What is a Deacon? What do they do? And then are there any qualifications for that role? A deacon is a servant. Plain and simple. A deacon is a servant who serves with the character that you can see and with humility.
Aren’t we all supposed to serve with character that the world can see and with humility as we follow the cumulative Christ?
A deacon is one especially carved out from the church body to serve in that role. In the New Testament church, there are basically two offices, the office of the pastor and that of the deacon. The pastor serves the church by leading and preaching, and the deacon leads in the church by serving.
Acts 6:1-7
6 Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
7 The word of God kept spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
In order to select deacons, we should look at the character of these men. Deacons should be problem-solvers. When the church grows, there are more issues. This means more service is needed. The disciples appointed deacons to solve problems of the cultural clash at that time. Similarly, we have important issues that need to be handled in the church. However, if they are neglected or handled in the wrong way, it can detract from the mission. The deacons were appointed so the mission could continue in the church.
Deacons carry two imagination buckets with them. One is full of water; the other is full of gasoline. He has a choice of extinguishing disunity instead of feeding the flames of division in the church. We need men who want to see the problem and solve it with humility for the sake of the gospel. These men need to be problem solvers, not problem starters.
The heart of the deacon needs to be the serve the local church. Unfortunately, though, during the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a loss of personal connection. The deacons weren’t allowed to go and visit people in the hospital over the last couple of years like they once were.
Many people didn’t want other people, even if it was a deacon, to be around them in fear of getting the virus. So as a result, the knowledge of need has decreased in the deacon body about the congregation. Many of you have lost those paths of communication that were so easy two years ago.
The disciples realized that the responsibility needs to be shared. The ministry weight, and responsibility of a church would crush any one person alone. The better our deacons serve, the more focused the ministry can be. When we work together preaching, leading, praying and serving, the mission is accomplished. When the mission is accomplished the church will grow.
Deacons promote healthy churches (Acts 6:5-7)
In the church of Acts, the Word of God kept on spreading and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly because of these servants.
Deacons have strong character.
The deacons were chosen from the congregation. Acts 6 says they selected from among themselves seven men of good reputation, full of the spirit and of wisdom, who they may put in charge of this task. Don’t miss that the deacons were chosen from the congregation.
Is he a man of self-interest or sin? Does he keep his word? What is his reputation in the community? We’re looking not for the popular man. We’re looking for a man of good reputation.
Is this a man of prayer or a man of self? This man must be wise, experienced, and responsible in the Lord’s eyes. Wisdom means the application of God’s knowledge and your daily life is this man. Follow the Lord and want His will done in His life.
Deacons are selected from among the church body. They are problem-solving servants who promote healthy churches and who have a strong character.
Acts 3:8-13
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not insincere, not prone to drink much wine, not greedy for money, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then have them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The Greek word for dignity describes a man who is to be revered. He is worthy of honor and respect. And all those who gather around him see it. I think respect is something that is best achieved when it is earned.
Deacons must not be double-tongued. They should not be insincere. We need men who will follow through and be committed. Does he act one way at church and another way at home or work? If so, he is not ready. I believe this might be one of the biggest struggles for men today, especially young men. He needs to be a man that we can put in charge of this task. He needs to say what he means and means what he says.
Deacons Must Not Be Addicted to Alcohol
Deacons must not be addicted to alcohol or addicted to much wine. Again, the question is not has he ever tasted alcohol? That’s not what he says here, or that he has the occasional drink in an appropriate forum. The question is, does alcohol or really anything else? Does it control him? Does he drink to get drunk? If so, he’s not ready.
Only Christ should control him. This is a standard for all Christians, but it is a requirement for this next level of servanthood and leadership in the church. And if he does partake in an occasional drink, does he do it in a manner that honors Christ?
Deacons Must Not Be Greedy
Making a return on your investments is not the issue. Being wealthy or poor is not the issue. Does he make his money in a shady way? That’s the question. Does he earn profit by cheating others? Is he the kind of man that will tell you a lie or anything else just to make a profit? That man is not ready to serve as a deacon because it reflects poorly on the church, but more importantly on Christ himself. He must hold to his faith with a clear conscience.
Deacons Must Be Tested
Deacons must be observed by their communities, families and their church to be proven to meet the qualifications.
Deacons are to be men of incomparable family value.
The home is a great resume for the pastor and the deacon. It speaks to who they really are, far more than a sheet of paper reflecting their accomplishments.
Did you know that you could have a man in a church that has been married to his wife for 40 years, yet he cheats on her all the time? He would be the husband of that one wife, but not a one-woman kind of man because he’s not committed to her. That man would not be qualified and we don’t need him in the deaconate.
You must be committed to your wife and your family to serve in this position. If you want to know how a man loves and is committed to Christ and boiling it down to this one statement. So listen, look at how he loves and is committed to his wife and his children.
Are we looking for a perfect man? No. There’s only one perfect man who ever lived. His name is Jesus Christ. He’s the one that died on the cross. Not me. Not any Deacon. He’s the one that absorbed God’s wrath. He’s the one that was buried. He’s the one that was raised from the dead three days later. But it’s he that we repent and believe in. And once we repent and believe. Our desire should be to follow in his steps desperately and consistently. These are the men that we’re looking for. The men that are following in his steps.
