Recognizing a Servant (Deacon Ordination)
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Welcome
Open in prayer
Tonight, we come together as the church family of Eastern Hills Baptist Church to ordain Aaron Ward to the diaconate, as well as to commission two additional deacons: Bryan Morris and Jeff Brach, to active service here at Eastern Hills. Thank you for making time to be here tonight, and I pray that this is a meaningful and worshipful time for each of us as we enter into this church action together.
Ordination is not something that should be entered into lightly, either by the church or by the deacon candidate. Deacons are the second “office” of the church, and they are to be men who are set apart by the church to serve the congregation, as they were originally called in Acts 6 for the purpose of allowing the pastors to concentrate on the spiritual oversight of the church through the ministry of the Word and prayer:
2 The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The Greek word from which we get the term “deacon” (as Paul refers to them in 1 Timothy 3) was used to describe a “waiter,” someone who served tables and customers. Deacons are those who wait upon the congregation through ministering to them, taking care of the needs, and serving them as necessary.
Just as elders or overseers (pastors) are called to meet particular qualifications in order to serve in their roles, so the deacons are called to do so as well. Those qualifications are found in our focal passage tonight, 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. 11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. 12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
The fact is that in order to be a candidate for the diaconate, the man should already be doing what a deacon does, but without the title: serving the body, working as a help to the pastoral staff, and being useful in maintaining the fellowship of the church.
It is through their faithful service that they are noticed by the church body, and then nominated for the position of deacon.
I believe that Aaron was already doing the things that deacons should do before his nomination, and that he meets the qualifications of being a deacon, but for tonight, I will challenge him, and all of us who are ordained, from our focal passage to continue to live out those qualifications now that he is being ordained.
PRAY
Qualifications:
Qualifications:
According to our focal passage tonight, there are eight qualifications for deacons:
Worthy of respect;
Not hypocritical;
Not drinking a lot of wine;
Not greedy for money;
Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience;
Proven “blameless” through testing;
Husbands of “one wife;”
Competent managers of their children and households.
8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,
1: Worthy of respect
1: Worthy of respect
Deacons are to be men “worthy of respect.” You should be the kind of person that others in the church will hold in high regard, someone that people will be willing to listen to. The word literally means that you are to be “honorable” or “noble.” The NASB translates this as “men of dignity.”
I haven’t spent a ton of time with you, Aaron, but every time I have spent with you I have seen nothing but dignity. You are dignified in your speech, your treatment of your wife, and your dedication to whatever task you are given.
Deacons, we are each to be this kind of man. Deacons are to take their responsibility seriously and use the office they are being entrusted with in a responsible, respectable manner, not simply fill a seat.
This is why Paul ends his explanation of the diaconate qualifications with verse 13:
13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
We are to be men worthy of respect.
2: Not hypocritical
2: Not hypocritical
The deacon is to be honest and sincere, not two-faced or as the ESV puts it, “double-tongued.” Basically, the deacon is to “practice what he preaches,” even if he doesn’t actually preach.
Aaron, I know that you are always careful in the words that you say, and I believe that anyone who knows you would say the same thing. Continue in that, because we are to make sure that our speech might “always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that [we] may know how we should answer each person.” (Col 4:6, CSB)
Deacons, I challenge each of you tonight to reflect on your speech. Are you double-tongued? Do you practice what you preach?
3: Not drinking a lot of wine
3: Not drinking a lot of wine
The deacon is also to be a sober individual, one who is not given to the abuse of substances. The reality of this verse is that Paul here does not bring a complete admonition against drinking altogether. This verse only challenges against drinking to intoxication, of having substances such as alcohol control your mind.
Similarly, we find in Ephesians 5:
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul mentions drinking in here in the context of “paying careful attention” to your way of life, part of the contrast between wisdom and foolishness, making the most of the time or giving in to the evil days. His challenge is that drinking too much will lead to reckless living, and instead he calls the believers to be “intoxicated” (filled) with the Holy Spirit, which leads to the blessings we see in verses 19-20.
Aaron, to my knowledge, you don’t drink to drunkenness. So I simply challenge you and the rest of the deacons to remember that we are not to be controlled by alcohol or any other substance. We belong not to ourselves, but to the Lord, and He has called us into service in His body, the church.
4: Not greedy for money
4: Not greedy for money
The interesting thing about this phrase is that the Greek is a compound word made up of the roots of “dishonest or shameful” and “gain.” So this is more than simply wanting to be wealthy. It’s manipulation and underhandedness. It’s leveraging position or power for financial advantage in a dishonest fashion.
For example, the disciple Judas Iscariot used his position as the holder of the money bag to skim from what was set aside for the poor. He stole from the funds that were meant to help the widows and orphans. Deacons in the first church handled the money for those in need like widows and orphans. Therefore, they need to be free from any greed which could compromise their honesty and integrity.
I know that you work hard and have worked hard to get to where you are, Aaron, so I believe that you have integrity in this regard.
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
5: Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
5: Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
What is the mystery of the faith? It is the all-encompassing and available Gospel of Jesus Christ: His incarnation; His perfect life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into glory; the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers; the unity of Jew and Gentile together in Him; and the fact that salvation is only through Christ alone.
25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. 1 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. 2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. 3 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
And we are called to hold to the mystery of the faith with a “clear conscience:” that we are clinging to the Gospel without reservation, trusting completely in what Christ has done on our behalf. It’s living our lives as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:27:
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel,
I know this about you for certain, Aaron: you have trusted in Christ and you continue to trust in Christ alone for your salvation. I believe the same thing about each of our deacons.
10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.
6: Proven “blameless” through testing
6: Proven “blameless” through testing
The deacons examined Aaron several weeks ago, and found nothing in him to warrant concern or pause in ordaining him to the deacon ministry tonight. Not only that, but Aaron has been at several deacons’ meeting, has shared his testimony, and has served in several ways in the church throughout this time.
Being “proven blameless” means that the deacon should not be able to have any charge brought against them—that nothing would be able to stick because of their impeccable moral character and witness. The deacon is to demonstrate uprightness and holiness in their lives.
A good example of this word is from Paul’s own example as he reminded the Thessalonians of how he served while he was with them:
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Deacons, we should be seeking to live up to this standard, so that at any time, we could be again examined and be found equally above reproach.
12 Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.
7: Husband of “one wife”
7: Husband of “one wife”
Aaron, how many wives do you have? Just the one? Good.
The deacon is to be literally a “one-woman man” (it’s actually in that order in the Greek). This does not mean that a deacon MUST be married (although that is helpful). It means that the deacon is to be completely and totally faithful to his wife.
Just to address the question of divorce: there are perfectly biblical grounds for divorce which I personally do not believe completely disbar a man from serving as a deacon (wife’s adultery or abandonment, for example...see Matthew 5:32 and 1 Corinthians 7:15). There would have to be serious examination in this type of case, however, because marriage is a two-way street. Also, I believe that a man who was divorced before he ever came to Christ cannot be held accountable to that which was a part of the old man, who is dead and gone.
But this also means that the deacon should only have eyes for their own wife. Pornography should have no part of the life of the deacon. He should always strive to “husband” his wife well, to love her “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word.” (Eph. 5:25-26, CSB)
8: Competent managers of their children and their households
8: Competent managers of their children and their households
Again, this does not mean that a deacon MUST have children. But it does mean that if he has children, then he should manage them well by teaching them about Christ and seeking to lead them in godliness. We know that children will do their own things, and that there is no expectation of perfect children for deacons or elders. But the deacon should strive to raise children in the reverence, respect, and worship of the Christ.
The deacon should also be a good leader of his family, not being irresponsible with money or possessions, but being faithful in their finances as led by God.
24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Aaron, you and Krystal do not have children, but from what I have seen and heard from you, you manage your household well. You even use the resources that you have to serve other people regularly, so I am fully confident that you meet this requirement as well.
Deacons, take note. We should all live as competent managers of the blessings that God has given to us.
There is one last verse for us to consider:
The Deacon’s Wife:
The Deacon’s Wife:
Verse 11 addresses the wife of the deacon.
11 Wives, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything.
Krystal (and all deacons’ wives), I don’t say this in any way misogynistically, but who you are is a reflection on your husband, just as who he is is a reflection on you. You two are one flesh in marriage, so how could this not be the case?
How you live in the church body will have an impact on how those in the church view him. We won’t break these four things down tonight, but this is the challenge to you to live these qualities out alongside Aaron as he serves.
The truth is, I believe you already do live these things out, but I’d be incomplete in our consideration of this passage of Scripture if I didn’t mention it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Again, verse 13 tells us:
13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Aaron, the church is calling you to one of the two church offices. You have proven yourself up to the position, and I believe that you will be a blessing to Eastern Hills as you serve as a deacon. And as you do, you will acquire a good standing for yourself and even greater boldness in your faith in Christ.
Fulfill your position and maintain your standing in the qualifications of it. Serve the church family well, and glorify Jesus as you do. Thank you for agreeing to serve as a deacon.
Pray
Call down all three deacon candidates and their wives.
In Acts 6, when the deacons had been selected, the apostles prayed over them and laid their hands on them as a means of commissioning them to the service they were entering.
The ordained men of Eastern Hills will now perform the same act for these men and their wives. Church family, you are called to pray for each of them as well while this solemn act takes place.
After prayer:
It is my pleasure to welcome Aaron Ward, Bryan Morris, and Jeff Brach into our deacon body!
Invite to cookie reception.