THE CHARACTER OF DEACONS AND OTHER CHRISTIANS I TIMOTHY 3:8-13

Today is a great day for the Lord’s church here is Hollister. When the elders were installed January 7, 2007 Bob Gard made the statement: Since the church started here in Hollister (April 23,2000) it has been “our desire to do what God wants us to do.” In order to follow God’s pattern for the New Testament church we needed elders. We now have elders.

Today is the day that we are going to install deacons. But the church also needs to have deacons to fulfill God’s plan for the church. Today is the day that we are going to install deacons. The word deacon means servant. This morning let’s talk about some characteristics that a deacon should have in his life as well as every Christian. A deacon should be:

He should believe in what he is doing. Sincere He should be very serious and sincere in the responsibility he is under taking. He should believe in what he is doing. Romans 14:22-23 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. But all Christians should be sincere.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth. Mark 12 :30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. If we are doing this then we are loving God with our total being and we can’t but help be sincere in our service to the Lord. John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

A deacon should also be an: Example An example in what? I Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Because deacons are a select group, people will be looking to them as an example.

All Christians are a select group. I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness, into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Because we are a Christian people will be looking to us for an example What will they see?

Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Look again at the qualifications. A deacon must be: Righteous Look again at the qualifications. I Timothy 3:8-10, 12 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Let the deacon be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. The qualifications give a description of a righteous man.

All Christians should be righteous. Paul tells us to “put on the breastplate of righteousness,” Ephesians 6:14 Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.

He should serve voluntarily. A deacon should be a: Volunteer He should serve voluntarily. This is a qualification for an elder. I Timothy 3:1 If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. God wants only those who are willing to serve Him. So a deacon should serve voluntarily.

Christians serve God voluntarily. We choose to follow God. If any man will come after Me; or desires to come after Me, Matthew 16:24 God only wants those who voluntarily follow Him.

A deacon must be a man of: Action The word deacon is transliterated from the Greek word diakonos which means servant. There is no such thing as a lazy (idle) deacon. A deacon is a man who doesn’t wait for some one else to act. He is one who gets up and does.

The Christian also is a person of action. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Although not called deacons, these seven men did the work of deacons. A deacon is man who is: Near The Spirit 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. Although not called deacons, these seven men did the work of deacons. They were to be full of the Holy Spirit.

All Christians are to be near the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Remember we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19

The deacon is a man who will use his: Talents There is a work that needs to be done. These are the men who have stepped up and said, “I will do it.” They not only have the willingness, they also have the ability. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

All Christians have talents. The amount of talents people have is dependent on a person’s ability. Matthew 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. I Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. The question is not “Do I have talents?” The question is “Am I using them for the glory of the Lord?”

So what is the point of the lesson? The elders and the deacons are two different offices in the church. Philippians 1:1 To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Both are mentioned as a select group by themselves. Everything they do will be under the microscope or the magnifying glass. That is why both groups must be found blameless, I Timothy 3:2, 10, and Titus 1:6.

Another point is, these characteristics we mentioned for deacons should also be found in every Christian. Along that same thought, with the exception of two or three, the qualifications for elders and deacons should be characteristics that all Christians should desire have in their lives. A deacon must be:

S--Sincere E--Example R--Righteous V--Voluntarily A--Action N--Near The Spirit T--Talents A deacon is a servant.

All Christians should be servants. Matthew 20:26-28 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you preset yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

HOW IS YOUR SERVICE TO THE LORD? ARE YOU SERVING HIM TODAY?

Given by David Hamlin on March 25, 2007 am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ www.hollisterchurchofchrist.org