Not a money-grubber. We dont know why they stipulated seven men. So, they quit serving the Lord. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 3. They will eventually need godly men and women who can come alongside and share the load with them. We dont know whether the argument erupted before or after Jesus took the basin and washed their feet (probably before), but Jesus repeated the lesson about the greatest being the servant and then added (Luke 22:27), For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Those men and women must meet the high standards of I Timothy 3:8-13. Financial and business affairs completely above board and beyond all question. 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. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. If a woman is swayed by her emotions, she will not be able to point needy women to Gods truth, which is the only source of true healing for their problems. To find the full context of shorter scripture quotes, click on "Chapter" above each verse. All Christians are servants of Christ; some should be official servants.. His hands were not the soft hands of royalty, but the rough, callused hands of a carpenter. Thats a crucial distinction because it helps us understand that when Paul speaks of deacons in I Timothy 3 and Philippians 1:1, hes not simply talking about an office but about the quality of the people who fill the office. The word deacon simply means a servant. During the process, they were teaching the Scriptures and a new church emerged among the tribe. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.. by Walter Elwell, p. 296; Theological Dictionary of the New Testament [Eerdmans], ed. The apostles didnt want to get distracted dealing with the situation, so they told the church to select seven faithful men whom they could put in charge of the task. If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. When they finally finished the translation of the New Testament and held a dedication service, not even one person came! 10:42; 19:27-30). Jesus discusses leadership with his disciples at the end of his ministry. He probably mentioned the deacons because of their help with the financial gift that the church had sent to Paul. 4. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. To wait on tables. Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. 3. M The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. W The women are all Christian women in general C. The women are deaconesses. Y Article. They dont usually share the limelight with the quarterback, but without their hard work, the quarterback couldnt begin to do his job. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 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). C And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. R I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. In that day we will discover that Jesus considers deeds of kindness done to the needy to have actually been done to him personally! For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Paul mentions four qualifications: First, they must be dignified. Also, you are allowed to use (an ellipsis) in order to connect two nearby verses or to omit an off-topic phrase. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. We all know that Christlikeness means being a servant, but the question is, do you do it? Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Three interpretations are popular: A. For we are God's fellow workers. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 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. Jesus said, Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. (Literally, Must be your deacon. Also, The son of Man did not come to be served (lit, to be deaconed unto) but to serve (lit, to be a deacon). Either A or C are most likely. In today's post you will find an entire list of 30 uplifting bible verses for strength and encouragement, but in my humble opinion the most uplifting bible verse is John 16:33. Criswells Guidebook for Pastors, pp. In short, they assist the elders by meeting needs in the life of the church. 8. 12:28) or service (Rom. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 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. E. The Commissioning (verse 6)Public recognition by laying on of hands. Able to keep a secret told in confidence. 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. Trustworthy in everythingFaithful in all her relationships. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He cannot tell one person one thing, but another person the opposite in an attempt to please everyone. Great assurance in their faithGrowing sense of personal confidence that comes from serving the church of God. Not pursuing dishonest gainDoes not use shady or unethical means to gain a financial advantage. F Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Clear conscienceNothing in his conduct that is inconsistent with what he professes to believe. So throughout eternity, Jesus is our supreme example of servanthood! Not an embezzler. 1. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Is it not the one who reclines at the table? The first comes horizontally from the church; the other descends vertically from God. The text mentions two rewards for faithful deacons: 1. It is seen in several places in Scripture, most often describing someone who is a domestic servant that is subordinate to their superior. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. The deacon is not out for power or prestige. 2. But if Paul is talking about the wives of deacons, why does he single them out and not the wives of the elders? It would seem that he would finish with one group before moving on to the next. J These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". 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. Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider how the various Greek words mentioned above are applied in the New Testament: 1. The word deaconess is not found in the New Testament. Thanks for your interest! Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 11 In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. Pastors and deacons work hand in hand to accomplish the work of the gospel. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. This created many material needs and led to the temporary arrangement of pooling resources to meet the needs (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35). At that point, deacons can be officially recognized. Being a deacon is a high calling because it means becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ himself. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Not emotionally unstable. Mystery refers to that which once was hidden, but now has been revealed in Christ. November 10, 2017. Geocoding There is obviously some overlap between the two offices. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 3:2). But Jesus set the counter-cultural example and calls us to follow Him. Note four things: Most scholars agree that the office of deacon finds its roots in Acts 6:1-6. But assuming that the seven men in Acts 6 were prototype deacons, we can see some ways that they served. Does not crave wealth. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. Loving others includes encouraging one another. L "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. 3:13 ) A faithful deacon will receive two gifts in increasing measure: respect and boldness. Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 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. A second thought comes into my mind as I ponder the subject of deacons. Deacons are model servants appointed to a local church office. First, (1 Tim. Romans 12:9-13. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Serious man of dignity, not a clown. Jesus humbled Himself by becoming a servant, and God highly exalted Him (Phil. The standards are set very high because the servant-work of a deacon is a high-profile ministry that requires spiritual maturity. 7. When the people of God are in need, he wants to comfort and assist them. Titus 2:4 directs the older women to teach and minister to the younger women. Online Stewardship Course Going Live January 2023, Orientation Resources for Deacon Leadership. Q Only a few refer to the office of deacon in the church (J. Stam, Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible [Zondervan], ed. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Apostles delegated the problem to the seven deacons. Test him first and then recognize him. Larger Text. Church grew. How can we promote a servant mentality in the church instead of here I am, serve me? Publisher: OpenBible.info. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. I Timothy 3:8-13 lays out the spiritual qualifications for deacons and deaconesses. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. But a problem arose when the Greek-speaking Jews felt that their widows were being neglected in favor of the native Hebrews. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. What prevents me from being baptized? And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Hold deep truths of the faithHas a sound grasp of essential Bible doctrine. We sometimes get the erroneous notion that the qualifications for deacons are not as high as those for elders. But as they came toward the end of the translation project, the tribal people had become more and more involved in selling their crops for the drug trade and less and less interested in the Scriptures. Since wine was commonly served as a gesture of hospitality, it was important for a deacon, making his rounds from house to house, to exercise control or else he could become a drunkard. Its a 24-7 calling. Jesus discusses leadership with his disciples at the end of his ministry. Paul mentions the spiritual gift of helps (1 Cor. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Lowly, menial, behind-the-scenes service. According to their practical deeds of kindness. Fellow believers encourage one another to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( 2 Peter . At a pastors conference, Bill Mills told about a time when he was speaking to some missionaries in South America. Honest and unhypocritical. 1:1). I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 4. 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. N Paul never specifically mentions what deacons were supposed to do. What deacons do. All rights reserved. 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. DiakoniaThe act of waiting on tables. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Still later, I pastored a church in California that had neither elders nor deacons. 1. Since elder and deacon are significantly different positions, men who serve effectively in one position may very well not serve effectively inthe other position.The positions are not interchangeable although one person may serve first as a deacon and then later as an elder. G For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Rather, it means that a man has an observed track record before he is put into office. Matthew 20:24-28. 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. First images stay in the mind forever. Is anyone among you sick? Maybe someone criticized them or, people didnt appreciate what they were doing. What is Paul? 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus. Note the closing phrase. Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 2 Timothy 1:7. 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. I believe the Bible offers guidance to answer many of these basic questions. 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. This is the story of the judgment of the nations. 09.24.2014. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. That means helping with jobs that need to be done. In my 23 years serving both as a staff and a senior pastor, I have been blessed to work with some amazing, godly deacons. 3:13): For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. But test everything; hold fast what is good. Second, a deacon must not be double-tongued. V 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. Labs And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. There are others who serve in various ways who probably should be recognized officially as deacons. "Have I not commanded you? 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. V Why is this distinction important? If people appreciate your service, thats gratifying! We love your comments! In fact, the word deacon is simply a transliteration of the Greek word for table servant or waiter. Dr. W. A Criswell offers this helpful definition: The word in the New Testament for deacon is diakonos. While all Christians must serve in various ways, God specially gifts some for service in supportive, practical, and often behind-the-scenes ways. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. can you drive with stitches in your leg,