Servants in the Church
Acts 6:1-7
THE SETTING: The church is experiencing “growing pains”
THE PROBLEM: Pastors taking on secondary tasks
In other words, the pastors (apostles) needed to delegate acts of ministry to other people.
In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. (Acts 6:1 CSB)
PASTORS DEACONS
Leadership Task Management
Preaching Ministry Provision Ministry (Physical Needs)
Prayer Ministry Conflict Resolution (Putting Out Fires)
EXAMPLES OF THE CULTURAL PROBLEM:
Neglected and Overlooked Group Has Conflict with This Group
Hellenistic Jews - Greek-speaking Jews Hebraic Jews - Hebrew-speaking Jews
Hispanic Americans Anglo-Americans
Residents of Seligman Residents of Washburn
THE QUALIFICATIONS:
Qualifications in the Book of Acts (6:3,6) Qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13
Has a good reputation Mature (3:8)
Sensitive to and controlled by the Holy Spirit Doctrinally sound (3:9)
Wise Tested and proved to serve (3:10)
Willing to work Oversee a Godly home (3:11-12)
Culturally relevant to the task (6:6) Willing to work (3:13)
What about “deaconess”?
διάκονον - servant (diakonos) - the word is the same in all three uses in the New Testament
Romans 15:8 - Noun Accusative Male Singular
Romans 16:1 - Noun Accusative Female Singular
1 Thessalonians 3:2 - Noun Accusative Male Singular
Women can be servants in the church, but the Bible does not instruct (nor forbid) the church to appoint female deacons. However the Bible does instruct the church to appoint male deacons.
There are various forms of the word deacon and they mean “deacon,” “minister,” or “servant.”
THE SUMMARY STATEMENT OF GROWTH (Acts 6:7)
At every important stop on the church’s journey of growth in Acts, Dr. Luke shares a summary of the work. (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:12-16; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:31)
