Deacons 2 “Who is a D(d)eacon?”

[Slide 1] Well, if you weren’t here last week, that is ok, we’ll do a little bit of review to start out this morning.

We are trying to answer this question, “Who is a D(d)eacon?”

Of those who were with us last week – can someone explain to me why there is a parenthesis around a lowercase d in the middle of the word Deacon?

That is exactly right. Well done. This question is actually asking several questions all at once. Thus, it becomes the springboard for all the lessons in this series.

First, the lowercase d in this question represents the understanding that we arrived at last week. And for that, we’ll review a little.

REMEMBER TO POSE THESE IN QUESTIONS

[Slide 2] Last week we saw that the noun for deacon is dia;konV (diakonos- DIA-koh-nos) which is used 29 times in the New Testament and translated the vast majority of times as servant or minister.

We also looked at the verb form of the word, to deacon, which is diakone;w (diakoneo – dia-koh-NEH-oh) which is used 37 times in the new Testament and is mostly translated to minister or to serve.

We noticed that not only are the uses mostly translated as minister or servant, but actually very rarely is the word used to speak of the office of a Deacon. Which would be Deacon with a capital D. In fact, I let slip as a spoiler that there is only 1 passage in the entire New Testament that actually offers us any teaching on the office of a Deacon.

Therefore, since there is so little in the New Testament on Deacons the office, it made sense that we start with the non-office lowercase d deacon, and see if we could surmise something by how this word is used in normal sentences not talking about the office of a Deacon.

We read through the noun occurrences only, realizing that we had a fairly good understanding of the word at that point and we defined the semitic range of the word to the extent that to deacon or to be a deacon (lowercase d) was to be a humble, loving, caring, compassionate, servant and minister to all God’s people, building up the body of Christ in the unity of the faith and knowledge of Christ.

In this, we looked at what it means to do the work of the ministry and realized that the Elders of a church are to equip all of God’s people to do the work of the diakoni;a (diakonia – dia-koh-NI-a) which is the participle form of the verb diakone;w.

What does that mean? It means that all God’s people are to be deacons… lowercase d. All God’s people are to do the work of deaconing.

We must be a servant to all. To care for all. Every Christian ought to be deaconing. Waiting to be given an office in order that you can deacon – shows that you have misunderstood this basic concept. All Christians deacon. All Christians serve. One another first and even the ungodly.

We read through our membership covenant which highlights exactly what this means. That all of us are to serve one another’s spiritual and physical needs – fulfilling the law of Christ.

Finally, I gave a real example of a person in our church who deaconed well.

For this reason and reasons like it the Elders of CBC cannot appoint any Deacons to office yet, for we have realized that we must first understand and apply this basic concept to the culture of our church. We must have a culture of service here if we are to ever receive from the Lord those whom He has prepared to take the office of Deacon.

We concluded with a call for us all to re-examine our hearts as believers. Are we devoted to serving one another as we ought? With our time, our money, our energy, and our families. Do we serve one another?

So that was all… review.

[Slide 3] So, what about the other Deacon? Who is a Deacon with a capital D?

But even this question could go in various directions. But let’s let our previous method dictate where we go with this question today.

Last time we looked at every occurrence of the word for deacon in noun and verb form, in order to derive meaning for the word group itself. So, let’s do the same thing today, except let’s focus on the times that the word is used in reference to the office.

It won’t take us near as long as last time…

[Slide 4] As you can see on the screen we have 3 instances where the noun is used and two where the verb is used.

And as you’ll notice from the screen we really only have 2 passages of scripture here to deal with. And as soon as we read Philippians 1:1 – we’ll see that we really only have 1 passage.

Who wants to read Philippians 1:1?

Now as much as we don’t learn much from this passage about a Deacon (with a capital D). What do we learn?

They are officers in the church

They received instruction before the people

They are distinct from Elders.

They are subordinate to Elders.

But, that is about it. A lot for a little verse, but not much to go on if we are to answer the question Who is a Deacon?

[Slide 5] So, let’s go to I Timothy 3 and we’ll try to wrap our heads around, what is the only passage in the New Testament to talk in detail about Deacons, the office.

READ

Ok. So, in the only passage of the New Testament that talks about Deacons the office, what is its primary teaching?

Yes – it speaks of the qualifications required in order for someone to serve as a Deacon.

Who is qualified to hold the office of a Deacon? That is the question it answers. Just like we were shocked to learn that the work of deaconing falls to all Christians, I wonder if we will be equally shocked to learn how rigid the qualifications for being a Deacon (capital D) truly are.

[Slide 6] So let’s try to define each quality of a person qualified to be an officer known as Deacon.

First, what might the word “likewise” mean after Paul introduces Deacons?

This doesn’t put them on equal footing of Elders, but it does put their qualifications as equally important. Their offices are distinct. The office of a Deacon, while lacking the role of oversight and the priority of teaching, still MUST be qualified for their office. Lest certain catastrophe ensue.

What does it mean to be worthy of respect or dignified? - This qualification serves as the governing description with each other description shuffling under it. Over all this is a person who is an example for all to follow. One that each person sees as a godly person and would generally wish to be like. They are humble, compassionate, servants.

What does it mean to not be hypocritical or double tongued? – It is difficult to determine if this means to say one thing and do another or that they are different people to whomever they are with. In either case, the person who is qualified to be a Deacon would not gossip, slander, be a yes man, or play sides. They guard their tongues and ears.

What does it mean that they should not be drinking a lot of wine? – It is appropriate to apply this to any practice, experience, or substance. Wine is not the only life-dominating vice that occurs in our world today. If a person is qualified to be a Deacon, they will not be controlled by anything save the Spirit of God.

What does it mean that they should not be greedy for money? – So, their tongues are under control, their appetites are under control, and their wallets too. A person qualified to be a Deacon ought not to think that money solves all problems nor should he be desirous to hoard or unwisely spend money.

What does it mean that they should hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience? – They must know, hold to, and live the faith. As we noticed about the “ministry” it is to build up the body of Christ in unity of the faith and knowledge of Christ. The unity part is where the Deacon comes in. They know the truth and they serve the physical aspects of God’s people in reference to it. Not independent of it. If a person is to be a Deacon, whether they can do carpentry or are a good plumber is irrelevant. Do they hold to the faith? Are they mature believers? That is far, FAR more important. Why? Because it is not God’s building for which they are caring… it is God’s people.

What does it mean that they must be tested first? – no person is qualified to be a Deacon unless they are first a deacon (lowercase d). Furthermore, they must be found blameless in their deaconing. There is no credible charge raised against their deaconing.

Verse 11 could be focused on the wife of a potential deacon. There is not consensus on this. Through church history this has been used to speak of Deacon’s wives, women in the church, or Deaconesses. We will not venture into this topic at all in this study. That is a matter your Elders will need to sort out in the days ahead. But if it is talking about the wife – it means a person who is qualified to serve the church as a Deacon must have a wife that is also worthy of respect, that is not a slanderer or gossip, and is self-controlled and faithful.

What does it mean to be the husband of one wife? - Furthermore, a person is qualified to be a Deacon when they are faithful to their wife and not in polygamous relationships, not adulterous, not addicted to pornography, or lusting.

What does it mean to manage their children and households competently? - And a person who is qualified to be a Deacon has children and households that are managed well. Their children are generally obedient and respectful. Their wives are generally submissive and supportive. And they are leaders not lords over their home. They do not rule by fear but by love and respect. They lead by example. They are excellent Elders of their home.

Based on this list of qualifications… I put the question to you and it isn’t rhetorical.

[Slide 7] Who can be a Deacon? But know that I am not looking for any names. What my question is asking is- generally speaking – where ought we to be looking for those who are Deacon material?

We have reached the end of the passages in scripture which speak of the office of a Deacon. But we lack a huge piece of information, don’t we? What are we missing?

If all Christians are to deacon (lowercase d) than what, exactly, does a Deacon (the office) do?

We’ll get to that next week, but before we close, let me challenge you like I did last week.

One of the reasons that we are so confused and befuddled by the concept of Deacons stems from what we have just seen. There is so little in scripture actually speaking to their office and their role. In that information vacuum, or perceived vacuum as we’ll see next week, in that perceived vacuum we tend to allow many other ideas to float into our understanding.

Today there are many different ideas of what a Deacon is to be. We recently had the office of Deacon working alongside the spiritual gifting of Pastor. This formed a quasi-Delder role where Deacons and Elders were blended together. Thankfully the Lord has allowed us to shift away from that. But that hasn’t exactly solved all our problems. Why? Because we still have various conceptions about what a Deacon is and what a Deacon does.

As we move forward in this study, we will both expound on what a Deacon is and does positively, but we will also blow up false concepts and misconceptions of what a Deacon is and what a Deacon does. And today, by only looking at the qualifications of a Deacon, we can close the coffin and perform a quick funeral for one false view of a Deacon.

A Deacon is not someone who is good at construction, great with odd jobs, a wonderful electrician, an HVAC guy, an IT professional, a great plumber, an outdoorsman, a man’s man, or a landscaping expert.

Now don’t get me wrong, a person who is qualified to be a Deacon could be any or all of these, but these attributes do not describe a person who is qualified to be a Deacon. In fact, they don’t say anything at all about a person’s qualification to be a Deacon.

As we’ve studied, in order to deacon (lowercase d) these skills would be extremely helpful. But to be qualified for the office of a Deacon they are irrelevant. This is actually one of our first clues to understand what a Deacon does… but we’ll save that for next week.

Above all, what we must understand, is that the qualifications set down by God through His servant Paul, emphasize the godly character of the person who is to hold the office of a Deacon.

This tells us, what we’ve already been able to piece together. The primary object of deaconing (lowercase d) seems to be the primary focus of the Deacon office of a church. That is… people. Not property. Not organization. Not money. People.

Why do you think that is true in the early church?

There was no such thing as a church building, or a 501c3 status.

Now that doesn’t eliminate property, organization, or money from possibly being a Deacon’s responsibility… but we MUST understand that if a Deacon’s role includes caring for church property… it is not a realm to which the Deacon claims ownership, nor a job to which they have exclusive power to change or operate, nor a kingdom of which they rule without exception, nor a job for which they are particularly equipped, nor a post they can occupy regardless of their spiritual immaturity or lack of submission to the Elders. If a Deacon cares for property it is because they are godly, humble, submissive individuals who love God’s people. They want to care for what God has given, through His people, and to give the Elders the ability to focus on other priorities.

In short, Deacons of property almost need to know nothing about property to do their duties. They simply must be godly examples who are respected by the church membership. And they must love the church membership and give themselves in service to it.

If you aspire to one day be a Deacon… you must first be godly. Being a great builder, or being a handy man, or knowing how to set up a website, will do little to nothing to prepare you for the work of a Deacon. You must be godly. You must hold fast to the mystery of your faith with a clear conscience. You must have your tongue, your appetites, and your wallet under control. You must have the respect and love of your wife and your kids. You must be respected and followed by the community of God, and you must be deaconing blamelessly already. You’ll never make it as a Deacon, if you are not these. I don’t care how fast you can fix a furnace.

So perhaps you need to adjust your thoughts and expectations about the nature of the office of a Deacon. Perhaps you need to repent of not seeking out the Lord’s Word on the topic and only relying on man’s tradition and established habits that are only a century or two old. Perhaps you need to refocus on deaconing before ever even thinking about being a Deacon.

But perhaps you have come to the other side of this encouraged. Because you aren’t a handy person and just always figured that meant that you could never be a Deacon… perhaps being godly as a requirement is a part of your character already. In this you find some measure of comfort – that you could serve as a Deacon someday. That perhaps God would gift you and call you to such an office.

May we all do some introspection and see what the Lord would have from us as a result of this study. Let’s pray.