Deacons: A Biblical Prescription for Church Servants

1 Timothy 3:8–13 ESV

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 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.

There are two biblical offices within the local church, overseer & deacon.

Philippians 1:1 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

The New Testament uses the term overseer interchangeably with elder or pastor.

Acts 20:17 (ESV)

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Acts 20:28 (HCSB)

28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

So a pastor serves the local church by shepherding her, and leading her and directing her.

Elders/pastors serve the church by leading.

Deacons are lead servants in the local church.

What a deacon must be.

A deacon must be reputable.

1 Timothy 3:8 (ESV)

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified...

RESPECT - Not according to the world’s definition of respect.

We are talking character not cash. We are talking humility not financial liquidity.

A deacon is someone who tames his tongue. He doesn’t speak out of both sides of his mouth.

A deacon is someone who uses his mouth to build up the church, not break her up.

A deacon is a slave of Christ but he is never to be enslaved by substances.

A deacon who is dignified is not someone who prays on others for profit.

A deacon must be biblical.

1 Timothy 3:9 ESV

9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

A deacon should understand the bible.

He should not only understand it but believe it and so live these truths out in his life.

A Deacon must be faithful.

1 Timothy 3:10 ESV

10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

How many times has a church suffered at the hands of a disgruntled deacon?

The local church must be careful.

There should be a process of vetting someone before he serves.

We don’t seek just to get it done.

We seek to get it done right.

WE should proceed with prayer.

1 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife...

“One Woman Man”

The word order is for emphasis!

“ONE”

A deacon must be fully committed to his wife, with his eyes, mind, heart, and body.

We don’t want to install someone to the office of deacon and ask them to be committed to that roll if they are running a round on their wife.

If a man is not faithful to his wife he is not fit for diaconal ministry.

This doesn’t prevent a remarried person from serving as a deacon.

“It doesn’t say how many times he’s been married, has he been divorced in the past, that is not an issue. The issue here is is he a one-woman man? That is, is the man’s heart and life totally devoted to the woman who is his wife?”

John F. MacArthur Jr., John MacArthur Sermon Archive (Panorama City, CA: Grace to You, 2014).

If a murderer can become an overseer in the church.

Then a person with brokenness in their past related to marriage can through the power of the gospel be made new in Christ and serve the church in this capacity.

through the redemptive power of the gospel