Post on 01-Jan-2016
transcript
Deacons
• Desire.
– “To stretch one’s self out in order to…grasp something…” (Thayer).
– “To reach…longing after it” (Vine).
– Not coerced.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Reverent.
– “August, venerable…” (Thayer).
– “…serious, grave” (Vine).
– Dependable, trustworthy.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Not double-tongued.
– “double in speech…” (Thayer).
– “Saying a thing to one person and giving a different view of it to another” (Vine).
– Consistent, accurate.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Not greedy for money.
– “eager for base gain” (Thayer).
– “…denotes greedy of base gains” (Vine).
– Not covetous, materialistic, cf. Jn. 12:6
Qualifications
Deacons
• Holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
– Knows the truth.
– Follows the truth.
– Stands for the truth, cf. Rom. 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:15-16
Qualifications
Deacons
• First tested, then appointed.
– “…examine…scrutinize” (Thayer).
– “…prove with the expectation of approving” (Vine).
– Reputation precedes responsibility.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Husbands of one wife.
– Scripturally married, cf. Rom. 7:1-3; Matt. 19:9
– Experience with care and service.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Ruling their children & houses well.
– Good father, Prov. 22:6; 19:18
– Experience in “demanding” service.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Full of the Holy Spirit & wisdom
Acts 6:3
– Full of gospel, Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16
– Applies knowledge practically.
Qualifications
Deacons
• Reverent.
– “August, venerable…” (Thayer).
– “…serious, grave” (Vine).
– Serious minded, not silly, 1 Pet. 3:1-4
Wives
Deacons
• Not slanderers.
– “prone to slander…” (Thayer).
– “Accusing falsely” (Vine).
– Control tongue.
Wives
Deacons
• Temperate.
– “sober, temperate…” (Thayer).
– “…free from the influence of intoxicants” (Vine).
– Clear-headed, right thinking, exercising self-control.
Wives
Deacons
• Faithful in all things.
– God, Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thes. 5:17
– Husband, Titus 2:4-5
– Children, Titus 2:4-5
Wives
Deacons
• By members of the church, Acts 6:3
– Work with them.
– Know them.
– Respect them.
Selection & Appointment
Deacons
• Appointed by those who oversee, Acts 6:6
– With prayer.
– “Lay on hands,” cf. Acts 13:2-3; 1 Tim. 5:22
Selection & Appointment