Being and Doing
Notes
Transcript
Qualifying the office of Deacon
Qualifying the office of Deacon
We are going to be continuing our series on: God’s Irreplaceable Gift to the church this morning. Would you go ahead and find your place in 1 Timothy 3:8-13?
Paul has written Timothy… who had been left behind in Ephesus to shepherd/ pastor the church there.
Paul writes to him to warn against false teachers in the church…. to reaffirm the core salvific message of the gospel… to instruct the church in how they are to live… pray… worship…. and finally… appoint leaders.
Paul gives a very specific list of qualifications for elders in the beginning of chapter 3…. then in verse 8, Paul shifts his gaze from the Elders who were to lead the church…. to the Deacons… who were to serve the church.
Last week we were introduced to the concept of Deacons.... this divinely prescribed shock absorbing suspension system for the church. We learned that the verb “deacon” means to serve. It illustrates the picture of someone constantly busy… to the point where the dust around their feet never comes to a rest. This week we are going bring some more clarify to the role and office of Deacon that is initiated in Acts 6.
Generally, the term means servant and in a way describes the way in which every Christian should live.... reflecting Christ.... as servants. So, in a general sense… we are all to “deacon” every day of our lives.
But, we will ll see today, a deacon is a specifically called and qualified individual who serves in one of the two specific offices of the church (Elder and Deacon).
The word that generally means to serve in the Bible is also specifically used to describe an official office deacon (1 Tim. 3:8, 12; Phil. 1:1). As we saw last week… what do deacons so? Simply put, they serve the needs of the body.
Over the centuries, the office of Deacon has been abused and misunderstood.... to the point where churches have shied away from having them at all… depriving themselves of this irreplaceable gift.... that has been given to the church… enabling the church to thrive and multiply!
Many people have the misunderstanding that a deacon is just the guy in the church who has the most tools… or is able to fix stuff. Others have the misunderstanding the deacons are the executive director board for the church or some kind of political office. Some have misunderstood the biblical office to the point of assuming that elders and deacons are one in the same. They are not. They are two distinct biblical offices of the local church.
Today, Nate and I hope to help bring some clarity about who deacons must be.... and what deacons must do.
Let’s start by looking at 1 Tim. 3:8 as we look at how the Apostle Paul demands, Who Deacons Must Be.
I. Who Deacons Must Be
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.
Paul is now addressing those who would hold the office of deacon. But, notice that while Paul is speaking to deacons… he is not starting from ground zero when it comes to qualifications. When you see the word “likewise” in verse 8, understand that Paul is saying… Hey deacons.... remember qualifications for an elder.... because I’m getting ready to give you your list… and its almost identical.
If you were to compare the qualifications for an elder and a deacon, the only major difference is that an elder must be able to teach (handle the Word of God with accuracy and proficiency). While deacons can teach… they are not commanded to… it is not a qualification.
But, everything else is pretty much the same.
So, while the office of deacon is not a teaching office in the church… it does require elder-like qualifications and weight of responsibility.
Paul begins to address deacons by listing two overall qualifications. 1. Obligatory Character and 2. Understand and live the gospel.
Verse 8 tells us that there is an obligatory character for a deacon.
A. Obligatory Character
The first qualification listed here is that someone who holds the office of deacon must be dignified.
(Clarify: all of these qualifications should be lived out by every Christian.... but they must be lived out by those who serve in the office of deacon)
1. Dignified
The word dignified means respectable.... thought of well by others… and someone who demonstrates a respectable biblical character.
Notice the force of this character. Paul says that a deacon MUST be dignified. It’s a non-negotiable.
It’s not maybe… its not… “it would be great if”… it is an absolute obligatory character that a deacon must possess.
Paul doesn’t leave us just guessing what he means… he gives us a list of qualifiers that helps us to understand what he means by dignified/ respectable.
not double-tongued (sincere.. literally not a double talker) — not a gossip… this man is respectable because he is credible… and he is credible because he is truthful. Paul could have very well be remembering the words of Christ recorded in Matthew 5:37…
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
not addicted to much wine (not drunk on wine, power or money— a man drunk on anything of these does not deserve respect.) — Anything we are addicted to whether it be power, money, drugs or alcohol controls you. As believers we are not to be controlled by anything other than the Holy Spirit who indwells us. That is why in Eph. 5:18 why Paul says,
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Don’t let anything other than the Holy Spirit control you. Alcohol, drugs, power, money, position, influence… are all things that will lead you away from Christ… and towards an eventual path of destruction.
(Christians have different opinions: a long time ago I made the decision that under most normal circumstances that I would not drink any kind of alcohol. — drinking alcohol is not prohibited in Scripture. Being drunk is prohibited. — But just so that no one can ever say that I am addicted to wine… or drunk with alcohol… i just tend to stay away from it. That way I don’t have to worry about it ever being an issue). — addicted to alcohol, drugs, power, money, influence, family..... (when we are addicted to something… it becomes an idol in our lives… and robs us of the ability to hear the Holy Spirit.... and respond to Christ.
not greedy for dishonest gain
So, to review what Paul has said, the first “must” that defines and clarifies what a deacon must be is to be dignified… respectable. That person doesn’t have the type of character that would do anything that would take away from the ministry of the gospel… and the effectiveness of the local church.
The second “must” that Paul gives us is related to how a deacon understands and lives out the gospel.
2. Understand and Live the Gospel
They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
Deacons are not required to be able to teach. That is the elder’s role.
But, deacons are required to be able to keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
The text says that they are to hold to “they mystery of the faith”. That is a term that is used often by Paul to describe something that was once hidden but is not revealed to those who are spiritually discerning.
Paul is talking about the gospel. The mysterious and wonderful good news of Jesus christ... the “mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).
A deacon must clearly and fully understand the truth of the gospel and be able to communicate that truth to other people. Nate will talk about some of the ways in which deacons serve… and many of those areas of service require that the deacon is able to speak the truth of the gospel into the lives of those he serves.
Verse 9 says that he must be able to embrace the gospel with a clear conscience.
What does it not mean? —
Illustration: Jiminy Cricket’s advice to Pinocchio: Let your conscience be your guide… —> your conscience will mislead you… it in itself is not a source of truth or strength. But Scripture always tells the truth. Scripture is the source of truth and strength!
When we live our lives according to the truth.... with a clear conscience… then we are moving in the right direction.
Clear conscience… what does it mean?
It means that what he understands about the gospel must not only be a matter of theory… he must live it out!
A deacon must be able to live in such a way that his conscience does not reproach his lifestyle. Meaning… that his faith must be to the level of maturity where his conscience is clear (privately and publically) regarding how well he lives out the gospel he claims to love.
(people who grew up in the church and saw that there was a “Sunday go to meeting mask” that was worn.... that was discarded during the week..... Those people are not qualified.... ) (holy roller and bible thumper on Sunday.... but just a rolled up thug throughout the week) — Why many Millennials have left the church)
When we hold to the “mysteries of the faith” … cross centered gospel, with a clear conscience… then we are in great shape… that means that our belief has penetrated our soul to the point where it informs every aspect of our lives. --- The gospel is lived out… and other people can see that it is real!
In verses 10-12, Paul lists several practical commands that will continue to bring clarity to who a deacon must be.
B. Practical Commands
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.
1. Let them be tested
The idea is that there must be some kind of testing that is one to determine if they are qualified. If there is nothing against them… then they can serve as deacons. The type of testing prescribed here in 1 Tim. 3 is not a book test… or a doctrinal test… but a test of his reputation. As the church looks at the life of the potential deacon… they must assess the positive and negative evidences in his life.
This is a big deal. Early in the process of the church… evaluating qualified leadership is made an urgent priority. The character of those who will fill the office of elder and deacon is of the utmost importance! Why?
Because what the leadership is (microcosm), the congregation will be (macrocosm).
Having qualified leadership cannot be over emphasized.
Once they are been deemed qualified.... meet the qualifications laid out in Scripture, they are to serve.
2. Let them serve
There is a qualifier in this command. Verse 10 says, let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. This proving comes out of the testing process.
The word translated “Blameless” here is a word that means “without accusation”. It is very similar to the word used to describe one of the qualifications of an Elder, above reproach, which would be translated as “blameless” or literally, “without handles”.
Both basically stating that leadership of the church are to have kind of character where no accusations or wrongdoing hold water… and there are no “handles” by which satan or any opponent of the church could hinder the effectiveness and success of the ministry!
Deacons are to be tested.... then if they are found qualified… they are to serve.. they are to “deacon”. One last qualifying command is listed in verses 11-12.
3. Let them be husbands who manage well
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.
This command could literally translated as “be help-mated”.
Small detour.... that merits more study and discussion in the future: some argue that this passage describes the qualifications of deaconesses (women deacons), translating “wives” as “women” in the text.
If we were to translate the text that way, it would read.
“In the same way, women (deaconesses) are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”
Based on the context and the grammatical structure, it is unlikely that is what Paul is communicating here. However, there is evidence in church history that an order of deaconesses may have developed in the early church (Rom. 16:1). A woman named Phoebe, is called a servant of the church.
There are some good arguments for deaconesses. But, it is a stretch to read “deaconesses” into the 1 Tim. 3 text because deacons are the focus mentioned on both sides of verse 11. It is not characteristic of Paul’s writing to switch subjects mid thought like that.
According to the Greek construction, the word translated “wife” must be translated as wife, not woman in verse 12. “husband of one wife”.
Paul is telling Timothy that a deacon must have a wife that is respectable in the same ways that he is. His wife’s qualifications are part of his qualifications for the office of deacon.
Why? They will both be involved in fulfilling his duties. This is a ministry that they will be expected to do together! The strength of a godly couple will be extremely important to the success of a healthy deacon ministry.
The qualifications listed in verse 8 and 11 help to insure that the couple will not only be mutually respectable… but it is to insure that they will have the same heart for the ministry! It is not a solo ministry! It is a family affair… husband and wife ministering alongside of each other!
Verse 12 helps to further clarify the qualifications of a deacon by stating that he must be the husband of one wife and must manage his children and household well.
He must be a one woman man. No other women can have his affections, maritally, mentally, or emotionally. He must love her as himself… placing his wife at the center of his heart.
John Piper said it well… “He must pursue his own joy in the holy joy of his wife.”
As qualified deacons serve the body well.... verse 13 tells us that they will gain a wonderful reward.
Nate will speak more about that.
Main idea: Following God’s plan leads to the multiplication of our faith. (tied back Acts 6)
II. What Deacons Must Do (Nate)
A. Ministry Modes
1. Shock Absorbers
2. Mercy Ministries
3. Member Care
4. Ministry Logistics
B. Reward for the faithful
1. Excellent standing before men
2. Great assurance in their faith in Christ
Application:
Deacons are not the church’s spiritual council of directors, nor the executive board to whom the pastor- CEO answers. They are the calvary of servants, deputized to execute the elders’ vision by coordinating various ministries. Deacons are like a congregation’s special ops force, carrying out unseen assignments with fortitude and joy (Matt Smethurst).
Main idea:
Following God’s plan leads to the multiplication of our faith.
Qualified Deacons have a responsibility to confidently serve the body.
Response:
Be people of character (dignified)
Be people of conviction
Serve the Body
Follow God’s plan for the church (calling qualified leadership… and then following them)