02/24/02- Lenoir
File 167
Deacons – Their Qualifications
I Tim. 3:8-13
Turn to text.
As in the case of elders, the qualifications for being selected as a deacon are clear.
Notice the word "likewise" in verse 8. This indicates that the same necessity of being qualified before chosen to be an elder applies to being a deacon.
This morning’s lesson will be simple and to the point.
The qualifications set forth in the text.
Grave: Not immature, giving serious and sacred matters their proper attention.
Not double-tongued: Honest, not a hypocrite.
Not given to much wine:
We live in an evil world. One of the greatest evils is strong drink.
Some have supposed that this text allows, "social drinking" – that a deacon can drink as long as he does not get drunk. That is not what the text says and that does not take into consideration what the rest of the Bible says.
Why, then, does he say "much wine?" The statement in 5:23 will help. Here Paul was talking about using wine as a medicine.
a. Paul did not say wine was good for all ailments.
b. He did tell everyone to take a little wine.
c. He did not tell Timothy to take it all the time, thus after he was well he should stop.
d. He did not tell him to take it for any other purpose than the one for which he prescribed.
e. Obviously Timothy was a total abstainer. If he had been accustomed to drinking wine, the passage would be unnecessary.
f. Hence, the meaning of "much wine" is the antitheses of a "little wine".
g. Keep in mind that medical science has removed the need for wine as a medicine.
The one being chosen as a deacon was not to be a drinker. He may have at some time tasted wine, or he have used it as Timothy was permitted to do for medical reasons but he was not a social drinker
Why?
h. Because Wine could impair his judgment.
i. Because of the deacon’s influence on the church and the world.
j. Because strong drink has been the root of such immense evil in the world.
Not greedy of filthy lucre: Not materialistic or selfish, not a Judas
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience
"The mystery of the faith" refers to the faith, which had been revealed.
He must "hold" it: Know it; be firmly committed to it.
"In a pure conscience": A conscience consistent with what the Bible teaches.
First be proved… Being found blameless: Cannot be a new Christian but someone whose Christian life has been found to be above approach.
Even so must their wives (deacons must be married) be:
Grave: see above
Not slanderers: Not critical fault-finder, not a gossip
Sober: serious minded or not a drinker
Faithful in all things: Faithful as a wife, mother and Christian
Ruling their children and their own houses well: As husband and father, the head of the family. Inability to manage ones family well suggests inability to manage church affairs well.
Notice how the qualifications named in Acts 6:3 correspond to the above.
Of honest report: Known to be honest.
Full of the Holy Ghost: this could correspond with verse 9.
Full of wisdom: One who is mature enough to use good judgment.
Now notice how Acts 6:1- 4 provides us with the only reference to a specific responsibility given to deacons.
Review the problem, the Apostles’ instructions.
Note "appoint over this business"
This "business" was benevolence to widows.
Notice that the scope of their duties was specified.
They were men given a specific duty.
But deacons were also in other congregations where the same need might not exist.
We may infer, therefore, that deacons in other places were set over other "business".
Since the meaning of "deacons" is one who serves, we may rightly conclude that a deacon or deacons may be assigned any responsibility in the church.
This is what the Bible says. This is God’s plan. Every member should make a careful study of these qualifications. Every man should seek to develop these characteristics within himself.
There are some in the religious world today who think we would be making too big a deal about deacons and their qualifications but we want to be the church of the New Testament and follow God’s pattern.
We also want to follow God’s pattern when it comes to His plan of salvation.