Deacons: The Key to Church Work & Growth
2005001
Topic # 1486 (Deacons)
Introduction:
A. 1 Tim. 3:1-13
1. 1 Tim. 1:1-2 – Paul was an apostle by commandment of God.
2. Paul had personal interests in his young friend – Timothy – calling him a true son in the faith.
3. 1 & 2 Timothy written to instruct the young evangelist in his work.
4. From these 2 epistles, we enjoy good, practical instructions to order our work according to the divine pattern.
B. That pattern involves what we read in 1 Tim. 3:1-13.
1. This teaching ought to have a place in our work as a local church.
2. To the best of our ability – based on the human resources available, and in keeping with this instruction we should seek to follow this pattern.
C. Beginning a series of lessons on deacons & their work.
1. Surprised that so little writing & sermons devoted to deacons & their work.
a) Sermons on deacons usually tacked onto a long series on elders.
b) Focus on their qualifications & that’s it.
2. We must not neglect or ignore deacons.
3. As we develop great deacons – we’ll qualify more elders.
a) The elder shortage in some churches of Christ really is a result of a deacon shortage.
b) Theoretically, every deacon in time can develop into an elder.
D. Many deacons spend their spiritual lives as deacons, some resign, but overall, few deacons become elders.
1. Why don’t more deacons become elders?
2. Why don’t more deacons become deacons?
I. The work of a deacon is important.
A. God only recognizes 2 distinct offices in the local church.
1. Elders & deacons. See Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13.
2. Any office of God is important!
B. In NT, the Greek word for deacon is diakonos and is used in an official capacity 5 times.
1. word is actually a compound consisting of 2 Greek words, “dia” and “konos.”
a) “dia” means “through”
b) “konos” means “dust.”
3. When these 2 words are joined together, they mean raise dust by hastening.
4. In other words, deacons are to “kick up dust.”
a) Charles Hodge: deacons are to be live wires, not dead heads.
b) In the context, diakonos is translated into English carrying the meaning of a servant, minister, waiter, or attendant.
c) This is the person who executes the commands of others.
C. Does this mean elders are over the spiritual, and deacons are over the physical?
1. No.
2. Elders are over everything in the church & deacons are not over anything.
a) Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4 – elders oversee.
b) 1 Tim. 3:5 – take care of the church of God.
3. Elders delegate responsibly to deacons, delegated authority is commensurate with delegated responsibility.
4. While deacons work in physical areas – elders still oversee and must know what is going on in those areas.
5. Not to meddle, micromanage – but be aware of what’s going on through communication.
6. In short, elders are overseers – deacons are special servants.
D. It’s not about power. Mt. 20:25-28 – this was a problem of Gentiles.
1. In God’s kingdom, greatness is achieved by service.
2. Deacons are great because of their ministry.
3. LD Buchheimer: “there had been nothing like the deacon before Christianity in history.”
E. The deaconate is a “ministry” not a “position.”
1. It is “work time” not “rest time.”
a) It is a shame when deacons neglect to attend worship services.
b) It is a shame when deacons cannot be depended upon to fulfill their tasks.
2. Deacons must “get in or get out.”
a) Not fulfilling your assignments? Step aside.
b) Churches cannot grow where deacons are a joke.
3. Lazy deacons demoralize zealous church workers & sabotage good programs.
a) Dead deacons are frustrated and they frustrate good deacons.
b) Clean up the diakonate and you clean up the congregation.
c) No group can function any better than its deacons.
4. You deacons – are you “kicking up dust” by your work w/in the congregation.
5. You be God’s man in God’s place, and do God’s work in God’s way.
II. Deacons have a specific role to play.
A. Deacons, not elders, not preachers, are the key to local church work & growth.
1. They are vital. They are at the crux of church matters.
2. Preachers are doing the work of elders, elders the work of deacons, and deacons the work of members and members are doing nothing.
3. Satan wins when church officers find themselves doing other than their charge.
a) Elders are not deacons.
b) Elders should never find themselves doing what the deacons should be doing.
4. Acts 6 – the apostles were not the “7”. They let the “7” do their work.
a) In some places, elders are the best deacons congregations can have.
b) This is not the way God designed it! Defeats God’s purpose.
B. Likewise, deacons should not find themselves doing what members should be doing.
1. When preachers preach, elders elder, deacons “deak”, and members member then the church works & grows!
2. Isn’t the way the church is pictured in the scriptures?
a) Eph. 4:11-12; 15-16
b) 1 Cor. 12:12; 14-20
C. Deacons…as you work in your specific place/role in the church – work to be the best possible deacon.
1. God will be glorified & the church will work & grow.
2. The key to church work lies w/deacons they “make or break” the church.
III. Deacons are servants.
A. Deacons exemplify God’s desire for men.
1. Deacons are special because they are the expression of God’s heart.
B. Look at Jesus.
1. Lk. 19:10; 22:27. His mission? While on earth, He served others.
2. Acts 10:38 – He went about doing good.
C. While “deacon” used in official stance 5 times in NT – used many times in a general sense.
1. Serving as a deacon involves an attitude, a concept, and a life.
2. Christianity = submission! The heart of Christ is the heart of a servant.
D. Phil. 2:1-11
1. Jesus had no qualms about using the word “greatest.”
2. Loudly and clearly he announced the greatest is the servant.
3. Service to the king is the name of the game.
E. This is a hard lesson to learn. It’s opposite to human nature.
1. Consider Jesus: came to us w/o worldly might & power & glamour.
2. Came as a servant, a child! Isa. 53 has no meaning to the world in general.
3. A servant mentality must be in the mind of the person who serves as a deacon.
a) The diakonate is degraded when sought for its honor rather than its ministry.
b) It is not a reward, title, or position.
c) It is a function!
4. God has not, will not, and cannot use title seekers. He can use servants!
IV. Philip the evangelist is a great example of this.
A. He – one of the “7” in Acts 6. They were simply servants.
1. No more, no less. To perform a menial task of ministry.
B. Honest, wise, and spiritual men served. No title, no position, no personal reward.
1. 7 men who loved God & the church & served to solve a potentially dangerous problem.
C. We next run into Philip in Acts 8.
1. Preaching the scriptures. To Samaritans. “Dogs” by Jews.
2. No prejudice. It is swallowed up by servant hood.
3. Servants can’t afford to be selfish. Why?
D. It is the foundation for benevolence, evangelism, and mission work.
1. Philip was totally God’s servant. Allowed him to see the world as God saw it.
2. God wanted a servant in Samaria – so he went.
3. And...Many came to Christ. 8:5-8.
4. All because of a servant’s willingness to do what God expected.
E. 8:26 – now called by God to go to desert and preach. Where God wanted him to be.
1. This is body concept of the church.
2. We are to be simply what we are.
3. Fingers must not be condemned for not being tongues.
4. Find out where God wants you to be and serve!
F. Acts 21:8-14 – Paul comes to house of Philip.
1. Remember something? Paul participated in stoning of Stephen – one of the “7”. Acts 7:58; 8:1
2. Think Stephen & Philip friends? First 2 men chosen.
3. Philip could have witnessed the stoning of Stephen.
4. If ever a man could have hated Paul – it was Philip. But he is the servant of Jesus & welcomes Paul into his home.
a) Paul is now a servant of Jesus.
b) 21:11 – Agabus warns of Paul’s impending persecution.
c) No doubt, Philip in the group who shed tears about it.
5. Philip could love a man who killed his best friend. How?
6. Because he was a servant.
7. Deacons are simply servants. It truly is the glory of the ordinary.
Conclusion:
A. When deacons are performing to their potential & busy in the Lord’s work they body will be thriving and growing and full of life.
B. We’ve talked about servant hood today. Are you a servant of Jesus?
C. I N V I T A T I O N
