What's the Big Deal About a Deacon?

The point: Recognize that we ought to make a big deal about the office of deacon in our churches.

The preacher recounts an installation service for a deacon where the church made a 'big deal' of the event, demonstrating the high esteem for the office through careful discernment, unanimous vote, special worship, and pervasive rejoicing. This sets the stage for the sermon's central question about the significance of deacons.

Well, men, perhaps you've taken note of the title of the message, that it is rather colloquial and popular. What's the Big Deal About a Deacon? And I want you to know that when I chose the title, I wasn't so much looking for something that was catchy, popular, or attention-grabbing, but the title grew out of my own reflection upon the office of deacon and the awareness that in biblically aware and sensitive churches, such as I trust we are seeking to be, that deacons are made a big deal of in such churches. When I gave this sermon originally, it was for an installation service for a deacon in ...

0:25 - 1:08 Read in full sermon

Driving home: They're half elder, half deacon. They're spiritual elders, they're overseer, and they also do these temporal duties. Well, that's not the portrait we get in the New Testament.

The mythical centaur (half-man, half-beast) is used to describe deacons in many churches who are mistakenly seen as 'half elder, half deacon,' blurring the biblical distinction between the two offices. This clarifies the proper, distinct role of deacons.

It is not a system of checks and balances with the elders, nor are deacons quasi-elders, what I call ecclesiastical centaurs, as they are in so many churches. You remember the mythical character, the centaur? He had the head and the shoulders of a man and the body of a beast. And in many churches, typically Baptist churches, deacons are these ecclesiastical centaurs.

9:02 - 9:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: They're half elder, half deacon. They're spiritual elders, they're overseer, and they also do these temporal duties. Well, that's not the portrait we get in the New Testament.

The example of 'preaching deacons' from Lumberton, New Jersey, who ably filled the pulpit, is given to show that while deacons are not required to teach, some may be gifted beyond their primary diaconal role, like Philip and Stephen. This clarifies the teaching qualification for deacons.

The one notable exception is that overseers must be able to teach. And, though deacons need not be able to teach in a public setting, we have the examples of Philip and Stephen, which tell us that there are some deacons who are gifted beyond the realm of the diaconate and are able to teach and preach. And as we live there in southeastern Pennsylvania, we have been grateful for years for what I've called the preaching deacons of Lumberton. Lumberton.

10:02 - 10:30 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section argues that the office of deacon reveals God's compassionate heart. It traces God's pity for the poor and oppressed from the Old Testament (Exodus, Deuteronomy…

After recounting Jesus raising the widow's son at Nain, the preacher imagines Jesus 'beaming with delight' as He returned the son to his mother. This vivid image emphasizes Jesus' deep joy in acts of mercy and compassion.

And he said, young man, I say to you, arise. And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. And can't you just picture the face of the Lord Jesus beaming with delight as he gave back this dead young man now alive.

18:40 - 18:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section argues that the office of deacon reveals God's compassionate heart. It traces God's pity for the poor and oppressed from the Old Testament (Exodus, Deuteronomy…

The story of Jesus healing two blind beggars on His way to Jerusalem, the pinnacle of redemptive history, is presented as a profound illustration of His compassion. The contrast between His lofty mission and His stopping for 'despised outcasts' highlights His immense heart for the lowly and helpless.

But brothers, one of the most poignant illustrations to me of Jesus concern for the despised nobodies of the world is that event recorded in Matthew chapter 20, beginning at verse 29. Consider it for a moment with me. It says, as they were going out from Jericho, a great. Multitude followed him.

19:09 - 19:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon explores how the deaconate illustrates God's paradoxical ways, which are contrary to human wisdom. Examples of kingdom paradoxes are given: the way up is down, to…

The parable of the publican and the Pharisee is used to illustrate the paradox 'the way up is down,' where humility leads to exaltation and self-exaltation leads to humbling. This demonstrates God's counter-intuitive ways.

Well, God's kingdom is filled with paradoxes, ways that don't make sense to the natural mind, but they make perfect sense to God and to those who are in the kingdom of God. I'll give you some examples of these paradoxes in the kingdom of God. The way up is down. You know that in the parable of the publican and the Pharisee, after telling about the proud Pharisee who was.

29:07 - 29:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section connects the deacon's office directly to God's paradoxical ways. As one of only two offices in the church, the deaconate is a place of dignity and honor, yet the word…

The simplicity of New Covenant ordinances (baptism and Lord's Supper) is compared to the simplicity of New Covenant church offices (pastor and deacon). Just as the few ordinances are highly significant, so too are the few offices, magnifying the importance of the deaconate.

The new covenant church's polity is rather simple. It does not multiply offices. Therefore, those that do exist should be considered meaningful. We might make a parallel to the ordinances of the church.

33:14 - 33:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Why make such a big deal out of such a lowly, inauspicious position? Because this office wonderfully illustrates the wise and the world-confounding ways of God who said, My thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are you…

A quotation from commentator Lenski is used to explain Jesus' teaching on servanthood: 'the Gentile idea of greatness is inverted, turned upside down. The pyramid rests on the apex. The great man does not sit atop the lesser men, but the great man bears the lesser men on his back.' This powerfully illustrates the paradoxical nature of greatness in God's kingdom.

And Lenski, the commentator, puts it so well when he says, and now the Gentile idea of greatness is inverted, turned upside down. The pyramid rests on the apex. The great man does not sit atop the lesser men, but the great man bears the lesser men on his back. The great ones are the diakonoi, the servants.

37:36 - 38:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That the God of grace. Is able to take natively God hating. Sin loving selfish men. And not only make them new creations. But exemplary to others. In their godliness.

The phrase 'No brag, just fact' from actor Walter Brennan is used to introduce Paul's statement 'I labored more than all of them,' applying it to deacons who work hard for the kingdom. This emphasizes the diligent effort of deacons while setting up the subsequent point about God's grace.

Might have to say with the Apostle Paul. As he said it in 1 Corinthians 15 10. Comparing himself to others. But I labored more than all of them.

50:33 - 50:41 Read in full sermon