Servants of the Church
Deacons are servants.
- Matthew 23:11 "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant."
- 1Corinthians 3:5; 2Corinthians 3:6
Deacons are servants set apart for the ministry of mercy and stewardship.
- They are selected by the congregation
- Acts 6:3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
- Jethro to Moses: Exodus 18:21
- Moses: Deuteronomy 1:13
- Paul to Titus 1:5
- They are ordained: set apart from the other saints to be servants of the servants of Christ.
- Acts 6:6 "And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them."
- An ancient biblical practice:
- Num 27:18-19
- A practice continued in the New Covenant Church:
- Paul and Barnabas sent out as missionaries: Acts 13:3
- Presbytery ordination of ministers: 1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership (tou presbyteriou: tou/ presbuteri,ouÅ)
- Ordination lays responsibilities on the one ordained:
- 2 Timothy 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
The responsibilities of the deacons in the RPCNA (Directory for Church Government).
- "The Diaconate is a spiritual office responsible for the ministry of mercy and stewardship of the congregation. It is neither a ruling nor a teaching office. Its exercise, like the whole life of the church, is under the oversight of the session and its function is administrative."
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- Meeting with the deacon board and jointly with the session periodically for prayer, evaluation and growth in their respective ministries.
- Maintaining an active ministry of mercy…
- Maintaining an active ministry of stewardship…
- Developing these ministries by personal visitation.
- Performing other duties assigned to them by the session, congregation or presbytery.
Because God provides deacons, the Church must identify God's own gifts to her.
God's requirements are laid out in the Bible.
- In Acts 6:3
- 1Tim 5:8-13
- 1Tim 3:11
God requires that the Church first test the candidates.
- 1Tim 3:10
- John 12:6
It is a blessing to be selected servant of the servants.
- 1 Timothy 3:13 For 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 Corinthians 12:28
The Diaconal ministry of the body of Christ.
Deacons have authority to serve in the name of the church.
All the saints share in the ministry of the church.
- Proverbs 28:27
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
- 2Cor 9:8-9
- 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.