Deacon Ordination Service
Introduction
Today, we have gathered to honor our Deacon candidates and to officially set them aside for the work of the ministry that they are called into. It is my pleasure to present to you Bo Doss, Chris Davis, Billy Wesson, and Mickie Conway for the office of Deacon, and today’s service is to set them aside. (Pray)
Role of a Deacon to the Church
Being a Deacon means that these men enter the leadership of our church, and I would like to pass onto them three responsibilities that are expected of Deacons.
First, deacons are to be care-takers (1 Peter 5:1-4)
1 Peter 5:1-4 says "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers; not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."
Deacons are caretakers in the church, as God has ordained it. Although they are not the pastor, they are responsible for the membership and the care of those who attend our church. As a deacon, men, you will be expected to care for the members here, not only on Sunday and Wednesday but on all days.
When you care for someone, you are demonstrating the life of Jesus Christ. Your being available for them is paramount; and they need to see that in your life. Each human being is simply looking for someone to show us compassion and love, and most importantly commitment; and as a faithful man you have taken that step this morning to say even without words, "I am here, and I am available to you."
I would ask that the wives of our Deacons remember this as well. It is a tough road to travel in the ministry; and your husband will need your support and understanding in order to be successful. Be there to lift them up; to pray for them; and to be a sounding board so they can be care-takers of our church. A man ought to have a wife he can trust and he can talk too (without rumors being started), and today I challenge you as well to accept that role; to embrace it; and to excel in it.
Second, deacons are to prayer warriors (James 5:14-16).
James 5:14 says "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord."
Since the beginning of the Church, elders have had to meet specific qualifications in order to serve. They have lived their lives upright and godly and therefore the sin in their lives is confessed regularly; so that they (YOU) are clean before the Lord and able to pray for the sick.
James continues in chapter 5 (vv. 15-16) and says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
NIV v16 says: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
In order to have your prayers be effective, you need to be clean before the Lord; and that amplifies having a right relationship with Him. No one should ever say that they are sinless (for that is impossible), but if your sins are confessed to the Lord, it means your relationship with Him will be upright, and so you can pray for others effectively.
The key to a strong ministry is prayer -- NEVER allow your prayer life to suffer for anything that may come your way. Let me ask: Is your ministry suffering? I challenge you today to examine your prayer life – for that is normally where the deficiency is.
Lastly, deacons are to set the example (1 Tim 3:8-10).
1 Tim 3:8-10 says, "Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons."
Deacons are different than a Pastor, they are not above a pastor but they are also responsible for the condition of the flock.
Deacons are leaders by setting the example in the church – you men have been tested, but you must understand that you will continue to be tested; remain faithful to the Lord and He will continue to lift you up and sustain you.
Men, Deacons are followers by setting living the life of Jesus Christ. If you live your lives to be a care-taker, a prayer warrior, and set the example then God will be able to use you in a mighty way.
Transition: Today is a service FOR these men, but as a church we have a responsibility to them. I ask you to pay close attention to your responsibility to these men, for we each have a portion to God in this area.
Role of the Church to the Deacon
There are three areas the church needs to respond to in the matter of its deacons.
1) First way to respond: Demonstrate the Servant-model
Deacons are expected to model servant-hood; but the church is also expected to model this very concept back to them. Being a servant means that you put others before yourself; and Deacons need this same type of support and accountability from the church. The bible says as “iron sharpens iron so one man strengthens another”; and the church must help sharpen these men and they will do the same to you.
These men will be unable to function without your help in this area, so be a servant to them as well. How do you do this? Follow the example of Jesus Christ and PRAY for them and lift them up constantly! Show them mercy and support when they are faced with Godly decisions, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as well.
2) Second way to respond: Submission
Paul writes in Hebrews 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Church, these men are being set aside by you, to perform the work that God has called them into, and God has ordained it to be this way. Entering into church leadership is considered a “good thing”. Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:1, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.”
The church’s responsibility is to fall in line with these men because that is what God has called you to do. To do anything less (breed gossip about them, question their motives to others, or speak badly about them to the congregation) is not Godly behavior! You must control your tongue in all things (James 3); we as a church must control the fleshly desire to lash out – if we do not we run the risk of acting in total opposition to God. Believe me in this area church, the Lord knows the way we should go; and if we disobey in this manner we are rebelling against the one who set the authority in place (and it isn’t us)!
3) Third way to respond: Respect
Men of God are worthy of being respected, however they do not just wake up one morning “arrived” at where God needs them to be. It is a life-long journey – but the fastest way to destroy a man of God is to not respect him.
God has ordained that a man is to be set aside to be the spiritual lead (Genesis 2, Ephesians 5, etc.) and this is non-negotiable. These men will require your respect as well as your submission and service to the church; and I challenge you to live up to these standards ordained by the Lord, not by any church organization.
Church – you must pray for these men, lift them up constantly – and in so you will be submitting and respecting them as they follow the Lord. Look at it this way: If they are following the Lord, and you are following them, won’t you be following after God in an act of submissive leadership?
Transition: Men, today is the day your God has Ordained for you – step up and into the role of a Deacon, for it is a life-long service that men of God are called into; and worthy of honor.
Paul says it is a NOBLE thing to desire leadership in a church, and let today be the spark that ignites your willingness to lead in this area.
Bro Ron, will you please come and charge the Candidates?
Challenge to the Deacons by Bro Ron
Call Candidates forward / Laying on of Hands
