Why Deacons?
Earlier this year, we took a 5 week journey through the big themes of the Book of Acts. Among these themes included the leadership structure of the church. We looked at Acts 6 and the topic of deacons in the Church. Depending on your faith background, the term “deacon” may conjure a number of different pictures.
In that message, I shared that our church would be moving to install deacons in our church body. This article is meant to be a brief reminder of what deacons are and why they are key to a healthy local church.
Two Offices
The New Testament teaches that there are two offices, or positions of service, in a local church. These two positions are elders and deacons.
The office of elder, which is synonymous with the term pastor and overseer, is the leadership office in the church. Each of these terms not only refer to the same role, but describe a different aspect of its function. The term elders comes from the Old Testament when Moses installed elders to help settle disputes and provide the people of Israel guidance rooted in God’s Word (see Exodus 18). The term pastor is a term for a shepherd, who would gently lead sheep toward safer pastures. The term “overseer” also describes a leadership role. Just as the President could be called the Commander and Chief or the Chief Executive, so elders could be called pastors or overseers.
Whether a pastor is paid (1 Timothy 5:17-18) or are lay elders, they are called to lead, feed, and oversee the church. All three titles come together in 1 Peter 5,
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
— 1 Peter 5:1-2 ESV
Yet the Bible teaches that there is a second office, that of deacon, which is not responsible to lead the church, but rather to serve the church.
Paul wrote to the Phillipians,
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: — Philippians 1:1 ESV
There we see the two offices mentioned side by side.
Again in 1 Timothy 3…
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task…. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. — 1 Timothy 3:1, 8 ESV
The Bible teaches that healthy churches need elders and deacons. But what do Deacons do?
Why Deacons?
You may ask, “If we have elders, why have deacons?” Aren't most Baptist churches led by deacons? Why should there be deacons?
Deacons do not lead the church. They do not stand in authority over the pastor/elders. Deacons exist to be servants within the body, not overseers over the body.
Deacons are needed to help serve and meet the specific individual needs of the body.
In Acts 6, most commentators believe we are introduced to the first deacons. A problem has arisen in the early church: Hellenist widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. What needed to be done? Did they call the apostles (who were acting as elders for the early church) to leave from their ministry to meet the needs or to manage the food program? No, they installed deacons.
Acts 6 records,
“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” — Acts 6:1-4 ESV
Deacons were installed to meet the needs so that the apostles could be devoted to overseeing, shepherding, and caring for the spiritual needs of the congregation. Deacons made sure the church had physical food to eat so that elders could make sure they had spiritual food to enjoy.
Deacons serve. Their work is compared to waiting tables. They serve as conduits of care and the hands and feets of Jesus in the church. When deacons are serving as they ought, elders can properly “devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).
Deacons make sure physical needs are met so that spiritual needs can be met. This brings unity to a church and it causes disciples to be multiplied. Acts 6:7 shows the results to God's church functioning God's way,
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
— Acts 6:7
Conclusion
Why Deacons? Because God's people need to be served. Why Deacons? Because the church that obeys God's Word will never lack God’s supply. Why Deacons? So that we may fulfill our mission to take all of Christ to all of Cadiz and to all the world.
Below you will find an initial “job description” for deacons at Crossroads. On Sunday September 1, three names will be presented with a “vote of installation” taking place on September 15. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
DEACON JOB DESCRIPTION
Deacons exist as servants in the body of Christ, not as a decision making body. The job of a deacon is to…
Live as a faithful servant to Jesus in accordance with the characteristics of 1 Timothy 3:8-13. One cannot be a faithful servant in the church if they are not first a faithful servant of Jesus.
Serve as conduits of care to members and families in the church and beyond. This may include, but is not limited to...
Checking In On Families Within The Church For Spiritual Care and Prayer
Visitation to Home And Hospital Bound
Organizing Food Trains
Organizing Work Days Around the Church
Advising Eldership of Benevolence Needs and Policies
Serving As a Unifying Influence Through Their Words of Love and Acts of Service