Deacon Ministry

Richard L. Dresselhaus

• Publisher: Gospel Publishing House
• Year: 2011
• eBook ISBN: 9781607310860
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

This easy-to-read handbook addresses practical issues that typically confront lay church leaders, otherwise known as board members or deacons. Here you will find relevant help to equip leaders for the challenge of both ministering in their congregation and giving support and guidance to their pastor. Offers specific, pertinent information about how to fulfill the unique roles, adn responsibilities of a lay leader, exploring topics that range from biblical basis for ministry and New Testament qualifications to typical areas of service, administrative duties, even conflict management. Used alone or in a group, the suggestions for personal interaction and problem solvin, along with real-life stories, will help develop effective leaders.

CHAPTER 1

THE MINISTRY OF DEACONS

You have been called to a high place of service in the church of Jesus Christ … the Lord has singled you out to be a deacon.

Congratulations!

And now the work begins—agendas, leaky roofs, parliamentary procedure, disgruntled members, balance sheets, and building programs—it is all a part of the job.

But you will enjoy it! Few offices in the church provide such a golden opportunity to do something significant for the kingdom of God.

Paul said to Timothy: “If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). The same could be said for a deacon. Yours is a coveted position, and rightly so.

We begin with a survey of the role of the deacon as we find it delineated in the New Testament.

The Church Defined

The deacon’s ministry is unto the Lord, but it is carried out within the context of the local church.

Two words must be defined:

Kuriakos: This is the Greek word from which we get the English word “church.” It means “belonging to the Lord.”

Ekklesia: This is the Greek word that is used repeatedly in the New Testament to signify the “assembly” of God’s people. The word literally means “the called-out ones.”

The Birth of the Church

When was the Church born? This is a question asked by scholars down through the centuries. Some say that the Church had its birth with the Ascension. Others argue convincingly for its birth on the Day Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Jesus spoke of the Church in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17, but in these passages He seems to suggest that its birth is yet future. Perhaps Jesus was speaking prophetically of that group of believers who would at a later time form His body, the Church.

When we come to the Book of Acts the picture becomes clear. Here the references point to a local gathering of believers who have come together for worship and instruction (Acts 5:11; 13:1; 18:22). Note, too, that Paul sent his epistles to specific groups of people in designated geographic areas.

The Church clearly has two sides: (1) the invisible side, which includes believers from every place and from every age, and (2) the visible church, which includes the local gathering of believers as they come together for worship and instruction.

The Nature of the Church

The church of Jesus Christ is an organism, “a holy temple in the Lord” and “a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21, 22). It is the bride of Christ, the body of Christ, and the fellowship of the saints. It draws its life from its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is to the Church that the deacon is called. The deacon is to love the Church, be committed to its members, and be devoted to its mission. Every facet of its work is in the sphere of the deacon’s concern.

Following are several implications of this truth for the deacon:

• The deacon always speaks well of the Church, knowing it is the body of Christ.

• The deacon’s heart is set to serve the Church and see it prosper in every way.

• The deacon uses every resource to avoid rifts and division—and the ridicule and reproach that they bring.

• The deacon loves the Church, as Christ loves the Church, and is willing to give his life for her.

The Leadership of the Church

Jesus did not leave His church without leadership. Arising out of the New Testament narrative is a structure of organization that served the Church well in the first century. Under properly appointed leaders, the Church moved forward in unity and strength.

LEADERSHIP DEFINED

1. Elders: When churches were set in order during the first century, elders (presbuteros) were appointed to conduct the affairs of the local church (Acts 14:23). Literally, the word means “older men.”

2. Bishop: The term bishop (episkopos) was used interchangeably with the term elder (Acts 20:17, 28). Literally, the word means “overseer.” It may be that the designation elder referred to the individual, while the term bishop referred to his office.

3. Deacon: The term deacon (diakonos) was used to designate one who was chosen to serve the members of the church. The deacon was by definition a servant. Paul called himself a servant, or “deacon,” in 1 Corinthians 3:5 and Ephesians 3:7. Even Jesus was said to be a servant, or “deacon,” according to Romans 15:8 and John 12:26. Paul told Timothy to be a good servant, or “deacon” (1 Timothy 4:6).

PATTERNS FOR TODAY

The Early Church had two offices to govern its affairs—the office of bishop/elder and the office of deacon. The elder/bishop was concerned with the general oversight of the work, while the deacon was called to serve in practical areas of ministry to the body.

In many churches, the eldership is help by the pastor or pastoral staff, and the lay leadership of the church is vested in the board of deacons. However, more recently, some churches have appointed a board of elders to serve the spiritual needs of the membership. The elders give themselves to prayer, ministry to the sick, counseling, and the discipline of members. The deacon board, in these cases, is then free to handle the more practical matters that concern the operation of the church. This does not mean, however, that the deacons ignore the spiritual needs of the church.

In this manual, it will be assumed that the pastor fulfills the role of elder/bishop, while those who comprise the official board fulfill the role of deacons. It should be noted further that in most churches the deacons act as the trustees of the church. In fact, some boards have an internal division—some are elected as deacons and some are elected as trustees. Throughout this manual, the “official board” will simply be termed “the board of deacons.”

Duties of Deacons

The New Testament is not as explicit as we might like when it comes to a practical definition of the role of the deacon. What were the duties of the deacons who served in the Early Church? Who were the deacons? What were their specific duties? What was the manner of their selection and the tenure of their office? These questions press for answers that are not easy to find. A scriptural survey follows.

1. Philippians 1:1—Paul addressed this epistle to the bishops and deacons who were in the church at Philippi. The reference tells us only of the existence of their office well into the second half of the first century.

2. First Timothy 3:8–10, 12, 13—Here Paul set forth the qualifications for the office of deacon, but said nothing about their duties and responsibilities. We may properly assume that the office is generally recognized in the church by this time, but we are left in the dark as to its duties. First Timothy bears a slightly later date than the Book of Philippians.

3. Romans 16:1—This reference pushes us closer to the birth of the Church, but helps little to define the role of deacons in the Early Church. However, if by this rather early date the church had appointed a deaconess, it seems logical that the office of deacon was also known. This also shows that it is appropriate for women to serve as deacons.

4. Acts 6:1–6—Many see in this passage the New Testament pattern for what the church today calls the office of deacon. Seven men were chosen to “wait on tables,” thus freeing the apostles to carry on their ministry without hindrances.

It should be noted, however, that these appointed servants are not referred to as deacons. And, further, two of them, Philip and Stephen, became preachers of the gospel in only a short time.

EARLY FATHERS

The Early Church fathers shed some light on the role of deacons in the church of the first few centuries:

Ignatius: This man, a contemporary of John the apostle, states that the deacons were not mere servers of meat and drink. The inference here is that the role of the deacon was becoming a recognized office in the church by the end of the first century.

Irenaeus: The church in Irenaeus’s day saw a clear pattern in Acts ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Ministry of Deacons
• Chapter 2: The Qualifications for Deacons
• Chapter 3: The Deacon as Administrator
• Chapter 4: The Deacon as Servant
• Chapter 5: The Deacon as Person
• Chapter 6: The Deacon as Problem Solver
• Chapter 7: The Deacon and Conflict Management