Deacons Philippians 1:1 - Frank Brancato

Just a little introduction about the passage that's on the

screen. The great Apostle Paul divinely

inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote the letter to the church

at Philippi from a Roman prison. And in this Roman prison.

And in this letter at the very beginning of it, he gives them a

salutation and in that he gets also gives us a very quick

glance at the organization of the church.

In fact, these are composed of three kinds of people Saints

Bishops and deacons Deacon's now Saints are those that are

baptized Believers. Let me just say this to there's

nowhere in the word of God as some religious affiliations

would believe that somebody is Anointed or crowned in to

sainthood after they die. That is not found in the word of

God, contrary to what some would believe.

In fact, the Bible says that we are all Saints.

So everyone that is a member of the body of Christ.

A member of the Church of Christian baptism.

Iced into Jesus Christ. For the remission of sins, is

the saint. Secondly, though, he says, there

are Bishops and Bishops, are leaders of the church will not

go into that. We've done that in great detail,

over six lessons, but there are some synonymous terms that are

related to the word bishop, and it's talking about the same

person. They are Elders, they are

pastors. They are overseers, and there

are Shepherds. But then there's a third person

that's described In this passage and it's the third that is

described in the organizational structure of the church and that

is among certain Saints. There are deacons.

Now, what is a deacon, the word, Deacon actually comes from the

Greek word Daya condos and it actually means a servant This

word is found 30 times in the New Testament.

And you know what's interesting about this word?

Diakon owes is found 30 times in 26 of those times, it refers to

a serve it and only four times it refers to a deacon or

translated Deacon have no fear though, because there's ample

evidence in the scriptures that proves that they these were a

special office. And they were called a deacon.

Now, I want to make this point to a deacon is not a slave of a

congregation. Did you get that?

There's a difference between a servant and a slave a deacon

like one man, said, one time a deacon is a servant of his work,

a slave is a servant of his master.

Now, every saint every Christian is a slave to Jesus Christ.

He has bought us by his inestimable, blood.

That was shed. Ed on the cross were baptized

into Christ. Would contact that blood and

guess what? For the rest of our life, the

Saint the child of God becomes a slave for Jesus Christ.

That's everybody. But a deacon is a servant, a

servant in relationship to his work.

Practically speaking a deacon or someone who promotes the welfare

and prosperity of the local church by carrying out tasks

that are assigned by the elders. Now there are some that falsely

assumed and I've heard this before.

Elders, oversee, the spiritual needs of a congregation and

deacons oversee. The physical needs of the

congregation that is not true. That is not true Deacon's over.

See nothing and Elders. Oversee, everything an elder in

the body of Christ overseas, both the spiritual and physical

needs of a congregation. They are the overseers of the

flock Deacon's though Deacon serve them as serving them in

the tasks that the elders, give them in the work so they are Are

Servants of the work directed by the elders.

In addition to this to deacons were also teachers, you

remember, Stephen and Philip of Jerusalem and Acts chapter 6.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

Another man that's found in Philippians.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

Chapter 2, epaphroditus was a teacher in the body of Christ

and also a deacon. Well, I want to notice with you

now. Just a couple things regarding

the history of deacons. And if you will turn your Bibles

to Next chapter 6 in Acts chapter 6 verses 1 through 7 and

Acts 6:1–7

the reason I asked you to do that is the only verse I'm going

to put on the screen is the first verse.

Let's talk about the history of deacons we find in Acts chapter

Acts 6 · chapter mention

6. Beginning there in verse number

one that there was a problem in the church.

In fact it's the very first one that we can find and the Bible

says, there was a murmuring among members of the church.

Now the Ring or the dispute or the complaining was between two

kinds of people or two peoples, I guess you would say what were

the grecians and the other were the Hebrews.

So as I will put now on the screen verse 1, now when those

days when a number of disciples was multiplying there arose, a

murmuring against the Hebrews by the hellenists because their

widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

First of all, the Word murmur means complain.

Let me just say as a side note. Have you ever known somebody

that complained all the time? They were never satisfied.

They were never content, they just complained all the time.

Hope he likes to be around that person.

That's discouraging somebody that's always complaining.

But in this particular instance, there was a real problem and the

complaining was between the hellenists and the Hebrews that

who were they the hellenists? You remember they were Grecian

Jews that were born and raised in another country besides

Palestine. They were the hellenists.

And by the way, we are talking about when we say helenus, and

we say Hebrews were talking about converted Christians

though, these are members of the body of Christ, see Got two

kinds of people. You got those guys that were

from a different country. Grecian Jews other than

Palestine and you have the Hebrews and the Hebrews were

those of Jewish blood pure Jewish blood running through

their veins. They were Hebrews.

They were like Paul said one time Hebrew of the Hebrews and

they spoke the Hebrew language. Now here's the problem in this.

There is a Conflict, The Grecian Jews or the hellenists make a

charge that their widows were not, receiving equal treatment

as those that were Hebrew widows and the Apostle.

The apostles came up with a solution.

Here it is. And for good reason, too.

You can't have division. You know, what's really sad

division, destroys the church? And sometimes when there's a

disagreement or there's personality conflicts, or

there's some kind of a turmoil here and there and people get

into some kind of a complaint back and forth, sometimes they

don't Rectify, whatever it was that was differing between them

and very sad sometimes division, occurs and churches even split

what a terrible thing. To have the body of Christ

divided. Now, what were the apostles?

What did they know? They know if we don't fix this

problem. There's going to be division in

the church. It's going to tear up the

church. That's number one.

Number two, what else did the apostles know?

They knew I don't have time to go serve tables.

I don't have time to go out and serve the Widow's.

It's very needed that they get served though but I don't have

time to go out and serve the widows.

We need to have somebody else do that.

At, so, they Apostles can continue to preach the word of

God. In fact, as the Bible says, to

continue in preaching and in prayer, there are side note

here. I'm an evangelist working among

you. And you have no idea how much I

appreciate the workers of the congregation that see about the

needs of others. I love you for that.

That is a good work. The lord loves that too.

But when you as a body of Christ, as members of the

church, you then our Saints. Go out and help others and see

to the needs of others. It frees me up as an evangelist

to do my work and that is to preach evangelistically to teach

in an edifying way and also to set in order the things that are

lacking. Now, every Christian needs to go

and see the needs of others. But I really appreciate those

that go out and do that and take care of those that have needs.

So the apostles come up with a solution.

They instructed the church to choose seven men from among

them, that would care for this business.

In other words, the business at hand was not to be demeaned.

It was very, very important but the apostles understood, they

didn't have time for that. So he gave some general

qualifications. Now, the general qualifications

were these number one in the general qualifications.

There were those of honest report as the King James says

know. Other words they had to be a man

of honest report. He had to be a man that was full

of the Holy Spirit. And number three had to be a man

that was full of wisdom. Let's talk about these

individually. First of all, the words honest

report. As found in the King James

version, really, simply means this, in fact, it is translated

in this way, in the new King James that is.

We've got to 57 men of good reputation.

That's that's reasonable 57 men of good reputation.

In other words, men of good reputation and integrity.

What else in a general sense, full of the Holy Spirit Full of

the Holy Spirit. Now I got to tell you for many

years, I thought, because the various commentators that this

was talking about miraculous gifts or spiritual gifts.

And when he said, find seven men of good reputation that are full

of the Holy Ghost, I used to believe that this was talking

about those that had the endowment of spiritual gifts

given to them and Were able to perform Miracles, there's a

problem with that. There's a problem with that.

In this qualification. What's it actually talking about

McGarvey says this. This means men that are full of

the spirit as respects to the fruits of a holy life.

Now, let me just say this Let me just say this.

This if this is talking about miraculous gifts full of the

Holy Ghost, be miraculous gifts, if that's what that means.

Then this does not apply today because we do not have Miracles

today. So they had to be men of honest

report or good reputation full of the Holy Ghost.

Now remember this, too? When spiritual gifts were given

they had to be given by the laying on of the Apostles hands.

Now, watch this, this verse that we're talking about that says

full of the Holy Spirit or full of the Holy Ghost is in verse 3.

The laying on of hands did not happen until verse 6.

So whatever it was here, it was talking about a requirement or

qualification that they had before the laying on of the

Apostles hands there for I believe it could not have been

miraculous. All right, so, how do we apply

this today? What is a practical way if we

were looking for deacons today? That would fall into the

category of being a good reputation and being full of the

Holy Spirit? And as those that are described

by McGarvey from that passage, who would we be looking at?

We would be looking at these fellows right here in the book

of Galatians. In the book of Galatians chapter

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

5. In Galatians.

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

Chapter 5, Paul gives exactly what we're talking about.

We are talking about those individuals that manifest in

abundance, the fruit of the spirit, here it is.

So if we're looking for somebody that fits this quality, here it

is. But the fruit of the spirit is

love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self-control against

such. There is no law.

In other words, Someone that was full of the Holy Spirit.

From this context of this passage is someone that in,

abundance manifested. The things that I just read to

you from Galatians chapter 5. Now.

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

One commentator said, a man can be recognized for what he really

is by observing what his life produces.

Years ago, you've heard me say this, you've heard me use this

quote and I did and I did, I made it up came to me.

One day years ago, I was coaching a football team that

was undefeated. And every week I was trying very

hard to keep them focused and not rest on the things that they

did, but to continue to work forward.

So, one day we are out on the practice field and I said,

listen, we are what we are, because we do what we do.

And my point was, we have, if we want to continue on the path

that we are on, we have to continue doing the things that

got us here. But I like what Jesus said

though, I like he said, it's so much better in Matthew chapter 7

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

and verse 20 by your fruits, you shall know them.

In other words, you can determine a person by the things

that they do. It's manifested in their life,

can't you? Just put your mind back on that

day when he says, choose men of honest report 7, man that are

fit. The qualifications that we've

just talked about. In other words, their life is

manifesting all of these characteristics and qualities in

their life. And I'm going to tell you right

now, when a person has them their obvious, if you ever heard

somebody, Say that you should never have have to tell somebody

you're a Christian. We've said it.

I've known a lot of people that wore t-shirts. and on the

T-shirt it was always saying something like I'm a follower of

Christ or I'm a I'm a Christian Sometimes bumper stickers are

put on cars and they want everybody know.

I'm a Christian I've known a lot of contractors over the youth.

The 24 years that I was a painting contractor, they have

business cards with a fish on them because they want people to

know that they are religious people.

But, you know, in your life, you shouldn't have to do any of

that. You shouldn't have to wear a

t-shirt, a billboard, a bumper sticker a card, whatever.

You shouldn't have to do any of that.

People should be able to see the manifestation of what you are by

your actions. And by the way that you live,

the same is true with these deacons same as true now.

What else? There was another quality,

another qualification and that was, they had to be full of

wisdom. Now, why was that those that are

full of wisdom are man, who are able to make wise, and fair

decisions? Those are those that are wise.

Now, I said stay in the book of Acts.

So now, look in verse 5, Acts chapter 6, and verse 5.

Acts 6 · chapter mention

Watch what happened after they said this and the saying please

the whole multitude and they chose Stephen.

Man, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, just in the context that

we've just said, and Phillip and proc chorus and night, caner,

and timman, and parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch.

Now, what happened in verse 6, look at verse 6, so they chose

these seven men that fit the bill of these three General

qualifications what happens? Now in verse 6, they got 47 in

front of them. Watch this, the apostles, are

there whom they sent me. Before the apostles and when

they had prayed, what did the apostles do they laid their

hands on them? now folks, The laying on of

hands was not, merely part of a ceremony of ordination, as some

would assume, it was that the apostles endowed, the seven with

miraculous powers. Do you remember Acts chapter 8?

Acts 8 · chapter mention

Remember that? Simon, the Sorcerer acts 8 and

verse 18. Now, Simon saw that through the

laying on of the Apostles hands. The Holy Spirit was given he

offered them money. So, the giving of the holy

spirit in miraculous form was always done by the laying on of

the Apostles hands. So, miraculous Powers came by

the laying on of hands. Now, look at verse 8, x 6 and

verse 8. Now, remember this before this

They didn't have it. Before this they didn't have it.

They didn't have miraculous powers.

In fact before verse 6 they were full of faith that talks about

Stephen being full of faith and the Holy Spirit just like we

have on the screen. But after verse eight, things

changed looking at x 6 and verse 8, and Stephen Full of faith and

power did great wonders. And signs among the people.

You see the difference after the laying on of the Apostles hands,

they were able to perform miraculous.

Gifts. So we're talking about this

General sense, got to be good. Reputation.

Got to be manifesting the fruit of the spirit in your life.

You got to be a man that is full of wisdom.

Making Fair decisions, those are qualifications of being a

deacon. Now, let's talk about this.

Let's talk about some general duties and responsibilities.

I hear this a lot. I hear.

Well, what in the world does a deacon do then?

What is their job description? First of all, in General sense.

All we're just say that the duties and responsibilities of a

deacon are to provide a support structure for elders and

preachers so that they can engage in activities that are

more centered on teaching God's word.

Now, this does not mean that deacons don't share in the

responsibility of teaching and preaching God's word.

In fact, I know some deacons in the church today of other

congregations. They are some of the best

congregational teachers that that congregation has So I'm not

saying that deacons don't teach what I'm saying, is the deacons

provide a support structure under the under the get under

the instructions of an elder, so that the preachers and the

elders can continue with the work of teaching the word of

God. Now, Let's talk about some

specific qualifications. Now, though specific

qualifications go to First Timothy chapter 3, In 1st

1 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

Timothy Chapter 3 B and we're going to notice the things that

are found beginning in verse 8. Now the first thing that he says

is reverent the King James says grave.

I don't know what you think about when I think about grave

but I think about something that's pretty negative.

You ever heard somebody say that something is grave door?

Someone is in grave danger, I think about something that's

really - and I think about death but in the King James actually

says gray, but it really means reverent.

That's what the passage means, that's what the word means and

it means this serious and somber.

Now we have to stop right there. It doesn't mean that deacons

have to walk around and be serious from the standpoint of

they can enjoy life. They can't have any fun, they

can't laugh. They got to walk around like

they're sick all the time religiously.

And you know what? I think about that a religion

that makes a man sick won't cure the world.

It doesn't mean that you have to walk around with a serious

somber. Look on your face.

What it means is this reverent word, here means serious and

somber about the Business, that's to be conducted.

We're talking about somebody that is serious about the work

and when it comes time to do the work, they are reverent in that

they're serious. And somber in that.

In other words must not be conducted with a slack hand or a

flippant attitude. Here's another one.

Not double tongue. What's that mean?

I would venture to say, that if you thought about it right now,

you could think of somebody that you know, that fits the bits

that very idea of being double-tongued It would double

tongue means. Here it is.

Does not say one thing to one person and say, another thing to

another person. We've known people like that.

In other words who they are is influenced by who they're with.

I'm going to tell you. You can't trust that person.

You cannot trust a person that will say, one thing, to one

person. And another thing to another

person, Double tongue, the psalmist.

David said this, he that swears, but to his own hurt and does not

change somebody that's influenced by those that are

around him and doesn't stand for anything is double-tongued.

Deacon cannot be that. Here's another one.

And by the way, you remember, when we preached on the idea of

Elders, and we talked about how the Bible says, about an elder,

he cannot be given to Wine. I said, Hold that thought

because when we get the deacons, I'm going to go into detail

about much wine and what that means.

So here we go. Another quality is he cannot be

a man that is given to much wine.

Now, the word much Is added to verse 3.

Concerning an elder. It's added.

So, you know what people say? They say an elder can't have

any. And a deacon, he can have

learning. An elder, he can't have any

because it says not given to Wine, but it looks over there

like a deacon, he just can't have much wine.

So people have deduced if a deacon can have a little bit

then that's authorization for social drinking and a guy can go

out and he's not drinking a lot, he can go out and have a couple

beers with the boys and everything is fine because after

all even a deacon in the church can have a little bit, he just

can't have a lot. The question is, what does it

mean? When it says much Wine, Barn

says this regarding the word much it is not affirmed.

That it would be proper for a deacon, any more than a bishop

to indulge in the use of wine and small quantities.

In other words, Barnes is saying, when it says not given

to much wine, it is not saying that a deacon is authorized to

have a little bit, just not a lot, that's what he's saying.

There, he further goes on and says this.

If it is affirmed that a man, that is given to much wine

ought. Not on any consideration, be a

deacon. Now let's go further.

Wycliffe said this? This is Wycliffe on much wine.

He said, the Bible testimony is consistently against the use of

strong drink, the practical application of the principle in

modern society. This is the Practical example is

total abstinence. All right now, but there's got

to be a better explanation. and there is Here's the better

explanation to believe it or not I am sorry.

Emser had the best explanation. Here it is.

Watch this. The old-time wine was often used

as medicine. Don't you remember what Paul

said to Timothy? Timothy said don't no longer,

just drink water Timothy but have a little wine for thy,

stomachs sake, and thine often infirmities.

In other words, he told Timothy because of the infirmities that

he had physically to take a little wine for that purpose.

In other words, there says the amount little wine.

I was always connected to medicinal purposes, always.

Back up again. The old-time wine was often used

as a medicine and that's what Paul meant in 1st Timothy 5:23.

But the amount for medical purposes was always considered a

little wine and it would not make a man drunk.

Thus, if a person manifested drunkenness, it was evidence

that he is using it for the purpose or not using it for the

purpose of Health. How do I summarize all that?

Here it is. if I take some medication with alcohol in it,

that is the equivalent today of little wine.

Anything. In addition to that is

considered from a social standpoint or any other way, it

is considered, let's wine. So that's all it is medicinal

purposes given to us by for medicine and medical purposes.

That is little wine. That is not a sin.

That's what Paul told Timothy to do.

Anything in addition to that anything is considered much wind

and that is wrong. Now let's go further though.

Why. And why would Paul in all of

this and giving the qualifications of a deacon Why

would Paul say it's okay to have a little and just don't get

drunk if that's what he meant. Why would he say that when the

wisest man that ever lived? Except for Jesus Christ, said

this in Proverbs Chapter 20 and verse 1.

Proverbs 20 · chapter mention

Watch this wine is a mocker intoxicating.

Drink arouses brawling and whoever is Led astray by it is

not wise. Why did I highlight those words?

I did. This reason watch this, he

doesn't say. Becoming intoxicated leads to

brawling. He didn't say that.

He didn't say becoming intoxicated is a mocker.

He talked about the intoxicant itself, the intoxicant is a

mocker, the intoxicant, arouses brawling and whoever is led by

it. The intoxicant is not wise.

Christians have no business, no matter who we are drinking at

all. Here's another one and some of

these were just going to kind of swing just kind of Breeze by

because we wouldn't great detail about an elder but those that

are greedy for money Deacon cannot be greedy for money.

In other words, no lover of money.

Money is not there God. It is not what drives them in

their life. First Timothy chapter 6 and

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

verse 10, For the Love of Money is a root of all kinds of evil,

for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,

and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows.

So, a person that is driven by greed and is driven by money is

a person that doesn't qualify to be an elder.

And the reason for that is it takes their mind and their

motive and there. Far away from.

What is should be their focus? Here's another one and I'm just

going to call it this. I'm going to call it a holder of

the faith. Paul says, it's those that hold

the mystery of the faith deacons and all Christians for that

matter. Need to hold the faith.

It's a matter of the ability to express clearly and convincingly

what they believe. Okay.

I'll tell you, I know a lot of Christians.

That believe what they believe because they know it's right.

Because they've always been taught that because they've

always done it that way. But cannot tell you why.

A deacon being a holder of the faith is the ability to express

clearly and express convincingly what they believe.

And why the Deacon also must know what he believes and be

firm and secure, especially in matters of Doctrine.

This is somebody not by his own thoughts, or by his own

standards, but by the standards of the word of God is someone

that can distinguish between good and bad, he can commend the

good while condemning the bad. Another quality.

Paul says, he must be proved. What does that mean?

Well, first of all, the Deacon must first be tested.

And he must have the qualifications listed.

Now, let me say this, let me say this. when it comes to an elder

and a deacon, Nowhere, does it say, let's install them.

And they'll grow into the qualifications.

I've heard that talk I've actually heard somebody take the

interpretation of the passage. When it says the elders that

rule? Well, now what do we already

know about ruling? Well, Elders, we know it's those

that are doing so they don't have a job.

Perhaps they're retired, their entire existence is the church

and they are Elders in the church.

That is their life. And when they teach the word of

God, and they labor in word and Doctrine, it says those men are

those that rule. Well, and they are those that

are worthy E of double honor, meaning the honor of being an

elder and the second honor, meaning financial support.

So if a man is an elder and that's his entire existence and

he's teaching and laboring in the word of God, guess what?

The Elder gets supported financially just like the

preacher. But I heard somebody say one

time this you see if in fact, it is true that there are Elders

that rule. Well, then there also are elves

that Elders that do not rule. Well, maybe they're the younger

Elders, they could just kind of grow into the position.

No elders. And deacons had to be proved

Meaning they had these qualifications before they were

installed, what else? He must be of sufficient age,

that would allow time for faithfulness and steadfastness

in the work of God. Here's another one, we spent a

lot of time on it with Elders. Remember this one, blameless.

What's that mean? It doesn't mean he's a perfect

man. He doesn't mean that he will not

make mistakes because he will, it just means this.

There are no sustainable charge. He has against him.

He he does not have a reputation for evil. that's somebody, that

is Blameless. Here's another one.

This is exactly like an elder. He's the husband of one wife.

Now. You can read commentators and

they'll tell you all manner of things.

But really, when it talks about the husband of one wife, we are

talking about a one woman, man, that's what that means.

Husband of one wife is a one-woman man.

This is somebody, this is somebody that is faithful to his

bride in the same form and fashion, that Jesus Christ is to

his bride, that's the church. He's faithful and true to his

bride. Just like Jesus Christ is

faithful and true to his bride. There are no other women in his

life. This is a man that is the

husband of one wife. He is a one woman man.

What else? He rules their children and

their own house, will their children are not out of control.

Yeah, they're not out of control.

Now, watch this. Remember, when we talked about

with Elders, we talk about ruling ruling doesn't mean with

an iron fist. Doesn't mean Boston me screaming

at kids and mean that at all, it means to lead in other words, I

lead my family. For example, if I was to fit

that quality I would be somebody.

That was a one woman man. Faithful to my wife as Jesus

Christ is to the church. Furthermore, I would leave my

children and I would lead my entire household.

Old in the way that they should go.

And my kids would demonstrate that and they would not be out

of control. Wild and out of control.

Incidentally, incidentally, you can tell how kids are brought

up. You really can if you ever coach

or you're involved in anything at all with kids at all, you can

tell who was raised, right? And who was not, you can tell

who has respect for authority and who does not you can tell

who's in control and respectful. Who is out of control and

disrespectful? Don't you see it's the

manifestation of what they got at home and a deacon is supposed

to be such that he leads in such a way that his children are

examples of how he led his family.

Furthermore. Furthermore, he's a man that

loves his wife. As Christ loved the church.

He cares for his family, he follows the example of Abraham

listen to this passage in Genesis 18 and 19 for.

I have known him in order that he may command his children and

his household after him that, they keep the ways of the Lord

to do, righteousness and Justice that the Lord may bring to

Abraham what he has spoken to him.

All right. Summing up so far and we are

almost finished. I realized that when we gave in

six lessons, we went down all the requirements.

Of being an elder. And now we've talked about more

requirements and qualifications of being a deacon And sometimes

what people do is? What people do is they think

it's so difficult, why bother. It's so difficult.

Why Try? So the mindset really?

Well we're just not going to have Elders today, that's just

kind of something that fit that back then, we're not going to

have qualified men so let's not even worry about it.

And we'll just exist in the absence of Elders and deacons

forever. But folks, two things about

that. Name, one thing that's found in

the qualifications of an elder or one thing that's found under

the qualifications of a deacon name, one thing in your mind

that is unreasonable or hard to do.

Secondly, except for the familial requirements of a

deacon. Everything I said today, except

for the family requirements of being the husband of one wife

and ruling. Well, his own children his own

house. Do you know every one of those

other qualities fits every single Christian everyone?

So in other words, the idea wasn't to try to find men that

were super naturally Superior in a spiritual sense that everybody

else they were spiritually minded men and that's why on

Crete they were able to and ordain Elders in every Church in

every city they were spiritually minded man.

And they did fit the qualities, they did fit the qualifications.

Just talking about Christians, folks.

But there's some great rewards to great rewards.

Listen to this, listen to the rewards of being a deacon and

First Timothy 3:13 for those who have served well as deacons

1 Timothy 3:13

obtain for themselves. A good standing and great

boldness in the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

It is a fantastic benefit. It is a trend, it is a wonderful

thing for being a deacon or an elder in the Lord's, Church in

conclusion. Then this morning We've talked

about three things, the history of the office of a deacon from

Acts chapter 6, we talked about the responsibilities of that

Acts 6 · chapter mention

office as they serve under the direction of the eldership and

we talked about the qualifications of a deacon.

Now, I found this quote, I want to share it with you.

I stole it. Watch this final point.

I love this one is not a Christian because he is a deacon

But he is a deacon because he is a Christian.

Then that kind of fit what I just said about all the things

that are related to a deacon also relate to a Christian.

Just a Christian. That's a Christian.

All the qualifications fit except the familiar ones to

every child of God. Now, we've now covered the

office of an elder and we've covered the office of a deacon.

And there are only two things left here they are.

This is all that's left. Number one is the qualification

of an elder and a deacons wife. Yeah.

Does that mean if a man is fit and qualified in every single

one of those qualities and characteristics and

qualifications of requirements? Is it saying that a wife?

If she doesn't fit her role can disqualify the man, Yes.

There's qualifications for the wife to and secondly, we have to

discuss the duties at the church.

Has toured the eldership, not only the eldership to the

congregation with the congregation to the eldership.

I'm through this morning. I hope something was said, that

was edifying to you. Encouraging to you in some way

on the subject of Elders and deacons, I realize that these

are things that we we want to strive for in the future at some

point in time. I would love it for the

congregation here to be able to have a plurality of scriptural

elders and deacons in this congregation.

Now I don't know when and if we will ever achieve that but I do

know this if we don't aspire to meet the qualifications and we

don't aspire to do that as a goal.

We'll never get there and what will happen is 10 years ago by

and we didn't move at all another 10 years ago by and we

haven't grown at all from that standpoint.

So these are things to work toward and work on.

As we strive for the scriptural government organization of the

church given in the New Testament.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

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