THE FIRST DEACONS
Acts 6:1-7
November 13, 2005
(The Ordination of Fred Thomson)
INTRODUCTION:
• Some long for the good ole’ days.
• They remember the warmth of the fire and forget the chopping of the wood.
• Some would love for us to get back to the early church.
• But ...
• Two of their number lied to the church and it resulted in their death under the direct judgment of God.
• In spite of our Lord’s last words, the church was slow to reach beyond their borders and beyond their race!
• Only after intense persecution did the disciples get busy about missions.
Apply: God can stir up our nest if we do not get busy about WORLD missions.
I. The Organization of Deacon Ministry (1-5)
A. THE NEED (1 - 2)
1. The Multitudes (1A)
Acts 6:1A And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2. The Murmuring (1B)
1B there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration
• The church suffered from great conflict.
• WITHIN the church there were murmurings.
• Especially among the Greek widows.
• They felt that the Hebrews were being taken care of and that they were neglected.
NOTE: Every pastor feels this keenly. As the church grows, it becomes difficult to shake every hand.
ILLUS: Dr. Sightler at Tabernacle Baptist said, “We have five exits from our church auditorium. I can’t be at all of them. So I will stand at the front. If you need to see me, then come up front.
• WITHOUT the church there was persecution.
• Therefore, the church had to circle the wagons and take care of its own.
3. The Ministry (2)
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason [NOTE: = fitting] that we should leave [NOTE: = abandon, forsake] the word of God, and serve tables.
• In an attempt to please everyone, the pastors were failing to please the Lord.
• Their Bible study and prayer were falling short!
• If a pastor neglected the Word for fishing, there would be an outcry.
• Yet a church can so set up their expectations for a pastor that they may force him to neglect the Word.
• So the apostles needed some help!
• It must be carefully noted that the deacons were to serve the Lord, under the direction of the pastor, to the people of the church.
• The idea that deacons serve as a check and balance on the pastor like the Democrats in congress blocking President Bush’s judicial appointments is completely foreign to the Scriptures.
NOTE: God’s plan could have been ruined if everyone still expected to see the apostles on the visit.
B. THE NUMBER (3A)
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men
• Here, 7 are chosen.
• There were approximately 5,000 souls in that church.
• But the distances between members would not have been as great.
• And it was in a more “neighborhood watch care” system than we have today.
• But there was intense persecution.
• Some could not get jobs.
• The church, through extraordinary measures, sold property and possessions to supply the need.
• What should the number be today?
• Hiscox, an authority on operating of Baptist churches, recommends 1deacon per 25 to 50 persons.
• Others recommend one deacon per 20 families.
• There is really little difference between those two positions.
• Calvary uses 1 deacon per 20 households.
• There Jerusalem church used 7 for 5,000.
• That would be one per 714 members!
• In light of that, I believe that our ratio is sufficient.
NOTE: Obviously, the Jerusalem church was made up of hearty, self-sufficient people that didn’t ask the deacons to come trim their toenails!
NOTE: The number of deacons is not only to be determined by the number of the membership, but also by the number of qualified men. How foolish to think that we would please God by having 7 deacons, if we had to put men into the fellowship of deacons who were unqualified or unwilling to serve as they should. We must have some COMMON SENSE.
NOTE: It may be asked, “How long should a deacon serve?” The Bible is silent. I like a rotating system, the give others a chance to bring fresh minds and legs into the process. Also, in that time off the board, you will see the true character of a deacon. Does he consider the time off as “free time” to loaf and vacation and ignore the church. Does he, who expected the congregation to follow him, now criticize and stir up trouble for the new deacons. Truly, you can learn much.
C. THE NOMINATION (3-5)
1. The Request of the Apostles (3-4)
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
• The Apostles thought over the problem.
• That is very typical for a pastor.
• It is one of the reasons why churches do better with a full-time pastor.
• If the part-time pastor is hurried and distracted by matters unrelated to the church, then there is no time to think it over.
• After thinking, they look over the things that they are doing, and they prepare to delegate.
• A church conference is called, and the idea is presented.
• Let’s choose good, spirit filled men that can take over some of our tasks.
QUOTE: The carnal church member wants to take over the authority of the pastor but not his activity. The spirit-filled believer honors the authority of the pastor while helping with his activities!
• We see no vote or discussing of the matter, just a church getting busy.
• The Apostles give the order that those chosen must be:
1) honest
2) Spiritual
3) wise.
• It takes a wise man full of the Holy Ghost to deal with grumbling members!
2. The Research of the Assembly (5)
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
• No doubt research had to be done.
• The qualities that would allow a man to serve, will be the qualities that make him and excellent servant.
• The Apostles had told them the QUANTITY of the servants. (7)
• And they told them the QUALITIES of the new servants.
NOTE: Some pastors are so scared of deacons that they do not have them. That is sad. Churches nominate deacons by one of four ways:
1) The Pastor puts his choice up for a vote.
• The benefit is that the pastor and deacons will work together.
• The downside is that it can leave little voice for the people.
2) The Deacons put up their choice for a vote.
• The benefit is that the deacons know what it takes to serve and will pick a man accordingly.
• The downside is that the fellowship of deacons will tend to be a self-perpetuating entity.
3) The Congregation selects a list of men to put up for a vote, and then the congregation chooses from that list.
• The benefit is that the congregation has a strong voice in the process.
• The danger is that the congregation may be unaware of reasons that some men may not be qualified and it can seriously embarrass or even hurt those men who must be removed from the list.
4) The nominating committee. (The way it has always been done here at CBC)
• The nominating committee is approved by the deacons and the church.
• Their recommendation is then approved by the deacons and the church.
• I think Calvary is wise in their way of choosing deacons.
• Everyone is involved.
II. The Ordination of the Deacons for Ministry (6)
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
A. When?
• After they are elected.
ILLUS: It would be just as silly to baptize the entire neighborhood just in case some get saved, as it would be to ordain a man in the hopes that he might one day be elected.
• Some point out that this is the book of Acts, not the Epistles.
• Yes, but it is the only example in all the Bible.
• In Acts 13, we find the only example of a ministerial ordination.
• And the pattern is their the same.
• And one of the men ordained, was the writer of the Epistles.
• And that writer never corrected this pattern!
• Never once in all of his writings did he look back and say, that was wrong.
• By the way, the same is true for Baptism.
• Only in Acts, not in the Epistles, do we find the order of Baptism.
• The strongest refutation of infant baptism is the example of the early church in Acts!
B. Who?
• Today, deacons generally ordain deacons.
• But there were no deacons to ordain these deacons because these deacons were the first deacons.
• The chosen 7 are set before the Apostles and they ordain them.
• Perhaps the pastor of the church and those ordained as deacons within that church should serve in the capacity of laying on hands.
C. Why?
• There is no special grace imparted.
• One commentator has correctly observed that there is nothing in the church that an ordained deacon can do that could not be also done by a godly layman.
1. Identification - It is a commitment to pray for and support the one you touch.
Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
2. Illustration - It is an earthly and outward picture of the fact that God has laid his hand of blessing upon this servant. It is also a picture of “passing the torch”
Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
III. The Outcome of the Deacon Ministry (2B,4,7)
A. The Priority of the Ministers (2B, 4)
2B It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
ILLUS: In our church, John does some painting and Brian puts up lights. You don’t want me to do that, for two reasons. 1) I don’t have a clue of how to do electrical work, etc. 2) You don’t want the church to be bright and the sermons to be dull!
• Pastors are called to leave their secular work and give their time to the church.
• Deacons are called to remain in their secular vocations and then help with the work of the church.
• We do not want men that are jacks of all trades and masters of none.
• We want men who strive for the “mastery.”
B. The Provision for the Multitudes (5)
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude
• The needs were met.
• The perception problem was fixed.
• We see that all the names of these first deacons are Greek names.
• Harmony returned.
• Jews and Gentiles loved one another again!
QUOTE: If the devil cannot destroy by attacks from without, he will seek to overthrow by dissension within. This is illustrated in these verses. (Believer's Bible Commentary)
C. The Progress of the Ministry (7)
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
• Not only were more numbers reached.
• But more significant people were reached.
• You are not going to reach a college professor with a gospel tract.
• It takes time!
• And the church must see that it’s leaders have that time.
CONCLUSION:
• There have been horror stories of deacons.
• I have seen true, living, modern examples of Diotrephes.
• But that has not been the experience in the churches where I have been.
• My experience with deacons is a positive one.
• I do not cringe at the word deacon.
• I thank God for the privilege of having been one of the 30 deacons at Tabernacle and one of the 16 at Oakwood.
• I thank God for the deacons that I found in place when I came to Calvary.
• They were, and remain, my friends, and we accomplished much together.
• I thank God for our current deacons.
• They too have accomplished much.
• I respect their voluntary service to the church.
HUMOR: Deacon’s kid to preacher’s kid: Your daddy gets paid to be good. My daddy is good for nothing!
• And I thank God for the deacon we add tonight!
NOTE: At this point have Robert Moody, our chairman, to give the report of the deacon’s recommendation to ordain Mr. Fred Thomson.
