Character Qualifications for Deacons

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Topic # 1486 (Deacons)

Introduction

A.     394 AD – Letter sent to Nepotian from Jerome.

1.      In letter, Jerome rebuked churches of his day for their hypocrisy in showing more interest in appearance of their church buildings than in the proper selection of church leaders.

2.      quote

B.     God’s most important concern is not w/buildings or programs, but w/moral & spiritual character of the leadership w/in the church.

1.      Godly leadership makes the true, spiritual difference w/in the church.

2.      Not accidental that almost all instruction on deacons relates to their qualifications.

3.      Not just anyone who wants to be a deacon can be a deacon.

4.      Placing unqualified men into church leadership is a key tool of Satan for thwarting church growth & killing a church.

C.    A properly ordered church must have morally & spiritually qualified overseers & deacons.  Thus 1 Tim. 3:1-13.

 

I.  There is a need for qualified leadership.

A.     God gave local church these qualifications to protect it from unworthy men.

1.      Scripture provides us w/qualifications to test all who seek to be shepherds/deacons.

2.      Church offices are for those who are biblically qualified.

B.     Shepherds/deacons hold positions of sacred trust.

1.      They direct & care for the family of God.

2.      They handle problems, money, and needy people.

3.      They must be men of proven integrity.

C.    Leaders who have good character provide better…

1.      Judgment; guidance; balance, & stability in the church.

D.    1 Tim. 3 reveals God’s concept of a deacon.

1.      God wants size, maturity, spirituality.

2.      1 Tim. 3 contains character qualities – not legal qualifications.

3.      We need to select men God wants & not complicate matters w/our own pet peeves.

4.      God is primarily interested in who a man is.

a)     He wants a servant.

b)     A man who willing to be all God wants us to be.

c)      Always growing closer to God.

5.      Remember..Theoritically, all deacons in time can be elders.

6.      When men develop as deacons – we will have the elders we have prayed for.

 

II. Deacons must be men of dignity.

A.     Must be men of integrity & self control who live consistent Christian lives in full view of their fellow believers.

B.     Meaning here comes along with the idea of being:

1.      Respectable/honorable.

2.      NIV – men worthy of respect

3.      There must be no questions about his character.

C.    When thinking of a candidate for this office:

1.      Is he someone who is known & respected by the congregation?

a)     Acts 6 – Stephen – one of the 7 – honorable/respectable by all.

2.      Is he someone you can trust?

3.      Focus on 3:8a, these qualities must be. Not developed into.

4.      Talking about one whose spiritual dedication is seen throughout his life.

D.    ASV/KJV uses word grave here.

1.      Involves seriousness – but not pessimism. 

2.      Must act as an adult. 

3.      Work to be taken seriously – important – not just a title, not just a hobby.

 

III. Deacons must exhibit purity in speech.

A.     A man is no better than his word.

1.      Nothing destroys influence like deceit.

2.      Servants must be sincere & trustworthy.

B.     Wording here – double tongued.

1.      Literally saying 1 thing to 1 man and a different thing to the next.

2.      Saying prohibits any kind of manipulative, insincere, or deceitful speech.

3.      Term emphasizes integrity of speech, sincerity, and truthfulness.

D.    In short, a deacon must be a man of his word.  He must mean what he says.

1.      Mt. 5:37 – “yes” must be “yes,” “no” must be “no.”

 

IV. Deacons must not be given too much wine.

A.     Sometimes the debating over much wine gets more debate out of brethren than qualifying men.

1.      Brethren: can we agree that the church should mean more to a deacon than a vice, bad habit, or selfish attitude?

2.      Deacons must guard against their influence being compromised – and they must be willing to pay any price for the glory of God.

3.      Their personal concerns are sacrificed for the benefit of others.

4.      Deacons do not live for themselves. They are people who care what others think & want.

B.     Not addicted... not given…

1.      To hold the mind towards, pay attention to, be cautious about…

2.      Much: “abundant, plenty.”

C.    A deacon is not to pay attention to much wine, not to attend to much wine, not to regard much wine.

D.    James Bales comments: “To argue that by forbidding much wine Paul approves some use of wine of any and every sort is to adopt a mode of interpretation exceedingly dangerous, and wholly inconsistent with usage.”

1.      Dangerous – the reasoning which says that the forbidding of much wine allows indulgence in a lesser quantity is just as weak as that which says the forbidding of murder permits any lesser mistreatment of another person.

2.      Inconsistent with New Testament usage – when Peter said that “they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, he did not mean to imply that Christians might acceptably engage in such things to a lesser extreme.

3.      Saying they are not to be addicted to much wine, does not mean that a little is permissible.

E.     Much of the work done by deacons requires an alert and sober mind.  The blamelessness of a deacon’s life in general as a Christian would eliminate the very possibility of his being a “social drinker.”

1.      Prov. 23:29-35 imagine a man trying to carry out the duties of a deacon while behaving in this manner.

 

V.  Deacons are not to be fond of sordid gain.

A.     Did Paul have Judas in mind here? John 12:5-6

B.     One’s religious office must not be used to achieve financial gain at the expense of others.  Nothing new.

1.      Lk. 11:39b; 20:47a – Jesus dealings w/the scribes & Pharisees.

2.      Mt. 21:12a-13 – cleaned out the temple – nothing more than a retail store.

3.      Heb. 13:5a – an admonition to Christians.

C.    A man must have financial integrity if he is to serve as a deacon.

1.      Consider what Samuel said in 1 Sam. 12:3.

 

VI. Deacons must hold the mystery of faith.

A.     This qualification demands that a deacon’s life be consistent w/Christian doctrine.

1.      Deacon maintains clear conscience by living in harmony w/truths in God’s word.

2.      Can’t hold faith w/a pure conscience & live in sexual immorality, pilfer money, hate a brother, divorce, or mix falsehood w/the gospel.

B.     NT never allows people to separate life & doctrine.

1.      Whenever we act contrary to God’s word & do not seek His forgiveness, we defile our conscience.

a)     Each time we violate – we weaken its convicting power & make sin & hypocrisy easier to commit.

b)     A Christian whose inconsistent, hypocritical life belittles biblical truth can’t be a deacon.

C.    What is the mystery of faith?

1.      NT mystery means “revealed secret.”

2.      Referring to a divine plan previously hidden & inaccessible to people, but now revealed by God & proclaimed to all who believe.

3.      Answer to this – found in word faith.

4.      The faith means the entire body of Christian doctrine, Christianity’s distinctive truth.

5.      New English Bible translates this phrase: the deep truths of our faith.

6.      Mystery of faith – is the revealed secrets of the Christian faith.

D.    Since God has made known the secrets of redemption to us, we have an awesome responsibility to live our lives consistently, and obediently.

E.     We can bring disgrace on God’s revelation by sinful, hypocritical behavior.

1.      Titus 2:10

2.      Deacons must hold steadfastly to Christian faith & live consistently w/their beliefs.

 

Conclusion:

A.     Next week,…we’ll talk about the examination process.

B.     And..we’ll talk about qualifications for wives & families.

C.    Hope you’re enjoying the series.

D.    I N V I T A T I O N