INTRO>John Seamands tells the story of a German soldier who was wounded and ordered to go to a military hospital for treatment. When he arrived, he saw two doors. One was marked, “For the slightly wounded,” and the other was labeled, “For the seriously wounded.” He entered through the first door and found himself going down a long hall. At the end of the hall were two more doors, one marked, “For officers,” and the other marked, “For non-officers.” He entered through the second door and found himself going down another long hall. At the end were two more doors, one marked, “For party members,” and the other, “For non-party members.” He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out in the street. When he returned home, his mother asked him, “How did you get along at the hospital?” He explained, “Well, mom, to tell the truth, the people there didn’t do anything for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!”
In a similar way, there is what is called the Gadarene Swine Law: “Merely because the group is in formation doesn’t mean the group is on the right course.”
Have you ever wondered why churches are organized, structured the way they are...what the leaders are supposed to do?
That’s what we can learn from today’s text.
Let’s open a Bible and turn again to Acts, chapter six.
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Today is the final message in the series, “Mission Possible,” as we’ve looked at the beginning of the church.
We’ve seen in “Jumping For Joy” how we need to be accessible to others and available for the Lord to work through us in impacting lives.
In “Reaching For Victory” we focused on our true message.
In “Keeping On Keeping On” we saw how we need to expect persecution, but are never to stop proclaiming the Gospel.
In “Shock and Awe” we saw how easy it can be to get off-centered, focusing on ourselves rather than trusting God’s awesome power.
And in “Out and About” we saw how God’s power is greater than prison walls, and serving Him comes with the “privilege” of suffering.
Today, in “Table Waiting 101” we’re going to look at how the 21st century church has been called to continue the mission to a much different world than the 1st century, but how we get our instructions from Scripture that was inspired by God and written in the 1st century.
Someone has defined efficiency as “doing things right” and effectiveness as “doing the right things.”
<>In its simplest form, churches are to be organized so they do the right things in the right way.
---ILL>When I first came to Phoenix, I came to serve as the Director of Student Ministry at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. My specific job description was to oversee every ministry within the church to students from the 7th grade through college. The church had 23,000 members, and about 4,000 of those were teenagers or college students on the Bible Study rolls. Within the student ministry itself my job was to give leadership to and oversee the work of 200 adult workers, 4 paid youth workers, and 2 secretaries. The church had 22 full-time ordained ministers and 18 full-time administrative assistants, as well as 34 full-time office helpers who served as accountants, clerks, receptionists, custodians, food service helpers, etc., and a 6-person t.v. production staff.
Needless to say, that was a very unusual organization, an unusual kind of church structure.
->Most churches have a pastor, and, if they have a second paid staff member, he or she is usually a worship leader or combination of worship and youth leader, or singles minister, education minister, mission pastor, etc.
->Some might ask, “What’s the right organization? How should a church be structured?”
---How many staff members should a church have?
---How should the volunteers be organized?
<>A correct understanding flows out of the Biblical instruction of the role of deacons, seen here and in 1 Timothy.
<>Understand, before we look at the Biblical officers, that every believer is an important part of the church accomplishing its mission.
---ILL>During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which would be held in Picadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then went on the defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaff from the sky. Last of all would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miners’ caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, “and where were you doing the critical days of our struggle?” And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, “We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.”
->Not all jobs in the church are prominent, but the people with their “faces to the coal” help the church accomplish its mission.
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---ILL>Someone has noted that while there are only two Biblically supported officers in the church, there are always 4 bones in every organization:
----Wishbones: they’re always wishing somebody would do something about the problem.
----Jawbones: these folks do most of the talking, but very little else.
----Knucklebones: those who knock everything.
----Backbones: those who carry out the brunt of the load and do most of the work.
<>THERE ARE TWO BIBLICAL "OFFICERS" WITHIN THE CHURCH, as described in 1 Timothy 3....
-1) Pastor.
--Also described as “bishop,” or “overseer,” and referred to in Scripture as pastor-teacher.
--His primary roles:
---a) Shepherd -- to “shepherd” or “guide” the flock...to provide the over-view, “oversee” the direction of the church.
---b) Teacher -- to teach/preach the word of God...to instruct and oversee the discipling of believers.
2) Deacon.
--The Greek word is “diakonos,” which means table waiter.
--A synonym is “doulous,” meaning a servant, one who serves the wishes of another.
<>THE REASONS...Why deacons came into existence in the early church...
--Ac.6:1 -- ”Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”
-a) To assist in maintaining fellowship within the family.
--Ac.6:1 -- ”...while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”
--Apparently, without any deliberate attempt to slight the Greek-speaking widows within the church, the distribution of the food and other commodities the church assembled with the sales of property by wealthy church members/donors had been “less than even”...it seems there was a disproportionate share going to the Hebrew-speaking widows.
--If left unattended, there was potentially a bigger problem: disrupted fellowship within the church.
-b) To accomplish the work of the ministry.
--Ac.6:2 -- ”and 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.’”
--The primary ministries of the early church:
---1) Providing food, assisting with meeting the basic needs of the unemployed, abandoned.
-----Ac.4:34-35 -- ”For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need.”
-----This was a continuing ministry of the church in taking care of widows and orphans.
---2) Teaching basic doctrine.
----Ac.6:4 -- ”But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
----Interpreting Jesus’ statements and commands...making practical applications of these truths in the early church.
----Interpreting how the Old Testament Law “meshes” with the New Testament concepts of grace, mercy, and the Lordship of Christ.
-->So, the apostles decided it was time to expand the organization...have a group of leaders carry out the food distribution whey they, the apostles, led in the teaching ministry.
-->Notice: There was no such things as Youth Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry or Women’s Ministry, etc.
-->However, as the ministry of the church has expanded over the years and has focused on reaching people within cultures beyond Judaism, ministering to people in different time periods, etc., additional ministries and additional needs for organizing to effectively carry out those ministries have developed.
-->So, it is in this way that Associate Pastors, Business Administrators, Ministers of Education, Youth Ministers, Children’s workers, Singles Pastors, Bus Ministers, Activities Directors, Worship Leaders, etc., are now valid positions of leadership because they are serving to expand the ministry, to extend the “shepherding” function of the Pastor, thereby making the church better able, more efficient in accomplishing the work of the ministry.
<>THE ROLES...What Deacons are to do...What their function is within the church...
--Ac.6:3 -- ”But select from among you, brethren, seven men...whom we may put in charge of this (serving tables) task.”
-->There are many wrong ideas churches have adopted as to the role and requirements of deacons.
----They’re not to be the “board” that everything has to go through and receive approval from.
----They’re not to be “exalted” or put in a place where they usurp the role of pastor / overseer.
----They’re not to decide what the pastor can and can’t preach, what’s to happen in worship services, or who else is to serve in various ministries.
-a) They’re to serve as an aide, a helper, in accomplishing the work of the church.
--This is where churches are right in adding staff members to “extend” the shepherding function of the pastor.
--This is also why every staff member needs to understand his / her role: extending the ministry of the pastor.
-b) They’re to serve in maintaining harmony within the fellowship.
--This is where the requirement we’ll discuss momentarily of being “wise” is so important.
-c) They’re to serve in ministering to people in the congregation with needs.
--This is where many churches have instituted a “widows” ministry within the deacon body.
-d) They’re to serve in keeping the pastor “informed” as to specific needs of members and families within the church.
--This is where many churches have instituted a Deacon Family Ministry plan.
<>THE REQUIREMENTS...Who can and should serve as deacons...
--Ac.6:3 -- ”...men from among you,...of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”
-a) Men only?
--Ac.6:3-- ”Select seven men...”
--There has been much discussion about this requirement in the 20th and 21st century as to whether it should only be men.
Clearly the first deacons were men...and they were required to be married men (1Tim.3 -- “husband of one wife”)
--The views:
---1) Some hold the belief that only men should serve as deacons because of the clear Biblical requirement stating “men”
---2) Some believe women fit into this picture by assisting their deacon husbands...since the man must be married to serve as a deacon
---3) Some believe women are also allowed to serve as deacons because the idea of the 21st church’s “expanded ministry” function where women are now fully-functioning members of society, not as was the case in first century.
--My view: In extending the ministry of the pastor, women play an important role today.
----However, when it comes to BEING the pastor, that’s stretching things beyond God’s plan...so the requirement would still remain that the pastoral role is reserved for men only.
-b) Already known, proven.
--Ac.6:3 -- ”Select from among you...”
--1Tim.3:10 -- ”And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons...”
--Leadership is not merely something that comes with a position, follow-ship must be “earned” over time.
-c) Good reputation.
--Ac.6:3 -- ”...men of good reputation...”
--1Tim.3:8 -- ”Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain.”
--1Tim.3:10 -- ”...let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”
--They need to have a good reputation among other church members, an earned follow-ship.
--They also need to have a good reputation in the community.
--They need to be genuine, a Monday morning believer, a Thursday evening believer, not just a Sunday morning believer.
-d) Full of the Spirit.
--Ac.6:3 -- ”...full of the Spirit...”
--1Tim.3:9 -- ”...holding to the mystery of the faith...”
--This is the most important requirement of all: because it’s actually God’s ministry they’ll be serving in.
--They need to be exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit...love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self-control, patience.
-e) Wise.
--Ac.6:3 -- ”...full...of wisdom...”
--They’re going to be working with people, and wisdom is essential to promote fellowship rather than resulting in hurting people.
--One of the reasons leaders are needed is because leaders need to be able to “make the tough decisions”...and many times make those decisions quickly.
-f) Reliable.
--Ac.6:3 -- ”...whom we may put in charge of this task.”
--1Tim.3:12 -- ”...good managers of their children and their own households”
--Before the pastor can feel safe in delegating the task, this deacon needs to be trustworthy, dependable, reliable.
<>THE RESULTS...When the deacons were effective in their ministry, what happened?...
--Ac.6:7 -- ”...the word of God kept on spreading and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly...and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”
-a) The message of the good news was being heard by more and more people.
--Ac.6:7 -- ”And the word of God kept on spreading...”
--With the apostles now freed to spend more of their time in study and teaching, the word of God kept on spreading.
-b) Lives were being changed, folks were being saved.
--Ac.6:7 -- ”and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem...”
--It means the work of these early deacons achieved the purpose of helping accomplish the work of the ministry.
-c) Even skeptics were being converted.
--Ac.6:7 -- ”...and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”
--The continuing cycle of the first church shows itself again: they encountered a problem, they worked through the problem, then the ministry grew again.
--With everyone serving and expanding the number of folks involved in serving, the number of people they reached grew.
--And, their love and fervency resulted in a number of doubters being won over to the faith.
BRINGING IT HOME...
Today has primarily been a message for believers.
-DSCC, we need to be ready to expand, and be knowledgeable as to how and why.
--So, believers, let me ask you some questions:
---a) Are you a person who is full of the Spirit?
---b) Are you reliable?
---c) Are you wise, by allowing the Lord to instruct you and lead you?
If you’ve not yet received Jesus as personal Lord, I want you to know that churches’ organizations may differ, but the message is the same:
-->God loves you, God wants to forgive you, and to bring you joy.
