Slideshow image

Deacon ministry came about from a physical need that needed to be filled in the church. Yet, this office is only supposed to be filled with men that are of “good repute, full of the spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3) and other character qualities seen in 1 Timothy 3. The priority for deacons that Scripture lays before us is who these men must be not what they can do. How then does the whole church apply this teaching and not just the men? In sum, men of the church, your direction in life must be aimed at these qualities. Women of the church, help and encourage the men to be directed there. Let’s expand on this:

Men, whether you are young or advanced in years, and whether you are desiring the office of deacon or not, it still required of you to aim the rudder of your life towards these qualities. These qualities are not out of reach for the normal man. They are not only for the “God-predestined” spiritual men of the church. There is no such category that Scripture lays out. The qualities laid out in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3 are normal characteristics that are expected of all men. It is the church’s responsibility, on the whole, to observe the character of the men in the church and to consider whether this character is consistently present in a man’s life. Men, it is important that you would be willing to receive help and feedback with others observing these areas in your life. Here are a couple of questions for all men:  

Men: Are you setting your aim in life towards these godly character qualities? Are you open and willing to receive help and feedback about the character of your life? Do you have an older man in your life that is able to help you and give you feedback about your character?   

Women, whether you are young or advanced in years, and whether you have a husband that is currently serving or has served as a deacon, one way that you can apply this passage is to encourage the men of the church to aim the rudder of their lives in the direction of these qualities. If you are married, this encouragement first starts with your own husband. If you have children, it expands further to your son(s). If you are a woman without a husband or children in your home, this is a great opportunity to come alongside a mother in the church and help and encourage her in the training of her son(s). If you are a younger woman, without a husband and children, this is a great opportunity to come alongside your brothers in Christ and encourage them to aim towards these qualities. Here are a couple of questions for all women:                

Women: Are you encouraging your husbands and sons to aim their life at these qualities? Are you willing to come alongside a mom in the church and encourage her in the training of her sons? Can you think of anyone you could come alongside right now?                

With the deacon nominations upon us, it is a great reminder to think about deacon ministry. It is also a great reminder to pray for the deacon ministry in our church, both for the past, current, and future deacons of our church. Let us endeavor to pray together in this time (and in the future) for these men.