“Healthy churches and healthy believers treasure deacons as invaluable servants of God, Christ’s official ministers of mercy. They help exposit the kindness of God, strengthen the communion of the saints, and preserve the fiscal integrity of the church. It is important for us to retain or, if need be, recover a biblical view of the office of deacon.”

How do church deacons help establish God’s kingdom? Many of us might struggle to answer that question. For a number of reasons, the diaconate is often viewed as a non-spiritual administrative committee. Because deacons oversee church money and property we might mistake them simply for parochial accountants and custodians. But, according to Scripture, if we minimize the biblical office of deacon we miss a huge part of God’s plan for vibrant Christianity.

Healthy churches and healthy believers treasure deacons as invaluable servants of God, Christ’s official ministers of mercy. They help exposit the kindness of God, strengthen the communion of the saints, and preserve the fiscal integrity of the church. It is important for us to retain or, if need be, recover a biblical view of the office of deacon.

The Conditions for Serving as a Deacon

If we want the church to value the diaconate we need to preserve the high biblical standard for becoming a deacon (1 Tim. 3:8-13).

Deacons Must Be Spiritually Minded

The first deacons were men “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3–4). “Likewise deacons must be reverent…holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless” (1 Tim. 3:8–10). Of course, deacons must be financially and administratively competent. But they must also demonstrate a God–like sympathy for the hurting and a heart given to service. The idea that unqualified men should be put up for deacon as a way of urging spiritual maturity is totally contrary to God’s will for the office. Deacons must be spiritual pacesetters.

Deacons Must Be Self-controlled (v. 8)

Deacons must not be double-tongued. A double-tongued man says whatever he can to please his current conversation partner. A deacon must be able to speak the truth to all people lovingly and tactfully.

Deacons must not be given to much wine. A deacon may drink wine; Paul urged Timothy to take up the habit (1 Tim. 5:23). But a deacon must show that he can enjoy God’s good gift of alcohol without abusing it.

Deacons must not be greedy for money. Without financial self-control no man can steward the church’s resources or set a positive example to the congregation. A deacon who is content with what he has will serve well and bolster the confidence of others.

Deacons Must Be Successful at Home

“Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well” (vv. 11-12). Deacons need not be a husband or father. But those who are must have a history of capable leadership. A deacon without wife or children must be sufficiently established so as to have some domain over which he exercises godly rule.

The Charge of a Deacon

Deacons are Intercessors

Since deacons exercise Christ’s priestly office they must reflect his ministry of mercy. As priest Jesus offered up “prayers and supplications” for those who weighed upon his heart (Heb. 5:7). Deacons must prayerfully intercede for their poor.

Deacons are Supervisors of Mercy

The Church Order that governs the congregation I serve puts it well. Deacons must supervise “the works of Christian mercy among the congregation; acquainting themselves with congregational needs; exhorting members of the congregation to show mercy.” The deacons must strive to ensure that the church loves, practices, and receives mercy (Micah 6:8).

Deacons are Stewards

Deacons must gather, manage, and distribute the offerings of God’s people. Deacons should study Jesus’ money parables (Luke 16:1-13; 19:11-27, etc.) to know how to leverage God’s resources for spiritual gain.

Deacons are Ministers

The deacons must distribute the offerings “in Christ’s name… encouraging and comforting with the Word of God those who receive the gifts of Christ’s mercy.” Through the deacons “the poor and distressed may be relieved and comforted…” (Belgic Confession, Art. 30), not merely financially but also spiritually. Jesus says there is a way to give a cup of water in his name (Mark 9:41). Deacons must use their unique position to communicate God’s unmerited kindness to the recipients of financial assistance.

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