They also ministered directly to other womenin evangelism, teaching, preparation for baptism and general discipleship. But in the structure of the local church, some are called to be official servants, or deacons. Deacon is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning, servant. In more than 100 New Testament uses of that word and its cognates, almost all refer either to Christ or to His followers. 3:4 ). Hold deep truths of the faithHas a sound grasp of essential Bible doctrine. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. Those men and women must meet the high standards of I Timothy 3:8-13. If you have your pastor's phone number and communicate often, you can send him or her a text or Whatsapp message with an encouraging Scripture. Study and pray about the scriptures that teach us the duties of the deacon. But whether service is your gift or not, all Christians are the Lords servants. I believe the Bible offers guidance to answer many of these basic questions. You shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him; and you shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve Me as priests. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. He wants to make the Christian claims of love tangible. While all Christians must serve in various ways, God specially gifts some for service in supportive, practical, and often behind-the-scenes ways. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Is anyone among you sick? How do deacons differ from elders? 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.. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. 2. F ( Heb. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Probably they assessed whether the needs were legitimate or not. So throughout the Gospels, we see them jockeying for power. Rather, it means that a man has an observed track record before he is put into office. Y When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Those with the gift of service are like the linemen on a football team. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. So in our study of the church, we need to understand the role of all Christians as servants, but also what it means to be an official servant, or deacon. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. What do deacons do? How? The church in Jerusalem had grown considerably. 8. Some men and women may be especially recognized and set apart as deacons and deaconesses. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 3:12): Deacons must be husbands of only one wife . This is the same as the requirement for elders, literally, a one-woman man (1 Tim. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. I am among you as one who serves. (lit, I am among you as a deacon.), 3. Not emotionally unstable. Tell her then to help me.. John 12:26 - If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.read more. A woman of discretion and self-control. What deacons do. Paul never specifically mentions what deacons were supposed to do. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 3. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.. 1 Timothy 3:13 - For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. But even if they dont, keep serving. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Great assurance in their faithGrowing sense of personal confidence that comes from serving the church of God. Criswells Guidebook for Pastors, pp. And she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 3. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Being a deacon is a high calling because it means becoming like the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Peter says that we are to use whatever gifts we have in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Pet. As a church grows, the elders will need help with administration and other matters so that they can concentrate on shepherding the flock. But I am among you as the one who serves.. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Find out more about these various studies by clicking here. 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. She had given twenty years of her life so that these people could have the Scriptures, but they didnt even care! Labs Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 1. 4. Chooses not to speak evil of others. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Four passages are usually mentioned in connection with deaconesses. 1 Timothy 3:11 lists qualifications for a group of godly women serving in the church: 1. Or am I trying to please man? Remember to cite book, chapter, and verse. Or they could have been widows or single women devoted to serving the Lord (1 Tim. 3:8). I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Dr. Fran Trascritti (@frantras)is a husband, father, and grandfather, but most of all, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 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. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. Almost everything I learned about deacons in a practical sense, I learned while growing up. This is to be determined by testing, which does not refer to a period of probation after he becomes a deacon. read more. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. But a problem arose when the Greek-speaking Jews felt that their widows were being neglected in favor of the native Hebrews. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul lists six character qualifications: First, a deacon must be a man of dignity. When people accomplish a common objective together, all are encouraged. 5:3-16). Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. Be strong and courageous. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Note these conclusions about the ministry of the deacons: 1. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. What is Paul? Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. S Incidentally, a brief survey of church history shows that the deacons in the early church did function as described above. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. The concept of women serving as deaconesses appears very early in church. He said (Matt. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. But in Acts 6:3, the men had to be of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Except for being able to teach, the qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3 are comparable to those for elders. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 1 Timothy 5:3-16 sets forth Pauls teaching concerning widows. I Timothy 3:8-13 lays out the spiritual qualifications for deacons and deaconesses. M They are a blessing, and I pray that you and your church appreciates them like I do. Q Youre not doing it ultimately for them, but for the Lord who came to serve and give His life as a ransom for you. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 1 Timothy 3:8 - 1 Timothy 3:13 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Note the closing phrase. How so. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says Jesus is accursed! and no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Is it not the one who reclines at the table? 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. N U Therefore it says, When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. (In saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 7. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. How are deacons chosen? We want to see each person serving the Lord in line with his or her spiritual gifts, whether unofficially or officially as deacons. We love your comments! Does not bend the truth to fit his audience. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. This caused the other disciples to grow indignant (Matt. First, (1 Tim. The historical record thus reflects the ambiguity of the New Testament in this area. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. The principle is the same: if a man cant manage matters in his home, dont promote him to manage matters in the church. We have witnessed this time and time again in the life of our church, especially on Wednesday nights. They couldnt be goof-offs. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus. Then he returns to his discussion about deacons. But every Christian should have the mindset, I am a servant (or a slave) of Jesus Christ. Theres a difference between those terms, and yet Jesus used them interchangeably when He told His disciples (Mark 10:42-45): You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But be forewarned: A lot of people have gotten involved serving the Lord only to get hurt! So if the Lord is putting it on your heart to serve, talk to one of the elders. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. 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. Three interpretations are popular: A. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Colley. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. Let us earnestly pray for God to raise up such godly men and women so that we may properly recognize them as true deaconsservantsof the Lord Jesus Christ. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
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