THE ROLE OF THE DEACON ACTS 6:1-7. The Role of the Deacon Role-Role- The Characteristics,The Characteristics, Function, orFunction, or Expected Behavior

THE ROLE OF THE THE ROLE OF THE DEACONDEACON

ACTS 6:1-7ACTS 6:1-7

The Role of the DeaconThe Role of the Deacon

• Role-Role-• The Characteristics,The Characteristics,• Function, or Function, or • Expected Behavior of an Expected Behavior of an

Individual Individual


• AnnunciationAnnunciation• Where Do Deacons First Appear?Where Do Deacons First Appear?• Acts 6; Performing the Function Acts 6; Performing the Function

Which Later Becomes the OfficeWhich Later Becomes the Office• The Term Deacon Means to ServeThe Term Deacon Means to Serve• Found 32 Times in the NT as:Found 32 Times in the NT as:• Deacon (5); Minister (20); & Deacon (5); Minister (20); &

Servant (7)Servant (7)• Sometimes Used in General for Sometimes Used in General for

the Function of Servingthe Function of Serving


• Other Times as the Office in the Other Times as the Office in the Local ChurchLocal Church

• The Context in ActsThe Context in Acts• Position Started Through a Need Position Started Through a Need

for Division of Laborfor Division of Labor• Murmuring Among the Grecians Murmuring Among the Grecians

and Hebrewsand Hebrews• Conflict Now Brought Into the Conflict Now Brought Into the

ChurchChurch


• A Business Meeting Was Called (V2)A Business Meeting Was Called (V2)• Apostles Asked the Congregation to Apostles Asked the Congregation to

Find Men With Spiritual Find Men With Spiritual Qualifications (V3)Qualifications (V3)

• Principle of DelegationPrinciple of Delegation (Ex 18:17) (Ex 18:17)• The Leader The Leader (Pastor)(Pastor)• Be thou for the people to God-ward Be thou for the people to God-ward

((Men of PrayerMen of Prayer))• Teach them ordinances and lawsTeach them ordinances and laws

((Ministry of the wordMinistry of the word))


• Delegation & Division of LaborDelegation & Division of Labor (Deacons)(Deacons)

• Provide out of all the peopleProvide out of all the people ( (Look ye Look ye out among youout among you))

• Able men Able men ((Full of the Holy SpiritFull of the Holy Spirit))• Men of truth Men of truth ((honest reporthonest report))• Hating covetousness Hating covetousness ((full of wisdomfull of wisdom))• Place such over them Place such over them ((appointappoint))• Same Situation; Same Godly SolutionSame Situation; Same Godly Solution


• Examining the Process in ActsExamining the Process in Acts• Look ye out among you Look ye out among you ––

Congregation SelectsCongregation Selects• Seven menSeven men--Not An Absolute or Not An Absolute or

Sacred NumberSacred Number• Of honest reportOf honest report--Having a Good Having a Good

ReputationReputation• Full of the Holy SpiritFull of the Holy Spirit--Evidence Evidence

Witnessed in the LifeWitnessed in the Life


• Full of wisdomFull of wisdom--DiscernmentDiscernment• Whom we may appointWhom we may appoint--Congregation Congregation

Selected, but Apostles Appointed Selected, but Apostles Appointed them to the Taskthem to the Task

• Sets the Relationship for the DeaconSets the Relationship for the Deacon• The Pastor is THE Leader (Heb. 13:7)The Pastor is THE Leader (Heb. 13:7)• The Pastor is Divinely Appointed with The Pastor is Divinely Appointed with

Qualifications (1 Pet. 5:1-2)Qualifications (1 Pet. 5:1-2)


• A Serious Matter to Challenge A Serious Matter to Challenge What God Has Set UpWhat God Has Set Up

• Over this businessOver this business--NeedNeed• Deacons Do Not Have a Finite Deacons Do Not Have a Finite

List of Duties. They Fulfill List of Duties. They Fulfill Needs.Needs.

• This Role-Relationship is Critical This Role-Relationship is Critical and Biblicaland Biblical


• AdaptationAdaptation• Deacons Desire to Divide Spiritual & Deacons Desire to Divide Spiritual &

Secular (or Business)Secular (or Business)• Pastor Prays & Preaches; Deacons Run Pastor Prays & Preaches; Deacons Run

the Business of the Church…Untrue!the Business of the Church…Untrue!• Deacons Do Not Have a Role Similar Deacons Do Not Have a Role Similar

to Boards in Corporationsto Boards in Corporations• Pastor is the CEO & Deacons are the Pastor is the CEO & Deacons are the

BoardBoard


• Idea of Officers from 1 Tim 3:10 Idea of Officers from 1 Tim 3:10 KJVKJV

• Deacons Are Not Representatives Deacons Are Not Representatives of the Congregation as in of the Congregation as in GovernmentGovernment

• Pastor is the President; Deacons Pastor is the President; Deacons are the Congressare the Congress

• Balance of Power Concept Has No Balance of Power Concept Has No Foundation in ScriptureFoundation in Scripture


• ApplicationApplication• The Deacon’s Role is to Function The Deacon’s Role is to Function

as an Extension of the Pastor’s as an Extension of the Pastor’s MinistryMinistry

• Qualifications Similar in 1 Tim 3Qualifications Similar in 1 Tim 3• Working Together Toward Working Together Toward

Common Spiritual GoalsCommon Spiritual Goals• Laborers Together (1 Cor 3:9)Laborers Together (1 Cor 3:9)


• Relieving Some of the BurdenRelieving Some of the Burden• A Matter of PriorityA Matter of Priority• Wisdom of Multiple Counselors Wisdom of Multiple Counselors

(Prov 15:22)(Prov 15:22)• Preventive Maintenance During Preventive Maintenance During

Difficult DecisionsDifficult Decisions• AnticipationAnticipation• God’s Will, Done God’s Way, Works God’s Will, Done God’s Way, Works

(Acts 6:7)(Acts 6:7)

Documents

THE ROLE OF THE DEACON ACTS 6:1-7. The Role of the Deacon Role-Role- The Characteristics,The Characteristics, Function, orFunction, or Expected Behavior