v. 10; cf. elder qualification #1) means without reasonable grounds for accusation. This was to be true of him in the past as well as in the present, having passed the test of time. Paul was not referring to some type of ordination examination. "The meaning is not [either] that they should be given a trial appointment as deacon, but rather that the church should constantly be examining and testing the members of the congregation, so that whenever the need for selecting deacons arises, they will know what members are qualified for appointment." 3:11 Their wives likewise/ Women likewise Does this verse refer to female deacons? Historically most interpreters have preferred this view. Others believe it refers to the wives of male deacons. Still others believe it refers to unmarried women who assist the deacons. Exegetically it is very hard to decide. I think it probably refers to female deacons for the following reasons. First, there is nothing about the office as such that would exclude a woman. Second, it seems unusual that Paul would prescribe qualifications for wives of deacons but not for wives of elders. Third, the fact that he inserted special qualifications for women in his list of deacon qualifications seems to indicate that he considered these women as deacons. Paul described Phoebe as a deaconess (servant, Gr. diakonon) of the church in Cenchrea in Romans 16:1. This may mean she was simply a servant of the church. However the term he used allows for the possibility that she occupied the office of deaconess in her church. "The office of deaconess is not certain in the New Testament church, but the preponderance of evidence suggests that women had this ministry, for it is certainly seen in the postapostolic period." The apostle cited four special qualifications for these women. 7. "Dignified" means worthy of respect (Gr. semnas, v. 8). 8. "Not malicious gossips" (Gr. diabolos) describes those who do not slander others. 9. "Temperate" (Gr. nephalious) means well balanced (elder qualification #3, v. 2; cf. Titus 2:2). 10. "Faithful in all things" (Gr. pistas en pasin) means completely trustworthy. (Calvin understood two kinds of deacons: deacons who distribute alms to the poor, and deacons who devote themselves to the care of the poor and sick. He believed that women could serve as the second type, but that women could fulfill no other public office in the church than this.) 3:12 Returning to the male deacons, Paul added two more qualifications. 11. They must be the "husbands of one wife" (Gr. mias gunaikos andres) elder qualification #2, v. 2). 12. They must also be "good managers of their children and their own households" (Gr. teknon kalos proistamenoi kai ton idion oikon; cf. elder qualification #13, vv. 4-5). 3:13 The rewards for faithful service as a deacon are two: a good reputation, and increased confidence in dealing with other people and with God (cf. Matt. 20:26-28; Mark 10:43-45). Presumably this confidence builds on a clear conscience. Paul said nothing about the duties of deacons. This indicates that he did not associate specific tasks with the office. He seems to have intended that deacons should function as official servants of the church in whatever capacity the elders may see a need for this. They were in effect the elders' assistants.

1 Timothy 3:11-13

You could explore how these verses extend the call for integrity and faithfulness not just to male deacons, but also to women who serve and support them. Consider focusing on the idea that the strength of service in the church relies on the teamwork and mutual respect among all members. This reflects Christ's inclusive approach to servanthood and highlights the essential nature of all Christians to actively partake in ministry, supporting each other in love and faith.

2. Community of Faithful Servants

1 Timothy 3:13 “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.”

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house 1 Peter 2:4-5

27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. Luke 22:27

5 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

3 Therefore, brothers, pick out fromThere is great need for elders and deacons in God’s church. They must be men (and alongside them must be women) of character, of trustworthiness, of purity, of orthodoxy. For such workers and for every Christian true to his or her calling, the reward is great: a step up in God’s honouring us, and great confidence before God and in the world.

among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:3-7