O Church Membership of officers in Deacons. V Romans 8:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful In Jesus name, I pray. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. The Lord's Servants Read the Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. Q Help me to be a motivator and a spiritual weapon for her. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. In Jesus all-powerful name, I pray. each other to excellence. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Options to hear God's Word may be: a) Through a Relevant Bible Passage Select a Bible passage that relates to diaconal ministry. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. We humbly implore you to dwell among us with the Spirit of discretion. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 2. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Deacons bring stability for people. Updated June 01, 2022. 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. 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. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. For Hard Times For Financial Prosperity For Physical Health For Emotional Health For Protection For a Marriage For Babies and Pregnancy For Family For Spiritual Warfare For Spiritual Health For a Death For the Workplace For Bedtime, Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 18 Strong Prayers for a New Place to Live, Righteousness Exalts a Nation Meaning and Meditation, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Every project, every season, every life. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Let us bring love where there is hatred, healing where there is injury, faith where there is doubt, and hope where there is despair. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Help us plant seeds of hope and faith in eternal life with You. 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. Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. In Your holy name, I pray. 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. But qualifications for a deacon's character are clearly outlined in Scripture. Reset our agendas, as we sit in Your presence. Blog, A Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. In Christ, Kendall. They are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, a good household . Strengthen our confidence in who You have made us to be. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. Make me step out and take up new adventures. It is seen in several places in Scripture, most often describing someone who is a domestic servant that is subordinate to their superior. Meetings of the first church have more to do with keeping in line with . Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Having set forth the qualifications for elders, Paul now does the same for deacons. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. So now we are ready to invest a bit of effort and time, because we are MOTIVATED to improve those meetings! 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. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. For things to be done decently and in order, we must have a rule of order. But in Romans 16:1, Phoebe, a woman, is also called a diakonos. It's been said that a lot of churches are run by strong willed deacons wives:) According to scripture, churches are to be run by elders, of which the pastor is one . 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. Help us to work together and encourage Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. T The Scriptures teach us that all things should be done in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40). We love your comments! D 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. But do this with gentleness and respect,". I commit everything I have and everything I am to You, Lord 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. Create in us an everlasting determination to grow Your kingdom that produces good fruit. rather than doing business as usual, using a meeting or a part of a retreat to have a foot-washing service together. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 22 And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. Let all things be done for building up. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. I am Your servant and desire to further Your kingdom and guide Your sheep to green pastures and eternal life with You. 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. Deacons are to control their appetites either for alcohol or money (v. 8). What leaders are being spoken of here (cf. What's helpful when questions arise about purpose, is to be reminded about our calling to these roles, and how better to remember than to each meeting take a few moments and collect ourselves to remind each other what we were elected to do. 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.. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. Devotions for Church Meetings Full All 20 devotions 1. I need to visit more, share stories more, and fellowship more. Give [them] a humble heart when [their] work goes unnoticed. #1 - Have a written agenda and give each of the deacons a copy. It will help develop your language of faith and help you apply Scripture. In a deacons meeting, a shriveled little nay-sayer looked across the way at his pastor and said, "The Bible says the deacons are to handle the business of the church." . Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. b. One of the important principles of Bible interpretation is that we must allow Scripture to interpret itself. 10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 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. Beloved, confide in Him. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.. Use your departure as a time to thank God and ask for His protection and blessings. His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church. They are students of Scripture, holding to sound theology. 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. 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. 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. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Give me patience, dependability, and a continued, trustworthy reputation. . A Deacon's Relationship to the Church Membership at Large The deacons are to be active in ministry to the church family, promoting peace, harmony and a spirit of cooperation among the membership. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Their family lives prove that they apply the truth of Scripture in all areas of their lives. Scripture: 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your . I don't believe deacons "run" the church. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. I am Your servant and will go wherever You lead me. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". We ask this through Christ, our Lord. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Focus our eyes on consoling those who hurt and bringing Your light into the darkness. . He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. Give her the ability to be who You called her to be and lead me in my guidance of her. May we discharge the duties of our office as Christ's ministers of mercy. The expectations for elders differ from those of deacons in a one critical way. 8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. Bible verses related to Deacon Duties from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. #5 - Set a quorum of deacons to be present. Time is invested in deacon training. Guide My Footsteps Prayer O God, my Promise-Keeper, be with me as I step out every day into the darkness of this world to bear Your light. Dr. Viars serves on the boards of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Vision of Hope, and the Faith Community Development Corporation. Having a time of devotions and prayer at your deacon's meetings is meant to facilitate a sharing of the living Word. 2.6 Short Morning Devotions for Couples. 1 Timothy 3:11 Verse Concepts Let Your light in me shine brightly for all to see. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). c. What does this verse contribute to our overall subject? But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.. 1. If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. How do you start your deacon meetings? Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. 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. Love you guys. Deacon Campbell opened the meeting in prayer promptly at 8:15am. Transform us Lord, and make us more like you. As an apostle, Paul described himself as a "servant of the Lord" (Rom 1:1; Col 1:25). 4. Remind me daily that it is an honor to be Your hands and feet. Recalibrate our intentions and refocus our hearts. I want to do my best for You, and I need Your help to do that. Help me to devote my life to best supporting the elders of the church and the congregation. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. This office, therefore, is named for what it does: serve. In Jesus name, I pray. Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. There is only one way for us to go to heaven. We need You. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. My job has many responsibilities such as teaching Bible studies, planning mission trips and retreats, and offering pastoral care to students and their families. Take my words from my mouth and replace them with Yours completely. View Pastor Viars' Salvation Testimony Video, 5526 State Road 26 EastLafayette, IN 47905. b. The goal of each meeting is to make sure that we (deacons and pastoral staff) are leading and serving in ways that glorifies God and builds His church. Make me fertile ground for your inspiration and love. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. Amen. Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. 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. The Bible says that deacons who serve well (meaning serve effectively) receive a high standing and have confidence in Christ ( I Timothy 3:13 ). Keep my breathing deep and peaceful, let anxieties roll off my back, and help me to stay focused on supporting the elders in my church. 1. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. But you have to get there one step at a time. 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. They are to hold to correct doctrine (v. 9). The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! 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. OK, you are on your way to consistently great meetings. Father, Our hosting of this content does not imply endorsement, nor can we verify the accuracy of user-submitted posts. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Take Away My Worry Prayer Dear God of All Comfort, thank You for all that You have given me. c. What warnings do we find here, both for pastors and church members? For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. In Jesus name, I pray. They are to teach what is good. Give [them] a discerning mind to know your truth. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. Labs And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. 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. Every meeting begins with prayer. 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. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff They are to pass the test of public scrutiny (v. 10). 3) HEARING GOD'S WORD It is important for a deacon's meeting to begin with an encouraging Word from God. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. You have called us to the office of deacon in this congregation, and we are now assembled in your name to deal with the matters pertaining to our office. Thats assumed. 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. Qualities of Deacons and DeaconessesFaithful Servants (1 Timothy 3:8-13) Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Amen. But it does include specifics on the roles and duties of church leaders. 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Acts 6:1-7 1 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.