Date written: February 10, 2002
Scripture ref: Philippians 1:1<\/p>\n
SUBJECT: Church: Organization<\/p>\n
TITLE: Deacons-God’s Servants<\/p>\n
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will study deacons duties, responsibilities and qualifications.<\/p>\n
OBJECTIVE: Everyone should be able to know from the scriptures deacons duties, responsibilities and qualification.<\/p>\n
AIM: I hope to be able to help the congregation work toward appointing deacons and to encourage prospective deacons.<\/p>\n
INTRODUCTION:<\/p>\n
1. Read: 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”<\/p>\n
2. About the Text:<\/p>\n
1) Paul writing from a Roman prison gives salutation to the church at Philippi.<\/p>\n
2) He gives us a quick glance of the organization of the church.<\/p>\n
3) The organization is composed of saints, bishops, and deacons.<\/p>\n
4) Saints are individual Christians who have been immersed for the remission of their sins.<\/p>\n
5) Bishops are the leaders of the church; synonymous with elder, pastor, shepherd, and overseer.<\/p>\n
6) Deacons are another office in the church which will be the subject of our study this evening.<\/p>\n
3. The Greek word “diakonos” means servant.<\/p>\n
1) Out of the 30 some odd times it is used, 26 of those are translated servant and only 4 translated “deacon.”<\/p>\n
2) There is ample evidence in the scriptures, however, to presume that there was a special office which was referred to as deacon.<\/p>\n
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.<\/p>\n
DISCUSSION: In this lesson we will study …<\/p>\n
1. We see here the first problem in the church.<\/p>\n
1) There was murmuring.<\/p>\n
2) The Grecians were contending with the Hebrews<\/p>\n
3) The issue was that their widows were being neglected.<\/p>\n
2. The solution of the apostles.<\/p>\n
1) They did not want a division in this fledgling church. It would have been disastrous.<\/p>\n
2) However, the apostles neither wanted to neglect their primary mission of teaching the word and prayer.<\/p>\n
3) They called everyone together-everyone was included.<\/p>\n
4) They instructed the church to choose men from among them men who would take care of this needed business.<\/p>\n
a. They did not demean this business.<\/p>\n
b. It was important business.<\/p>\n
5) But, the apostles gave the qualifications and did the appointing.<\/p>\n
a. They were to choose men of good report.<\/p>\n
b. Full of the Holy Spirit<\/p>\n
c. Full of wisdom.<\/p>\n
3. The choice of the people (v5).<\/p>\n
4. The apostles prayed for them and laid their hands on them.<\/p>\n
5. The result of handling the matter in this way was tremendous (v.7).<\/p>\n
1. Deacons are servants.<\/p>\n
1) All Christians are to be servants and have the mind of a servant (Philippians 2:5).<\/p>\n
2) Deacons therefore should be examples of what it means to be a servant as they are raised up in the eyes of the brethren for this specific purpose.<\/p>\n
3) In contrast, the elders are described as “overseers” in the church (Acts 20:28).<\/p>\n
4) They are to oversee the activities of the church and make decisions in areas of expediency.<\/p>\n
2. Deacons have responsibility in specific areas of the work.<\/p>\n
1) Deacons do not “oversee” the church, but specific areas of work within the church.<\/p>\n
2) These are areas in which the eldership has already made decisions.<\/p>\n
3) Deacons ensure that the work is carried out and that nothing is neglected.<\/p>\n
4) They must, therefore, be trustworthy.<\/p>\n
3. Primarily their responsibilities are of a physical nature dealing with day-to-day tasks and duties.<\/p>\n
1) In Acts 6, the deacons there were charged to deal with the specific business of daily ministration to the widows.<\/p>\n
2) In contrast the apostles wanted to continue with teaching and preaching God’s word and prayer.<\/p>\n
3) Deacons, therefore, provide a support structure for elders and preachers to engage in activities more centered on teaching God’s word.<\/p>\n
4) This does NOT imply that deacons do not share a responsibility to teach and preach God’s word.<\/p>\n
5) Just that their main emphasis in service to the local congregation is upon providing support to those who do.<\/p>\n
1. Moral Qualifications<\/p>\n
1) Of honest report (Acts 6)<\/p>\n
2) Grave – serious, somber, about the business to be conducted. Must not be conducted with a slack hand or with a flippant attitude.<\/p>\n
3) Not double tongued – does not say one thing to one and another thing to another (Psalm 15:4 “He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not).<\/p>\n
4) Not given to much wine – see bulletin article. Must not be given to excess regarding anything.<\/p>\n
5) Not greedy of filthy lucre – no lover of money (1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”)<\/p>\n
6) Must be proved – he must have served within the congregation for a time to gain the trust of the eldership and the members as he will be serving them.<\/p>\n
7) Blameless – There is nothing that anyone can bring against his name or be said about him; he does not have a reputation for evil. This does not mean that he will not make mistakes.<\/p>\n
2. Spiritual Qualifications<\/p>\n
1) Filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6) – Must know the word of God<\/p>\n
2) Filled with wisdom (Acts 6) – Must know how to apply the word of God<\/p>\n
3) Holding the mystery of the faith – He has the right standard in his mind.<\/p>\n
4) In a pure conscience – He executes his life based upon that standard.<\/p>\n
3. Qualifications of Family<\/p>\n
1) Husbands of one wife.<\/p>\n
a. Wife must be grave – serious, somber about the business to be conducted.<\/p>\n
b. Not slanderers – not one who is going to talk maliciously regarding others.<\/p>\n
c. Sober – having the right attitude toward herself.<\/p>\n
d. Faithful in all things – She must be a steward as well, as she will aid him in his work.<\/p>\n
2) Ruling their children well – Their children are not “out of control,” but orderly.<\/p>\n
3) Ruling their house well – He loves his wife and children; he cares for his family; he follows the example of Abraham, Genesis 18:19 “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”<\/p>\n
1. They must have used the office of the deacon well – they are not slack in their responsibilities.<\/p>\n
2. They purchase a good degree or good standing.<\/p>\n
1) They may become evangelists like Stephen and Phillip.<\/p>\n
2) They may become elders.<\/p>\n
3) They may remain deacons who carry with them the respect of the entire church.<\/p>\n
3. They purchase great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n
1) By knowing their responsibilities.<\/p>\n
2) By being involved with the eldership.<\/p>\n
3) By supporting the preaching and teaching of the word of God.<\/p>\n
CONCLUSION:<\/p>\n
1. We have noticed this evening four points regarding the office of the deacon.<\/p>\n
1) The history of the office.<\/p>\n
2) The responsibilities of the office.<\/p>\n
3) The qualifications of the office.<\/p>\n
4) The rewards of the office.<\/p>\n
2. Invitation<\/p>\n
1) If you are a Christian,<\/p>\n
a. One is not a Christian because he is a deacon, but is a deacon because he is a Christian.<\/p>\n
b. All of these qualifications (except for the family and being a husband) are enjoined upon Christians as well.<\/p>\n
c. This means that the deacon, like the elder, exemplifies the best qualities of being a Christian.<\/p>\n
d. These qualifications apply to all who are trying to live the Christian life.<\/p>\n
e. Perhaps there are others who are considering becoming a deacon. We hope this lesson has helped you learn more.<\/p>\n
2) If you are not a Christian . . .<\/p>\n
a. We want you to live the life that Christians live.<\/p>\n
b. Some of the things we have discussed tonight bear directly upon that life.<\/p>\n
a) Would you be a servant?<\/p>\n
b) Would you know God’s word?<\/p>\n
c) Would you put God’s word into practice in your life?<\/p>\n
d) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”<\/p>\n
e) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”<\/p>\n
f) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).<\/p>\n
g) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).<\/p>\n
h) Be Baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Date written: February 10, 2002Scripture ref: Philippians 1:1 SUBJECT: Church: Organization TITLE: Deacons-God’s Servants PROPOSITION: In this lesson we will study deacons duties, responsibilities and qualifications. OBJECTIVE: Everyone should be able to know from the scriptures deacons duties, responsibilities and qualification. AIM: I hope to be able to help the congregation work toward appointing deacons … Continue reading “Deacons Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications – Bible Outlines”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44055\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}