Deacons - Who Should Be a Lead Servant?

For this Sunday next Sunday. We're going to be talking about the other office that the Bible lays out in that has the office with Deacon and this morning. You may find that there are some things that you thought you knew about deacons that you didn't know and there might be some things that You learned that are new here, but my hope in today's sermon particularly is that you would leave here with a greater appreciation of how God provides holistically for the needs of his people in leadership within the church if we just had Elders if we didn't have elders and deacons there would be a great lack in our ability to do ministry. Well to really serve the body well and so deacons play a crucial part in that and so I'm going to start this morning by reading 1st Timothy 3 8 through 13, and I'm going to read this text now, but we're actually going to talk about it later on in the sermon but it gives us a good idea to keep in her head and then I'll pray for us and then we'll talk through some other things as we come back to 1st. Timothy towards the end here. 1st Timothy 3 8 through 13 says this Deacon's likewise must be dignified not double tongue to not addicted too much wine not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of Faith with a clear conscience and let them be tested first and let them service deacons if they prove themselves blameless women likewise must be dignified not Slanders, but sober-minded faithful in all things like they can each be the husband of one wife managing their children in 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. Take a moment pray.

And the father's we come to your word this morning. I thank you that you have so well thought out what we need as a body you give us the the congregation to be the church and then you asked us to look for and identify certain types of people that stand out in their ability to lead in different areas. Well, thank you for the leadership that comes from Pastor elders and thank you for the leadership that comes from deacons and pray this morning as we do go through your word that you would encourage us with how much you care for us and who you asked us to lead within the church and we pray these things in Jesus name. Amen.

so a deacon is a word that is not just one that we have made up in the English language. It's sort of like the word baptized in Greek. There's a word baptizo means to immerse and we did was called transliterate that word. We just took the word and drink and we made it in English word. That pizza became baptized. We did the same thing with Deacon the talking ass is the Greek and we just turned that In Too Deep. And so in some cases we need to look at what exactly is a deacon. What does that word mean? Because sometimes it holds meaning to us that isn't in line with what scripture normally talks about it. So to start this morning, we need to understand what a deacon is the definition of a deacon what the word meant in Greek is servant. Different than do Los what you normally would translate a slave but sometimes his bond servant. This is the sort of servant who sees to all sorts of different needs and Care within a whole bunch of different environment. This is not a word that was specifically for the church only so throughout scripture, you will see tons of places where servant is referred to Paul even first himself as a servant of the Gospel a servant of God's word even refers to Christ as being a servant

So the idea behind a deacon is that they serve but there's another term that we commonly here in the church to besides servant or Deacon. And that is Minister. We need to realize they're all based on the same thing. So diakonos is Greek for servant as I said, but in Latin when they translated the Bible into Latin the word they used for Servant was minister. We transliterate that is what we just brought that in from Latin in English. So when you hear Minister servant Deacon, they're all referring to the same concept one who serves and when you see terms like Ministry. And in your scriptures usually the word behind that is diakonia. It's that it's that same route of servant. It's just what are they doing? They're serving their ministering.

This is important understand because as we understand the concept behind being a servant then we will understand why God set it up. So there would be certain servant leaders called deacons in the church and that why would have a special meaning there because the reality of it is we all minister. Are we all serve the church? So is everybody at Deacon know they're special folks who serve in a particular way and serve for the particular set of leadership gifts that we actually call out from the congregation and safe. Those are the lead serving size of the deacons that will actually call servants by name they model for everyone what it looks like to truly care for the needs of others and Powerful ways.

How do we know that it really can have a special meaning? How is it that we know that we're not just dealing with servant generally but a deacon specifically is an office. Will Paul makes reference in Philippians. 1:1 is he's writing the letter that is church at Phillipi that seems to identify all three areas. We've been talking about Philippians 1:1 says Paul and Timothy, they're writing the letter Servants of Christ Jesus. Now there that term servant his present right and then he says to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are Philip II, that's the congregation. With the overseers that the elders and the deacons, so he uses this term. He's a servant of Christ Jesus, but then he refers to the church. They gathered congregation at Philippi having both overseers and deacons. So if a special kind of servant serving in the church and will notice us again in a passage later on where this idea of a church based servant shows up that is actually declared in that sense to be a deacon rather than just a generalize definition of servant like all of us are to Christ Jesus as Paul and Timothy say that they are

So what type of service? The deacons normally provide was it said that the verb to serve or when he is a verb to Deacon something to me any type of service but often times in scripture. It's a practical service. But it is a role. It's a it's a gifting and it's a different than just what everyone else has. In 1st Peter, he refers to two types of gifts. That are used in the church. And what's amazing and I think many of us often just pass over this always just speaking of two types of people. I think what Peter's actually referring to here is the two ways that leadership happens in the church in 1st Peter, 4:10 and 11. He says this as each has received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's very Grace and then here's the two types of gifts. He list whoever speaks as one who speaks the Oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order than everything. Might be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong glory and Dominion forever and ever amen. They said every day as a gift you got to use it and then he comes through specifically and says hey for those of the ones that are using their gift for speaking so that would probably be Elders those that are teaching the word those that I bring him out to the congregation. They shouldn't do that as if they're speaking the very words of God after him. That's a dangerous thing in some cases because some have taken that to mean anything. The pastor says must be God's word and sometimes that's not sometimes makes things up. So you got to check your pastor and make sure he's actually speaking God's word after him. But at the same time there should be a seriousness to the pastor to say what the what the elders are speaking were using our gift to proclaim the word of God after it should have some authoritative teaching quality behind it because it's God's word that's causing us to speak. And then he brings up the second group of people whoever serves whoever deacons as one who deacons by the strength that God supplies. So the speaker needs to be grounded in the word to be able to speak correctly and a deacon needs to be grounded and strength that God supplies. Why because service is hard. Sometimes service can wear a person out? It's a by understanding that that person needs to depend on God for their strength is crucial. Anna faith if the elders are speaking correctly if they're teaching the word of God correctly and the deacons are serving correctly in the strength that God supplies what happens God gets glorified and everything through Jesus Christ. That's that's really the goal of what it comes down to then whether you're one office or another the goal is to serve. So what's the connection between the deacons and the elders? Is the is it the Elder sort of the leaders and the deacons are are like Elders in training or they are they up and coming people not necessarily. The Bible nowhere specifies that Elders are one level of leadership in the deacons are a secondary level of leadership instead what we're going to find if we go into the character that defines a deacon you'll see that the qualities that Define a deacon except for one main characteristic are exactly the same as the qualities that define an elder. It's not as if one needs to be more spiritual than the other they're both required having an amazing character that God is developing in them. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a hierarchy there because it's not as if God is saying hey if you're serving that's lower-level. If you're preaching that's higher-level know anybody who has their gift is supposed to use it now practically speaking at the elders are providing oversight for things if that's one of their jobs is overseers. Will there be some level to which the deacons help help that the elders carry out that oversight the answer be? Yes. But the way in which they do that and we'll get into this next week can be varied greatly based on their ability to lead well. But I hope you see here. Is that a deacon in his role or her role is powerful in their service to the church one way. I find the showing of most clearly within Matthew 25. We actually have on one of our signs here that whenever banners a verse 44 Jesus has gone through and and commended those who saw him in need and met his need but I actually want to start reading at verse 42 because you'll see something amazing that happens. That helps us understand how deacons serve. 422 says for I was hungry you gave me no food. I was thirsty you gave me no drink with a stranger. You did not welcome me naked you did not clothe me sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they will also will answer saying Lord. When did we see you hungry or thirsty or stranger naked or sick or in prison and did not Minister. There's that word again did not serve Deacon you

And you say to them truly I say to you. She didn't do it to the least of these you did not do it to me.

So when we Minister well. We are not just serving the Practical needs of a congregation there serving Christ himself. So the role of the deacon is crucial to helping put on display the full Glory of what it looks like on Ur Jesus. So there is a general serving that all Christians do and then there are the lead servants in the church known as the deacons and they take their leadership abilities and they serve as a head of various Ministry opportunities in the church, but fine Ministry the needs a thneed find service needs to happen and they bring their heart of service their gifts. They've been given to that Ministry and they helped lead that serving.

You can see how very quickly if the quality of a deacon is bad. It will have a huge effect on an entire Ministry arm of the church. And so in the same way that it was important for elders to be on track. It is important for deacons to be on track review again verses 8 through 10 of 1st Timothy 3 to talk about these character qualities. And it says deacons like why so and talked earlier verses 1 through 7 Elder should be a certain way to the deacons like that. Must be dignified not double tongue not addicted too much wine not greedy for dishonest gain. So some qualities of a character that are important. They're not given to access and things are not given to selfishness. They're not given to saying one thing and then doing something else. They're consistent people. And verse 9 they must hold to the mystery of Faith with a clear conscience of this sets them apart a bit from the elders cuz you remember correctly with the elders. They were told they have to be at to teach able to teach so they not only have to know the word they have to be able to teach the word to others. But for the Deacon, they don't necessarily have to be able to teach it but they have to hold it with conviction.

After know what the mystery of faith is that the know the gospel and cling to it with a clear conscience.

Now does that mean that Deacon can't teach no even have examples in scripture of deacons who were preaching at times even after they were chosen. but it's not a requirement. There's nothing in the Deacon role that says you have to be a teacher.

So they can hold of the Faith with a clear conscience verse 10. Let me test it first then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. In other words. We don't want to bring much like with the elders and new convert in who can be swayed to a lot of things you don't to bring somebody new in the position of Deacon and in leading a Ministry who might tend to just give into to Pride and so forth is a leading kind of take it in their own little silent as my thing. Don't you touch it? But instead be able to say hey, I'm someone has been serving a while. I love to do this. And now I'm going to step in and use the gifts. God has given me to to lead a Ministry within the church and serve. Well there.

So the same qualities as Elders except for the teaching component. They are Christian leaders like Elder so they need to have the same character qualities of a mature Christian vital for any leadership role.

And then we hit first 11.

This will cause a little bit of conflict here as it has even for translators throughout the years. Literally, it says women likewise must be dignified not slanderers, but sober-minded faithful in all things. So the question becomes does that mean the wives of deacons or does that mean women Deacons? The big question, right? If you're sitting there with an ESV in front of you, which is what I normally preach out of Legos so far is not just to translate it wives likewise. They actually translated their wives but there's no possessive pronoun given in the Greek just says women other versions depending on what you're looking at will come right out and say women or deaconesses. They some versions actually go so far as to to translate it that way the problem is in the Greek. There's not there's not a distinction give in in terms of the the the way the word is written to say whether or not there's a category of Deaconess. So the question is, why did Paul use the term women here? I believe he used it to show that there were women deacons and an expectation of that within the church. I'm going to take just a minute to say why so you can understand where that's coming from. First of all, I take it from the way the text itself is structured in 1 through 7 Elders are this way. Then we hit versus a Deacon's likewise this way and then we hit verse 11 the women likewise this way and list the character traits. So he seems to be fine dining in the realm of deacons something that doesn't just describe the characteristic of somebody was living at home and happens to be married to a deacon but someone who's actually serving in that Ministry capacity now, is it possible that the women deacons in the early church had a different role to play than some of the male deacons had I would not doubt that at all due to the culture in which they lived it probably would have been very easy for the men to get out and about and do certain things and have a gestational levels that would have implied certain ability sets that they had that maybe some of the women deacons didn't have but that heart of service that ability to care for and lead the Practical Ministries within the church. Would definitely have been present in the women that were there. And so there was some qualities the same sort of one's being dignified said of not being double tongue. He says not slanderous instead of not addicted to much wine is this being sober minded instead of holding to the mystery of Faith? He says faithful in all things. He described these women in exactly the same way that he described the Deacons. So, I believe that order of the text lays out the fact that he's speaking here of women deacons the fact that inverse 12, he goes back in discusses deacons again seems to imply to me that he's he's couching verse 11 in his discussion of deacons, but saying something specific that the women deacons know what the expectations are for them. Now traditionally in Baptist Churches. This is not always been an accepted view point. And part of the reason I believe that it is not been as accepted in some Churches to have women deacons is because they haven't understood what deacons do and they've given deacons are rolled. Looks like what Elders are supposed to do in so many of our Baptist Churches we have deacons who provide oversight and teaching authoritative teaching within the church, you know, the pastor is going to be out for a week. One of the deacons should preach for him. As if deacons have a requirement of being able to teach which they don't in scripture. And so I think the hesitancy to say that there should be women deacons is because they've understood deacons incorrectly. They caused very clear here why he doesn't include apt to teach is because that way the women who are serving will not be confused with Elders. I don't have to come in and teach the deacons are called to serve.

and since they're not in that oversight and teaching role nothing that a deacon does would go against anything else that said in scripture about roles that men and women should have

Another thing I would point out here in favor of women deacons is you would think that if Paul wanted to be clear that the wives of certain people in the church really had that certain quality characteristics to them. He would have said something about Elders wives. Putting verses 1 through 7. He says nothing about women there. Why would it be would be the Paul would be concerned about the wives of deacons and not concerned about the wives of Elders? So because he leaves it out of 1 through 7, but brings it up in 8 through 13. I think he's stating to us that there is a categorical difference here and what he's talking about. He's not speaking of wives or you would have brought it up before he speaking of women Deacons.

Now practically speaking. Many women are fantastic leaders and servants and should be using their gifts to bless the church. And anyways that they can. And so to say there are are still parameters that seem to be put on in scripture about who it is that should be the preachers and teachers and oversight leaders in the church Elders being confined to men because there is nothing mentioned about women in any of the definitions of character traits for elders. The fact that there can be a going either way on this one to me opens up that door to be able to say women should be able to serve as deacons Ashley because deaconesses the deacons what you would do their that's semantics to me how you wanted to find who they are is just a matter of terminology. We could just say deacons and mean both men and women we could say deacons and Deaconess is my only problem with stressing the difference. There is that the scripture doesn't seem to provide a quality difference between them. I would hate to think that the name provide some sort of quality difference between the two.

So for those grounds, I would say women can serve and should serve in the role of deacon. Now. The next question to ask is what are there any examples of this in scripture? We can you find any place that women actually show up as a deacon. cuz if we can't then maybe we should err on the side of caution and say well it doesn't seem that the early church really meant it that way, but if we can then it would say to us. Okay, we'll probably understanding that text correct because there's places where that got lived out. Now. Here's the great thing Paul wrote 1st Timothy. And Paul also wrote the letter to the Romans. And so the same writer is speaking in both cases here in 1st Timothy and Romans 16. Romans 16 is the closing chapter in Romans where he's saying hello to everybody and greet this person and greet that person and giving some commendations of different people that they'll come across any verse 1 and 2. He says this in chapter 16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe. A servant of the church at cenchria that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way that is worthy of the Saints and help her and whatever she may need for you from you for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. They say wait a minute. Don't say she was a deacon say she was a servant. Well, that's a translation Choice again in the ESV because their translators were translating 1st Timothy as their wives. So they translate Romans 16 as servant, but the root word of that is diakonos. So some of your translations may actually come out and say I commend to you our sister Phoebe a deacon in the church at senec RI. Why do I think it's right to translate it that way because again everywhere were the office of Deacon shows up. It's connected to a church body. Like we saw on Philippians the Philippian church and the elders and deacons that are there here. He doesn't just say generally she's a servant she is a deacon of the church at Century. So we have an example here in scripture for someone who Paul commands to the church and says, hey if she comes to you realize she's a deacon here and welcome her and give her whatever she needs cuz she's one who really shows what it looks like to lead. Well, she has been a blessing a give her a servant of so many and includes himself in that list.

Now that would be a change for our church. Right right. Now we just have all male elders and all male Deacons.

but I believe it's something we need to give honest consideration to One thing it would require of us is to look at what the deacons currently do. And say does that line up with what it looks like to be a lead servant or some of our deacons doing eldering things and some of our deacons doing Deaconess things and then are there other leaders in the church? Who are currently serving in a way that says hey, I lead a Ministry within the church not Teaching Ministry by Leading Ministry wheel in this church and I serve there. If they're doing that according to what we seen even just so far about deacons, they're kind of doing the Deacon role. We just don't call him that you know, what time to call him in our church ministry directors the funny Ministry directors. What are you doing? Well, I'm ministering in a role of leadership kind of directing a Ministry if you will.

Cerulean some senses. We've just confused some terminology and how we put things together. But according to scripture these two offices are designed so that the needs can be met with in the church body. So we're going to come back to some other comments about deacons later on. I will come back for just a second here 2 verse 12 and 13 of 1st Timothy 3 cuz I want to make sure you see that passage as well because he comes back to deacons and says let them be the husband of one wife managing their children in their own households. Well for those who serve well as deacons game good standing for themselves and it also great confidence in the faith in Christ Jesus. We don't want to bring that back up. It's because oftentimes that verse 12 is used to shape how people read verse 11 and don't you think I'm ignoring it? Those who would say there shouldn't be women deacons would say hey can't be the husband of one wife if you're a woman. So therefore clearly women aren't supposed to be Deacons. However, here's where I think that they're they're missing something. He defines the rolling verse 11 similar towels to find the role for the the male deacons in 8 through 10. But because I believe culturally at that time women would not have been known as the managers of a household and probably would have not have been given the charge of the finances and so forth of the deacons often oversaw. We're going to see this next week. We look at at 6. There would be a requirement for the male deacons who are going to be serving and ways that they're managing Church funds their managing benevolence and things like that that they'd be able to show that they are faithful good managers and their own household just like Elders were going to provide oversight were required to show that they could handle things within their family before they're giving a larger Church body to lead. I think he does not put the women afterwards but sandwiches them in the middle here because he specifically trying to make sure that visually they're included this whole thing. It doesn't is the discussion of deacons until verse 11 shows up in the middle to Define women deacons, but he's he didn't pack it as an add-on to the end. This is still all his discussion of deacons and how they

so what are you do one thank Jesus for the grace. He's shown to certain people in the church who lead in serving? Thank Jesus for the grace. He has shown to certain people in the church who lead in serving.

Dimensions last week October they often call Pastor appreciation month and thank you to those of you who have cards and the deacons who give a gift to bless us and even to bless our new dog. Great. Love it. It's interesting though if you don't really have Deacon appreciation month. Don't have time set aside to praise God in thankfulness for those who are the leads servants in the church. I believe we should take time to be thankful to Jesus for them. These are. Officially as deacons in our church men, but when we look at those who are leading in Ministries right now, these are men and women who are indispensable to the healthy functioning of our church body.

We can't possibly do everything with a few people. And the fact that God has gifted so many to be able to lead so well is a blessing that we do not want to know. Next week we can talk more about exactly what do they do will take some examples from scripture and look through and see how it is that they do what they do and we'll look at the the tasks there for another way to word that maybe the task the congregation can entrust to them. They say that specifically because if you're putting all this series together the congregation raises up from itself people that they call to be leaders nose leaders are elders and deacons. So God is from the congregation raising up people to do things and a congregation says here's what you're going to do for us now. Hopefully the congregation takes its desires for what the elders and deacons should do from scripture and doesn't just say, you know what we think you guys should paint. So we're going to call you deacons and make you paint then say that to do that in scripture, right or we believe that Elder should go through and shingle roof. Well, it doesn't say that they should do that. We should go to scripture and say what is scripture say elders and deacons should do and then we should equip those people to do those tasks. Next week, we'll talk about exactly what those tasks are that the congregation can a trust them with and how we set them apart for their work very similar in that sense to Elders will talk about that that or gaining not acknowledging of who God Is Lifting Up and placing in positions.

What is a closed today? What I want us to do we're going to declare the Second Sunday in November hear Deacon appreciation Sunday. We're going to take a moment where I pray for those who are lead servants in our church is a group of folks who've been serving as deacons in the church some of them brand-new even since I've come here are currently moved away and now he's gotten married. He's out in Seattle. He's not serving anymore, but I got to be part of his ordination. And if that same time, we ordained Joseph Haro to the ministry of a deacon, others have been serving four years in that capacity. And then this week we look scripturally at this idea of lead servants. There are many on the leadership team now that are lead servants in the church. pray for them and if you think about it this week and you can call the church if need address information or something. Would you write an encouraging letter to those who lead in service in the church encourage them with something that you can think of that they have done for this body or for you specifically that has been an encouragement and helped you in your walk with Christ because they are a crucial part of seeing that happening. Take a moment here just to pray silently and in a few moments, I will wrap us up will hear some some piano as as we play and then Christo after I'm done will come forward and lead us in a closing song. Let's take a few minutes and pray.