Why was the office of deacon instituted? We love your comments! decisions through this meeting." Then close the prayer. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. #4 - Use simple parliamentary rules. Thank You for giving me this opportunity to work for You. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. So, we need to read all of Scripture in light of the whole Bible. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. Lord Jesus Christ, Servant of all, Send your Spirit upon [our deacons and their wives] as [they] serve your Church. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. A chair who signals to her group that she really values them and respects them, is on the way to a good meeting. b. M In verse 13, Paul says, "For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and a great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." Paul is saying that those who serve in the often quiet, behind the scenes work of deacons, will be rewarded with high standing. In standard usage, it described someone devoted to carrying out the commands, accomplishing the will, or meeting the needs of another person. "I will still be the same when you are old and gray, and I will take care of you." Isaiah 46:4 As we grow older, our bodies begin to change. Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something . However, only You can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning. But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. November 2022 - A Spiritually Healthy Church. Thats assumed. A.The Problem (verse 1)-Greek-speaking Jewish widows being overlooked in the distribution . But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. All rights reserved. They are to hold to correct doctrine (v. 9). 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. : Pre-Seminary & Bible, Baptist Bible College (Now Clarks Summit University)M.Div. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Mold me in Your image and guide me in my actions each day. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. January 2023 - A Biblical View of Church Membership. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 3. Help me to devote my life to best supporting the elders of the church and the congregation. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. Depend on the Lord July; Pentecost; time of difficulty Amen. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Make [their] heart[s] like yours so [they] may love your people. The really good chair will know which agenda item is going to push a particular persons button. I don't believe deacons "run" the church. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. F But this is your time. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Having a good agenda in hand 2 or 3 days before the meeting is important. Finally, they are to be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and home with integrity (v. 12). Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. We humbly implore you to dwell among us with the Spirit of discretion. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Deacons bring stability for people. All rights reserved. 2.7 Short Funny Devotionals for Essential Oils Users. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.. 1 Timothy 3:11 Verse Concepts God, make me brave. Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. 3. In Jesus all-powerful name, I pray. 1 Timothy 3:13 Here Paul explains the function of the deacon, and two things will result when the service of a deacon is done correctly. And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless. Month-by-month lectionary readings . of 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Deacons are to be problem solvers and preservers of church harmony. T We have talents, abilities, and time to work. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Updated June 01, 2022. Allow us to work together as a team to confront struggles of every kind, at home, in the church, and in our community. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God? Not only could this devotional resource keep our vision fresh, but it also will invite us to explore the meaning of the phrases in the charge of deacons - encouraging us to search for ways to make this come alive in our own contexts. I need to visit more, share stories more, and fellowship more. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 - Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (Read More.) : Grace Theological SeminaryD.Min. 5. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus. It is necessary to begin your staff meeting with these collections of 6 Powerful Prayers for Staff Meetings with scriptures on this post. Publication date: Feb 25, 2023. But qualifications for a deacon's character are clearly outlined in Scripture. ( 1 Tim 3:13, NKJV) This statement foreshadows two eventual, compelling benefits for those who carry out their duties well. They are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, a good household . View Pastor Viars' Salvation Testimony Video, 5526 State Road 26 EastLafayette, IN 47905. #5 - Set a quorum of deacons to be present. July 2022 - Honoring God with Our Giving. The term translated "deacon" simply means servant. September 2022 - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. You can find the devotionalsby clicking here. conduct our work with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm. : Biblical Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the 1 Timothy 3:1-13 1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. Implications? Prayers An Opening Prayer for the Meetings of the Deacons Merciful God and Father, you have not only declared that we will always have the poor with us, but have also commanded us to support them in their need. They are to teach what is good. Here is a beautiful prayer to use in closing your time together. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. But you have to get there one step at a time. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Amen. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.". Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. V Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 - 1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". God let this meeting be productive and, as should be the case in all areas of our lives, help us to keep You at the forefront of our minds as we do the work set before us. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. For example, the Bible is the authority for Baptist faith and practice. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. He is the source of all the direction we need. Tell Him your troubles. Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. You don't have deacon's meetings without the pastor present unless your goint to fire him. Keep Me Grounded Prayer Lord Jehovah, Self-Existent One, I ask that You keep me grounded and on the path You have for my life. Like deacons, elders live sincere, generous, faithful, self-controlled lives. It will also increase your ability to use Scripture as you minister to those inside and outside of the church. When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Help all of the teachers to be able We know that when we gather together, You always have a divine agenda. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good. In Your holy name, I pray. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. Dr. Steve Viars has served at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN since 1987. Give us your grace to relieve needs by means of material gifts and to instill the comfort of your holy Word into the hearts of the afflicted, that they may put their trust in you alone. Options to hear God's Word may be: a) Through a Relevant Bible Passage Select a Bible passage that relates to diaconal ministry. Thank you for the roles of deacon, elder, and minister and for the uniqueness each brings to the table. Blog, A Read Chapter All Versions 1 Timothy 3:8-13 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. In Jesus name, I pray. You are free to use any of our devotions. An exceptionally good piece of news is that these devotions are available for free on the DMC website! 7 And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Help us to share Your word and Your truth with all who enter our presence. Romans 16:1: A Female Deacon (Deaconess) In Acts 6:3, the apostles appoint seven male deacons: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus. It is rooted in the Greek word diakanos, which is translated as deacon, minister, or servant (1). Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. I am Yours. These readings are available for both lectionary cyclesdaily readings and Sunday/Festival readings. October 2022 - Sacrifice for God and Others. 6. They help to respect peoples time, their ideas, their willingness to serve. Beloved, confide in Him. for choosing to use ordinary, average people like us to impact the world. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Benediction End of school/church/calendar year 5. Give [them] a humble heart when [their] work goes unnoticed. Having a time of devotions and prayer at your deacon's meetings is meant to facilitate a sharing of the living Word. II. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. In Christ, Kendall. Their ministry seems to have begun in Acts 6:3-4 when the apostles sought men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" who would serve the widows in the church. That means sitting through lots of less than great ones. 1. Many pastors like to have a list of devotions that they can give to others as well as use in their own personal life. . I will cross raging waters and walk through burning flames and not be afraid because You are with me through it all. But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work. First, theres just no getting around it, somebody has to do some good preparation, and that usually falls to the chair. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. They are students of Scripture, holding to sound theology. While being dispersed across various locations, our teams can use these meetings as a time to come together and build unity. Never leave my side. c. What warnings do we find here, both for pastors and church members? Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. And they were accompanying him to the ship. I want to do my best for You, and I need Your help to do that. Couples Spiritual Weapon Prayer Lord of Heavens Armies, bless my wife as she works and prays daily to be molded into the image of You. 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. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. 2. Use your departure as a time to thank God and ask for His protection and blessings. Dashes January; to memorialize someone 6. R Give [them] health of body so [they] may serve with strength. Proverbs 24:10 4. The last thing Ill mention here is the ounce of prevention step. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. I commit everything I have and everything I am to You, Lord God. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. C Which in turn can easily become part of opening devotions. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. Give me the courage to overcome my shyness and be more social to further the impact I make in Your holy name. Baptists interpret the Bible as indicating there are two offices in a New Testament churchpastor and deacon. Give [them] peace of mind in obedience and service. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 12. each other to excellence. Verse 7)? Amen. Lead us to them and help us to distribute the offerings that have been collected in a spirit of joy, fidelity, and liberality. Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Invite and encourage people to share whats happening in families, at work, whats distracting them right now, whats exciting, whats discouraging, etc. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. 1 Timothy 3:8 - Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Acts 6:1-15 - And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the . B Your email address will not be published. First Corinthians 12:5 tells us that "there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord." Ministries in that verse is also diakonia. You are our good Father, just and righteous. Z. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. What leaders are being spoken of here (cf. Work in and through me, Jesus. Bonus points if they get connected in the Young . Focus our eyes on consoling those who hurt and bringing Your light into the darkness. 24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Couples Voice Prayer Jesus, my Master Potter, I pray that every morning when I wake up, You are there, right next to me and in me, to be the energy in my veins, the beat in my heart, and the voice in my throat. Do you have feedback? Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. The church secretary will record the church meeting minutes to distribute to all attendees and relevant absentees after the meeting has adjourned. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Give me patience, dependability, and a continued, trustworthy reputation. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. We love You for that, Father. on 08/23/2019. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. Bible verses related to Deacons from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. O Forgive us for striving beyond our means, worrying, and forcing results. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. FENCES. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. The Bible teaches that all persons who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are priests with direct access to God (1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Amen. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Amen. Grant me grace as I age so I may share your wisdom. Church Membership of officers in Deacons. "Make every effort to preserve the unity the. Let us always overcome. 1. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. It will involve you in followup on decisions from the last meeting, and it will help you to think about what you can do ahead of time to help insure that the next meeting is a good one. I know you have strong feelings about keyboards, and so I wanted to have a conversation with you before the meeting to make sure you dont feel blind-sided, and help you feel assured that well handle this in a way that feels respectful to you.. Make us both blameless in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We dedicate our lives to You, our God. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the Lords bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. To help focus on the TASK at hand, each agenda item should be labeled clearly, so that the group knows exactly what it needs to do with that agenda item. One of the important principles of Bible interpretation is that we must allow Scripture to interpret itself. As I continue the path of being a deacon in my church, I ask that You give me the words I need to help those who come to me. June 2022 - Called to Serve. Thank You for allowing service to Your Church to be the mission of our lives. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. These. The agenda will show WHAT is coming up, AND, even more important, WHAT the group is being asked to do about it. Scripture: 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your . Do not wait for that to happen in the meeting. 2.5 Short Devotions on Encouragement for Moms. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. Allow both my wife and me to be encouragers, supporters, and smile-makers, not only at church but everywhere we go. Pastor Viars leads and equips Faith Church as Senior Pastor with a focus on preaching and teaching Gods Word and using his organizational skills in guiding the implementation of the Faith Church mission and vision. Acts 20:17-38 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 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; Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. What truths was Paul trying to emphasize to these Ephesian elders? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. . Every project, every season, every life. Bless this meeting today, all those present, as well as the lives of those we will encounter afterward. I Ephesians 6:18 Whether you are headed into a work meeting that needs guidance and wisdom or gathering as a small group or church, these opening prayers will set your focus on God's will. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Ladies' Dinner and Bible 0 Comments Add a Comment Cancel. 37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. They were faithful in their time. We humbly ask that You make us worthy to be Your servants. Give me a generous spirit when I am tired but needed. Take my words from my mouth and replace them with Yours completely. Deacons from generations past are cheering you on from the sidelines of glory. Christ is the Head, Elders are the physical leaders of the church, deacons fall under the . For things to be done decently and in order, we must have a rule of order. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Labs It can be so vast and open ended that it's difficult to know what to focus on. But in Romans 16:1, Phoebe, a woman, is also called a diakonos. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. Help me to be a motivator and a spiritual weapon for her. For he is God's servant for your good. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. May we discharge the duties of our office as Christ's ministers of mercy. When you are a pastor or administrator, you need to plan the meeting just like any other event where your group can focus on resolving important issues. 2.6 Short Morning Devotions for Couples. Give [them] a discerning mind to know your truth. 33 I have coveted no ones silver or gold or clothes. Deacons are an example to people. All rights reserved. Bless, we pray, our work of mercy that we all may praise and thank you, while we await the blessed appearance of your Son, Jesus Christ, who became poor for our sakes that he might enrich us with eternal treasures. Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Listed below are 19 practical tips for pastors when conducting a Deacons' Meeting.