Sermon Tone Analysis

Principal, Coach, Cop, Boss: When you think of that POSITION you likely think of a PERSON.

In fact, the PERSON who served in that POSITION probably flavors the way you see that position.

If the person in that position was kind, consistent, cooperative, & fair…then you probably view the position in that way - principal, coach, cop, or boss.

BUT...If the person in that position was unkind, inconsistent, uncooperative, & unfair…then you likely view the position that way.

When you hear the position of DEACON what do you think of?

"Deacon” is a word that means little to most folks, unless you have a church background or for some reason are a fan of the Wake Forrest Demon Deacons.

On a side note, deacons aren’t supposed to be equated with demons…although I’ve heard stories about some who are.

Deacon comes from the Greek diakonos (a word transplanted from Greek to English - aka transliterated) and simply means servant.

So if...

I SAY DEACON…YOU SAY SERVANT, DEACON….SERVANT….DEACON…SERVANT.

It might surprise you to know that the term “deacon” is used in the Scriptures for anyone who serves, not just for a person in the position of “deacon”.

For example, the verb tense of the word is used when John says, “Martha was serving.”

(Jn.

12:2)

Look how this term is often translated in Scripture.

Mark 10:43–45 (NET)

…whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant [deacon], and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served [deaconed] but to serve [deacon], and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

As is obvious, I have asked our deacons/wives to join me on stage briefly so we could have some interaction.

GUYS (talking to DEACONS), let’s talk about how THE TERM “deacon” is used for a moment.

We spent a good deal of time talking about this as we trained through this book.

How did it impact you to see HOW OFTEN this term was used in the Scriptures?

Although the term “deacon” is not used of a position among the first fledging church, the foundation for WHY deacon ministry exists IS found in Acts 6.

One of you DEACONS read it here.

Acts 6:1–7 (NIV)

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.

We will turn this responsibility over to them

and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group.

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

So the word of God spread.

The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

One of you explain the situation, the solution, what was at stake? (the UNITY of the Church).

Situation: Greek cultured Jewish widows were being forgotten and the apostles were having a give attention there instead of praying and preaching.

Solution: Find Godly men who would make sure the forgotten wouldn’t be forgotten any longer.

What’s at Stake: The unity of the Church as teetering.

Now, who would talk about the significance of how 21st century deacons might put this principal into practice.

In other words, if everyone is getting fed in the church today, how might deacons protect the UNITY of the Church?

(stop slander, encourage reconciliation, meet the needs of the weak within the church).

In the same chapter - Acts 6, we read of Stephen, one of those Godly servants who took care of those widows, being tried by the Sanhedrin (the Supreme Court of Israel who handed Jesus over to the Romans to be put to death).

That trial did not end well as it led to servant Stephen being dragged out of the city and being stoned to death.

According to Acts 8:1 there was a religious leading by the name of Saul - aka Paul applauding his death.

BUT…some time after Saul (aka Paul) surrenders to Jesus & take the Gospel all over the Roman empire, and He calls on men like Stephen to shadow the overseers (mentioned in 1 Tim.

3:1-7) and and serve the Church .

Paul specifically addresses deacons in opening of his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:1 (NET)

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

Notice how Paul names all the saints (all believers of the church), overseers (leaders), & then deacons.

These are the men who specifically hold the position & responsibility of serving others inside the church family.

And while the characteristics we are going to look at (1 Tim 3:8-13) are EXPECTED for leaders in the church, how wonderful would it be if EVERY BELIEVER would strive to live these practices out!!!

Walter Payton and Jerry Rice were elite athletes who trained harder than anyone else.

They ran steep hills and prepared during the offseason while others did the minimum amount of work to be ready when the season came.

But WHAT IF the whole team followed that same training regimen?

With if everyone who wore the same jersey prepared during the offseason to play to the best of their ability during the season?

So while the characteristics we are about to discuss should be true of DEACONS, I want you to ask this simple question:

ARE THESE CHARACTERISTICS TRUE OF ME?

I’m going to let our deacons/wives go back to their seats while we pray.

PRAY

1 Timothy 3:8-9 (NET) Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Dignified: There is a respect, honor, restraint, virtue, temperance, and modesty that these men have.

The work of a deacon requires him to be be sensible and steady.

Not two-faced: The literal Greek means two-tongued, deceitful in speech - manipulating & lying.

The deacon however, is NOT to be deceptive in his language or actions.

He is not a hypocrite - saying one thing and doing another OR saying one thing to one person and something different to the next.

What he says he means & does.

This is a good practice of ALL BELIEVERS - is it not?

Not given to excessive drinking (Greek - much wine).

Excessive drinking leads to addiction, apathy, and abuse.

It was the norm in their culture to drink wine, sometimes fermented & sometimes not (fresh grape juice).

They didn’t have all the sodas, juices, & other drinks that we have access to.

Water sources were sometimes polluted & the small alcoholic content helped make the use of water safe as well as add some taste.

It seems that some believers stayed away from fermented wine entirely.

Paul even commanded Timothy “Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.”

(1 Tim.

5:23)

In our context there is much confusion as to the significance of alcohol, as some churches even engage in drinking at church events.

That will NOT happen here.

We have too many other drinks that don’t cause people to act stupid.

We can act stupid on our own without the help of alcohol.

Does that Bible teach that believers should NEVER drink alcohol?

NOPE.

But it sure teaches to NEVER get drunk, never to allow anything to master us, never to cause confusion for an immature believer that might cause them to stumble.

Steve McHargue told the story - student looked confused.

Because of the confusion alcohol causes in our culture, we ask that DEACONS stay away from alcoholic drink entirely & encourage YOU to do the same.

Here’s what I know - if you don’t drink, you’ll never get drunk.

Not greedy for gain: A deacon is never to use this ministry for dishonest gain.

In serving other people, he might need to deliver money or goods to help, so it is imperative that he is trusted with money & stuff.

So, as

Os Guinness says, “the deacon was not drunk on wine or money.”

Next, these servants are to be…

Holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience: These guys need to know WHY they believe WHAT they believe - solid followers of Jesus who understand the significance of the Scriptures, what they teach about WHO God is and what God says.

Further, these men must be LOYAL to obey to the truths of Jesus as revealed in the Scriptures and will not be swayed by false teaching.

In other words, they must have right beliefs & behaviors.

BIG QUESTION: ARE THESE CHARACTERISTICS TRUE OF ME?

1 Timothy 3:10 (NET) And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.

Being tested is more than a one time Q&A or written exam.

These servant-leaders should already be living out these characteristics in their ordinary lives and found blameless.

This does NOT mean they have never sinned; it means that they are blameless in regard to meeting the characteristics of 1 Tim. 3 - dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, & holding to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience.

Here’s how that process works at Fellowship.