Deacon Charge (Elijah Jenkins) (Acts 6:1-7)

The Reason for Deacons

Deacons are ordained in a local new testament church so that the pastor can focus on prayer and preaching.

Some in the church were murmuring because physical needs were not met. They thought the pastors wasn’t doing enough and blamed the pastors for the lack of physical help in the church.

Either the pastor can study and pray for this Sunday’s messages, or put fried chicken on a paper plate.

If a church’s ministry is limited to the pastor, that church will not go very far. If a church has multitudes of equally dedicated men, that church will accomplish much for Christ.

The disciples proposal was to delegate the physical responsibility to some of the men of the church.

Deacon is in the Bible: deacon board is not. The deacons DO NOT tell the pastor what to do, but are to do work that will help the pastor do his main work. THEY ARE TO ASSIST THE PASTOR, NOT ADVISE THE PASTOR.

Pastors are not to be dictators. Christ is the dictator (head); the pastor is supposed to be the duplicator (overseer, watch over souls)

The Requirements for Deacons

Office of a deacon = “officially” recognizing the work that they are already doing.

Their Standing (vs.3) (men of honest report) (1 Timothy 3:8)

You’re not someone who is a liar, cheater, adulterer, drunk, dope, cusser. You look, act, talk, a behave like a Christian.

Double-tongued = People will have problems and sometimes the pastor cannot be there. This is where the deacon can step in and minister Bible truth just as the pastor would.

The deacon shouldn’t express one position to you (because that what he thinks you want to hear) and another position to the pastor (because that’s what he thinks you want to hear). That person needs to expect that what the pastor would say is what the deacon would say.

The pastor must trust the deacon that the deacon would give you what the pastor would give you. The deacon must be loyal to the doctrines of the Bible, beliefs of the church, and leadership of the church.

Proved - If our church had a man that qualified as a deacon, everyone would know it. If someone wants to be a deacon, start doing deacon things without the title.

We don’t give someone an office and expect them to start doing what is needed. You find someone who is already doing what is needed.

Wives - There are more qualifications for a deacons wife than the pastors wife.

You can have a man who loves God, his church, his Bible, his pastor, and he is all in. But if his wife isn’t all in with him, it will never work. You can’t make a man a deacon whose wife doesn’t love the church as much as he does.

Slanderers - when people don’t like the church they attend, they don’t speak bad about Christ, they speak bad about the congregation. The husband in leadership position can’t do his duty if his wife is trying to take a sword to everyone and everything that’s going on.

Their Spirituality (vs.3) (full of the Holy Ghost)

Galatians 5:22-23,

The church is murmuring just like the Jews did back in the Old Testament.

Notes on Bible

Their Skill (vs.3) (full of wisdom)

You need to have a knowledge of Scripture, but also how to use Scripture and apply it to your life and the life of the church.

The Risk of Being a Deacon

Philippians 2:25-30, 4:15-18.

The Reward Because of Deacons (1 Timothy 3:13)

There are those in some churches that are very impressed with their spiritual accomplishments, their level of dedication, their ability to tithe, their ability to sing. CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS DESERVING OF HONOR AND GLORY.

Don’t ever call yourself the world’s greatest deacon. Don’t think that just because you’re in the office of deacon that you get glory and honor now. That does come later (HAVE USED THE OFFICE OF A DEACON WELL (rightly/correctly).

Do something really great for God, stay faithful, and keep serving, THEN let someone say, “wow! We’re really glad God sent this man to our church!” “Look how he’s worked and served in our church!” “He’s helped the church so much!”

If you are wanting to be a deacon for recognition and appreciation, you are going to fail as a deacon. Do it because God put it in your heart to do it!

Because these deacons were ordained and served, there was...(Acts 6:3)

An Increase in the Scriptures (word of God increased)

The church grew in their knowledge of the Scriptures because the pastor was able to fully devote his time to prayer and preaching. (increased - widespread or well-known)

The church was on the verge of being known for food, but now they will be know for Bible preaching.

It won’t be a carnal church, but a Christ-like church.

The messages that help you, perk you up, strengthen you, encourage you, rebuke you are made possible because people are serving so the pastor can pray and study the word of God.

An Increase in Servants (disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly)

Because of the increase in knowledge of the Scriptures, the church was seeing their need to be servants. DEACONS ARE NOT THE ONLY SERVANTS. EVERYONE IS CALLED TO SERVE (Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” )

We don’t want church attenders, we want disciples!

An Increase in Salvation (a great company of PRIESTS were obedient to the faith)

When the church understands the teachings of Scripture and obey the teachings of Scripture, the church will want to see people saved. Priests (Jews) got saved because of the increase of Scripture and servants serving the Savior.