A Call To Serve

"Oh, for heaven’s sake," snapped Mrs. Peterson. "A lot of good it does you to go to church."

The deaconesses are particularly being warned to not be gossips.

Interestingly, the word that is used for slandering is diabolos, which means “accuser,” the same title for the devil.

This is why we should be careful with what we say.

We are not to be wreckers of reputation because we have uncontrolled tongues.

It is essentially evil.

So those who would serve in such roles need to have a deliberate control of their tongue.

APPLICATION:

So how does this apply to us today?

First…

1. We fulfill the ministry of “deaconing” when we serve.

Deacons and deaconesses “deek” when they care.

But the ministry of caring is not just for those that have he office.

We all can and should do it, regardless of what our role is.

ILL Care: Patch Adams

"Patch Adams": Christlike Caring

Patch Adams is a movie based on the true story of a medical student who discovers the healing qualities of humor while treating patients. Hunter "Patch" Adams (played by comedian Robin Williams) is frustrated by school policies that encourage an impersonal approach to practicing medicine.

Borrowing a white lab coat, Patch disguises himself in a group of third-year students making rounds. The teaching physician impersonally describes the symptoms and diagnoses of each patient.

As the teacher approaches a young woman with open sores on her feet and legs, he says, "Here we have a juvenile onset diabetic with poor circulation and diabetic ulcers with lympadema and evidence of gangrene. Questions?"

A student asks, "Any osteomylitis?"

"None apparent, although not definitive."

Another student inquires as to the appropriate treatment.

"To stabilize the blood sugar. Consider antibiotics and perhaps amputation," he answers.

The patient cringes when she hears the frightening words offered by a doctor who has not yet even acknowledged her presence. From the back of the room, Patch’s voice is heard.

"What’s her name? I was just wondering the patient’s name."

Caught off guard, the physician struggles to find a name on the chart before announcing, "Marjorie."

As the class moves out of the room toward the next patient, Patch lingers at the bedside of this woman and reaches out to touch her shoulder as he calls her by name.

Patch Adams proves we need to be cared for and loved.

With that in mind, let us realize that…

2. We need the ministry of the deacons to keep peace.

They meet the needs of people that might go otherwise unnoticed or uncared for.

They are needed.

They fill the gaps.

They do this, because…

3. Pastoral priorities are the Word and prayer.

I believe the responsibilities of the apostles have transferred to the elders and pastors.

I will speak more of this over the next two weeks.

But suffice it to say, deacons and deaconesses take the pressure off the pastors so that they can attend to their calling and ministry – the Word and prayer.

When we come to our own situation here at Randall, we discover that…

4. Randall’s deacons are a hybrid – a cross between the function of deacon and elder.