What Is This All About?

Why are we doing all of this?

I mean really, what is so important about being a Deacon?

Why are we having a special evening service just to ordain three new deacons?

Why is this such a big deal that that we are having a celebratory fellowship when this is over?

We don’t do this for Sunday School teachers and group leaders.

We don’t do this for church teams, coordinators and officers.

What’s the big deal?

What makes a deacon special?

The big deal begins with a message simple enough that our preschoolers can answer it.

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

A lot of people ask, “Why does a good God send people to hell?”

I like this question better, “What has a good God done to keep people from going to hell?”

Our good God sent His Son Jesus, to live a perfect life so we could really see how it’s done.

He let Him die on a cross bearing the sins of all who believe.

He let Him die and be buried in the ground - for three days.

On the third day, the Father raised the Son to new life.

He exalted the name of Jesus above every name, in heaven, on earth and under the earth.

He sat Jesus at His right hand and when the time is right, the Father will send Jesus one last time.

That is the gospel.

As strange as it might sound.

Starving nations have been fed because of it.

Hospitals have been built.

Sick people have been healed.

Thirsty nations have been given water.

Slaves have been set free.

People have been educated.

Universities have been built.

People who would never have learned to read and write have invented life changing things.

Lives have been rescued.

Children have been born.

The earth is different.

Because of that gospel.

It is more precious than gold.

It is more powerful than the sun.

It’s the good news of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Because this is God’s gospel, there are enemies who seek to destroy it.

God knew the evil one, the devil, Satan would do everything within his power to pervert the gospel.

To bring chaos to God’s order.

To bring death where life was the plan.

So God created the church.

The “pillar and buttress of the truth” Paul calls it.

The institution upon which every institution should stand.

Every government, every corporation, every mom and pop shop- and every mom and pop.

For there is only one truth that gives life.

The truth of the message of Jesus Christ.

That the Father gave to the church.

To be proclaimed and protected.

The Lord put some champions in place to make sure the gospel remained pure and was proclaimed by the church.

He called special men to be elders - teacher leaders.

Men who are called to know the Word of God, to live the Word, to teach the Word so that all might hear and be saved.

He called others to be deacons - servant leaders.

Deacons are to do whatever they are called on to do to make sure that the gospel is thing everyone sees.

They protect the gospel by removing as many impediments to the gospel as need to be removed.

They protect the gospel by making sure whatever is needed to proclaim the gospel is in place.

They work for order, for peace, for unity, often in obscurity.

Their goal is to make the organization of the church invisible so the gospel will be clearly seen.

The church in Ephesus where Timothy is had lost its way.

Paul probably told Timothy many times how a church is to be organized but he wrote him a letter - maybe to jog his memory.

Or more probably to be read to the Ephesian church to let them know - this kid Timothy knows what he’s talking about.

Because I know what I’m talking about.

You are bringing dishonor on the cause of Christ.

Let me tell you how to stop it.

This morning we talked about elders - teacher leaders.

Now it’s time to talk about the other champions of Christ - the servant leaders - Deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8–16 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 hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Tomorrow Morning You Will Wake Up Different

You probably won’t feel it.

You’ll still be sleepy, maybe hungry - although after Judy’s team’s fellowship - hungry might be doubtful.

You’re hair will still be a mess.

Two of you will venture out into the cold, one of you will fly off into the wild, blue yonder - at least in a simulator.

It will simply be another day.

But it won’t.

Because today, the people of the First Baptist Church of Gray, affirmed by their voices that the three of you met the guidelines set forth in an ancient text.

A letter written by an old man 2,000 years ago to a young man, explaining what a servant leader champion of God’s gospel would look like.

This congregation affirmed that you are dignified men.

That you speak what you mean and you mean what you say.

That you aren’t alcoholics or even prone to over indulge.

And that you are not greedy.

But not just not greedy - but not greedy for finding the short cut to get rich - for finding a way to make money that cause people harm.

This congregation affirms 1 Timothy 3:9 “They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”

Now this one is tricky for a couple of reasons.

First is the word mystery.

If something is a mystery, it means it can’t be understood - at least that’s what we think it means.

But let me ask you something, if you read murder mystery books - what makes them good?

You’re left guessing who done it until the very end, right?

But - at the very end, you know who done it.

If you ever watched “Scooby-Doo,” the kids drove the Mystery Machine - remember?

Yeah, and at the end of every episode, the mystery was solved.

That’s the idea here.

The gospel isn’t something that is mysterious, that we can’t understand.

It was a mystery from the creation to Bethlehem,

But now the mystery is known.

And by your own confession, you stated you believe that Jesus is the Christ, who saved you from your sins and will save whoever will believe.

That’s the mystery - and you know the answer.

The second thing that makes this a little tricky is the part about having a clear conscience.

It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if right now, or tomorrow or next week, you get a bout of the guilty’s.

You’ll remember something unholy that you’ve done.

You’ll do something unholy at work, at home - it’s bound to happen.

And you’ll wonder about yourself - am I worthy?

And the answer is no you aren’t and yes you are.

Holding “the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” simply means - you know Jesus.

You’re following Jesus and you are doing the best you can.

That’s all it means - there isn’t much more to it than that.

You know that Jesus has saved you, and for that you are going to follow Him all of the days of your life.

And if there is any worthiness in us, it is put there by Jesus.

So yes Gentlemen, you are worthy - because He has made us worthy.

You’ve been tested.

First the congregation watched you and they nominated you to a selection committee.

Then that selection committee vetted you - and they found you blameless.

Verse 11 deserves a lot of discussion which we aren’t going to do right now.

Suffice it to say, the two of you who are married, we find your wives to be dignified too.

We don’t believe them to be gossips, but pretty level headed and faithful to you, your family, the gospel and the church.

This church has paid attention to your families.

We affirm that you are one women men.

Even the one of you who is not married.

What will you get out of this?

Besides a headache and interruptions to your routine?

You will gain a good standing for yourselves.

There is going to be a time when you will need this - there is a time when everyone needs it.

Life gets hard and you are going to get pummeled - and I promise - I promise - that in those times, the Lord will remind you of your good standing - before Him and everyone else.

Knowing all of your shortcomings and all of your, “I could have done betters,” the Lord will remind you - “You are a good man. You stood for me. You are my champion. You are mine.”

The last part of the Lord’s promise to you is that you will “gain…a great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

Now here is what I promise - and I promise - it will happen just like this.

You are all relatively young men - Chris might be pushing it, but relative is a relative term.

You are certainly young in your ministry.

You are going to be faced with a multitude of things you have no clue what the right thing to do is.

But you’re going to do something anyway, because you have to, you need to.

And over time you’ll realize, that things tend to work out.

And you will realize, Jesus really is enough.

You’ll begin to see His hand more clearly in your life.

In good times and horrible times.

Because Jesus really is enough.

Because really, Jesus is all you’ve got.

So gentlemen, make sure your do your job as servant leaders of this church, so the gospel is out front.

Proclaimed and protected.

That’s what you’ve been called to do.

That’s why today is such a big deal.

Three champions are being set aside to proclaim and protect the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this church, that is your job.

When you do that, that will be enough.

Will Chris Barnes, Todd Bright and Luke Darnell come stand before the altar.

My brothers, the Church is the family of God and the body of Christ.

All saved and baptized people are called to make Christ known to their world as Savior and Lord, and to share in the renewing of his world.

But now you are called to a special duty.

You are called as a Deacon, to work side by side with other and Deacons, to share in the servant - leadership of the Body of Christ.

As a Deacon, it will be your task to proclaim and protect the Gospel of Jesus Christ by serving the church however you are called to serve, and to fashion your life in accordance with Jesus’ Gospel.

You are to love and serve the people among whom you work, caring alike for young and old, strong and weak, rich and poor.

You are to share in the administration of Holy Baptism and in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as well as a myriad other number of tasks that keep the message of the gospel pure.

In all that you do, your ultimate goal is not you, your ultimate goal is for all people to see Jesus and particularly His Church.

I am going to ask you a series of questions - if you agree please respond to each affirmatively.

My brothers, do you believe you are truly called by God and to his church as a Deacon?

I do.

Do you now in the presence of this Church commit yourself to this trust and responsibility?

I do.

Will you be diligent in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures, and in seeking the knowledge of such things as may make you stronger and more able to minster of Christ?

I will.

Will you endeavor so to minister the Word of God and the ordinances of the Church, that the reconciling love of Christ may be known and received?

I will.

Will you undertake to be a faithful Deacon to all whom you are called to serve, laboring together with them and with your fellow ministers to build up the family of God?

I will.

Will you do your best to pattern your life and that of your family in accordance with the teachings of Christ, so that you may be a wholesome example to all people?

I will.

Will you persevere in prayer, both in public and in private, asking for God’s grace, both for yourself and for others, offering all your labors to God, through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit?

I will.

May the Lord who has given you the will to do these things give you the grace and power to perform them. Amen.

Gentlemen, will you kneel at the altar.

At this time, I ask all ordained men, Pastors and Deacons to come forward and gather around these men and lay your hands on them or one another if you cannot reach them.

Praying for Luke will be Jimmy Wynne.

Jimmy was one of Luke’s Royal Ambassador leaders when we attended Shurlington Baptist Church years ago and Luke was very young.

Praying for Todd will be Stan Jones.

Stan has had a heart for the men’s ministry at First Baptist for a long time and Todd is our current Men’s ministry leader.

Praying for Chris will be Ken Kelly.

Ken is a Christian Counselor and is Chris’ Brother in Law.

Would you please stand and join us in prayer.

(At prayers end) You may all be seated and all deacons, new and old may rejoin their families.

This is a personal preference of mine.

The two ordinances of the Baptist Church are baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.

As their first official act of service, these three men will serve the body the Lord’s Supper.

When I call you forward, I ask that you allow the candidates families to come forward first, so they may serve them first.

When you have received communion, please return to your seats for a final prayer.

The Lord’s Supper is more important than a simple check box that we did what we were supposed to do as good Christians.

Paul instructs the church 1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

It is a very simple proclamation of the gospel that has been entrusted to us to proclaim and protect.

The bread is the broken body - Jesus died.

The juice is his poured out blood - his life - but with a promise.

Sins are forgiven - we are restored - and Jesus will come again.

Paul’s full instruction is this 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Would you bow your head and in silence for a moment remember our Lord and remember what He did for you.

Austin prays.

Will the families come forward - and then the body of the church?

(Body comes forward receives communion and then returns to their seats)

A celebration feast has been prepared by Judy Morgan and her team of renown in the fellowship hall.

If you don’t know how to get there, follow the crowd.

You are all invited to attend and celebrate God’s goodness by raising up these three new Deacons.

Thank you all for coming.

Our Deacon Chair, Kris Towers will lead us in our closing prayer.