Study of Deacons

Greeting:

Good evening good to see everyone out tonight.

Hope everyone has had a good day.

Lesson Text:

1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-4

Opening:

Tonight we are moving into our study on deacons.

We are leaving the elders behind and now moving to the other leadership position we see in scripture.

Our hope is to take the same approach as we did to our study of elders.

Tonight we want to take a look at some introductory thoughts and ideas.

We want to look at what a deacon is, what their responsibilities are...

Then we will transition into the qualifications given.

Tonight I think its important we all understand the importance of this study.

As we said with elders, the church needs deacons as well.

God’s church was designed for the elders and deacons and that is something a church should work towards.

Lesson:

Tonight I want to begin by reading our text.

Unlike elders we are only given one passage to examine the qualifications for a deaon.

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.

I think its important before we dive into the qualifications that we look at what a deacon is.

What does that word mean?

What is a deacon’s role?

What is the relationship like between an elder and deacon?

Deacon (diakonos)

This Greek word diakonos means servant or minister.

It is found 30 times in the Greek New Testament.

Twenty times it is translated “minister”

Seven times it is translated “servant”

And three times it is translated “deacon” as in what we are studying tonight.

Philippians 1:1

1 Timothy 3:8

1 Timothy 3:12

But not in the way of a slave to his master, but rather a servant in relationship to his work.

In modern day, maybe the best analogy would be a waiter at a table.

I think its important for us to understand this is a completely different role than what we have looked at with elders.

Elders were spiritual leaders of the church.

They were to sheppard and guard the flock spiritualy.

This is not the deacon’s role.

The church has spiritual needs and thats for the elders.

But what about the physical needs of the church?

Or maybe we could say some of the “operations” of the church?

This is where deacons com in.

The elders have their priority and devotion to the spiritual things, so thats why Gods plan laid out the deacons role.

We can see these two positions working togehter in the Lord’s Church.

Philippians 1:1 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

We can see the church at Phillipi had both elders and deacons.

I think this is exaclty how God intended his church to be.

He wanted this type of leadership in the church.

This idea of leadership though is different for the deacon than the elder.

We noted this earlier, but the deacon doesnt have spiritual leadership over the church.

He is not the one maing spiritual decisions.

That role lies within the eldership.

We can see this relationship in a very similar way demonstrated by the apostles and the disciples.

In Acts 2:41 there were many members added to the church suddenly.

Acts 2:41 ESV

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

We are told some 3000 souls were added to the church.

Issues arose from the number of Christians that were there and needing help...

Later in Acts 6 we learn there was an issue with caring for the widows.

So, the apostles delegated and appointed certain disciples to go fulfill this need.

This could very well be the first use of what we would say is a deacon.

Acts 6:1–7 ESV

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 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. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 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. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 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.

The apostles did this so that they could continue preaching and teaching and focusing on the spiritual needs of the church.

They did not have elders yet, so the apostles were still the “spiritual leaders.”

But we can see this relationship between them and these men.

This is extremely similar to the elder deacon realtionship.

I think it is important to note these men were never specifically called deacons by the Bible.

But we can see a similarity.

These men were to go and “serve tables”

This most likely meant back then that they were to help and aid in benevolence work like passing out food and money.

This is just one example we see of a deacon’s work.

Scripture doesnt really provide a specific checklist for us.

But it could include taking care of the building, managing funds to help the needy, keeping record for contribution, running some sort of media or technology for the church, picking up thise unable to drive, assisting the widows, etc.

So much of the deacons duties revolves around the physical needs of the church and the directions from the elders.

So not only can we see that these men were to serve the church but we also see the selection process.

We read that the disciples were to go out and find seven men of good repute.

Once found, these men would be appointed by the apostles.

We do not have much info to go on in this process but we can see this here.

I think we can conclude from scripture that the addition of deacons is there to help out the elders.

Deacons are to be a servant of the church, aiding in the Church’s physical needs.

It may be best summed up by this phrse i came across...

“Decons perform a spiritual work by meeting a physical need.”

So now that we have covered some basic info on deacons and their purpose, lets look at the qualifications.

Qualifications

We now can dive into the quaifications that are laid out for us.

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.

Reverent

Not Double Tongued

Not Given to Much Wine

Not Greedy

Hold the Mystery of Faith

Proven/Tested/Blameless

Husband of One Wife

Managing Children/Household Well

Upon first glace we may notice these seem to be a little less strict as compared to the elders.

We read of significantly less qualifications for the deacons.

Which is due to the nature of the work, these men are again tending to the physical needs not spiritual.

But they are still here for a reason and must be met!

Reverent

ESV reads “dignified”

Greek word is “semnos”

This means worthy of respect, honor, noble, dignified.

This is a man who these words I believe speak for themselves.

He is respectable, honorable, a good Christian man.

He takes being Christian seriously.

This is a man who is serious about the work.

He doesnt have an attitude of “Eh if it gets done great, if not oh well.”

Not Double Tongued

This is someone who isnt hypocrytical.

Or maybe someone today we would say is two faced.

He doesnt say one thing and do another.

He doesnt attempy to decieve others with his words.

He is a man of his word.

We dont have to worry if this is someone that when he says something should we believe it or not?

Not Addicted to Much Wine

ESV reads “not addicted to much wine.”

NASB reads, “not addicted to much wine.”

“not given to much wine”

In Greek this is reads...

“me (not) oino (wine) pollo (much) prosechon tas (being given)”

So, “not wine much being given”

Or “not given to much wine.”

A lot of discussion comes up concerning this qualification.

Again I think we can start with the obvious.

A deacon cant be a man who is an alcoholic.

This isnt someone who drinks like a fish we may say.

He doesnt allow alcohol to control his life.

So a man who is getting drunk can not be a deacon.

And we know scripture condemns drunkness not just for elders or deacons but for all Christians...

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Corinthians 6:10 ESV

nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

We can see here that getting drunk is a sin, so its not wise for any Christian let alone a deacon.

A drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So a deacon nor any Christian should find himself in this situation obviously.

It is possible there is no other thing I have ever seen that people attempt to jusitfy more than alcohol.

Drinking is something a lot of people in this world advocate for.

And unfotunately so do many Christians...

So in that case, now for the discussion...

What about in moderation?

As long as a deacon isnt drunk right?

Can a deacon then have some wine?

Why did an elder’s qualification say not given to wine, yet this one says not given to much wine?

As always I think its important to look at scriputre for our answers.

Not man’s thoughts or opinions.

So what does the Bible say?

We read earlier that the reprocussions of becoming drunk is sin, and osing heaven.

If drunkeness is something that keeps us out of heaven, how close are we willing to get?

How much fire are we willing to play with?

Is a little drunkeness ok?

When does one become drunk?

Is the process of becoming drunk ok?

Scritpture on many occasions uses similar examples.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 ESV

Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

Can we be a little wicked as long as we arent overly wicked?

When does one beceome overly wicked?

Romans 6:12 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

Can we have a little sin in our body as long as it doesnt reign over us?

How much sin is ok?

Romans 12:2 ESV

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.

Can we have a litle worldliness in our lives, as long as we arent conformed totally?

I think we can see the connection here...

But even if we dont, we can look further.

We read earlier in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

The greek word that we use for the words “get drunk” is “methyskō”

It means “to become intoxicated with.”

When does one become intoxicated?

Can we get intoxicated, can we get drunk, if we neve take the first drink?

Not Greedy

ESV adds “for dishonest gain” but I think this applies to being greedy in any aspect.

This is a man who can be trusted with money.

He is not influenced by money or a lover of moeny.

He can be truted with financial decisions for the church.

He doesnt place money or riches over the churh or his position.

His focus is on the church and not fianacial gain.

Holding the Mystery of Faith With A Pure Conscience

We may notice that unlike the elder, a qualification of being “apt to teach” isnt listed.

OR we may point out that since a deacons job is more “physical” than “spiritual” that he doesnt need to know the Bible.

But that is not the case.

This is not to say that a man who is a deacon shouldnt know the scripture.

This man should have a good understanding of the Bible.

Specifically the mystery Paul says.

This mystery it is talking about is what God has revealed, the gospel, salvation to mankind.

The deacon should have a solid grasp or hold on scripture concering this and lives this out in his life.

He is a man who lives a life of conviction from God’s word.

He will be in situations where he is able to teach and spread God’s word. How can he do that without knowledge of the Bible?

Proven/Tested/Blameless

This tells us that aman who aspires to be a deacon should be tested.

He should be able to prove himself as a CHristian.

THis isnt saying much like with the elders, that he has to be perfect.

THis jsut means he has to be someone that no other would worry about or object to.

He is not a man we would have to guess about where he is what he is doing who he is with, because this man is a proven Christian.

Husband of One Wife

This, much like elders, tell us that a deacon must be married.

We covered this phrase pretty in depth with the study of elders and we see it applied here as well.

So a deacon must be a man, married to a woman.

So this would rule out an unmarried amn from being a deacon.

But not just this but faithful to his wife.

We cant just look at this and say married, check.

What if he’s married but he’s not faithful to her?

This must be a man who is faithfully married to his wife.

Managing His Children/Household Well

We find again a familiar qualification.

This was given in 1 Timothy as well for elders.

So this tells us a deacon must have children.

So if a man is not a father he could not serve as a deacon.

Again though, we cant just look at this and say oh he has children, check.

This also tells us he must manage them well.

He must have well behaved respectable children.

Notice we do not have though the qualification of believing or faithful children that was given to an elder in Titus 1:6

So a deacon could serve if his kids were not Christians.

Deacon’s Wife

Within this family set of qualifications we also find the deacons wife.

We just covered that as well in our last lesson for the elders wife and they are the eact same.

A deacons wife must be:

Reverent

Not Slanderers

Temperate

Faithful in All Things

Conclusion:

Hopefully in this lesson we have seen the importance again of another leadership role set forth by God.

As we said with elders, it is Gods plan that his church has elders and deacons.

This is something any church that is without, should be working towards placing.

Do We Take It Seriously?

I think its also important that men we understand the gravity of this posiiton.

This isnt just a title we would wear or an office we say we hold but this an active responsibility.

This is a serious thing and should be considered as such.

Tonight for a moment I’d like to direct our minds to this same question but in a way that applies to all Christians.

Are we guilty of viewing that word Christian as just a title?

A name we wear?

Or do we live it every day?

Tonigt if you are not a Christian i encourage you to become one.

If you are a Christian have we failed to take it seriously?

Do we wear the name of Christ in all that we do and say?

If not then lets make our life right as well.