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Christian Leadership Training Course

By J.C. Choate

Lesson 3

Deacons in the Church

Our last lesson dealt with elders in the church, who they are, their qualifications, and their work. We want to follow up now with a study of the deacons in the church.

Who is a deacon? According to the scriptures he is one who serves –– a spiritual servant. The case of the seven chosen in Acts 6 to assist the apostles is often set forth as an example of the work of deacons. Although they are not called deacons in that passage, they seem to have been doing the type work that deacons are to do.

After Paul listed the qualifications of elders in 1 Timothy 3, he goes on in verses 8-13 to give the qualifications of a deacon. He said, “Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

As you can see in Paul’s statement, not just anyone could be a deacon, as was also the case of being an elder. Since the qualifications and the work of elders and deacons are somewhat tied together, it automatically follows that elders and deacons must have a very close relationship with each other, and they do.

It has been said that the work of elders concerns the spiritual needs of the church but the work of deacons deals with the material or physical needs of the church. Do you remember the apostles in Acts 6 and their reason for choosing seven men to help them? They had reached the point where they were using their time in helping with man’s physical needs rather than the preaching of the word. The seven were chosen to help with those physical needs, thus enabling the apostles to concentrate on the spiritual needs. So it is with elders and deacons.

The elders are there to see after the spiritual needs of the church, to make sure that the gospel is taught, that the church is kept pure, etc. The deacons are chosen to assist the elders, and to serve the congregation in whatever capacity they are needed. Since there are spiritual as well as physical needs in the church, the elders are specifically to see after the spiritual needs, and then they can call on the deacons to see after the physical needs of the members, or to help in any other way in which they may serve. For instance, the church must meet somewhere, either in a rented place or in a building of its own. The elders may choose to turn over these arrangements and the care of the property to the deacons. They may also arrange for food for a needy Christian or help a sick person while he is unable to help himself.

Both those who would be elders and those who would be deacons must meet certain qualifications. This ensures that they have the physical, moral, and spiritual qualities which will be needed to do the job that they are being appointed to do. These are offices, spiritual offices, or jobs that they are to render to the church and to the Lord.

In both instances, only men are in position to be appointed, and in both cases, two or more men must be appointed. If only one man is qualified to be an elder, then he cannot be appointed. The same would be true in the case of appointing deacons. And since deacons are to assist the elders, if there are no elders, then neither can there be deacons.

It should also be pointed out that if qualifications must be met to be an elder or deacon, if one conducts himself improperly, that is, becomes immoral, or breaks God’s law in some other way, then he may be dismissed from his office and will no longer be recognized as an elder or deacon. These are not “life time” jobs, but they are to be held only as long as the qualifications can be met.

Let’s take a few minutes now for a closer look at the qualifications for being a deacon. Paul said that he must be grave or serious, not double-tongued, saying one thing one time and something else at another time. In other words, one must speak in such a way that people can believe him and have confidence in him. He is not to drink or be a drunkard, making a bad example of himself and unable to do the work he is supposed to do. He is not to be greedy of filthy lucre, or greedy of money or of material things. If he does covet such things, his wrong emphasis in life will become obvious to others, and they will realize that he is not very spiritual. He is to be faithful to God and always have a pure conscience. He is to be a tried and tested person, one who is dependable, and one who is not being accused by others of doing things that are bad or wrong.

Not only are there qualifications for the one who would be a deacon, but there are qualifications for his wife, too. She must be sincere, not a slanderer, or one who is telling tales on others or gossiping about others, but she must be serious in her actions and faithful in all things.

Those who would be deacons can be married only one time, that is, not divorced and remarried and all mixed up in marriage. They must rule or guide their children and their families so that they will be examples to others. Those who are able to meet these qualifications, and are chosen to be deacons, will make a great contribution to the Lord’s cause if they are faithful in their service.

In his writing, Paul spoke of elders and deacons being over the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:1,2). This is a good example for all congregations. Naturally, those congregations that are able to appoint and have elders and deacons according to the qualifications laid down in the scriptures will be in position to do a greater work for the Lord. Brethren everywhere should strive to comply with the Lord’s wish in regard to leadership.