Qualities and Roles of Deacons in the Church

Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the attributes of deacons as outlined in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Deacons play a crucial role in the church, supporting pastors and serving the congregation. They are chosen from within the body, known for their good reputation, wisdom, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. These attributes are essential for maintaining unity and effective ministry within the church.

Paul's pastoral epistle to Timothy provides further guidance on the qualifications of deacons. It emphasizes the importance of interpreting scripture accurately, considering the original audience, and avoiding misinterpretation. We must be consistent and holistic in our approach to scripture, ensuring that we apply it correctly.

The attributes of a deacon include being worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, and holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These qualities should be evident in their present life, demonstrating a consistent and sincere faith. Additionally, deacons should be tested and proven over time, showing that they live out these attributes consistently.

The text also addresses the role of women, which can be interpreted as either deaconesses or the wives of deacons. Regardless of the interpretation, the emphasis is on the importance of godly character and support within the family. Deacons must manage their households well, being faithful to their spouses and raising their children in the ways of God.

The most controversial aspect is the requirement for a deacon to be the husband of one wife. This has often been interpreted as a prohibition against divorce, but a closer examination of the Greek text suggests it means being faithful to one's current spouse. This interpretation aligns with the overall message of grace, redemption, and forgiveness in the gospel.

Ultimately, the focus is on the present character and reputation of the deacon. A deacon's past should not automatically disqualify them if they have demonstrated a transformed life. The goal is to find men who are filled with the wisdom and spirit of God, capable of serving the church effectively and helping it grow.

### Key Takeaways

1. Attributes of a Deacon: Deacons must be of good reputation, filled with wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. These qualities ensure they can support pastors and serve the congregation effectively, maintaining unity and fostering growth within the church. [06:06]

2. Consistent and Holistic Interpretation: When interpreting scripture, it is crucial to be consistent and holistic, considering the original audience and avoiding misinterpretation. This approach helps us apply the text correctly and understand its true meaning. [08:58]

3. Present Character and Reputation: The qualifications for a deacon focus on their present character and reputation. They must be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, and hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These attributes should be evident in their current life. [11:53]

4. Role of Women: The text can be interpreted to include either deaconesses or the wives of deacons. Regardless of the interpretation, the emphasis is on godly character and support within the family. Deacons must manage their households well, being faithful to their spouses and raising their children in the ways of God. [18:26]

5. Faithfulness in Marriage: The requirement for a deacon to be the husband of one wife has often been interpreted as a prohibition against divorce. However, a closer examination of the Greek text suggests it means being faithful to one's current spouse. This interpretation aligns with the message of grace, redemption, and forgiveness in the gospel. [22:39]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[06:06] - Attributes of a Deacon
[07:42] - Paul's Guidance to Timothy
[08:58] - Consistent and Holistic Interpretation
[11:53] - Present Character and Reputation
[13:13] - Not Given to Much Wine
[14:30] - Not Greedy for Money
[15:51] - Holding the Mystery of the Faith
[17:05] - Tested and Proven
[18:26] - Role of Women
[20:01] - Faithfulness in Marriage
[22:39] - Controversy of Divorce
[24:16] - Consistency in Application
[25:39] - Present Life and Reputation
[27:57] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 6:1-7 - The selection and role of the first deacons.
2. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 - Qualifications for deacons.

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three core attributes of a deacon mentioned in Acts 6? ([06:06])
2. According to 1 Timothy 3:8-13, what are some specific qualifications for a deacon? ([10:20])
3. How does the sermon explain the requirement for a deacon to be "the husband of one wife"? ([22:39])
4. What role do women play in the context of deacons, as discussed in the sermon? ([18:26])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for deacons to have a good reputation, and how does this support the unity and growth of the church? ([06:06])
2. How does the sermon suggest we should interpret the phrase "not given to much wine" in the context of a deacon's qualifications? ([13:13])
3. What does it mean to hold "the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience," and why is this significant for deacons? ([15:51])
4. How does the sermon address the potential controversy surrounding the interpretation of "the husband of one wife"? ([22:39])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you need to improve your reputation or demonstrate more wisdom and the Holy Spirit's presence? How can you work on these areas this week? ([06:06])
2. How can you ensure that your interpretation of scripture is consistent and holistic, avoiding misinterpretation? What steps can you take to improve your scriptural understanding? ([08:58])
3. In what ways can you demonstrate the attributes of a deacon in your daily life, even if you are not in a formal church role? ([11:53])
4. How can you support the deacons and leaders in your church, ensuring they have the help they need to serve effectively? ([06:06])
5. If you are married, how can you and your spouse work together to support each other in your spiritual roles and responsibilities? ([18:26])
6. Consider the sermon’s interpretation of "the husband of one wife." How does this understanding of faithfulness and grace impact your view of leadership in the church? ([22:39])
7. Identify one specific way you can help foster unity and growth within your church community this week. How will you put this into action? ([27:57])

Devotional

### Day 1: Attributes of a Deacon
Deacons are essential to the church, supporting pastors and serving the congregation. They are chosen from within the body, known for their good reputation, wisdom, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. These attributes are crucial for maintaining unity and effective ministry within the church. Deacons must be of good reputation, filled with wisdom, and the Holy Spirit. These qualities ensure they can support pastors and serve the congregation effectively, maintaining unity and fostering growth within the church. [06:06]

Acts 6:3 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think about someone in your church who exemplifies the qualities of a deacon. How can you encourage or support them in their ministry this week?

### Day 2: Consistent and Holistic Interpretation
When interpreting scripture, it is crucial to be consistent and holistic, considering the original audience and avoiding misinterpretation. This approach helps us apply the text correctly and understand its true meaning. Paul's pastoral epistle to Timothy provides further guidance on the qualifications of deacons. It emphasizes the importance of interpreting scripture accurately, considering the original audience, and avoiding misinterpretation. We must be consistent and holistic in our approach to scripture, ensuring that we apply it correctly. [08:58]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent Bible passage you read. Did you consider the original audience and context? How can you improve your approach to scripture interpretation?

### Day 3: Present Character and Reputation
The qualifications for a deacon focus on their present character and reputation. They must be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, and hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These attributes should be evident in their current life. Deacons should be tested and proven over time, showing that they live out these attributes consistently. The focus is on the present character and reputation of the deacon. A deacon's past should not automatically disqualify them if they have demonstrated a transformed life. [11:53]

1 Timothy 3:10 (ESV): "And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless."

Reflection: Consider your own character and reputation. Are there areas where you need to grow or change to better reflect the qualities of a deacon?

### Day 4: Role of Women
The text can be interpreted to include either deaconesses or the wives of deacons. Regardless of the interpretation, the emphasis is on godly character and support within the family. Deacons must manage their households well, being faithful to their spouses and raising their children in the ways of God. The role of women, whether as deaconesses or the wives of deacons, is crucial in supporting the ministry and maintaining a godly household. Their character and support within the family are essential for the effective ministry of deacons. [18:26]

Romans 16:1-2 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you support the women in your church who are serving in various capacities? What practical steps can you take to encourage them this week?

### Day 5: Faithfulness in Marriage
The requirement for a deacon to be the husband of one wife has often been interpreted as a prohibition against divorce. However, a closer examination of the Greek text suggests it means being faithful to one's current spouse. This interpretation aligns with the message of grace, redemption, and forgiveness in the gospel. Ultimately, the focus is on the present character and reputation of the deacon. A deacon's past should not automatically disqualify them if they have demonstrated a transformed life. The goal is to find men who are filled with the wisdom and spirit of God, capable of serving the church effectively and helping it grow. [22:39]

Titus 1:6 (ESV): "If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination."

Reflection: Reflect on your own faithfulness in relationships. How can you demonstrate greater faithfulness and integrity in your current relationships, whether in marriage, family, or friendships?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We need to know and believe that God ordained his word and that the Holy Spirit knows what he is doing and he inspired the word. And that Paul also, as an intellectual scholar, himself, rightfully in his right mind, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the words that he used. So we can't make him change his words and we can't redefine his words and we can't know his intent. So we have to look at what it actually says." [10:20]( | | )

2. "We need to understand scripture can never say what it never said. And to its original audience. And you can't make scripture say something that doesn't say. These are like two basic good guiding rules for anything. You can't make scripture say something that didn't say to the original audience, nor can you make it say something that does not literally say, right? We have to understand what it really literally says." [08:58]( | | )

3. "We want to properly interpret, properly apply, no misinterpretation or misapplication. We want to properly educate, exegete it. We want to have a proper lexicon. We want to do a word study. What's it really mean? And we want to do cultural analysis. What's the cultural background? How does it apply? What did it say to the original audience? We do all those things and we're consistent, we're holistic, and we're properly interpreting and applying the text." [09:30]( | | )

4. "We need deacons, we need deacons to serve the congregation. They're servants of God. They're there to serve the pastor, support the pastor, serve the congregation, literally waiting on tables, and to bring unity. There's no doubt that's there. So the first opening thing of good reputation in Acts 6 is parallel, I think, to worthy of respect. So, you know, Paul's saying, hey, look, whoever you're going to choose as a deacon, they need to be worthy of respect." [10:20]( | | )

5. "We need to consistently apply all of them the same way. So this is not a principle. This is not a principle. This is not a principle. This is not a principle. This based on your whole life, but it's based on enough evidence that I have that I'm watching you. I'm observing you. I see you're not hypocritical. I can see you're worthy of my respect. I see that you're an honorable person. I see you're not getting drunk. I, you know, I know you're not giving too much wine in that cultural act. You're not, you're not into addictions and abuse and things like that. And you hold this mystery. You, you're not greedy for money and, and you hold the mystery of the gospel. You revere the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I see that in you. Those are all great things, man. And I see it in your present life." [15:51]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "So preached a couple weeks on deacons, selection, qualifications. So let's do a little backtrack. Acts chapter six, the foundation of deacons. There's a need. pastors, apostles, need to do the ministry of the word of God and prayers and leading and guiding and developing the church. They need people to come wait on tables, help support them, serve the body, keep unity, keep things going, right? The deacons are amazing. Are birthed right here. Seven good men are chosen of good reputation, filled with God's spirit, filled with God's wisdom. Those three things. So they're chosen from amongst them. So deacons come from within the body. They're trusted. They have that good reputation. They prove to have good decision-making in their lives. They're wise. And the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in them, that commitment to faith is there. We want to see those three things. Core attributes of a deacon." [06:06]( | | )

2. "So what am I looking for in a pastor? What am I looking for in a deacon? They're similar. If you look, they're similar. There's some differences, but they're similar. But likewise changes down in verse eight. And it says likewise, just like the pastor. Likewise, when you're looking at deacons, this is what I'm looking for. Now, we need to understand a few things here. One, in the Greek, in the Greek, there is no husband or wife. There's only male and female. So it's man or woman. So when we look at this text and we interpret it certain ways, translators or interpreters that are translating to a certain direction are making decisions on the Greek, saying in context, when it says man, it's husband, or in context, when it says woman, it's wife." [07:42]( | | )

3. "So when we look at these attributes of a deacon at 1 Timothy 3, 8 through 13, I think it's important to know, one, a deacon is an important position in the church, no doubt about it. We need deacons, we need deacons to serve the congregation. They're servants of God. They're there to serve the pastor, support the pastor, serve the congregation, literally waiting on tables, and to bring unity. There's no doubt that's there. So the first opening thing of good reputation in Acts 6 is parallel, I think, to worthy of respect. So, you know, Paul's saying, hey, look, whoever you're going to choose as a deacon, they need to be worthy of respect. And I would actually argue that every attribute that Timothy writes here should be in all of our lives, your life, my life, everybody's life, right? So any Christian should strive these attributes." [10:20]( | | )

4. "We must be consistent, must look present day life, must understand that Paul knew what he was doing. The Holy Spirit knew what he was doing, right? So scripture clearly holistically makes an argument that strong drink is wrong. You know, you shouldn't get drunk. So we have warnings, right? So if you're not supposed to be drunk, you're not supposed to be given to a lot of strong drink, you know, beer and wine and certain drinks were, were obviously available in biblical days and today. So now personally, and this is where I go personally, personally, not biblically, personally, then I'll get into biblical on this. Personally, I don't drink. I don't associate with that stuff. I understand the lifestyle that can come with that. I understand what it can be associated with. I understand also that there can be bad things that happen as a result of drinking, even if you aren't getting drunk. So I just, I don't have it in my life. I don't want it in my life. I don't want it in my life. And that's personal. Now, biblical, biblical, can't get drunk. Basically what it's saying is you can't be a drunkard. This does not give the church the right to say a deacon cannot drink. A deacon cannot have a beer in his fridge. A deacon can't have a wine bottle. A deacon can't go out to Olive Garden, just for example, and have a drink with his meal. It's inappropriate for us to cast that upon another man. And if we do that, we need to understand what we've done. We've added to the text. We've added something that's not there, that was not the intent of Paul or the Holy Spirit." [13:13]( | | )

5. "We must be consistent. We must be holistic. And we must properly interpret and apply the text. You can never make it say what it never said to its original audience, and you cannot make it say what it doesn't say. And so I think when we understand that, and we understand that, and we understand that, and we understand those things, it helps us have a greater understanding of this text. I'm not saying it doesn't come with controversy. I'm not saying that it's not a neat, it's not always easy to understand. But when we do the hard work, I think there's some legitimacy to this, that we need to make sure that we're looking at a deacon in their present tense life, how they're serving and how they're, are they found to that good reputation? Are they found filled with the wisdom of God? Are they found filled with the spirit of God? And as a result of that, God's building on that. Then they're worthy of respect. They're not hypocritical. You know, they hold the mystery of the faith, right? And they do so with a clear conscience. And then I would say that they're not greedy for money. They're not taking advantage of people. They're doing all the things that God wants them to do. And they're not, they're not drunkards. They're not, they don't have these abusive lifestyles, addictive stuff going on in their life. They're faithful to the Lord." [25:39]( | | )

Chatbot

Transcript

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