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Lesson 11

The Responsibilities of a Deacon

Introduction

1. Text: Phil. 1:1.

2. In Phil. 1:1, Paul addressed himself to "all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops
   and deacons."

3. "Deacons" were a part of the scriptural organization of congregations in the NT.

4. This was a work to which Christian men were appointed in the various congregations only if they were considered by their brethren to possess certain scriptural qualifications of godliness - 1 Tim. 3:8-13.

I. THE DEACON'S WORK AND ITS IMPORTANCE

1. The word "deacon" appears only a few times in our English translations.

   1. Cf. Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8,13.

   2. It is a translation of the Gk. diakonos ("servant, minister").

2. Though the word "deacon" does not appear there, Ac. 6:1-7 records the appointment of men who were to serve the congregation at Jerusalem -- these men were called simply "the seven" in Ac. 21:8.

3. That the work of deacons i-s what these men were appointed to is apparent from at least three considerations:

   1. They were specifically selected and appointed to render service on behalf of their brethren.

   2. Their service would free others for other responsibilities.

   3. The process of elimination excludes any other appointed office or service in the early church.

4. If in fact these men were only assigned an ad hoc service to perform, it still can be said that those later described as deacons (i.e. "servants") in a permanent sense were simply men who were willing to do on an ongoing basis what these seven were willing to do temporarily: accept assigned service to the congregation.

5. If the seven in Jerusalem were not "deacons," then we really have no other passage that sheds light on what a deacon is or does.

6. Deacons are appointed to take care of certain responsibilities for their brethren. Their work is to help us in the Lord's work by doing things the congregation needs to have done so that its work can go forward.

7. Their work is not always "temporal" or "material" in contrast to the "spiritual" work of elders -- but it does consist of support activities that constitute "service" rather than "oversight."

8. At least two of "the seven" in Jerusalem were gospel preachers -- Stephen (Ac. 6:8-7:60) and Philip
   (Ac. 8:4-40; 21:8) -- but their work as deacons was distinct from "the ministry of the word" (Ac. 6:2,4).

9. Deacons are a vital part of what God has provided to make the church strong and effective in its work -- the office of deacon is important and needed.

10. Deacons are not men who are not quite "good enough" to be elders, nor are they merely those who are "on their way up" to becoming elders.

11. We need to view the deacon's work in a better light -- it is important in its own right.

II. THE DEACON'S WORK AND THE SPIRIT OF SERVANTHOOD

1. The deacon is a living example of the fact that in Christ the worldly concept of "honor" is reversed. He exemplifies the principle that true greatness consists of serving, rather than being served - Mk. 9:33-35.
   Cf. Mt. 20:20-28; 23:11.

   1. The work of the deacon, by definition, involves manifesting the "spirit of servanthood" which is required of all Christians.

   2. There is perhaps no work in the Lord that a man can do in which this Christian attitude is any more important.

2. When a deacon does not do his work or does it with a reluctant, complaining spirit, he exhibits the very opposite of the frame of mind that ought to possess the deacon.

3. Those who serve as deacons, and those who desire to, should meditate on whether, in regard to being a "servant," they have the attitude of:

   1. Paul - 2 Cor. 12:15; 1 Tim. 1:12.

   2. Or Martha - Lk. 10:40.

4. We all need to be encouraged to have a greater willingness to be servants one to another. Cf. 1 Cor. 16:15; Hb. 6:10.

5. Hence, there may be no part of the godly deacon's work that we derive any greater benefit from than his example of being ready to render service.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTITUDES IN RELATION
TO THE DEACON'S WORK

1. On the part of the congregation, there needs to be gratitude and a willingness to cooperate with those who serve as deacons. Deacons need to be encouraged, rather than discouraged.

2. On their part, deacons need, like any other "steward," to be "faithful" (1 Cor. 4:2) to their trust.

3. Deacons need to be conscientious. If elders, for example, have to spend so much time working with deacons to get them to do their work, the purpose of having deacons is defeated.

4. Deacons need to be challenged to "take heed" to their service and "fulfill it" (Col. 4:17) -- and encouraged to serve "as with the ability which God supplies" (1 Pt. 4:10,11).

5. It takes a special caliber of person to allow himself to be designated a servant to his brethren and then to carry out the service assigned to him in a hard-working, responsible way.

Conclusion

1. Paul wrote that "those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 3:13).

2. Working together, with the help and service of godly deacons, we will be encouraged to abound in the work of the Lord - 1 Cor. 15:58.