I love the church and I love leaders who serve the church. In my 23 years serving both as a staff and a senior pastor, I have been blessed to work with some amazing, godly deacons. Whether you are a pastor or a church member, deacons can and should impact what you do in the kingdom in a very positive way. Here are 6 reasons why they are a blessing:
- Deacons love people. The Greek word for deacon literally means servant. Deacons are called to serve the church and take care of their ministry needs. Deacons, basically put, are ministers of people, and are a key part of the care ministry of the church.
- Deacons unify people. Acts 6:1-7 is a great example of how seven leaders can promote unity by taking care of the needs in the church. Deacons serve and preserve harmony in the church, allowing the members to be more focused on the Great Commission.
- Deacons reach people. A deacon is not just focused on the internal cares of the church, but also the external mission to the world. In other words, they should make the gospel their priority, to share Christ to all they encounter.
- Deacons encourage people. Pastors and deacons work hand in hand to accomplish the work of the gospel. Deacons can encourage, strengthen, and help the pastor as he does his daily work in the church. In the same way, deacons encourage the church in their work of ministry.
- Deacons are an example to people. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money” (1 Timothy 3:8). His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church.
- Deacons bring stability for people. Consistency is important and vital to the long-term health of the church. Paul wrote that deacons are to hold to “the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9). This means that a deacon is a stable, faithful presence in the life of the church, which spurs on others to do the same.
Deacons are valuable, needed, and wanted in the church. They serve people, they encourage the pastors, and they bring unity, stability, and purpose to the ministry of the church. They are a blessing, and I pray that you and your church appreciates them like I do.
Fran Trascritti
NOTE: Join us at Explore the Bible as adults and students study the doctrines and applications related to 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Kids will continue to work on their Bible skills by studying the books of Deuteronomy, Job, Ecclesiastes, Mark, Isaiah, and Micah. Find out more about these various studies by clicking here.
Dr. Fran Trascritti (@frantras) is a husband, father, and grandfather, but most of all, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has pastored churches for over 23 years and now serves with the Explore the Bible team at Lifeway. You can reach him by emailing [email protected]