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Offices of the Church: Deacons · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

0:00
We've been a little topsy-turvy this morning. They probably have caught on that the printer went kaput.
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There's a whole story there.
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Yeah, thank you to the band for being willing to pivot.
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I typically try to pay attention to the song just before preaching so I know when it's ending.
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We clearly caught that I wasn't sure what we were about to do there.
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We're going to begin this morning in Acts chapter 6, verses 1 through 7.
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There's one other text we'll go to before we read it together.
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I'd like to say a few introductory comments.
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Last week in this, we're taking a break from our normal verse-by-verse exposition of a Bible text
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because from time to time and for a specific purpose,
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it can be helpful to summarize what the Bible teaches on a given topic.
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There's a topic before us. What does the Bible say about this?
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Now, this is the second of two weeks taken to think together about the offices of the church.
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As Gary mentioned earlier in his prayer, church polity or governance is what we're thinking about,
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particularly because we need to think as a church about the office of deacon.
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As stated last week, this office has been neglected in the life of our church,
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and I want you to hear, this is exactly what I said last week,
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that I will be the first to admit that this is to my shame.
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There's much that I could say about that.
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I'll spare you all of my thoughts there.
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To get there, to get to talking about deacons,
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Last week we considered the office of elder and how that office works with the congregation.
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How we together are led by elders to do congregational work.
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The church of Jesus Christ is precious because it is purchased by his blood.
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His universal church finds its expression in local churches.
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We exist, this gathering here this morning,
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because of his redeeming life, death, and resurrection.
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He loves us so much that he lived and died, was raised and ascended for us.
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He loves us so much that he has not left us alone.
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He sends his helper, the Holy Spirit.
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He has given us his word and he has given us the church.
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He loves local churches.
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I hope you love the local church in just a small measure of the way he loves local churches.
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And he loves local churches so much that he's given us instruction for how we are to govern the local church.
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Polity, not boring at all.
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And it matters for every single one of us.
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Every church has a polity.
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All are functioning in some way, some better than others.
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We want to be as biblical as we can be in our polity
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because we think that Jesus loves the church
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and he's given us instructions for how we are to be effective at the mission that he's given to us.
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We most regularly call our polity elder-led congregationalism.
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And I added last week for our thinking, elder-led, deacon-assisted congregationalism.
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Now, I'm not sure that deacon-assisted is the best phrase.
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I think it could be misunderstood what I mean by that.
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It's probably not going to make its way into our normative vernacular concerning our polity,
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but I want to be clear today what I mean by that
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and help us think about the role this office serves in the church.
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I hope that I showed you sufficiently last week from Ephesians 4
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that the congregation of a local church,
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the whole congregation,
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is to teach one another the truth and apply that truth in our lives.
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So the congregation is responsible for holding to sound doctrine.
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The truth we're supposed to speak to each other in love, we find in Ephesians 4.
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Then again, I hope sufficiently, I showed you from Matthew 16 and then Matthew 18,
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that the congregation is meant to correct sin in one another's lives.
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We're supposed to point out to one another when we're sinning against each other
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and against the Lord for the sake of repentance.
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And in some process and sad cases, to see somebody outside of the church
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because they can't possibly be a Christian if they're living in unrepentant.
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Sin.
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So the congregation is responsible for discipling.
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Perhaps nowhere more clearly states the purpose of the church
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than Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 through 20.
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There Jesus says,
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All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
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baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,
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and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
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This is the mission that we call the Great Commission given to the church.
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And of course, that works itself out in local congregations.
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So the congregation is doing the holding sound doctrine work and the discipling work.
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Congregation as a whole.
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Mission of the church in total.
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And greater certainly includes the lesser.
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So it's the mission of our church.
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This congregational process is meant to be led by elders and assisted by deacons.
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Now, here is where that phrase, right, could be so clearly misunderstood.
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Perhaps supported by deacons?
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Rather than me going through a litany of other possible verbs,
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allow me just a quick analogy to kind of explain what I mean.
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There's a really wonderful, I would argue, seminal work by a man named Colin Marshall
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and another named Tony Payne called The Trellis and the Vine.
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And in that book, which is really a plea for congregationalism,
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for the whole church to be doing the work of ministry,
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they start with an analogy.
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And one of the two men, I can't remember which,
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talks about a jasmine vine that he has growing on his fence.
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And it's a flourishing, beautiful vine.
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And behind that vine, attached to the fence, is a trellis.
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And so what he sets up is that there are some works that need to be going on
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in the life of a church that are to support the most important work
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that should be going on in the life of the church.
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So vine work in a church is the work of ministering the gospel to one another, right?
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This holding sound doctrine and this discipling work that we talked about last week.
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The trellis work is that work which holds up the vine.
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So the trellis is not unnecessary, but it's necessary for the vine work to flourish.
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And so that's what I mean when I say deacon-assisted or perhaps supported, right?
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Holding up, making possible this very important work of congregationalism.
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So I hope that gets our brains moving in the right direction.
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In Acts chapter 6, verses 1 through 7.
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Let me pray before I read it.
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Father God, we do thank you for your great love for the church.
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We recognize that Jesus shed his very blood for the people that gather together on Sunday mornings
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and sing and pray, open your word, that we might worship Christ rightly.
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What a thing it is that today we are gathered, that people are gathered all over the place.
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What a wonderful picture of your grace.
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Even just those in this room are immeasurable reason to praise you.
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We thank you that you've given us your word and you've shown us how we're to be ordered
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under your good, loving, kind authority.
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We humbly recognize that we need your help to rightly understand it and give it application.
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We pray to this end that you would help us for the glory of Jesus.
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Amen.
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All right.
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Acts chapter 6, beginning in verse 1.
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Now, in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists
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arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
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That would have been Greek-speaking Jews.
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And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,
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It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
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Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,
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full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
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But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
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And what they said pleased the whole gathering.
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And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
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and Philip, and Procurus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas,
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a proselyte of Antioch.
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I read those so confidently, you think that's how those are pronounced.
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I don't have a clue.
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These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
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And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.
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And a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
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All right, so we can make some profitable observations about the office of deacon from this text.
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This is understood, this text, to be the origin of the diaconal ministry.
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These seven, the very first deacons.
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So that's the first observation.
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Here it is.
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We think in the history of the church, these are the first deacons.
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So we begin with a problem, right?
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In these days, the disciples were increasing in number.
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There's a great number of people professing faith in Christ.
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The church in Jerusalem is growing in droves,
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and this complaint arises between two ethnic groups of people, right?
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There's a distribution problem going on, right?
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The growth is a good problem, but with that growth comes some complexity.
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Some challenges have arisen in the process.
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This division along these cultural lines,
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and it's coming out in a very practical issue, right?
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Widows are being denied daily distribution.
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They're not getting the food that they need.
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It's not merely a logistical failure.
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It's a threat to the very unity of the church.
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Notice how it is that the apostles respond.
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It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
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I don't believe that this is a statement of superiority.
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I don't think they're saying, well, it's below us
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that we would spend any of our time in service this way.
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That word serve is where we get our word for deacon from.
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I don't think they're saying that at all.
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What I think they're saying is that it's a statement of priority.
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The apostles understand that Christ has entrusted them
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with the ministry of the word and prayer, verse 4.
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If they neglect that, the entire church is going to suffer for it.
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So what do they do?
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There's a real need going on, but there's a priority at play.
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So they call together the congregation to appoint qualified men.
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Pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute,
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full of the Spirit, and of wisdom.
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Men who have professed faith in Christ and given evidence of that,
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and men who are wise.
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They take men and they set them apart to handle
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the practical needs of the church,
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ensuring fairness, care, unity.
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And then note the result in verse 7.
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And the word of God continued to increase.
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You see the connection there?
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Remember, when the churches rightly ordered,
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the word set themselves to this work of prayer and ministry of the word.
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And so the word of God continued to increase.
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I think we would all say yes and amen to that, right?
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That the word of God would go forth,
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take root in people's lives,
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show the evidence of repentance and faith.
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So that's the first thing we notice.
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This is the initial.
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This is the situation when we see this diaconal ministry arise.
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Second, we can note some things about the nature
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and then the specific purposes of the office of deacon.
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Now, the church has historically recognized this passage
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as the prototype of what this type of ministry should look like.
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Deacons are servants.
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Servants.
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That's what the word means.
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Intentional, recognized, qualified servants
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who are tasked with meeting the tangible needs in the body.
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You could separate spiritual and physical needs in this way.
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Physical needs are being met by these individuals.
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They are not elders.
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They are not spiritual overseers,
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but they are servants of Christ for the good of his church.
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So this is the nature of who these people are to be.
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From Acts 6, we can draw out four purposes,
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specific purposes of the diaconal office.
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Why should we call people to serve in this way?
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The first purpose is to care for the physical needs of the church.
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It's fairly on the nose.
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Here in Acts 6, they appointed men
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who will do the work of caring for these neglected widows.
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We're not given details.
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We don't know exactly how this took out,
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but it is probable that as the growing number of this early church was large,
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that these men were not themselves doing all of the work.
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It's just my guess.
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It's my years of serving and leading.
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I just don't feel like seven is quite enough to get the task done,
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although I don't know the total number.
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But I would be willing to bet
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that they were organizing people to accomplish the task.
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They are serving by helping others serve this need.
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And this ensured that, number one,
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there was physical well-being amongst this group of widows,
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so that their spiritual well-being could be addressed.
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They just eliminated the issue of being taken care of now,
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and now their spiritual well-being can be the focus.
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And that thirdly, it served as a witness to the onlooking world.
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Just think, Jesus says in John 13 and verse 35,
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by this all people will know that you are my disciples
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if you have love for one another.
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So there it is on display as this group of widows was being neglected,
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and now those needs are being met.
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There are people in place to make sure
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that there's some kind of mechanism
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that these women would be loved,
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and the onlooking world can marvel
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at that kind of service to them.
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So they're to care for the physical needs of the church.
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Secondly, we can see in Acts 6
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that they're to protect the unity of the church.
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There's something going on here.
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There's this division with the presenting issue.
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The deacons step into this sensitive situation
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and ensure that care is distributed fairly and wisely.
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Deacons are a kind of shock absorber,
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Mark Deber likes to say,
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in the life of the church.
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They step into moments of tension,
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not to wield authority,
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but to preserve peace
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around things that are physical in nature.
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How?
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With plans to meet those physical concerns.
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They catch the,
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hey, I noticed.
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A handrail would be really nice right here.
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Those types of things.
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Keep me from falling down the concrete steps out front.
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That was a real issue
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that was really met in the life of our church.
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It was brought to our attention,
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and it needed to be.
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So they protect the unity of the church in that way.
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Thirdly,
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to support the ministry of the word.
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It's been said in measure,
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but it deserves more of our attention.
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The apostles are clear.
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We will devote ourselves to prayer
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and to the ministry of the word.
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We're going to set our attention
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on these two tasks.
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Deacons do not replace this ministry.
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They protect this ministry.
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Again, shock absorbed.
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They buffer.
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So that ministry can be focused on.
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When deacons are faithful,
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elders are freed.
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When elders are freed,
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the word of God is central
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in the life of the church.
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And when the word is central,
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the church is healthy.
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This is the downstream effect.
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Invariably,
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this is how it works.
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It's not a competition of roles.
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It's a cooperation of callings.
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Now,
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I want to speak briefly
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to my own failure
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to work hard
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at promoting this office
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in our church at this point.
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There's a lot of reasons
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that I could explain to you.
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If you come to our members meeting tonight,
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I'll say a bit more.
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But I do want to say
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it is in no way
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because I have a desire
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to be in control of anything.
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This has been levied at me
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from time to time.
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Right?
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But please note,
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this has never been
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why I've neglected
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and neglected to be sure.
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This has been the impulse for me
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that largely has driven
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my neglect of this good.
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And then I want to
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bring the corrective as well.
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Let me read to you a quote
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from The Trellis and the Vine,
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the book that I mentioned previously.
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So remember the imagery, right?
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We're working on vine work.
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The vine work is the thing
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that's so critical and important.
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It is the mission of the church.
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And then the trellis work
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is the thing that's coming up
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and supporting it,
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making it possible.
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Okay?
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So, quote.
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That's the thing about trellis work.
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It tends to take over
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from vine work.
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Perhaps because trellis work
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is easier and less personally threatening.
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Vine work is personal
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and requires much prayer.
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It requires us to depend on God
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and to open our mouths
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and speak God's word
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in sum to another person.
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By nature,
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we shy away from this.
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Trellis work also often
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looks more impressive
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than vine work.
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It's more visible and structural.
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We can point to something tangible,
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a committee, an event,
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a program, a budget,
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an infrastructure,
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and say that we have achieved something.
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The concentration on trellis work
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that is so common in many churches
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derives from an institutional view
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of Christian ministry.
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It is very possible for churches,
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Christian organizations,
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and whole denominations
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to be given over totally
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to maintaining their institution.
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Whatever the reason,
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there is no doubt
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that in many churches,
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maintaining and improving the trellis
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constantly takes over
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from tending to the vine.
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And this was early in our thinking
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about the church
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as we planted
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and wanted to see
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good and healthy relationships
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within the life of the church,
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as we wanted to see the church
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being congregational,
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doing this important work
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of defending sound doctrine
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and discipling one another.
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And so what I ended up doing
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was running around in circles
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around everybody
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to try to keep you free to do that.
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That's my main problem.
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I think at the core of it all,
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as I want to help you do
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the thing that you do so well,
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loving and serving one another
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with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Perhaps, in some measure,
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keeping tasks off your plate
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has helped you be a congregation
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that is well concerned
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with discipling.
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I don't know.
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Maybe I left you a little bit bored
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and then you had to actually
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minister the gospel to one another.
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However,
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as we continue to grow,
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your elders need to maintain
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the bandwidth
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to focus all of our time
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and energy
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on prayer
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and ministry of the word.
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To be devoted to that.
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Because frankly,
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it's enough.
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It is a massive,
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massive work.
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To pray for you
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and to minister
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the word of God to you
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on all of the various ways
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that that can be done.
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If our polity is going
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to keep working,
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you don't want
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one of your pastors
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putzing around
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with a copier
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trying to get the bulletins printed
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at 4 a.m. this morning.
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It's not profitable
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for you ultimately.
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Right?
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That copier has not been
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working right since September.
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It's not the way
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I should be spending my time.
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I recognize that fully
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and it's largely my fault
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that I'm doing it.
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So don't hear me
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accusing you at all
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of that.
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You want
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my prayers
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and my careful preparation
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if we are to hope
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that our good vine work
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will go on.
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We together
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have to be concerned
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about that
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and think about
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how we together
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keep that health going.
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And it's going to mean
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that we have to build
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careful,
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careful strategic trellis
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to hold that vine up.
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I have too often
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misspent my time
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in ways I thought
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would best serve you
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but I believe
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may have been
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to your detriment.
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We can't run the experiment
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a different way
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so it's really hard to know
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if I'm right about that
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at all.
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But what I am confident of
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if the Bible instructs us
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to do something
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we should do it
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and trust that it's
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ultimately good.
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Whether or not
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our experience affirms it
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if God's commanded it
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we should do it
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and trust
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that it's going to work out
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for good.
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This problem
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needs fixing.
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Deacons are at least
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a significant part
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of the solution.
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So that was the third one.
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The most primary one
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I think
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to support the ministry
24:47
of the word.
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Fourthly
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it's worth mentioning
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deacons exist
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to model
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Christ-like service.
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Practical
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Christ-like
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service.
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This I think
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is implicit
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in this text
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the character
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of these men
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but we need
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to step out of it
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a little bit
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at this point
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to see it
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most clearly.
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Deacons
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dignify
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unseen
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work.
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They elevate
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humble
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service.
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They show
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the church
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that greatness
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in the kingdom
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is measured
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not by
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platform
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but by
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sacrifice.
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Turn with me
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if you will
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to 1 Timothy
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chapter 3.
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Let's look at
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some of the
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qualifications
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that are outlined
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there for us
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for deacons.
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Now
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we can't
25:50
derive
25:51
clearly
25:51
from
25:51
Acts
25:52
chapter 6
25:52
that there's
25:52
an office
25:53
being established
25:53
here
25:54
but this
25:54
is where
25:55
these two
25:55
things
25:55
come together
25:56
for us.
25:57
So
25:57
just
25:57
after Paul
25:58
has talked
25:58
about
25:58
qualifications
25:59
for
25:59
elders
26:00
he goes
26:01
on
26:02
in verse
26:03
8
26:03
to say
26:03
deacons
26:04
likewise.
26:06
So this
26:06
is the
26:07
word
26:07
that could
26:07
be
26:07
translated
26:08
servant
26:09
servants
26:10
likewise
26:11
but he's
26:12
clearly
26:12
talking about
26:13
an office
26:13
in this
26:14
case
26:14
because he's
26:14
putting
26:14
qualifications
26:15
on it
26:16
just like
26:16
he did
26:17
for the
26:17
office
26:17
of
26:18
elder.
26:20
So
26:20
deacons
26:21
likewise
26:23
must be
26:24
dignified
26:25
not double
26:27
tongued
26:27
not addicted
26:28
to much
26:28
wine
26:29
not greedy
26:30
for
26:31
dishonest
26:32
gain.
26:33
Notice
26:33
there
26:34
what
26:34
Paul
26:35
is
26:35
emphasizing
26:36
the
26:36
character
26:37
of
26:38
these
26:39
people
26:39
dignified
26:40
worthy
26:41
of respect
26:42
serious
26:42
about
26:43
holy
26:44
things
26:44
not
26:46
double
26:46
tongued
26:47
consistent
26:47
in speech
26:48
trustworthy
26:49
self
26:51
controlled
26:52
not
26:52
mastered
26:53
by their
26:53
appetites
26:54
financially
26:56
honest
26:56
driven
26:57
by
26:58
gain
26:59
and more
27:01
verse 9
27:01
they must
27:02
hold
27:02
the
27:02
mystery
27:03
of
27:03
the
27:03
faith
27:04
with
27:04
a
27:04
clear
27:04
conscience
27:05
deacons
27:07
must
27:07
be
27:07
theologically
27:08
sound
27:08
they are
27:09
not
27:10
teachers
27:10
in the
27:10
same
27:11
way
27:11
that
27:11
elders
27:11
are
27:12
but
27:12
they
27:12
must
27:12
love
27:13
and
27:13
live
27:14
the
27:15
truth
27:15
the
27:16
reason
27:16
for
27:16
service
27:17
in the
27:17
church
27:18
must
27:19
be
27:19
coming
27:20
out
27:20
of
27:20
the
27:20
truth
27:21
of
27:21
the
27:21
gospel
27:21
verse
27:23
10
27:23
says
27:24
and let
27:24
them
27:24
also
27:25
be
27:25
tested
27:25
first
27:26
there's
27:27
no need
27:27
to
27:28
rush
27:29
into
27:29
this
27:30
certainly
27:31
17
27:31
years
27:32
is not
27:32
rushing
27:32
the
27:34
church
27:34
observes
27:35
discerns
27:37
and
27:37
confirms
27:38
the whole
27:39
congregation
27:40
does
27:41
this
27:41
Paul
27:42
even
27:43
includes
27:43
the
27:44
household
27:44
verse
27:45
12
27:45
let
27:45
deacons
27:46
each
27:47
be the
27:47
husband
27:47
of one
27:47
wife
27:48
managing
27:48
their
27:49
children
27:49
and
27:50
their
27:50
own
27:51
households
27:51
well
27:53
similarly
27:54
to
27:54
elders
27:55
right
27:55
how can
27:56
you give
27:56
any
27:56
leadership
27:56
in the
27:57
church
27:57
if
27:57
your
27:57
household
27:57
itself
27:58
is
27:58
not
27:59
ordered
28:00
right
28:00
the
28:01
home
28:01
is
28:01
the
28:01
proving
28:02
ground
28:03
of
28:04
ministry
28:04
a man
28:05
who
28:05
cannot
28:05
shepherd
28:06
his
28:06
home
28:07
cannot
28:07
be
28:08
trusted
28:08
to
28:08
serve
28:09
Christ's
28:11
church
28:11
and
28:13
then
28:13
comes
28:13
a
28:14
promise
28:14
verse
28:16
13
28:16
for
28:17
those
28:17
who
28:18
serve
28:19
well
28:19
as
28:19
deacons
28:19
gain
28:20
a
28:20
good
28:20
standing
28:21
for
28:21
themselves
28:21
and
28:22
also
28:22
great
28:23
confidence
28:24
in
28:25
the
28:25
faith
28:25
faithful
28:27
service
28:28
deepens
28:29
assurance
28:30
and
28:30
strengthens
28:31
witness
28:33
so
28:34
so these
28:35
people
28:35
serve
28:36
to
28:36
model
28:37
Christ
28:37
like
28:38
service
28:38
it's
28:39
not
28:39
limited
28:40
to
28:41
them
28:41
we
28:41
should
28:41
all
28:42
be
28:42
serving
28:42
one
28:43
another
28:43
but
28:44
they're
28:44
to
28:44
give
28:44
us
28:45
leadership
28:46
in
28:47
this
28:47
regard
28:47
so
28:49
the
28:49
new
28:49
testament
28:49
presents
28:50
two
28:51
distinct
28:52
offices
28:53
elders
28:53
and
28:55
deacons
28:55
elders
28:56
lead
28:57
through
28:57
prayer
28:57
and
28:58
ministry
28:58
of the
28:59
word
28:59
deacons
28:59
serve
29:00
through
29:00
tangible
29:00
ministry
29:01
and
29:01
practical
29:02
care
29:03
help
29:04
the
29:04
congregation
29:05
do
29:05
the
29:06
work
29:06
that
29:06
the
29:06
congregation
29:07
is
29:07
meant
29:08
to
29:08
do
29:08
hold
29:09
that
29:09
sound
29:10
doctrine
29:11
and
29:11
disciple
29:12
one
29:12
another
29:13
in
29:13
the
29:14
truth
29:14
both
29:15
of
29:15
those
29:15
offices
29:16
are
29:16
essential
29:17
they're
29:18
essential
29:19
because
29:19
they're
29:19
biblical
29:20
whether
29:20
or not
29:21
we
29:21
fully
29:21
comprehend
29:22
how
29:23
it
29:23
all
29:23
works
29:24
out
29:24
a
29:25
church
29:26
with
29:26
elders
29:26
but
29:27
no
29:27
deacons
29:28
here
29:29
this
29:29
church
29:29
a
29:29
church
29:30
with
29:30
elders
29:30
but
29:30
no
29:31
deacons
29:31
will
29:31
be
29:31
strained
29:33
a
29:34
church
29:34
with
29:35
deacons
29:35
but
29:36
no
29:36
elders
29:36
will
29:37
be
29:38
unanchored
29:39
Christ
29:41
in his
29:42
wisdom
29:42
and his
29:43
great
29:43
love
29:44
for the
29:44
local
29:45
church
29:45
has
29:46
given
29:46
us
29:46
both
29:48
Charles
29:50
Spurgeon
29:50
once
29:51
said
29:51
this
29:52
would
29:52
have
29:52
been
29:52
on
29:52
your
29:52
bulletin
29:53
today
29:53
if
29:53
you
29:54
had
29:54
it
29:54
quote
29:56
deprive
29:57
the
29:57
church
29:57
of
29:57
her
29:57
deacons
29:58
and
29:59
their
29:59
loss
29:59
would
30:00
be
30:00
the
30:00
shaking
30:01
of
30:01
the
30:01
pillars
30:02
of
30:02
our
30:02
spiritual
30:03
house
30:03
and
30:04
would
30:04
cause
30:05
a
30:05
desolation
30:06
on
30:06
every
30:06
side
30:07
end
30:08
quote
30:08
isn't
30:08
that
30:09
great
30:09
man
30:10
Spurgeon
30:11
said
30:11
if we
30:11
lose
30:12
the
30:12
deacons
30:13
of
30:13
the
30:13
church
30:13
the
30:13
church
30:14
will
30:14
be
30:14
in
30:14
shambles
30:15
so let's
30:18
think about a little bit of application
30:19
and then I'll
30:20
close
30:21
number one
30:23
honor the office
30:26
we
30:28
put myself at the front of the line
30:30
have not
30:31
done well
30:32
if we had
30:32
we'd have more deacons
30:34
deacons are set apart by the church
30:37
recognized for their godliness
30:38
entrusted with real responsibility
30:40
as we work to establish more deacons
30:44
pray for your elders in their nominating efforts
30:48
and pray for the whole church in their affirming efforts
30:53
your elders want to bring to you
30:56
people we think are qualified to do this
30:59
you have to help us to be sure that this is
31:03
right
31:04
once we have
31:07
pray for them
31:08
be encouraging to them
31:10
jump in and help
31:12
as they give us
31:13
direction
31:14
in this physical
31:15
service
31:16
secondly
31:19
it's worth mentioning
31:20
that we ought to aspire
31:21
to the character
31:22
even if you're never
31:24
to hold the office
31:25
you're called to the same
31:27
Christ-like maturity presented
31:29
in first timothy
31:30
these
31:32
qualifications in chapter three
31:34
are not
31:35
extraordinary
31:36
they are exemplary
31:37
but we should all be striving
31:39
to be godly
31:39
in this way
31:40
they show us what normal
31:42
Christianity looks like
31:44
when it's
31:44
taken seriously
31:46
pursue
31:48
godliness
31:49
show up
31:50
serve
31:50
whether or not you hold
31:52
the office
31:53
third
31:55
consider the call
31:57
the church
31:58
needs
31:59
faithful deacons
32:01
we may be coming
32:02
and speaking to you
32:02
at some point
32:03
or you may find
32:04
that you have
32:04
particular gifting
32:05
and you may want
32:05
to offer it to us
32:07
hey I think
32:07
there's a place
32:08
I could jump in
32:09
and I'm willing
32:11
to receive some scrutiny
32:12
and I want to see
32:13
if maybe I could
32:13
serve the church
32:14
in higher order
32:15
and fourthly
32:17
and extraordinarily
32:18
practically
32:19
if you're a member
32:20
of our church
32:21
come to tonight's
32:23
members meeting
32:23
now we will not
32:25
be nominating
32:26
anyone to the role
32:27
this evening
32:28
but we're going
32:29
to propose a structure
32:30
for nominations
32:31
and talk a bit
32:31
about the present
32:32
needs
32:33
and how we all
32:34
have a part to play
32:35
in meeting
32:36
those specific needs
32:38
how we can do this
32:39
better together
32:41
so in conclusion
32:44
beloved
32:44
the office of deacon
32:45
is not merely
32:47
about logistics
32:48
it is about
32:50
the gospel
32:51
when deacons
32:53
serve well
32:54
the needy
32:55
are cared for
32:55
the church
32:57
is unified
32:57
the elders
32:59
are freed
32:59
and the word
33:00
of God
33:01
advances
33:02
and in all of it
33:04
the supremacy
33:05
of Jesus Christ
33:06
is experienced
33:08
proclaimed
33:09
and displayed
33:10
to the very ends
33:12
of the earth
33:13
let's pray together