Deacons Under appreciated by many. A blessing to the church. –Function. –Fabric.

Deacons

• Under appreciated by many.• A blessing to the church.

–Function.–Fabric.

Deacons

• Office.• Purpose.• Qualifications.

Deacons

• Qualifications.• Wives.• Selection & Appointment.

Deacons

• Desire.

– “To stretch one’s self out in order to…grasp something…” (Thayer).

– “To reach…longing after it” (Vine).

– Not coerced.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Reverent.

– “August, venerable…” (Thayer).

– “…serious, grave” (Vine).

– Dependable, trustworthy.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Not double-tongued.

– “double in speech…” (Thayer).

– “Saying a thing to one person and giving a different view of it to another” (Vine).

– Consistent, accurate.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Not given to much wine.

– Control• Senses.• Desires.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Not greedy for money.

– “eager for base gain” (Thayer).

– “…denotes greedy of base gains” (Vine).

– Not covetous, materialistic, cf. Jn. 12:6

Qualifications

Deacons

• Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

– Knows the truth.

– Follows the truth.

– Stands for the truth, cf. Rom. 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:15-16

Qualifications

Deacons

• First tested, then appointed.

– “…examine…scrutinize” (Thayer).

– “…prove with the expectation of approving” (Vine).

– Reputation precedes responsibility.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Husbands of one wife.

– Scripturally married, cf. Rom. 7:1-3; Matt. 19:9

– Experience with care and service.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Ruling their children & houses well.

– Good father, Prov. 22:6; 19:18

– Experience in “demanding” service.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Full of the Holy Spirit & wisdom

Acts 6:3

– Full of gospel, Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16

– Applies knowledge practically.

Qualifications

Deacons

• Reverent.

– “August, venerable…” (Thayer).

– “…serious, grave” (Vine).

– Serious minded, not silly, 1 Pet. 3:1-4

Wives

Deacons

• Not slanderers.

– “prone to slander…” (Thayer).

– “Accusing falsely” (Vine).

– Control tongue.

Wives

Deacons

• Temperate.

– “sober, temperate…” (Thayer).

– “…free from the influence of intoxicants” (Vine).

– Clear-headed, right thinking, exercising self-control.

Wives

Deacons

• Faithful in all things.

– God, Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thes. 5:17

– Husband, Titus 2:4-5

– Children, Titus 2:4-5

Wives

Deacons

• By members of the church, Acts 6:3

– Work with them.

– Know them.

– Respect them.

Selection & Appointment

Deacons

• Judgment must be used.

– Number.

– When.

– How.

Selection & Appointment

Deacons

• Appointed by those who oversee, Acts 6:6

– With prayer.

– “Lay on hands,” cf. Acts 13:2-3; 1 Tim. 5:22

Selection & Appointment

Deacons

• Qualifications.• Wives.• Selection & Appointment.