Deacons: Servants of the Church

As we prepare to install new deacons, this sermon takes a look at the Bible's teaching about the qualifications and duties of deacons.
Organization/government of church quite simple
Not without structure - but very minimal
I. Deacon Means Servant
A. Servants in general sense
1. John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
2. Matt 23:10-11 And you should not be called 'Master,' because you have only one Master, the Christ. 11 Whoever is your servant is the greatest among you. (NCV)
3. John 12:26 If anyone serves [diakonae] Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant [diakonaes]will be also; if anyone serves [diakonae] Me, the Father will honor him.
B. Deacons as teacher/ministers
1. 1 Cor 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.
2. Rom 15:8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers,
II. Special Office
A. Acts 6:2-4 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. 3 "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. 4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." B. Qualifications
1. Respectable
a. V. 8 Dignity, grave
b. V. 10 beyond reproach
c. Ac. 6 Good reputation
d. V. 8 Not addicted to much wine
2. Trustworthy
a. V. 8 Not double-tongued, fond of sordid gain
3. Dedicated
a. V. 9 Holding to the mystery of the faith
b. V. 10 First tested - beyond reproach
c. Ac. 6 Full of the spirit and wisdom
4. Family man
a. V. 11 gunaikos - women/wives
(1) Rom 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;
(a) Ro. 13:4 Gov't deacon
(b) Ro. 15:8 Jesus deacon
(2) 1 Tim 2:12 I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man,
b. V. 12 Husbands of only one wife
c. Good managers of children and households
Matt 20:26-28 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant [deacon], 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."