Order in the Church Part III

August 30, 2015
Sermon
Lesson 12
1 Timothy 3:8-13

ORDER IN THE CHURCH—PART III (DEACONS)

Main Idea: God’s church must be served by deacons who serve well!

• Concept of servanthood (deaconhood)
=> Characteristic of Christ (Matt 20:28; Mk 10:45)
=> Characteristic of the Apostles (1 Cor 3:5)
=> Characteristic of every Christian (Matt 20:26; Mk 10:45)
=> Special characteristic of the church office of "deacon" (Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8)
• Concept of deaconhood
=> Prototype of deaconhood in the early Church (Acts 6:1-4)
=> Distinction between elder/deacon (overseer/servant) (Phi 1:1; 1 Tim 3:8-13)
• Qualifications
=> Shared qualifications (with the elder/bishop)
• "Above reproach" (2, 10); "Husband of one wife" (3, 12); "Not addicted to wine" (3, 8); "Not a lover of money" (3, 8); "Manage households well" (4-5, 12)
=> Elder qualifications not specified for deacons
• "Sober-minded" (2); "Respectable" (2); "Hospitable" (2); "Able to teach" (2); "Not violent" (3); "Gentle" (3); "Not quarrelsome" (3); "Not a recent convert" (6); "Well thought of by outsiders" (7)
• Distinct deacon qualifications
=> "Dignified" (8)
=> "Not double-tongued" (8)
=> "Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience" (9)
=> Wives must also be qualified (11)
• "Dignified"; "Not slanderers"; "Sober-minded"; "Faithful in all things" (11)

May God continue to raise up the deacons
by which the Church will grow and thrive and glorify God!