The Office of a Deacon

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-28-2021

Philippians 1:1;1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

Introduction:  I want my eldest deacon and friend Bro. Harold Smith to come sit with these three men who are to be ordained this morning.

 

A.  This morning, we will give our time over to the ordination of three men as deacons of Temple Baptist Church.

 

Bro. Robert A. H********* III

Bro. Chris H*****

Bro. Bret Clinton G***** II

 

B.  There are two “offices” found in the local church: The Office of the Bishop and the Office of the Deacon.  Both offices are found mentioned in 1 Timothy, chapter 3.

 

C.  I chose my text for this morning because both the Bishop and the Deacons are first mentioned here.  Paul, while writing to the Church at Philippi, mentioned three types of members of that church.  I believe that the order is important:

 

1.  First - “To all the saints in Christ” – every member of the local church is equally important to the Lord and to the fellowship and welfare of the body.  God is no respecter of persons and neither should we be such.  There would be no local church without a corporate body of believers.  The local church is ALL about the welfare of the saints.  What we are doing this morning is for the benefit of all! 

 

2.  Second - The deacons of the Church at Philippi were placed on an equal plane with the bishops in this verse. 

 

a)  The reason being that both offices are for ministering to and serving the saints of God!  Many pastors become dictators who feel that they are superior and need to be served.  Also, there are many instances of deacons who feel that they are spiritually superior to the people of the churches and also feel that they are in authority instead of servants.

 

b)  Deacons are only mentioned in the two passages of Scripture that I read this morning.  Though placed on an equal plane in Philippians and given their qualifications in 1 Timothy, deacons are no longer mentioned throughout the Bible because they are servants.

 

Romans 12:3-5  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  (4)  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  (5)  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

 

D.  There is little said concerning either the deacons or their work within the body of the local church. 

 

1.  Many people apply Acts, chapter 6, to the election and work of the deacons but they are not called such by the Scriptures. 

 

2.  Also some of them (Phillip and Stephen especially) were evangelists and preached elsewhere (Samaria and Gaza are specifically mentioned) instead of serving in the church at Jerusalem.  

 

3.  If these men were elected to the Office of a Deacon, I believe that they would have served in that capacity instead of preaching elsewhere.  I also believe that the Bible would have been consistent and called them deacons.

 

E.  Our word “deacon” comes from the word “diakonos” which has several meanings:

 

1.  To attend

2.  To wait upon

3.  To minister

4.  To serve

 

F.  The word “diakonos” is normally translated “servant.”  In its general use, all of us are servants.  In

 

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

G.  Most of the time, the word “diakonos” is translated as “servant,” which is appropriate because we are all called to serve.

 

1.  In Romans, chapter 16, Phebe is called a servant of the church in Cenchrea.  The word “servant” in verse 1.  While the underlying Greek word is “diakonos,” your King James Bible is rightly translated.  She is called a servant instead of a deacon as she was neither qualified for nor elected to the Office of a Deacon.

 

Romans 16:1-2  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:  (2)  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

 

2.  The word “deacon” is used 5 times in Your King James Bible.  Each of the 5 times, the word “diakonos” is transliterated as “deacon,” with each instance referring of the Office of the Deacon.  You can trust your King James Bible as it is verbally, plenarily, as well as doctrinally correct.  Deacons play an important part in the work and welfare of the local church.

 

H.  The qualifications of the deacon:  1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

1.  Verse 8 – Their Integrity

2.  Verse 9 – Their Maturity

3.  Verse 10 – Their Proving

4.  Verse 11 – Their Wives

5.  Verse 12 – Their Ruling

6.  Verse 13 – Their Reward

 

J.  The work of the deacon:

 

1.  Deacons are to be servants, not masters – nowhere in the Bible do we find deacons having authority in the local church.  In many churches, Deacon Boards and Trustee Boards oversee the local churches and problems abound.  The Bible first and then the pastor second is to have the authority.

 

2.  Deacons are to be a blessing to the Local Church, not a burden.  Being a deacon is not a thing of pride but one of humility, serving the pastor and local church in love.  This takes a special grace because their existence is that of service to others.

 

3.  Deacons are to be able to lead as well as to follower.  Though servants, because of their work they are conspicuous.  The time may come when this pastor is no longer to lead the church.  These are men who can lead the church in search of a new pastor while holding the church together in the absence of one.

 

4.  Deacons are to be faithful to their local church as well as to the Office of a Deacon that they hold.  Paul said that the Lord counted him faithful putting him into the ministry.  Thus it is with a deacon.  He cannot be a servant to others if he is not a faithful man.

 

Conclusion:  I hold these three Deacons in high esteem and believe that they will discharge their duties with love and integrity in the days to come.

Deacons

Temple Baptist Church - 9-9-2012

 

1 Timothy 3:8-13

 

Introduction:

A. In 1 Timothy, we find the mention of “office” of a deacon. Paul is not establishing the office but giving regulations for it. The establishment, as far as I can discern is found in Acts 6. In the early days of the church, thousands were saved in a short span of time. This created some problems for the baby church.

1. Thousands of babes in Christ with few mature Christians to mentor them. What a wonderful problem to have but a problem none the less.

2. An insurmountable work load for the men of God. Acts 2, in the later part of the chapter, found the church in great unity and in favor with both God and man but later, we find murmuring within the church.

3. The men of God were now having to leave the ministry of God’s Word and prayer to meet the needs of the people.

B. In this chapter, we also find the work of the deacons identified. Most churches of our day have no idea what a deacon’s responsibility is or is not. The biblical principle of First Mention gives both the reason for and responsibility of deacons. It has never changed.

1. The office of a deacon is not that of a ruling body. No place in Scripture is a deacon given one ounce of authority. Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

2. The office of a deacon is not a reward for men who have much to give not is it a gift given to the prestigious of the community. Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

3. The office of a deacon was that of a servant. Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

4. The office of a deacon had qualifications. Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

5. The office of a deacon was chosen of men, not called of God. Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

C. In 1 Timothy, we find an expansion of the qualifications of deacons and I find that they are almost the same as the bishop or pastor. The word “likewise” is expressive of this truth.

1. Grave – serious in mind and character. It means to have character, not to be one.

2. Not doubletongued – this is the only used of this word in the Bible and it means “two-tongued.” The Indian people used to say, “Speaks with a forked tongue!”

3. Not given to much wine – as the pastor is not to be given to wine at all, the deacon can use wine in temperance. Once again, this usage of “wine” has no reference to “strong drink” or “fermented” wine. Wine or fruit of the vine was a drink of special occasions. Throughout the Bible, when quenching thirst, water or milk was used. Fruit of the vine was used in entertainment or feasts.

4. Not greedy of filthy lucre – he was not to be either covetous or dishonest in his finances.

5. Doctrinally correct – holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. A deacon was to be able to convince and comfort with scripture.

6. Proved – tested under examination. Not a novice but a man who has experienced both good and hard times in life. One who has “passed” those tests and continued in faithfulness and verity.

7. Blameless – living a life that is above reproach or censure. Not sinless, but a good man.

8. Faithful, sober, closed mouthed, grave wives – the pastor’s wife has not qualifications. The reasoning is this: a prophet is not accepted in his own country so the pastor is normally one who was raised in another place. His wife is not known to the people in the church’s community so she just needs to be a “background” person within the church. I am not in favor of wives being the spiritual leaders of the women in the church! I am their spiritual leader. Too many pastor’s wives get hurt because their husbands expose them to it by letting them be what God did not intend them to be: leaders. Letting the elder women teach the younger has to do with being a wife and godly mother, not being a spiritual woman in the church. The deacon’s wife normally has lived in the community of the church for an extended period of time because the deacon must be “proved,” therefore, she also has been scrutinized over the years by those living in that community and must have a reputation of quietness, faithfulness, humility, and seriousness.

9. Husband of one wife – not divorced and remarried! Period!

10. Ruling their homes well – his wife and children must be in subjection and his home faithfully in all things. Financial, spiritual, and physical well-being.

Conclusion: We find the deacon rewarded, both now and later.

1. Rewarded now – “good degree … great boldness in the faith”

2. Rewarded later – for their faithful service at the Judgment Seat of Christ.