SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATION DEACONS: Serving In The Church

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
INTRODUCTION

• To discuss church organization without
  mentioning the work of a deacon, would be a
  mistake

• Once a congregation is established it has
  elders and deacons (Phil. 11)

• Deacons will serve under the oversight of the
  elders for the benefit of the congregation

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
DEFINING THE TERM DEACON

• Coming from the Greek word diakones, is one
  who executes the commands of another, of a
  master a servant, attendant, minister

• Other words in the NT carry similar
  definitions, but deacon is specific to the work
  it describes.

• A deacon serves in the body of Christ

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON

• God gives us instructions as to the type of
  people that should serve the church as deacons.
  (I Timothy 38-13)

• We need to desire deacons in this congregation
  as we also consider appointing elders.

• Let us be prayerful that we will be a fully
  organized congregation.

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
NEGATIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• NOT Double Tongued (I Timothy 38)

gtA man who serves in a local church as a
deacon must be able to control his tongue
(James 38-12)
gtThe tongue can destroy the work of God if one
does not know how to use it.
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
NEGATIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• NOT Given To Much Wine (I Timothy 38)

gtThis does not mean that they have the right
to test the limits with a social alcoholic
drinking style
gtA servant of God will set the example and
avoid all appearances of evil.
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
NEGATIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• NOT Greedy For Money (I Timothy 38)

gtThose who have a vain love of money cannot
please God (Matt. 624)
gtThe love of money will destroy any
individuals faith (I Timothy 610)
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• Grave or Reverent (I Timothy 38)

gtOne must take seriously his work before God,
and be able to be trusted
gtEvery Christian, but especially a
deacon should have reverence (i.e respect for
God and His will).
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• Holding The Mystery Of The Faith With A Pure
  Conscience (I Timothy 39)

gtA deacon must have a grasp on the faith and
be settled in the truth
gtA pure conscience suggests that he is living
upright and just in all of his dealings in
life.
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• Husband Of One Wife (I Timothy 312)

gtJust as with an elder, this qualification
means a one woman man
gtThis rules out appointing woman or unmarried
men
gtThe nature of his work requires that he is a
married man
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• Ruling His Children And House Well (I Tim.
  312)

gtA mans wife must be in subjection, and his
children obedient to him
gtIf a deacons house is out of order, it may
suggest the type of service he would give in
the house of God
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
POSITIVE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS

• First Be Proved (I Tim. 310)

gtA man must have a good reputation and be
capable of doing the work of a servant
gtDeacons are proved before they are appointed
by the congregation (is he a good example
humble faithful etc.)
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WORK OF A DEACON

• Deacons Are Servants

gtThe word of God pictures for us deacons as
servants, in helping those who would spread
the gospel (Acts 61-7)
gtIt is important that other parts of the body
are not hindered with some of the tedious tasks
that arise from time to timedeacons must serve
here
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WORK OF A DEACON

• Deacons Are Servants

gtThe elders of a local church should call on
the deacons in aid of the work that needs to be
accomplished in a congregation
gtDeacons are not deacons unless they are
active in service to the church.
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WIFE OF A DEACON IS (I Timothy 311)

• REVERENT

gtNot only must a wife respect her husband,
but also fear and respect God.
gtThis is the responsibility of any wife, but
should be found in a deacons family
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WIFE OF A DEACON IS (I Timothy 311)

• NOT A SLANDERER

gtHarsh words, backbiting, gossip etc. are not
godly qualities for anyone who claims to follow
the Lord
gtAll Christians, especially wives of those who
desire the office of a bishop or deacon must be
careful to maintain a pure life before God
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WIFE OF A DEACON IS (I Timothy 311)

• TEMPERATE

gtIt takes a great deal of self-control to
deal with some of the different
responsibilities in the church
gtBeing sober-minded is something every child
of God needs to avoid sin and be faithful to
God.
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
THE WIFE OF A DEACON IS (I Timothy 311)

• FAITHFUL IN ALL THINGS

gtBeing faithful in all things deals with the
home, marriage, to God etc.
gtIf a man who desires to be a deacon has an
unfaithful wife, it may hinder him in his
service to the church
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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
APPLICATION

• Let us look out among us and find men that will
  serve in the Lords kingdom
• If you have suggestions for some good qualified
  deacons write them down on the sheet provided
• Along with elders we need to desire to be
  completely organized and have deacons also

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
APPLICATION

• In the weeks to come we will be gathering
  qualified men for both elders and deacons
• The congregation has the responsibility to know
  and be able to say whether these men are
  qualified
• Let us all pray and ask God to help us in doing
  His will

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SCRIPTURAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONDEACONS Serving
In The Church
WILL YOU DO HIS WILL TODAY?

• HEAR John 1248
• BELIEVE John 824
• REPENT Luke 133, 5
• CONFESS Matthew 1032-33
• BAPTIZED Mark 1616
• FAITFHUL Matthew 2413