Deacon Ministry: An Important Componant of a Healthy Church
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1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Introduction:
Deacon Ordination:
Charlie Gidson (Rose)
David Smith (Dian)
My Favorite Illustrations Lacking a Grateful Spirit
A man prayed that God would send him one hundred dollars. A Baptist deacon heard about the man’s need. At the next meeting of the deacons he related his concern and the man’s prayer. He suggested that they honor the man’s expression of faith by taking up an offering for him. They received seventy-five dollars and delivered it to the man. Later the man prayed again for God to send him one hundred dollars. Then he added to his prayer, “Lord, if you don’t mind, this time please send it through the Methodists. Last times those Baptist deacons kept twenty-five percent.”
Charles Spurgeon
Deprive the church of her deacons, and she would be bereaved of her most valiant sons; their loss would be the shaking of the pillars of our spiritual house, and would cause a desolation on every side.
A church without a healthy deacon ministry will not be a healthy church family.
A church without a healthy deacon ministry will not be a healthy church family.
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
A church without effective deacons may exhibit signs of health for a while, but over time its health will suffer. We rob ourselves of the benefits of God’s revealed wisdom when we either unduly elevate the role of deacons (say, to pseudo-elders) or unduly reduce their role (say, to glorified janitors). Biblically understood, deacons are a cavalry of servants, deputized to execute the elders’ vision by coordinating various ministries. When deacons flourish, the whole congregation wins.
Matt Smethurst
What does deacon ministry do
Deacon ministry promotes church unity.
Deacon ministry promotes church unity.
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“You don’t want people serving as deacons who are unhappy with your church. The deacons should never be the ones who complain the loudest or jar the church with their actions or attitudes. Quite the opposite... You want the most supportive people in the church to serve as the deacons. So when you’re considering who might serve as a deacon, look for people with gifts of encouragement.”
Again, a quarrelsome Christian will make a poor deacon. So, what should mark a deacon? A palpable sense that they have not yet arrived. A spirit of gentleness. A willingness to be flexible. The ability to stand on conviction without being combative.
A qualified deacon will increasingly resemble the kind of unity-building love the Bible so clearly commands.
Deacon ministry promotes a gospel priority.
Deacon ministry promotes a gospel priority.
Acts 6:2–4 (ESV)
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
A distracted pastor is not an effective pastor.
A distracted pastor is not an effective pastor.
Let me borrow an illustration at this point from Matt Smethurst
Biblical deacons, then, are like a congregation’s offensive linemen, whose job is to protect the quarterback. They rarely get attention, much less credit, but their labors are utterly indispensable for both guarding and advancing the ministry of the Word.
A deacon should be skilled at spotting needs and then taking the iniative to meet them in an efficient maner.
Deacon ministry is not defined by meetings but by meeting needs.
Deacon ministry is not defined by meetings but by meeting needs.
What are our needs?
What are our needs?
How can I help?
How can I help?
Don’t just stand there do something!
Deacon ministry matters.
Deacon ministry matters.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.