Deacon Ordination Service 10/14/23

The Calling and Qualifications of Deacons

Well, hey, welcome. Thank you for being here tonight on on Sunday September 17th, I preached on the office of Deacon within the church and after that sermon we introduced to you three nominees as you can see up on the screen.

We have three Nominees for the office of deacon and we have given all of you our church family. We've given you four weeks four weeks to pray for them. Four weeks to examine their lives and their families four weeks to encourage them and to what it is that they are potentially getting ready to step into and even four weeks to bring accusation against any one of them and.

During these past four weeks this past month your responses have have further Affirmed the fact that this church has called out the right three men. Amen. The right three men to this Christ truly is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

This is Christ work make no mistake about it. He is the one that is that is working in the hearts of us his people the body and and carrying this out. So as a reminder of what we talked about four weeks ago Deacons are not leaders in the church deacons do not carry any kind of role of authority.

Or or our leadership in any way they are servants that's what the word deacon means servant right and they are assistants to. To us the elders, but we are in desperate need of assistance as a matter of fact I want to read again what we believe to be the first Deacons called out within the church.

I read this a month ago when we talked about it. But in Acts chapter 6 in the first few verses there we see. The church is really kind of growing into its own. It's becoming this this Entity this organism that Christ has established and and they're putting things in place like deacons but they're at the beginning of Chapter 6 and verse 1 says now in these day in those days when the disciples were increasing in number.

Remember I mean they'd grown there's like what 3 ,000 5 ,000 whatever the number is like thousands of people coming to Christ and coming into the church these numbers were increasing. And a complaint came about by a group of Hellenistic Jews.

They were they were saying that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution that the widows weren't being cared for properly the physical needs of People within the church were not being cared for properly and the twelve which are the Apostles, right?

The twelve summoned to the full number of the disciples all the peoples of the church everyone that had come into the visible church. They had called this full number of the disciples and says it is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables.

That's not me saying that right. That's not me saying it's not right for me to do servant serving tables within the church and caring For these widows. It's not right for me to have to do that and neglect the preaching of the Word to do that.

That's what the Apostles said. So therefore brothers pick out from among you seven men of good repute full of the Spirit and of wisdom whom we will appoint to this duty and What was the purpose of that in verse 4 they said?

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

So.

These seven men that are brought into place these first what we would consider deacons Servants within the church within a specific office of the church are meant to be assistance to the elders. Assistance to the men who are spending their weeks in prayer and in study and teaching of the Word.

So as this church continues to grow which we have been we're getting ready to move downtown into a new space and who knows who God's going to bring our way but Responsibilities and physical needs within the church grow with it.

Don't they? So God's timing is perfect. We may have waited three years for this but it was exactly when we needed is exactly when Christ wanted it to be. The Jeremiah and myself should not get so distracted by those physical needs that are coming that.

That we neglect that prayer and that study because that is only a detriment to you as a people as a church. So thankfully all of you here we we have a church of servants. We have a church of of people who desire to serve and and all of you that come into membership.

You see the value of it. You see the importance of it and you serve you help carry the burdens of the people within this church in many many ways and these three men have stood out even in the midst of that service and We believe will further structure and organize that service of those physical needs within this body.

So I would like now to call those three men up to the stage. Adam Carmichael Brian Agee and Justin Stasny. Y 'all can pick a seat. Whichever one you want to sit in. Here's your three men, right. Let's let's give him a hand.

Qualifications in 1 Timothy 3

All righty. Well, what we want to do. I have on the slides actually what we're going to be. Be putting up here because we're gonna ask some questions.

There.

The qualifications of this particular office are seen in First Timothy a pastoral epistle that that Paul writes to Timothy his protege About structuring the church and he has given him qualifications for overseers for elders and then he immediately goes in in chapter 3 and verses 8 through 12 and breaks down the qualifications of this particular office of deacon and.

Over the past few months we have met. Basically weekly until recently right and we've been walking through what that looks like. We've been meeting Regularly and talking what is the office of deacon? What are these qualifications?

And so what I want to do is I'm gonna ask each individual one of you. We're gonna walk through all of these qualifications. I believe we have nine here looks like nine and I'm gonna I'm gonna hit one and I'm gonna ask one of you to kind of speak briefly to that and explain what that.

Qualification is the reason we want to do this is not to test them. I already know they know what the qualifications are. That's why I'm asking them the question. I want you all you all the church to see that these men have taken this seriously and they know what these qualifications mean and.

And why they're important. Okay, so Adam we're gonna go in alphabetical order. Okay, Adam. Yeah, deacons likewise must be dignified. What does Paul mean here?

Well dignified it's I would say that it's character when we walk in a manner that is worthy of somebody looking to us with respect and saying hey, I can go to that guy because he's got a level head on him that he's gonna answer anything that I can answer in a way that's.

Consistent with cross character because that's the character that I'm supposed to be emulating. So that's what dignified is in my assessment of it.

That's good. Being able to give her a right answer being somebody that you would look to that would be Someone that could give you the right answer because their life Emulates and there's a picture of what God has called them to be.

Oh, yeah. All right. That's good. That's good. All right, Brian. Paul says that a deacon is not to be double-toned. What do you think Paul is referring to here?

At a minimum it would be. Not violating the ninth commandment, you know, don't lie, but it goes far beyond that. Of course. Obviously saying one thing to one person then saying something different someone else that's the next obvious thing goes beyond lying, which of course I think that would still be qualified as lying, but.

Same as Adam said being dignified and everything you do and everything you say. Not double-toned. Basically anything that would promote disunity. Amongst ourselves and with the elders and especially the church.

I would say I guess if you see any of us acting in a way that is. Especially if we're talking bad about it another member of this body you need to call us out on it. Let Nathan know let us know call us, you know directly go through the process.

We should go through. Which unfortunately we all know. Well, but you know call us out on it.

And.

Then not just within the church I feel like that being dignified and how we should act goes outside of that. If you see us at Walmart acting the way we shouldn't act that is honoring to our church or to That because we represent 12 -5.

Then of course you do too so. Being double-tongued and not just inside the building but everywhere you go. So I.

Guess that would answer that. Yeah. Thank you. I think of let your guess be yes and your no be no. All right, you speak with clarity. You don't speak with Ambiguity in a way that would lead someone to believe one thing just so you can distract them from another.

That's good. Thank you. Thank you for that. All right, Justin. You you asked me if I could make sure and give you easy ones, right? I'm gonna give you that. I'm gonna give you the toughest one in the list.

Okay. Not addicted to much wine. This is one I struggle with.

So.

So when you when you look into this further, I mean, it's obvious what it is. But it's it's more about physical and spiritual self-control. This is what I think and not being able to control yourself in in wine.

Obviously, it's not wrong to drink wine. But it's very clear that he says to not be drunk with wine or addicted to much wine and it's not just stopping at wine. It's anything. You know anything that pertains to addiction stuff like that.

It's a it's it's spoken about also with when it talks about the deacons wives. It talks to this is one of the ones that pertains to them as well. Not being addicted to much much wine or given too much wine.

So I think this one is mostly about self-control spiritually and in this type of stuff. Pretty simple and thank you for that. Yeah, you're welcome.

Now that's that's great because I think it's that sober-minded right that you're talking about when you guys are Committing yourselves to an office like this. You're committing yourselves to being accessible to the body.

You're committing yourselves to being accessible to the physical needs of the body just as pastor Jeremiah and myself are having to be accessible to the spiritual needs. You know, we're always accessible to be drunk with wine makes us not accessible and so there's a there's a big element of that and that's I see a pattern in all three of y 'all's lives praise the Lord of Being committed to that truth.

All right, Adam. Let's go back to you man. Not greedy for dishonest gain.

Well, I.

Would want to stick with the context because it flows from first Timothy 333 the very last part of it. Talked about I'm not a lover of money. So and I don't think he's just limiting it to money. I think it's material gain that we can use a ministry of Crosschurch to gain selfish things for us.

That's outside the requirements of God Ministry so. And it's also first Timothy 6 he says it later in 610. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. So he's trying to guard us from and that's what having partners when we take up money.

There's should be always accountability partner because I need to be held accountable because I'm still following man even though I'm Indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Just like Paul says the evil that I don't want to do I do so they helped me guard against that so.

That's how I would answer that. I.

Love. That Kind of reminds me of the what the proverb the writer of Proverbs says Do not toil to acquire wealth Be discerning enough to desist. He didn't say that wealth is bad or or gain is bad. It's dishonest or Or that being your your drive and your purpose is your purpose to gain for the for the glory of God and for the kingdom purpose of What he's doing here on earth or is it for? yourself and for personal.

And when you come into the office of deacon you come into the office of Overseer and any office within the church. Any little glimpse of that can become problematic and you begin to capitulate on God's God's Church For your own gain, so thank you for that Brian.

They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

So I think it means you I Mean does this make sense. Walk your talk or what talk it's like if you proclaim to be a Christian then you walk that way and you do it in a way that is. If you know what's wrong, essentially, it's with a clean conscience.

With a clear conscience. I mean you shouldn't do it. And so and the word mystery is mysterious in this sentence here, but that If we're gonna hold certain beliefs that we we act in accordance to those beliefs essentially.

Thank you. Absolutely. I mean we've talked a little bit about the mystery of the faith pastor Jeremiah preached on it in Ephesians recently, right? It's this mystery has been revealed. The it's a mystery that that God had set out to redeem a people and to bring up to bring everything about to unify everything to himself and the mystery of that faith that the.

The doctrine this body of truth that we talked about last week right the body of truth We need to be able to to hold it true with a clear conscience. That's good. All right, Justin. We got you another one here.

You ready for this one? I'm ready. All right. And let them also be tested first. Then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

Well, obviously no. Being tested first I think that's that's kind of when what what he just read when They called the church body together and people were pulled out and it was it was obvious that those people were were.

Were being used, you know for for things of the church body being tested would be I feel like it's you know, everyone has giftings and and things that God has blessed people with and just Gifts and talents that God uses for the church body.

Being tested and found blameless is how you know the elders here gave everyone 30 days or whatever it was just to bring any type of Offense or anything that any of us may not line up with or any any problems or anything?

That's what that time was for. Was to be proven not necessarily blameless is without fault, but that the the pattern and the Trajectory of your life. I stole that from him is a pattern of striving for that blamelessness.

Yeah.

There's a reason that we've we've waited so long for this process even with you three, right. So often you'll come into a church and and a Really prominent businessman in the community comes in has a good outward reputation.

But the church doesn't know a lot about the inside inner workings of his life and make him a deacon. But Paul is saying no, this is they must be tested first amongst the people and prove themselves to be blameless.

Adam. Yeah, I gave you the question. That's gonna get you in the most trouble. Yeah, their wives likewise must be dignified not slanders, but sober minded faithful in all things.

Thank you. This I may upset some people with this. But that's not my intention. Okay, I lean very heavily on my elders in this church. Me and my wife has went through marriage counseling with our pastor and his wife.

And it's universal. It's not our problems are not specific to us. It was almost like they could picture themselves and our daily lives. I mean minor things like Definitions of words and things like that where the the argumentation that we were having.

So me and my wife we strive to be Followers of Christ, but we try to put that personification out there instead of being in the spirit being led by the Spirit. Right now where we've gone through some pretty weird spiritual battles I was able to lean on my elder.

Specifically Nathan he has a heart for his this congregation and for the people of God so with his leadership and point me back to Christ and I Can do that with my wife? I can point her back to Christ and we can pray and we can look to scriptures and see how.

What we're doing is not lining up with scripture and how we can go about changing so I just studied this part real hard on the qualifications for deacons and I think it's a mirror image. However, I'm walking.

That's exactly how my wife is supposed to be walking because Paul really Uses different slightly different words, but they mean the same thing. Deacons likewise must be dignified not double-tongued not addicted to much wine not greedy for dishonest gain.

Well, if you look at the wives, it says wives likewise Dignified not slanderers. That's the same as not double-tongued be sober-minded. The word there is Nephilios, it it could be to alcohol or just be sober-minded clear thinking as she Looks to the scriptures and I look to the scriptures that we're trying to get what God intends for us to act and react and then the last one is faithful in all things.

Well that ties to Not greedy for dishonest gain. That's what being faithful in all things is is not being a lover of money or material things. We're trying to be faithful to God's Word. And so me and my wife We love God's Word.

We love Christ. We love the body of Christ here, I think that For me to elevate myself would be wrong I hold will hold the office but She would be so beneficial to this Ministry, there's gonna be things that I'm not good at that.

She is very very capable of and good at so this is a partnership and cross that me and her get to walk with together and That's what I think being a good deacon is is to lovingly let his wife to come alongside him.

And that's good. I'll say this about all three of y 'all and your wives. Y 'all wouldn't be setting up here. If your wives didn't meet the qualification of that section of that verse. We we've been able to watch the pattern of your wives lives and I like what you just said.

It's a reflection of your life because y 'all are the pastors of your home. You're the you're the patriarchs within your home and and when you're walking with God and when you're when you're loving your wife as Christ loved The church and laying your life down for them and your wife is a believer.

Which we see the evidence of that in your wives. They will follow suit and obedience to Christ. And so we see that in all three of them praise the Lord and that's a big part of it. Yeah Brian. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife.

Faithfulness, Marriage, and Household Management

So, what do I go which direction here. Well, I guess I'll go back to what we talked about in class, you know, it's. There's ways to interpret it, right? I think the way that the That we agree is it's intended for is we're a one-woman man.

And so we our eyes are in our affection and our you know, it's it's towards our wife alone and so. Now, I think if this was my ninth marriage, maybe there would be some questions, but I do feel like that, you know, I'm committed a hundred percent to my life and If anyone observes behavior that indicates that that's you know.

Then of course they should bring it up. But I mean, I'm that's that's kind of the the thought behind I think it's just simply a one-woman man I guess to go back to the Ten Commandments that I've brought up in the first question.

It would be the seventh commandment, you know.

Just.

Do nothing that could lead to it, you know adultery any kind of way.

Good thing we're not Mormon.

Well.

Thank you for that. I mean being married and being committed to that. What God has prescribed what God has made. But no man. Separate right. And we we talked a little bit in our training about the fact that that anything pre salvation is pretty much a wash.

If if we if y 'all held anything over me pre salvation I'm not qualified to be a pastor. You hold anything over these three men pre salvation. They're not qualified to be deacons, but once Christ has made us a new creation.

Well now now we're watching the pattern of life from there. That's good one last. Qualification. Justin that lands on you man. You got to close this thing out. Managing their children in their household.

Well.

So managing is not necessarily ruling.

Well.

We went through this in class and it actually opened up a lot because. Everybody has a general idea of what managing your children a household. Well means. But the the book that we went through all three together and and Keith and Nathan and Jeremiah.

It really opens up a lot. And I would I would really say even if you weren't. If you just wanted to know about what the role of a deacon is that book is really good. Managing your children a household.

Well, obviously the first thing my mind goes to is Salvation which is actually not what this goes to but um. Yeah, so that's that's another deep a deep trail there on that one. But just having patterns of good leadership in the household.

The Bible talks about Deuteron. Deuteronomy speak of the word, you know when you rise up when you lay down. Write it on the doorposts of your home. Let that be in your conversation to your kids. And as Brian said with your spouse as well.

The salvation part is is totally up to God that's that's his choosing that's his calling we are told to raise them in the admonition of the Lord and. That is part of managing your children a household.

Well, because if our households are not managed well. Then how are we to help facilitate the management of the the church? As a household. So I just think that's a like I said another reflection of how we would help help The elders in the leading of the church if we can't if we can't keep ours in order.

Then you can't keep the church body.

Now that's your first responsibility, right as men our first responsibilities our home. Not the church. It's the home and so managing that household. Well, and it doesn't mean that all of your children will end up being Christians right, we've known many godly men who manage their households very very well and They had children that abandoned the faith because you can't control salvation.

But what you can do is you can control that child when they're in your home. And so that is that is a qualification for both overseers and deacons. Paul wraps up this thought with deacons there in verse 13 of 1st Timothy 3 and he says for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and Also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus and this is something that you guys have been pursuing you felt that call you've you've evaluated With us.

I mean pastor Jeremiah and Keith have walked with you through this whole process you've counseled with other brothers and sisters in the church and And and if you are put into this office that we're doing tonight You were gained gaining a good standing for yourselves.

That means the church is looking to you going. These are men that meet those qualifications. They're not perfect we're all sinners, but the pattern of their life is that of those qualifications and that is a good standing and Great confidence in the faith as you are serving Christ.

Christ is giving you a great comfort in your standing in him and your a your ability to serve him in the body so what I'd like to do now is if there happens to be any questions about The office of deacon or any questions towards these three men in any way I want to open the floor and we're gonna put them on the hot seat and We will take whatever questions you got, right?

Anybody any takers. Brenda's got one. Mr. Danny's got one Danny. Come on up here grab this microphone. So.

Questions from the Congregation

Yeah.

Well, I got a question for Adam. How does your wife feel about? Being.

It's a good question Danny, it's something that we both wrestled with. I Don't want to take up a lot of time and give my whole back story that God has prepared and shaped my life. It's like reading Hebrew.

We always do it from the end. Looking back towards the beginning. That's what I see as Providence standing here now I can look back at at the starting of my life where God's shaping me and molding me and bringing me to where I'm gonna be used in his church and he's prepared me Theologically to hold the right doctrines and walking alongside with my wife.

We've wrestled with that together and she was unsure at first because she had a mindset that I had to be perfect or she had to be perfect or.

And.

That wasn't the case. We're looking at the pattern of our life. Are we striving to be more cross like are we reading our word? Some people don't read it daily, but that's our thing. We try to get up every morning and read our work.

We pray together. I pray for us at night time. Pray for our kids of salvation. Those are just ingrained things that we do. My wife is an introvert, but she loves the body here at 12 -5. She loves the people here she she wants to get in their life, but.

We talked about it today and she's like well. And I'm like you have to get in the lives of all these legs. She's like you don't tell me what I have to do and I won't tell you what you have to do so much.

Okay, so lovingly my wife wants to be a part of everybody's lives here. But she wants to to let God lead and guide just as I do. There's things that I'm gonna be doing and we want to come together.

So after much prayer and everything y 'all come to the conclusion that that this is what God wants you to do. And and and I think that y 'all be great. Deacons.

Thank you, Brian.

Same question for you. How does your wife feel about? Being a Deaconess or being supporting you as a Deacon?

Well, she hasn't raised any objections, so that's. That's good, I Think both of us feel the same way about 12 -5 specifically, you know, we've been involved with church for since we've become believers and There's not a church body that we feel that We'd want to serve more than this church.

We belong to we feel that this church has awakened our family and in a way that we've never seen and If it's an honor for us to be able to serve in a way that hopefully spreads The gospel first and then spreads like just the 12 -5 exists.

Most people don't know that and I think that our hope is that the what's happened in our family spreads across Northeast, Arkansas. I mean, I think there's a lot of people just like us that are Thirsty for deep doctrine, but doesn't know what exists in any churches really so I'm getting off topic.

But how does she feel about it? I think she's just as willing and happy to serve along with me for this body as I am and I'm hoping that We've gone here long enough and got to connect with most families here to know that if you need something where we want to help.

And.

There there's nothing at all that we're above doing if you need anything, so. Obviously, that's one good thing about the book like you're mentioning is that it it's not just about what Deacons do. This book covered what Deacons don't do, you know.

Like these this is this is the line that a lot of churches across the Deacons shouldn't shouldn't do so. To answer the question. She's I think excited about it. We're excited about it. Not because of any Gain, it's more about what we can give and and you know, the the Deacon role is is not a chain of command it's more of like a chain of service because like You know if the elders need something they just don't need to have a just the whole and the church body is great.

Like I said, it's a church of servers. But they really need a kind of a tiered system. So, okay. Hey, I need Brian you're kind of over this area and then you get the other servers to help. And so I hope that's the right terminology a chain of service service.

So.

Okay, so all that said. Your wife's full support.

She gave me the thumbs up.

Just now Justin same question for you. Yeah, I think.

Our answer would pretty much be the same it's like how can you how can you see this church body and And not want to serve not feel that that need honestly and Adam knows this thing. I've talked to him a lot about it.

I actually struggled with is that a calling, you know, and it's like well, I thought everyone just wanted to help and be part of the church and it is true because the. That the when he's talking about Deacons, he's actually talking about the whole church body now.

Deacon is the office. That's that's the person, you know that holds the office but each church member is to to strive for those qualifications as well and.

What's that the two offices of church. Is elder and Deacon. Man, yeah. Got one more question and there's two ordinance of church. What are they?

Anybody.

That's easy and we're looking at the the Lord's Supper and baptism.

Great questions, Danny. Thank you for that. Anybody else any questions. Oh Keith I.

I'm just so grateful that you guys step forward to this office I've seen in your each of your lives and that of your wives. Just that you guys have a heart for service. And so I'm grateful to you for taking this stand and I'm praying with you and I'm supportive 100 with Jeremiah and Nathan about Bringing you guys forward.

I think you guys have. You've already been serving and I've seen your wives serve, too. And I'm just grateful for you and for stepping forward.

Thank you. Thanks.

Any last question? Now's your chance you can't you can't speak up later.

Okay, can I say one last thing? Yes. Oh, I was kidding.

So I'm curious about I may have came in a little late so you may already address this but Kind of a two-part. Why do you want to be a deacon? And is there a special or unique ministry or calling or Get you know a gifting that you have that you already know and see where you're going to be plugged in and and to serve.

The body. We already answered that it was a great answer, too. So I.

Was forced actually.

So question number one was why we Wanted to be a deacon why we accepted. Because it's not really one. I think it's more of an accepted I think you're ready get a perfect answer or explanation of that.

All members really should and I think we see that I'm not gonna call names out. But we there's so many people that that are serving a lot of capacities already but so why we accepted and then question number two was oh Yeah sure.

So I feel like I have the hardest one to answer on the second half of that because you know I think these are maybe they feel the same way. I don't know but these other two men are extremely gifted and in certain areas and so the the why is really kind of what I answered before which is The awakening that our families have because of the men of this church and of course there were ladies too.

But yeah, I attribute it more to because I was kind of Coming here kicking and screaming. And the patience these men had and the the deep theological knowledge they have is. It's a it's amazing and so that but the point is if it's for me there's I would do anything for anybody here anyway, and so That's kind of what it is is whenever Was nominated it was like I mean, I'm happy to do anything anyway, so I Hope that's an answer and then as for Kind of the area that maybe I'd have a strength in I mean there's it feels like kind of weak thing to say because there's better spiritual strengths, but like Yeah, I did Teach financial classes for 20 years at churches.

So there's if a family's heaven and I don't really it's not about digging into someone's personal finance. It'd be like a you know any kind of helping anyway really that sounds silly because there's better things really someone could be gifted at but I Think Jamie and I try to be very hospitable, so we try to Promote unity in the church.

This is a weird question to answer because you don't want to but This may be something that other people may answer for other people to be better I can tell the spiritual strengths of these guys for sure and and declare them boldly and they may not want to say it right.

But there's a couple well I can say. For Brian specifically in that area Brian has accepted the position of director of hospitality. So he's going to be Overseeing and scheduling and training all of our greeters ministries and and that sort of thing.

So that's an area.

One of you guys want to answer that yeah, I'll go ahead and answer the reason why I'm excited about Accepting or taking the calling of Deacon is because My life was in shambles years back, and God saved me, and I hear so many people Take the scripture out of context and things like that and so he gave me a love for his word and I just want to grow in the knowledge of him and the part of the text is holding to the the faith with a clear conscience, and I think it's kind of self-evident because People who know theology that we know that Cross atonement is what gives us a clear conscience so therefore hold to the faith.

Well, what is the faith is the the doctrine wants delivered to the Saints? It's what's Distinctive Christianity, so I've learned and I love God's word and I want to help others in in that capacity and What kind of ministry do I think I want well?