Deacons

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Deacons

• Introduction

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What is a deacon?

• Diakovnou"
• a servant, a helper
• Often used in a simple, literal way
• Sometimes used in a figurative way
• Sometimes used to refer to an office within the
  church

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An office?

• Phil. 11
• Saints Christians, would apply to all children
  of God
• Overseers elders, a group within the saints,
  responsible for the spiritual welfare of the
  saints (Heb. 1317)
• Deacons servants, a group within the saints,
  responsible for physical welfare of the saints
  (Acts 61-6)

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An office?

• Office means a work for which there are
  qualifications and responsibilities
• Not a title
• Not a board of deacons position
• Alleviates the burden on the elders

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Why are deacons needed?

• Spiritual and physical needs often intertwined
• Elders to concentrate on spiritual problems
• Physical needs of church members
• Sickness, shut-ins
• Physical disabilities
• Place of assembly

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How to do it all

• Deacons will be charged with making sure certain
  needs are met
• Does NOT mean they must personally do everything
• The deacons in Acts 6 made sure all widows got
  food and care
• Does not mean the deacons personally cooked all
  the food or even delivered it

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How to do it all

• Deacons will organize members to help in their
  area(s) of responsibility
• Members need to be prepared to do MORE with
  deacons, not less
• Deacons will not relieve members of their duties
  as Christians and members of this local church

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Areas of responsibility

• Determined by the elders
• Areas that are keeping elders from meeting
  spiritual needs
• NOT areas for which elders are responsible
• Deacons are NOT elder-trainees
• Deacons are NOT elder substitutes
• NOT self-determined
• They are helpers for the elders

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Example

• Physical place of assembly
• Make sure someone has cleaned
• Make sure someone prepares Lords Supper
• Make sure someone is unlocking / locking the
  building
• Make sure someone is taking care of physical
  maintenance
• These things have been done before
• Problems have usually come back to elders
• A deacon can take charge of these things

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How will we proceed?

• Hand out material
• A four-page handout
• Page 1 How we will proceed
• Page 2 Qualifications notes page
• Page 3 A personal worksheet
• Page 4 A selection form

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Page 1

• Each of the Sunday morning lessons in February
  will be about deacons
• By March 9th, members will select men they feel
  should be deacons
• Between March 9th and 23rd the elders and
  evangelist will meet with selected men to discuss
  duties and qualifications
• On March 23rd the names of selected men who
  desire the work of deacons will be announced
• If no scriptural objections are raised, then
  deacons will be appointed on April 6th

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Page 2

• This is for taking notes during lessons on
  qualifications
• Starting next Sunday morning
• Please read 1 Timothy 38-13 for next week
• Could also be a place for you to write down
  questions you have about qualifications

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Page 3

• For personal use, if you want it
• Place names of potential deacons across top
• Go down columns and check off qualifications
• If you arent sure, find out
• You can keep this page at home

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Page 4

• Dont fill out until all sermons are done
• After February 23rd, fill it out, sign it, and
  give to elders or evangelist by March 9th
• If you feel no one is qualified, write that in
  the space provided
• These forms are purely informational for
  determining selection they will not be tallied
  as a vote
• These forms will not be seen by anyone other than
  the elders and evangelist

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