What are Deacons For, and Should Your Church Have Any?

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I. The office of a deacon is scriptural (under strict conditions), and for a man to hold it he must meet high qualifications (1Ti 3:8-13).

A. 1Ti 3:8 - Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

B. 1Ti 3:9 - Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

C. 1Ti 3:10 - And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

D. 1Ti 3:11 - Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

E. 1Ti 3:12 - Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

F. 1Ti 3:13 - For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

II. The only other place in the whole Bible where the word deacon(s) is used is in Phi 1:1.

A. Phi 1:1 - Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

B. The church at Philippi was apparently large, having multiple bishops (pastors) and deacons.

III. Contrary to the practices of Churchianity, there is only one duty given to deacons in the Bible which is carrying food to widows (Act 6:1-6).

A. Act 6:1 - And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

B. Act 6:2 - Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

C. Act 6:3 - Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, WHOM WE MAY APPOINT OVER THIS BUSINESS.

D. Act 6:4 - But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

E. Act 6:5 - And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

F. Act 6:6 - Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

IV. Though the word deacon is not used in Act 6:1-6, by deduction it must be concluded that these seven men were ordained to the office of a deacon since there are only two offices in the NT church found in scripture: 1) the pastor (1Ti 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9) (which is also called an elder, bishop, overseer, and steward - see the video blog titled "A Pastor is an Elder, Bishop, Overseer, and Steward" for proof that these are different names for the same office), and 2) the deacon (1Ti 3:8-12).

A. The seven men in Act 6:1-6 were ordained by the laying on hands (Act 6:6) which shows that they held an office and were not just informal helpers.

B. They were obviously not ordained to the office of an elder/bishop since they were ordained for the specific purpose of serving widows tables, not teaching or ruling.

C. Therefore the only other office they could have been ordained to is that of a deacon.

V. So what is the duty of a deacon?

A. It's very simple: to serve widows tables (Act 6:3).

B. There is no other duty given to them in scripture.

C. They do not have the rule in the church; the pastor who teaches the word of God and watches over (oversees) the church does (Heb 13:7,17; 1Ti 5:17).

1. Heb 13:7 - Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

2. Heb 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

3. 1Ti 5:17 - Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

D. The deacons (if there are any) do not rule the pastor; they are ruled by the pastor.

VI. When does a church need a deacon(s)?

A. When a church has so many widows (who have no family to take care of them (1Ti 5:4)) who need food taken to them that the pastor cannot handle it on his own, then a deacon(s) can be ordained to take care of THAT BUSINESS.

B. There is no other scriptural reason for a church to have a deacon.