REQUIREMENTS FOR DEACONS
1 Timothy 3:8-13
THERE ARE AS MANY VERSES LISTING THE REQUIREMENTS OF DEACONS AS THERE ARE FOR PASTOR.
A PASTOR MUST GO THROUGH AN INTENSE EXAMINATION, YET IN MANY CHURCHES DEACONS SLIDE ONTO THE BOARD UNCHECKED.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AT CALVARY.
There are many items in life which hold the power to be a blessing or curse.
FIRE Warmth, light Destruction
WATER Thirst, cleaing Flood, drowning
SPEED Fast travel Death
A deacon is like that.
ILLUS: Car, great transportation, but when giving trouble it can be a curse that quickly becomes your greatest expense!
Thank God for good deacons. To find out what constitutes a good deacon, we must start as we do for any other subject, at the source of all knowledge, the Bible.
TEXT:
1 Tim. 3:8-13 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; [9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. [10] And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. [11] Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. [12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
D Domestic Requirements (vs. 11,12)
A. Husband of one wife.
1 Tim. 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
FOR THE DEFINITION OF “ONE WIFE” SEE 1 TIM. 5:9. “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.”
B. Ruling their children well.
There comes a time when children are making their own decisions. This is not to be held against the deacon or the pastor. But when the children are at home, they must be under control.
C. Ruling their houses well.
1. Ruling His Finances
2. Ruling His Family
This includes seeing that the wives meet the requirements of verse 11.
1 Tim. 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
a. grave - honest, sincere.
b. not slanderers - Greek diabolos (accuser). The mouth of the wife must be under control. There are good men disqualified by talking wives.
c. sober - careful, prudent, circumspect. She cannot tell all she knows, and she should not ask to know everything.
d. faithful in all things - loyal, consistent, dependable.
E Earnest (vs. 8)
Not double-tongued.
The Deacon must be a man of one story.
He cannot be two-faced, changing his story with the crowd.
He must decide what is right, and stick to that in all places.
A Abstinent (vs. 8)
Not given to much wine.
C Content (vs. 8)
Not greedy of filthy lucre.
The Deacon is honest in all financial dealings.
He does not make decisions as a deacon based on what will benefit him.
There are times that a deacon must recuse himself from the discussion.
1 Tim. 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Tim. 6:9-11 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
O Orthodox (vs. 9)
“Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
A. Orthodox in the Word
“Holding the mystery of the faith”
He must hold forth the mystery of the faith (know, explain, and defend the main theological truths of the Bible). He is not necessarily a preacher, and he must not necessarily be apt to teach. Those are for the pastor. But he must know the core of the Scripture. And he may very well teach.
B. Orthodox in His Walk
“In a pure conscience.”
N Noble (vs. 8)
The deacons must be grave.
sem-nos'; from Greek 4576 (sebomai); venerable, i.e. honorable :- grave, honest.
He must be grave (held in high respect).
S Standard (vs. 10)
Let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
He must be tested and proven (his testimony within the church must be good).
A Standard prior to service.
A Standard in their service (for others to see and follow).
CONCLUSION:
As a final note here, consider the comments of J. Dwight Pentecost:
"The word ‘deacon' comes from a compound Greek word that means ‘to stir up the dust.' It presents the picture of one who is moving so rapidly through the dusty lanes of the villages of Palestine to discharge his duty that his feet kick up dust as he goes. There was so much for the deacons to do they could not loiter nor tarry. They went about their ministry with such diligence that they were stirring up the dust; thus those who were set apart to this ministry were called ‘those who stir up the dust' or deacons." (The Joy of Living, p. 114)
Mark 10:41-45 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. [42] But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. [43] But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: [44] And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. [45] For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Christ was Lord, yet lowered himself to become a servant (diakonos). Dare we, who are servants, exalt ourselves to become Lords over God’s ministers? There are warnings for those that exalt themselves.
ILLUS: Picture of Jesus in a locker room washing feet. Caption: “Life’s a game. He that finishes with the Dirtiest Towel Wins!”
1 Tim. 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
