A Church Full of Deacons Acts 6:1-6
If I were to ask what are the two offices in the church, what would you say?
The real answer is Pastor and Deacon. So many people in churches all over, including here at EBC don’t know who their deacons are.
Very few doctrines are as misunderstood in Baptist churches as the doctrine of the deacon.
If I were to ask you, what is a deacon and what are they supposed to do? I would probably get a multitude of answers.
There are some churches, however, where they fit the Biblical model.
Sadly in some churches Deacons are money and power hungry.
In some churches they are the bully crew. In some churches they are ladies, and in Wake Forest they are “Demons”!
Some would say that deacons form the ruling body of the church. My friend became the chairman of deacons and informed the pastor that from now on, all he needs to do is preach on Sundays. He said told the pastor; “the deacons will run the church” and in many churches that is very true!
There are a few churches where the deacons are the ‘pastor police’ and he answers to them or dances to their tune. The deacon board keep their thumb on him in all areas of ministry and in his personal life.
I know of churches where the deacons represent authority and discipline and if you get out of line you better watch out!
All of these scenarios are true but what does the Bible say about the role of deacons?
The term deacon, in general, it means servants. Now you might ask; “aren’t we all called to be servants?”
The answer is yes and this message is for the whole church.
Today I want to show you 3 levels of servants in the church.
The Greek word for servant comes from the root word; diakonos (—where we get the word deacon. The word did not originally signify an office, it was simply a word for servant.
And the 1st servant in the Bible we’ll
1. General Servants
The truth is that we’re all called to this.
Hundreds of Bible verses use the word diakonos, and translate it as servant, or in the context of a servant, not as we use the word deacon. Acts 6 uses the word more as a waiter.
The following verses all contain the word diakonos:
[John 2:5 NKJV] “His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do [it].’”
[John 12:2 NKJV] “There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.”
[Luke 4:39 NKJV] “So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”
You can see, these verses are about general servants, in the sense of cooks, butlers, and waiters.
But then, the word was broadened to include all kinds of service…for example:
[Rom 13:4 NKJV] “For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to [execute] wrath on him who practices evil.”
This is about law enforcement officers, and others in authority serving the public.
Let me show you what Jesus then did with the word diakonos:
[John 12:26 NKJV] “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him [My] Father will honor.”
He’s talking about general servants…and we all are deacons in that sense of the word, if we’ve been saved.
We at EBC are all deacons with a small “d”. We’re a church full of deacons!
Each and every believer in this room are deacons, not in the official sense, but in a general sense.
None of us have been saved to sit and I wouldn’t want you to get the idea that the deacons serve while everyone else watches because serving the Lord is not a spectator sport!
We’re all to be “general servants”!
Then there’s another category:
2. Gifted Servants:
[Rom 12:5-8 NKJV] “5 so we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, [let us use them]: if prophecy, [let us prophesy] in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, [let us use it] in [our] ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
It’s their spiritual gift.
They don’t have to be the leader, they love to serve, behind the scenes, no recognition required.
Here are some characteristics of a gifted servant:
1. They have an alertness to and awareness of practical needs.
They see what needs to be done, usually without even being told.
They see those dishes and just wash them.
They see the trash in the parking lot and pick it up (pull that weed) rather than complain about it.
2. They’re motivated to meet needs quickly…
They can’t stand delays or stand around talking about it, just get it done!
3. They work to meet needs with disregard for personal weariness.
4. They have a desire to complete a job once it is started.
When others want to leave on the work day, these say, “we’ll have it all done in just a few hours!”
So, there’s general servants = all of us
Then, there’s gifted servants = it’s their spiritual gift
Still the word diakonos, they are gifted deacons, but with a small “d”.
But, then there’s a 3rd group. These are some deacons with a capital “D”!
They actually hold the office of Deacon.
Now deacon group 1 is called to be servants.
Deacon group 2 is called to be servants at another level.
Group 3…tell me, has the meaning changed?…
Have they suddenly become the ruling body?
Has the meaning changed?
Do they run the church?
No, they’re still servants, but at the 3rd and highest level.
Why do we need a 3rd group when we’ve got these other 2?
Because this 3rd group is called to be the example to the other 2 groups!
These are called the…
3. Model Servants [call one up]
Our God is really big on the concept of being an example:
Parents teach children by example. Older women teach younger by example. Paul told Timothy to be an example to the flock. Here at EBC, we can win the lost by being an example of a changed life!
Someone once said that more things are caught than taught!
The capital “D” Deacons are the examples, the model servants to these other 2 groups!
That’s why the qualifications are so high. The qualifications for Deacon are almost the same as for Pastor.
The other day 3 deacons confided in each other.
1st-- Guys, I have a problem with gambling, and I need your prayers!
2nd-- I’ve been drinking some to forget my troubles, help me!
3rd--Confession is good for the soul. I must confess I have a serious problem with gossip, and I can’t wait to get out of here!
Capital “D” Deacons are to be the examples or the models, and any church member should be able to look at one of our deacons and say, oh, that’s how it’s supposed to be!
Think about something. If a deacon is a Sunday school teacher, he is obligated to be the “model” Sunday school teacher! Not necessarily in terms of talent, but character, and faithfulness, preparedness, attitude, spirit, enthusiasm, etc.!
If a Deacon is a choir member, the other choir members should look at them and say, so that’s how to be a good choir member!
Their family life should be an example to the other members of the body. Some may not realize that there are strict qualifications for a deacon’s family and for pastor’s too!
Deacons, there’s a charge for you in this message today…you are being called upon, not to be perfect, but to strive to be the model servants, models in every area of personal and practical life!
If you look at verse 7 you will see what happens...
[Acts 6:7 NKJV] “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
Our young couples ought to look at the Deacons along with their wives and be able to say, oh, so that’s how you have a marriage, so that’s how a man should treat his wife, that’s what it means to love your wife as Christ loved the church!
Our young ladies should be able to look at any Deacon’s wife and say, so, that’s what it means to submit to the authority of your husband, to follow his spiritual leadership!
Let me say this to our Deacon wives: your husbands are deacons because you let them be…and any time you decide to, you can disqualify him from being one!
The Bible says your husband isn’t qualified if he cannot run his own household.
So, the wives are to be examples to all the other ladies in the church.
An example of service…of submission…of faithfulness.
Here’s something to consider. Why should any of the ladies help in children’s ministries if a deacon’s wife won’t?
Why should any of the ladies serve in the nursery if a deacon’s wife won’t?
Why should any of the ladies attend the ladies’ meetings if the deacon’s wives don’t?
Our young men can look to Bob, Jim or Tommy and see an example of being a deacon servant.
I want each one here to understand just what an awesome responsibility the office of deacon is.
The Bible tells us to lay hands upon you, and pray for you.
This is not simply for show. It’s a Biblical practice going back to the very beginning.
Here’s how I want to close this service. I want our Deacons come to altar.
We’re asking God to do 3 things:
Fill you with wisdom. [Deu 34:9 NKJV] “Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him;…”
Fill you w/ Holy Spirit as never before. Acts 19:6… “when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them.”
Impart to you spiritual gifts for the ministry. [1Ti 4:14 NKJV] “Do not neglect the gift that is in you…”
The church is witness to this, so you need not bow your heads, but are free to watch and pray in your hearts.
