1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12 (Church leadership deacon)

Follow the leader has been a part of society for many years. Children everywhere are taught the game at a young age to teach them to take orders and be attentive in life. We shouldn’t think it strange then that this game carries over into our adulthood as well. One of the things that we learned in our ministerial training was that you can’t lead someone where you have not been yourself. Managers all around the world have learned this concept and realize that leading by example is the most powerful form of management that one can apply to their organization. With that being said, when Paul gave us a list of qualifications for overseers shouldn’t we expect it to flow downwardly as well to other members of church leadership. In our verses today, Paul discusses the qualifications to be a deacon in the church and the bar is not lowered for them.

He says that they need to be worthy of respect, sincere, not drunks, and honest in all financial matters. They my keep the deep truths of God and have a clear conscience between God and man. They shouldn’t just be handed the position and should be tested or approved before they can serve. They are to only have one wife and be a good manager of his home and children. We learn from the book of Acts (ch.6) the role of deacon is one of a helper in the church as the first appointed ones where to care for the widows of the church allowing those in teaching and preaching roles an opportunity to devote themselves to the Word of God. Their job was to take care of the congregation so that the disciples would not be drawn away from their mission of preaching, discipleship, and evangelism in the church. Most deacons in modern churches do not look this way as many acts more as a board of governors or an oversight committee instead of servants to the body of Christ.