The First Deacons
July 13, 1997 Coy Wylie
The Role of Deacons
The First Deacons
Acts 6:1-7.
1. In a few weeks our church will select, ordain and install some men in our deacon body.
As we shall learn from this passage, deacons are a vital asset to any church. As your pastor,
I don’t want you to take this process lightly. We need to carefully and prayerfully consider
who should take this important office. Therefore, we need some teaching from Scripture
about the role of deacons in the local church.
2. Church tradition, especially Baptist church tradition gives much authority to the office of
deacon that is not found anywhere in the pages of Scripture. Therefore, as we begin this
introductory message on the role of deacons, we need to begin by learning what deacons are
not:
A. Deacons do not have the responsibility of policing the pastors. No where
in the Bible are they to oversee the overseer and undershepherd of the church.
Unfortunately, many deacons have seen themselves in this role. The pastor
answers to Christ and to the congregation.
B. Deacons are not the ruling body of the church. In the N.T. the churches
usually had a plurality of elders, God-called pastors who gave spiritual
leadership to the church. The deacons served and ministered to the physical
needs.
C. Deacons are not the defenders of church tradition. In many churches, the
deacons are the guardians of the past. They become "turf shepherds" and their
most common expression is "We’ve never done it that way before."
D. Deacons are not the old men of the church. Over the years many churches
have decided that only older men could attain the office of deacon. The Bible
places no specific age requirement.
E. Deacons are the controllers of the church’s finances. There is no mention
in the N.T. of deacons controlling money. The only possible reference is that
they may have controlled benevolence funds to help widows.
F. Deacons do not have the final say-so on church decisions. Every N.T.
church is autonomous under Christ. Though deacons have a special role, they
have no more power or authority in the decision-making process than any
other member.
3. Since we have discussed what deacons are not, it is important that we also consider what
deacons are or at least what they should be. Let’s examine four roles of deacons in the
church.
G. Deacons are SERVANTS. The word "deacon" comes from the Greek term
diakonos, which originally referred to a waiter, an attendant, one who ran
errands or other menial duties. The early church used this work to describe a
special servant commissioned by God to serve the church. The English word
"deacon" only appears 5 time in the NKJV. It does not appear in our text.
However, diakoneo the verb form is found in the phrase "serve tables" in v.6.
H. Deacons are ADVISORS. Because of the strict qualifications for deacons,
both here and especially in 1 Tim.3, deacons must be godly, spirit-filled men.
Therefore, they are often important advisors to pastors and congregations.
I. Deacons are EXAMPLES. According to 1 Tim.3:10, deacons are to be
"found blameless." They are to have such character, dedication and integrity
that others in the church can look to them as examples and role models.
J. Deacons are LEADERS. Because of the very nature of their calling and
work, deacons are to lead out in the church. As pastors lead by equipping the
church spiritually, deacons lead by equipping the church physically.
4. From this passage dealing with the calling of the very first deacons, let’s examine four
aspects of the ministry of deacons.
I. The NEED for Deacons (vv.1-2, 4).
A. Deacons were needed because the Church was Growing.
1. v.1 say "in those days" that "the number of the disciples
was multiplying." They were experiencing rapid church
growth. 2:47 says "the Lord added to the church daily those
who were being saved."
2. As the church grew, so did the problems. There were more
people to be taught, more people to be helped, more people to
be visited, more people to be fed. The infrastructure of the
church needed change.
3. Our church has the same problem, as we reach more people,
add more people and minister to more people, we need more
leaders to help meet those needs. You can’t minister to 100 the
way you did to 50. You can’t minister to 200 the way you did to
100. We can’t minister to 300 the way we do to 200!
4. We need more deacons to help us facilitate more growth!
B. Deacons were needed because the Church was Dividing.
1. There was a "complaint" raised "against the Hebrews
[Jewish believers] by the Hellenists [Greek believers] because
their widows were neglected in the daily distribution."
2. In other words, the Greeks felt the Jews were giving them the
shaft. If it weren’t for the wisdom of the apostles, this could
have been grounds for the very first church split. Deacons
helped solve this problem.
3. By all standards, our church is a very unified church. We
have a oneness of spirit that is unrivaled anywhere. However,
adding more deacons will enable us to minister more equally to
all our people and help prevent hurt feelings and strife, which
causes division.
C. Deacons were needed because the Pastors knew their Priorities.
1. In v.2, "the twelve," the apostles or pastors of the early
church said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the
word of God and serve tables." Rather, they said in v.4, "We
will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry
of the word."
2. The pastors knew their place. They knew that they had been
called, gifted and commissioned by God for a special ministry,
namely "prayer" and the "ministry of the word," the study
and preaching of the Bible. If they spent all their time caring
for the widows, they would be unfaithful to their calling. They
knew their priorities. If the widows needed help, then let the
church set aside other men to serve them.
3. One of the most difficult areas in leading a growing church is
the pastor and staff sticking to their priorities. One man can
only personally minister to so many people. That’s why we
need more deacons.
II. The SELECTION of Deacons (vv.3,5).
A. The Apostle’s Qualifications for Deacons (v.3).
1. The first deacons were BELIEVERS. The apostles told the
church to "seek out from among you..." Obviously they were
not to look for deacons outside the church, but inside the
church. The most basic qualification for the office is salvation,
a genuine relationship with Christ. More than one church has
been wounded because they ordained deacons who had no
personal relationship with Jesus.
2. The first deacons were REPUTABLE. They were men "of
good reputation." They were men of integrity, trustworthy
men. Both inside and outside the church, they were highly
esteemed. Our deacons must be men that can be trusted, faithful
men who have proven themselves.
3. The first deacons were SPIRIT-FILLED. Without going into
great detail here, we know that to be "full of the Holy Spirit"
means to be surrendered to or controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Like the early church, we need deacons who will as Gal.5:16
says, "Walk in the Spirit..." and "not fulfill the lust of the
flesh."
4. The first deacons were WISE. They were not only to be "full
of the Holy Spirit" but also "full of... wisdom." Wisdom is the
ability to see a situation from God’s point of view. We need
deacons who will not act impulsively, but will use godly
wisdom in ministry and decision-making.
5. The first deacons were CAPABLE. Note that the church
would "appoint [them] over this business" of taking care of
the widows. They were men who could handle this situation.
We also need capable deacons in whom we can trust the
responsibility of ministry.
B. The Church’s Approval of Deacons (v.5).
1. The church was "pleased" with this plan. It just made sense.
The "whole multitude" could say "Amen." We need that for
our new deacons.
2. They unanimously, autonomously selected the first deacons.
In selecting "Stephen," "Philip" and the others, there is no hint
of controversy. We need a unanimous election of our new
deacons too!
III. The ORDINATION of Deacons (v.6).
A. The Candidates were "Set Before the Apostles."
1. I believe they were "set before the apostles" in some sort of
public ceremony. This signified not only the approval of the
church but also of the church leadership.
2. When we select our new deacons they will be "set" before
you, the church family and the presbytery or ordaining counsel
made up of ordained pastors and deacons.
B. The Apostles "Prayed" Over Them.
1. What do you think the apostles’ prayed? I’ll bet they prayed
for these men that they continue in their faithful service to God,
that they grow in their relationship with Christ and that they
might have effective ministry within the church.
2. In a few weeks when we select and ordain our new deacons,
the ordaining counsel will pray over them one at time. I hope
that you will pray for them too. In fact, I hope that you are
praying for them even now.
C. The Apostles "Laid Hands on Them." This signifies the identification,
affirmation and affection of the church. It conveys no special powers, but is a
sign of blessing.
IV. The BENEFITS of Deacons (v.7).
A. First, God’s Word Continued to be Spread.
1. Note that "the word of God spread." Because the apostles
were no longer encumbered by this internal problem, it freed
them to give their full energy to the study, teaching and
preaching of the Word of God.
2. I know that as we increase and empower our deacons for
greater ministry, we will see God’s word going out even
stronger than ever.
B. Second, the Church Continued to Grow.
1. Note that "the number of disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem." Even though their numbers had previously been
"multiplying" now that growth was even stronger.
2. I have no doubt that if we will prayerfully select, train and
ordain the right new deacons that our church will continue to
grow and even grow more quickly than in the past.
