What then is Apollos? Publisher: OpenBible.info. Able to keep a secret told in confidence. R They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. on 08/23/2019. E Fourth, they must be faithful in all things. They must follow through on assigned tasks. Manage his wife and household wellAble to handle his home life in an admirable fashion. by Merrill C. Tenney, 2:48-49). And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, For by grace you have been saved through faith. Do include a Scripture verse The Bible has been taking care of itself for thousands of years - surely it can help you out in this situation. He was a lifetime deacon at the First Baptist Church of Russellville, Alabama. O 3. We can find the office of a deacon established in Acts 6:1-7 . Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. A businessman once asked Lorne Sanny, President of the Navigators, how he could know when he had a servant attitude. Financial and business affairs completely above board and beyond all question. Im sure he must have spoken to me a few times (I know he knew my father very well), but I do not remember it. That brings me to the subject for this study. John 12:26 - If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 1 Timothy 3:11 lists qualifications for a group of godly women serving in the church: 1. How can we promote a servant mentality in the church instead of here I am, serve me? Additional Scriptures. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 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. 2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. Not flirtatious. He probably mentioned the deacons because of their help with the financial gift that the church had sent to Paul. He is a man who wants to serve; he wants to help when the people of God are hurting; and he wants to aid them. Larger Text. The deacon receives the gifts of money, bread and wine. It would seem that he would finish with one group before moving on to the next. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Currently at FCF, we have deacons of womens ministries, youth, missions, outreach, technology, and facilities. As the New Testament church developed, the office of deacon (= servant) became official. Criswells Guidebook for Pastors, pp. The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. Prayer does change things. Sincerelit, Not double-tongued. Straight shooters. 3. T Is anyone among you sick? Husband of one wifeA one-woman man, faithful to his wife. Here are three practices to employ that help your deacons fulfill their role: (1) Pray for Them I know you have heard the phrase: "prayer changes things." While that is an extra-biblical slogan, it is true. 2. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. The historical record thus reflects the ambiguity of the New Testament in this area. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 1 of 13 Put Spring in Your Spirit by Erin Keeley Marshall "Sing to God a brand-new song, sing his praises all over the world! 4. Not swayed by sudden impulses. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. V Our deacons also serve with our elders on the nominating committee when we need to call a new pastor. Find out more about these various studies by clicking here. A similar passage from the Last Supper. These three words are used in various forms over 100 times in the New Testament. Let the desert and its camps raise a tune, calling the Kedar nomads to join in. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 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. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Article. Then Paul lists two ways male deacons must be above reproach in their home life. As I think back, I dont believe I ever saw him without a coat and tie on. Looking back from a distance of nearly 30 years, it strikes me that I remember nothing about Hilliard Felton as a person. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? by Walter Elwell, p. 296; Theological Dictionary of the New Testament [Eerdmans], ed. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Geocoding Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. But every Christian should have the mindset, I am a servant (or a slave) of Jesus Christ. Theres a difference between those terms, and yet Jesus used them interchangeably when He told His disciples (Mark 10:42-45): You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But if Paul is talking about the wives of deacons, why does he single them out and not the wives of the elders? From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 3:12 ): "Deacons must be good managers of their children and their own households." This is also the same as the requirement for elders ( 1 Tim. Labs It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. N Deacons encourage people. A faithful servant can go boldly before the Lord in prayer, knowing that he has a clear conscience and is doing Gods will. The word "deacon" simply means a servant. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Grab a paper towel and wipe it clean. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.". November 10, 2017. Chooses not to speak evil of others. The question is, does this refer to deacons wives (NIV, ESV, HCSB) or to women deacons (or deaconesses)? In my 23 years serving both as a staff and a senior pastor, I have been blessed to work with some amazing, godly deacons. Jesus discusses leadership with his disciples at the end of his ministry. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 1. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. 1. Nothing against themFree from accusation. No accusation can successfully be brought against any aspect of his life or conduct. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water! And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Probably they assessed whether the needs were legitimate or not. by Gerhard Kittel, 2:83). 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. We have witnessed this time and time again in the life of our church, especially on Wednesday nights. Second (1 Tim. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. What am I to do? Jesus discusses leadership with his disciples at the end of his ministry. You dont put a man into office and then test him to see if hes trustworthy. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. They will eventually need godly men and women who can come alongside and share the load with them. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. KJV grave.. 3:13 ) A faithful deacon will receive two gifts in increasing measure: respect and boldness. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. Men worthy of respectMan of high principle. 3. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. In the middle of his discussion about deacons, Paul inserts a verse about women (1 Tim.3:11). 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. But the right reason to serve is to please the Lord who saved you when you were His enemy and deserved His judgment. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. The word in classic Greek referred to the servant (slave) of a king, especially one who acted in the capacity of a waiter, serving food and drink. That leads us to make crucial distinction between elders and deacons. His hands were not the soft hands of royalty, but the rough, callused hands of a carpenter. 4. Even at the Last Supper, as Jesus was burdened about His approaching death, the disciples were still arguing about which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:23-24). A deacon is a servant of Christ. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. Whenever I hear the word deacon, I always think of Hilliard Felton. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: And he is the head of the body, the church. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The deacon spirit should manifest itself in all our service for Christ. They assisted the apostles by serving in the practical matter of distributing the food fairly so that the apostles could focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). Mystery refers to that which once was hidden, but now has been revealed in Christ. But through Bills ministry that week, she had begun to see things from Gods perspective. How many deacons does a church need? TopicalBible They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. The answer to that question is not difficult to find. And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 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. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 09.24.2014. High qualificationsGodly men filled with the Spirit, 3. First be testedNot a novice or a brand-new Christian or new to the congregation. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Serving Christ is not volunteering, where you give a few hours now and then to help out. A woman of discretion and self-control. 1 Timothy 3:12 - Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. B. Fellow believers encourage one another to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( 2 Peter . C An Episcopal Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has a hand-lettered sign over the only door into the sanctuary that reads, Servants Entrance. You cant enter or leave that church except through the servants door (Christianity Today [9/16/91], p. 42). He saved you to serve Him always. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. The concept of women serving as deaconesses appears very early in church. Above reproach is used in Titus 1:6, 7 as a qualification for elders (the Greek word in 1 Tim. Note four things: Most scholars agree that the office of deacon finds its roots in Acts 6:1-6. 2 Timothy 1:7. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) B.The Priority (verse 2)The apostles must concentrate on the ministry of the Word. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? It is rooted in the Greek word diakanos, which is translated as deacon, minister, or servant (1). Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with all the far-flung islands joining in. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Does the trash can need to be emptied? L James 1:27. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says Jesus is accursed! and no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. One who performs lowly service on behalf of another. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Is this helpful? What does the Bible say about the office of deacon in the local church? Phone Call Give your pastor a call and share a Scripture that God has put in your heart for him or her. 1 Timothy 3:8-10 (the qualifications of deacons) Doctrine and Covenants 84:30-32 (office of deacon as an appendage to the lesser priesthood) Teacher Preparation. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 3:12): Deacons must be good managers of their children and their own households. This is also the same as the requirement for elders (1 Tim. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? Note: This does not imply that elders are not also servants nor that deacons cannot lead the congregation. But in the structure of the local church, some are called to be official servants, or deacons. Deacon is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning, servant. In more than 100 New Testament uses of that word and its cognates, almost all refer either to Christ or to His followers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Still later, I pastored a church in California that had neither elders nor deacons. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. Exodus 29:29-46 "The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that in them they may be anointed and ordained. Great assurance in their faithGrowing sense of personal confidence that comes from serving the church of God. It can be so vast and open ended that it's difficult to know what to focus on. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. But whether service is your gift or not, all Christians are the Lords servants. 10:42; 19:27-30). Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. In a cultural context of cautious hesitation, today is the day for deacon ministries to be relentlessly optimistic. In my opinion, we would be well within the bounds of the New Testament if we recognized certain godly women as deaconesses. 2. Those with the gift of service are like the linemen on a football team. On the last evening, he had dinner with the director and his wife. Serious man of dignity, not a clown. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the same way, deacons encourage the church in their work of ministry. Key roles included: Visit the sick, care for the needy, handle benevolence, prepare candidates for baptism, assist the elders in behind the scenes ministry. We all know that Christlikeness means being a servant, but the question is, do you do it? Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Blog, A Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. I love the church and I love leaders who serve the church. To find the full context of shorter scripture quotes, click on "Chapter" above each verse. Not a money-grubber. Ability clearly demonstrated over a period of time. Publication date: Apr 30, 2023. So they gave a dinner for him there. A deacon often ministers to widows and single women, and so its especially important for him to be a man who is pure in thought and deed. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.read more.Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. So a main function of deacons is to take care of administrative or other tasks to free up the elders for prayer, teaching, and shepherding the flock. M The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. Pitch in and help. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. F E 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. Diaconal Ministries of Canada (DMC) has created a set of 12 devotions, designed specifically for deacon meetings, based on the charge to the deacons. A second task of the deacons in Acts 6 was to care for the physical needs of the poor and needy in the church. We dont know why they stipulated seven men. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. What's helpful when questions arise about purpose, is to be reminded about our calling to these roles, and how better to remember than to each meeting take a few moments and collect ourselves to remind each other what we were elected to do. 4. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. 4. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. 2. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Second ( 1 Tim. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. She had given twenty years of her life so that these people could have the Scriptures, but they didnt even care! And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Not an embezzler. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. You can find the devotionalsby clicking here. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. But be forewarned: A lot of people have gotten involved serving the Lord only to get hurt! At that point, deacons can be officially recognized. Since men and women were often separated in the early church (following the pattern of the synagogue), deaconesses were needed to minister in ways that would not be appropriate for male elders. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Does not crave wealth. 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. In any local church, the elders cant (and shouldnt) do all the work of the ministry themselves. Bible scholars are generally agreed that the office of deacon finds its roots in Acts 6:1-7, where the early church selected seven men to assist the apostles in caring for the needs of the widows in the early church. Do you do the unpleasant servant jobs? The principle is the same: if a man can't manage matters in his home, don't promote him to manage matters in the church. A deacon should have a seriousness of purpose about him, so that those he serves sense that he is concerned for them, so that they trust and respect him. But I am among you as the one who serves. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.
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