Deacons are Spiritual Leaders to Serve

Last Wednesday (May 24, 2023) we started a two-week series on Church Leadership looking at Elders last week. This week we look at the second office prescribed and described in the New Testament for the local church and that is Deacons.

It is the second office not because it is any less important than the first, but it is normally listed, as it is in Philippians 1:1, "bishops and deacons."

Deacons are first listed in Scripture as a potential office in the church in Acts 6.  Although they are not called "Deacons" there, most believe this is the position that later would be described in I Timothy 3 and other places.

There in Acts 6 seven men who had to be spiritually qualified were set aside to preserve the unity of the local body and to serve the widows who had been neglected. Unity is a missing ingredient in many churches today, but when Deacons are free to serve in their calling seeking unity, it is a great blessing for the church. Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Then in verse 4, "For THERE (the place of unity) the Lord commanded the blessing." 

There is a blessing commanded by the Lord at the place of unity. 

Deacons are those who serve requiring dealings with money, possibly even giving financial oversight to the church.  Thus, in I Timothy 3:8 Paul lists some of the qualifications for a deacon and one is "not greedy for money." These men must not lust for money or else they will steal some of the money that needs to go to widows or other needs or even prevent money from being used in places of ministry.

These men are to be qualified to serve with character traits and patterns of godly living rather than worldly achievement, fame, or success. They are in place to serve the Lord and His church with integrity and character.  They do not serve themselves. And may I add, they are not a House of Representatives where they represent certain areas of the church.  Deacons are to serve the whole church and always act in ways to promote unity and the well-being of the entire body.

The very word Deacon in Greek reveals more about their ministry. The word "diakonos" is simply a word for servant.  It is a word used of Jesus, and those who minister.  It is a high, and honorable position of leadership.

One of the main differences between an elder and a deacon is seen in I Timothy 3.  In verse 2, Paul says an elder must be able to teach.  Deacons have no such qualification which leads that elders serve more of the spiritual oversight of the congregation while deacons serve more of the material side of the church.

One last word, if the leadership in a church is not right, the church will NEVER be right.  God has set in order (Titus 1:5) His church and we must follow His leading.

There is a section on our church's website of older sermons and due to the importance of the subject of the church, I have nine sermons on "The Church."  I would encourage you to check them out here.