Serving Well as Deacons

Well if you would, take your Bible, turn back to 1 Timothy chapter 3. I did say that we'll be only in verse 13. What I mean by that is I'll call you to look at that verse several times. Now I will mention some other verses and if you're a note taker, you may want to write those down and go look at them on your own. And as always, if you need any information from me, any of my notes, I'll be glad to help you. Because around here, I call you from time to time to take what we study and go study it on your own. We don't want to just be hearers of the Word, we want to be doers. We want to be doers of the Word.

Now this morning, we are coming to a defining moment in the life of our church. We have come to a new informative chapter in the life of our church. Starting back in March, we began the process of selecting deacons, so as to establish deacon ministry in our church. As a church body, you nominated men to be deacons. Then the elders of the church examined them. And last month, we wholeheartedly recommended these men to serve as deacons. And then as a church body, we all cast the final vote to appoint them to serve as deacons. And this morning, we will finish up that process with the time of ordination.

Now let me briefly explain why this is such a new and defining chapter in the life of our church. Most of you know our church history, our church story. Our story is a testimony of second chance. Our church was almost closed 15 years ago, but by God's grace, we experienced what we see as the rebirth of a church. And then later, we enjoyed a replant. Our church was Nola Baptist Church in the Nola community in northeast Lawrence County. And she was down to about 8 or 12 people with no pastor, no leaders, no organization at all. Actually, it was only one or two older ladies that kept the door open.

But God led me to Nola in 2010, and by His grace, we reached families, we grew, and through God's leadership, we moved and replanted in March of 2020. And if you ever wonder if God has a sense of humor, we moved and replanted right when COVID broke out. Think about that. And all this time, we have functioned and prospered as a church without deacon ministry. Now it was not that I was against deacons or deacon ministry. Our church is full of servants, both men and women, so the needs have been being met all these years. For so long, we just didn't need deacons. I love how Travis Crockwell puts it.

I've kind of latched on to something he said, and I will repeat it. He says, our best asset is our people. Let that sink in, Grace Life folks. Our best asset is our people. And let me tell you something, church, as your pastor, there are a lot of things I am proud of about Grace Life Church, but at the top of the list is how proud I am of you. I am proud of you as God's people. I'm proud that I get to pastor you, and I'm proud of the fact that you are servants. You are servants. But this morning, we finish up establishing deacon ministry in the life of our church by ordaining three men to serve in that ministry.

Actually, they have already been serving. We had a meeting Wednesday night to make plans to meet our weekly, monthly, and special needs. So Grace Life, look for a call now because we need to all be a part of these needs. We are an all-hands-on-deck church. You know what I mean by that. And look, church, pay attention to how important this is for the health and the future of our church. I said earlier that this is a defining moment. That is because deacons and deacon ministry will help shape the identity and the direction of our church for years and generations to come. And this is a new chapter in the life of our church.

We have not had deacon ministry before, but we do now. So we have begun a distinctly new phase in the life of our church, and deacon ministry will be a part of our church from now on. I also said this is a formative change. The three deacons we have today and then the ones to come, because we will grow and there will be a need for other deacons in the future. You have the opportunity to form and influence our church and people for years to come. Let that sink in. Deacons, future deacons, you have the opportunity and responsibility to form and influence our church and people for years to come for the good or for the bad.

Wednesday night, after our first deacons meeting, I text our elders that things went well in our first deacons planning meeting. And one of the elders texts in response, and this is almost word for word. I left out the names. He said, I told my wife last night on the way home from church that I believe this will be the first time in our church attending life where we attended a church that has godly deacons. I responded, that's wonderful and horribly sad. And look church, that testimony reminds us of the opportunity that we all have at this time to form and influence so many for the good and for the bad.

These are very, very serious times, church. Now this is how the rest of the service will go. We will examine 1 Timothy 3.13, which is a call and a challenge to serve well as deacons. This is about a call and a challenge to serve well as deacons and church, we all have a call and challenge here because we are all responsible. Church, this is what you should expect out of deacon ministry in our deacons. And then after the message, our deacons will come down with their wives and the other elders and we will officially ordain them for the work. Now, let's read our verse, verse 13.

I'm reading from the English Standard Version and I will read from the Amplified as well. Paul 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. Listen to the Amplified, it says, for those who have served well as deacons gain a high standing, having a good reputation among the congregation and great confidence in the faith which is founded on and centered in Christ Jesus. Now, out of verse 14, verse 13, I want to make four observations about the deacon.

I want us to see first the office of the deacon, second the service of the deacon, then third the honor of the deacon, and then fourth the confidence of the deacon. You can summarize that outline with four words, office, service, honor, and confidence. Now, let's get started. Number one, the office of the deacon, the office of the deacon. Now, we have to remember that the office of the deacon is one of the offices given to the church by God as seen in the Scriptures. Now, that means God owns it. If God gave it, and He did, and God designed it, and He did, God owns it. It's not ours, it's just been entrusted to us.

But in Ephesians 4.11, Paul tells us of four offices given, the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastor-teacher. Now, most believe the pastor-teacher is one office, and Paul is describing two functions within that one office. Of course, the apostles were those chosen men who were chosen directly by Christ personally, and they were given three basic jobs to do. They were to lay the foundation of the church. We see that in the Scripture. They were to receive and declare and write down God's Word. We see that in the Scripture. And they were to attest to God's Word and work through great signs, wonders, and miracles.

We're seeing that in our study of the book of Acts on Wednesday nights. And the apostles were not to be replaced when the originals died. When the apostles died, so did their office. And we do have the testimony and the teaching of the apostles in the Scriptures. In the Scriptures. Then the prophets, the New Testament prophets, they were different than the apostles. They were uniquely called men, commissioned by the early church. At times they gave direct revelation from God for the church, and their message was confirmed by the other prophets, and their message never contradicted the apostles' teachings.

And their office in ministry did not continue either. It appears from the New Testament that with the completion of the Word of God, their office faded. There was and is no need for...

direct revelation from God when that revelation is complete in the scriptures. Next the evangelist. The evangelist was called, gifted and equipped to share the good news of salvation in Jesus to the lost. They were especially gifted and called to evangelize. Some believe that office has ceased as well. Most do not. I believe we still have evangelists today. I have known some evangelists and I do know some evangelists. Then the pastor teacher. Most believe that this is one office with three functions. This word pastor can mean shepherd. So the pastor shepherds the flock of God, the people, and the shepherd teaches the flock from God's word.

And from other portions of scripture, the one who holds this office can also be called an elder or an overseer because they also play a part in governing and overseeing the affairs of the church. In Acts 2, in Acts 20, verse 28 in 1 Peter 5, 1, those verses show us all three titles and all three functions for this one office. The pastor or elder shepherds and teaches God's people as well as oversees and governs the church. That office is alive and well today. That's what I do along with other elders. I'm a leader among equals. We understand that language. Then we finally get to the office of the deacon.

Although we do not see the office of the deacon in Ephesians 4, 11, we clearly see it in the New Testament scripture. I have taught that we see the example of deacon ministry in Acts 6, 1 to 6. These men in Acts 6 were appointed to meet certain physical needs in the Jerusalem church, but they were never called deacons in the text. But they were either the first deacons or deacons in prototype and example. And it is easy to see that they served like deacons meeting physical needs in the church. But in Philippians 1, 1, Paul recognizes the deacons in the Philippian church.

And then in 1 Timothy 3, starting in verse 8 down to verse 13, Paul gives the qualifications for the ones to be considered for the office of the deacon. Not only are qualifications given for the man to be deacon, but there are qualifications for his wife as well, as she assumes some responsibility as being the wife of a deacon. So the office is not just mentioned in the New Testament. It's not just hinted at. The office is understood here in 1 Timothy 3 and in other places in the New Testament. It is understood to be. And we understand that the church did not burst onto the scene fully developed.

The church was born, and we see that starting in Acts 2, and it took time to grow and develop, which is what we see from the book of Acts all the way to the book of Revelation. We clearly see deacon ministry exemplified or in its infancy in Acts 6. But here in 1 Timothy 3, we see deacon ministry fully developed, fully grown up. Now step back and notice what we have today. There are two biblically recognized offices for the work in and of the church, in the local church. Let me restate that. There are two biblically recognized offices for the work of the church inside the work of the local church.

The evangelist is alive and well today, but he's for reaching the lost, and he comes in and out of that local church. Of course, his work is for the church and the growth of the church. But the pastor or elder who is the preacher teacher and the deacon, those two offices are ongoing in the regular, everyday ministry of the local church. But there are differences in the qualifications and the function of the elder or pastor and the deacon. The difference in the function and responsibility between the two is overseeing and governing the church and teaching. The pastor or the elder must be able to teach the word of God and to govern the church.

He's gifted to do so, called to do so. But the deacon is not required to be able to teach, nor is the deacon supposed to govern the church. That's not found in the scripture. He's not supposed to govern the church. Of course, teaching is certainly permitted for the deacon, but not a requirement for the deacon. I have said jokingly, you give me a deacon who can deacon and who can preach and teach, and I'll put him to work doing both. Now what's my point here? How does teaching? These three men that we will pray over and ordain for the office and service of deacon, they are not assuming a man-made office or work.

This is an office and a work established by God. We are stewards of this work in this ministry. And with anything established by God, God expects us to obey what He says about it. That means we qualify men according to the scripture. We call and we put them to work according to the scripture. They are God called and they are to be about the work of the deacon as seen in the scripture. And I want to say to you, Grace Life, and you three men, I affirm this wholeheartedly. I affirm these deacons wholeheartedly. I affirm this work wholeheartedly. I told one of the deacons this morning that it's taken me a lot of years to get to this point.

A lot of years. So the office of the deacon. Next, number two, the service of the deacon. I want us to see the service of the deacon. Now when we look at what the scriptures say about the work of the deacon, we see that God does not give us a detailed plan for how the deacons are to serve. God simply shows us that deacons are to serve by helping meet the physical needs in the life of the church. But He does not give any kind of a detailed plan. So notice how this is to be worked out in the life of the church.

God leaves the planning and organization of the deacon ministry up to the elders and other leaders in the church and the needs of the church. God gives the elders and others with what is called subjective wisdom to organize the ministry according to the specific needs in that local body. And what one church needs in deacon's ministry can be totally different in another church. Each church is different. All those needs are different. But let's look at the service of the deacon. First of all, their service before they take office.

If we go back up to verse 10, Paul tells us that before the deacon is to take office, they are to be tested and that testing is over a wide range of qualifications. They are to be tested thoroughly in regards to their conversion to Christ, their personal walk with God, their marriage, their home, their home life, their morality, their honesty, their reputation in and out of the church. We see the qualifications specifically listed out in verse 10 down to verse 12. But look at verse 10. Look at verse 10. Paul says, and let them, that's the deacon, also be tested first, then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

Blameless doesn't mean perfect by no means. Now this is my point. The potential deacon is to be tested and proven over time to be qualified for the work. And a big part of that is if he is a servant serving and ministering in the life of the church already. So long before the deacon takes his place in an official capacity, he should be serving and qualified in a very conspicuous nature. Let me restate that. Long before the deacon takes his place in an official capacity, he should be serving and qualified in a very conspicuous nature. Many of you can guess what I'm thinking to say next.

We don't know if those men in Acts 6 were the first deacons. They certainly were an example. But those men were very conspicuous. The apostle said, nominate seven men from among you. The church body had the responsibility to nominate seven men from among thousands. No doubt those men were conspicuous. They stuck out like a sore thumb in a good way. And to me, our deacons are very conspicuous and inconspicuous in service. What I mean by that is this. They have obviously been serving in ways that we see and ways we don't see. Any future deacon must be a man of service.

Conspicuous service, it's obvious, and inconspicuous service as in they do things that you just don't know about. Second, how they serve in the office. I've already touched on this some, but from the scriptures we see the nature of deacon service. Their service is that of meeting physical needs in the church, even organizing the meeting of those needs using their gifts and abilities, and things like that.

And the word serve here in verse 13 sometimes is translated minister, and it means to be a servant. It speaks of attending to a domestic duty. It can refer to waiting on tables, like serving food or drink to a guest. But it is a general term in its meaning, referring to a wide range of serving physical, even menial, needs in the life of the church. And this reminds us of those men in Acts 6 who were the first deacons in example or prototype. They were called by the church to meet the food needs of the widows in the church.

This involved the physical distribution of food to those in need, and we can assume it involved managing money to buy food. We can assume it involved a lot of organization to meet those ministry needs. But this is my point. The scriptures tell us that deacons serve by meeting physical needs in the life of the church. They may attend to those needs personally, or they may help organize and meet those needs through the organization in the life of the church, using other folks. And sadly, this is not what many of us have seen in the past. And I don't say that joyfully.

So many churches are controlled and lorded over by deacons who are not godly men, who do not meet the biblical qualifications seen in 1 Timothy 3, and they have no desire to roll up their sleeves and meet physical needs, even menial tasks. Usually, not always, but usually these men are the pastor's worst nightmare. In the examination process, me and the elders, we met with our prospective deacons many times. In the last meeting, we met with their wives. I asked questions like this to their wives now. Is there anything in their life that would disqualify them that nobody knows, that only you know? I did.

Is there some heinous sin in your husband's life that you need to tell us about? I asked questions like that. But the first question I asked the wives, I said, How did you feel when your husband got a call and said he was nominated? One of the wives said, I didn't like it. When I heard my husband was nominated, she said, I didn't like it. I was against it. And she described two or three days of wrestling with the Lord. I don't like this. I don't like this. And she started talking about previous experiences that her husband had in deacon ministry in another church.

And her husband chimed in and said, I kept telling her, it's not like that here. We're not a perfect church. It's not like that here. And she looked at us and she said, I realized I had PTSD from the previous deacon ministry experience. Church, these are serious times and serious things. Third, their acceptable or unacceptable service. Now, look back at verse 13. Paul says, he's writing to the Ephesian church now, for those who serve well as deacons. Here Paul speaks of deacons who serve well. Let that sink in. Deacons who serve well. Well, that prompts me to ask a question. What does it mean for a deacon to serve well?

Well, this word well, it means beautifully, finely, excellently, and honorably. Let me repeat that. And sometimes I call you to write things down. It may be good for you to write this down in your Bible. This word well here, it means beautifully, finely, excellently, honorably. Well, that leads me to a question. How does the deacon serve beautifully? How does the deacon serve excellently, honorably? First, he does this by being qualified, staying qualified, and working and serving in those qualifications. You see that? They're given starting in verse 8.

He first works and serves well by being qualified, staying qualified, and working and serving in those qualifications. He is to serve well in his personal walk with God and godliness. He is to serve well in the faith, in the mysteries of the faith, and all that requires. He is to serve well in how he manages his wife, his marriage, his children, his home, and his home life in a godly way. He is to serve well as he seeks to be a godly Christian in the home, in the church, in the workplace, outside in the world, even being just a godly neighbor.

Then second, he serves well and honorably in his service as a deacon in the church as the scriptures determine, as the church needs. That needs to be restated. He serves well, he serves honorably in his service as a deacon in the church as the scriptures require, as the scriptures determine, as the church needs. Now listen to the tense of the language. The New American captures the tense of the language well. It says, for those who served, served well as deacons. Now this is my point.

The beautiful, excellent, and honorable deacon is one who has served excellently, honorably, according to what God's Word says, and the church and the elders and the church as a whole see the needs and they put them in the middle of that work. And get this, to serve in a way that is contrary to God's Word is to serve dishonorably. To serve in a way that is not found in the scriptures is to serve in an unacceptable way according to God, and that is not serving well. Sadly, many churches have a lot of ugly deacons. I think you can tell that's not a joke. They're ugly deacons. The beautiful deacon serves according to the scripture.

He serves well, he is honorable, he's beautiful in his service. But the ugly deacon, it has nothing to do with looks, he serves in any way he can besides what the scriptures say. The excellent and honorable deacon is the one who has and is serving well, again, according to what the scriptures say, how the elders of the church see that the needs are to be met in the church, the church body affirms and the church serves right along beside those well-serving deacons. And Grace Life, this is God's way. This is God's way. Church, this is the kind of men we are ordaining today.

In all of the times that I have met with them and the elders have met with them, we've had private conversations, conversations together. This is what these men say they want. One of the men said it like this, I just want to serve tables. I just want to serve tables. And Grace Life, if we ever move away from godly deacons, who serve well because they serve according to God's word and God's ways, we crack open the door for the devil. Remember that. Because we crack open the door for ungodly deacons, and when we crack open the door for ungodly deacons, the next step is ungodly elders. So the service of the deacon.

Next, number three, the honor of the deacon. The honor of the deacon. Look back at verse 13. I'll read the English Standard and then the New American. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves. Listen to the New American. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing. Paul clearly tells us that deacons who serve well, honorably, and excellently, because they serve according to what God says in his word, they truly come to a place of honor. And in this place of honor, they actually gain reward. And this is an external reward now. Notice this gain.

They gain or they obtain for themselves. This means to purchase, to win, to acquire. And this same word is used only two other times in the New Testament. It is used of Christ Jesus in Acts 20, 28. Paul tells the Ephesian elders that Jesus obtained. He purchased the church with his own blood. And it is used in Luke 17, 33. Jesus tells us that whoever wants to obtain, whoever wants to purchase or acquire their own life must lose it. So notice what Paul is saying here. The deacon can acquire. He can obtain. He can even purchase honor. He can obtain. He can get honor. But what does this honor look like? The New American says high standing.

The English standard says good standing. And notice what this is. The New American translates this high standing because this means a step, even a step up, even like a stair step. And listen to the possibilities of the meaning here. This can mean an advance in position. This can be pointing to God.

respect. This can even mean acquiring influence. So look at what Paul is aiming at here. By serving as a deacon well, the deacon can be elevated to other positions. Many deacons who have served well have been called into the preaching and teaching and pastoral ministry. I know a few. Many deacons who have served well are put into places in the church where they teach and preach God's Word. I know deacons who do that. We have one. Many deacons who serve well are put into deacon positions where they assume more responsibility in their service in the church.

But all, all deacons who serve honorably according to God's Word in God's way in a healthy local church, they gain, they obtain, they purchase with their service great respect in the church from God's people. You see that? All deacons who serve honorably according to God's Word, which tells us God's way in a healthy local church, they gain, they obtain great respect in the church from God's people. In a very real way, the deacon who serves well and honorably in time, they are elevated in the eyes and the hearts of God's people. They are put on a pedestal for their service.

So look, church, the honor of the deacon, the honor of the deacon is first and foremost, the honor, respect and admiration of the people in the church. And with that, they may be elevated to other positions if it is the Lord's will and the church sees fit. In grace life, our church should be and deserves to be served by honorable men. Grace life, we need honorable men serving us. And notice the men we have, they have served and worked hard for the good of the church before they were deacons. And they have served for the good and the work of the church for the glory of God. Therefore, they have gained honor and respect and admiration already.

They've been elevated in our sight already. And look at the lesson here, church. This is for our three deacons, but this is for all of us in the kingdom of God and the church. The only way up is down. In the work of the church, in God's economy, the only way up is down. But be very careful when seeking higher position in the life of the church. Be careful. I always think about Proverbs 25, 26 to 27. It says, don't put yourself forward in the king's presence. Don't put yourself forward in the king's presence. He might tell you to step back down. The Proverbs says, wait to be called up.

So if you have a desire to move up in service, it might be best to pray and give that to the Lord and be wait and wait to be called up in God's kingdom, in God's economy, the way up is down. Number four, last, the confidence of the deacon, the confidence of the deacon, the English standard and the new American read the same. Let me read the verse again. For those who serve well, honorably, excellently, as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Here Paul tells us that those deacons who serve honorably and excellently, according to what God says, they gain another reward.

Now the first reward was honor, respect, and high standing among the people. That could even come with a higher position, something like that. That reward, that first reward is external, but this next reward is internal, but we'll see that it does come out. His eternal reward is a confidence. Some say boldness. The new American, the English standard used the word confidence. The legacy standard Bible, the King James uses the word boldness. So which is it? Confidence or boldness? Well, in the original, it means freedom in speaking, free and fearless in speech, and this speaks of a confidence, a courage, and an assurance.

And in the New Testament scripture, this is used in two ways. First, it is used to refer to bold and confident speech. In Acts 4.13, we see the boldness of Peter and John's preaching. They were bold in their speech for the gospel. In 2nd Corinthians 3.12, Paul speaks of a boldness that comes into one's life who has a hope in Christ. There is a boldness and our hope in Christ. In Philippians 1.20, Paul is referring to a boldness and not being ashamed of Christ. When we come to faith in Christ, we're not ashamed of Christ, we're bold in Christ. So this is simple.

This word is used in describing a boldness, a confidence, an assurance in speech, as well as a boldness and an assurance in the life with the faith. But then second, it is used in a different way here in the verse. But these are all related. Let me explain. In the verse, Paul says the deacon who serves well, according to God's Word and God's way, they obtain a confidence or a boldness in the faith. So it does not seem that Paul is referring specifically to a boldness in speech. This is a boldness and a confidence in the faith and in one's faith.

This refers to the faith and all that is related to the Christian faith and all that the Christian faith encompasses. They are confident in these things in the faith. So notice what Paul is saying. The deacons who serve honorably and excellently, according to God's Word and God's ways, they acquire a confidence and a boldness to speak for Christ in the gospel, but they certainly gain more and more confidence in the faith, in their faith, and in all things pertaining to the Christian faith. Now let me show you how this works out. Deacons who serve well are not weaklings. They're not cowards. They may be quiet.

They may have a humble demeanor, but they are not weak. They're not weak in the faith. They're not weak in their faith. They are not weak in the things pertaining to the faith. They are confident and assured in their personal relationship to God. They are confident and assured in their personal spiritual disciplines, prayer, studying the Scripture, sharing Christ, leading their families. They are confident and assured in their attendance and participation in their local church. Ah, that excludes lots of deacons in other churches. Now you might say, Pastor, why are you saying that? Is that a guilt trip to make your men come to church? No.

If we are confident in the faith, we are confident in the very center of God's work on earth. Well, the very center of God's work on earth is the church. He has captured our hearts and our affections, and so we desire to be confident and assured in our local church. More specifically, they are confident in missions and reaching the lost. They are confident and assured in their pastor and in their church leaders. They are confident and assured in their church when their church is going through difficulties. Church, do churches go through difficulties? I don't say this rudely.

Years ago I knew a pastor who had been a pastor for some 20 years in one particular place, and he said that he knew that God had blessed their church because in 20 years they had never had a fight, they had always had peace, and they always had plenty of money. That's not really found in Scripture. Paul says divisions must come. So what we're seeing here is this. The deacon is confident. They are assured in their church when their church are going through difficulties, and see, that confident assurance makes them step forward to say to the pastor, Pastor, you tell me what to do, when, where, and how. I'm here for you.

I know we're going through a tough time. I'll put my finger in the breach. They are confident, assured, and stand against sin. They defend truth and what is right. And look, they guard the church. A confident, assured deacon is a watchdog. They're just like my dog at home. I have a dog that is half Labrador Retriever and half Catahoula Cur. Now I've got a point here. I named her Mary Grace after the unattractive lady on Andy Griffith because she's kind of not very pretty. But here's my point. The Labrador Retriever comes out in my dog a lot. Happy, vivacious, just glad to be here. It doesn't matter. She's just glad to be here.

Everybody's a friend. See, that's what a deacon should be. Happy, glad to be here.

here, at everything, ready to serve, eager. But when something strange comes along, my dog changes. The Catahoula Cur comes out in her. Her hair bristles up. She starts to bark real aggressively. And she gets a little aggressive. When something strange comes in the yard, she's not too happy. I know that's kind of a joke, but that describes a confident, assured, and bold deacon well. He's like a Labrador retriever. He's there every time the door is open. He's ready for somebody to throw the stick, because he's ready to serve. He's like, Pastor Church, I'm here to serve. And I'll rally the troops to serve.

But when a threat comes along, the Cur comes out in him. And he'll take a stand and say, you're not going to do that at our church. So the confidence of the deacon. Now, as I finish up this part of the message, deacons, Travis Cropwell, Evan Ullery, Scott Young, I want to speak straight to you. This is your call and challenge to serve in the office of the deacon as God has given and prescribed in the scripture. He owns the office. This is a call and a challenge to serve well, honorably, and excellently according to God's word and God's ways. And if you do, you will be rewarded.

You will be honored, respected, and esteemed among the people of our church. You will be given a confidence and an assurance in your faith, in the faith, and all things pertaining to the faith in the church. And you will be given a boldness to speak the truth. And I have two assignments for you. I'm speaking to you three men now, ladies, wives. You may want to help them remember these. First, study these qualifications regularly. Stay qualified. Stay qualified so when it's time to be qualified, you're qualified. Work on being qualified. None of us are perfect here. Memorize and make this challenge and call in verse 13 your life's ambition.

Second assignment, remember Lucas. Remember Lucas. Please remember Lucas. Wednesday night, when we were having our first deacons meeting, Travis and Sarah's children kept coming in the room. Little Lucas kept coming in, wanting to see his daddy. And there's a part of, Pastor Chris, I just think if we keep children out, we can meet. We can be efficient. People want to go home. I'm hungry. I'm tired. We want to get business done and go home in an efficient manner. Those kind of things go on in my mind, but that's not what was running around in my mind mostly.

Every time Lucas came in, I thought he's coming to the door of the first deacons meeting in this church. And I said, Lucas is going to watch as he grows up deacons and deacon ministry in the life of this church. In 20 years from now, he's going to say these deacons and the deacons of Christ's life are either honorable or ugly. Remember Lucas? Remember Lucas? Remember Fisher? Remember Grady? Remember Amory? Remember Amelia? I can't name them all. Remember Samuel? These little boys and girls are watching us. They're watching us. They're watching us. And 20 years from now, they're going to tell you what they've been watching all along.

My girls are 20 and 22, and now they're telling us what they watched all along. Remember Lucas, men? Because Lucas is watching. But oh, it's not just Lucas that's watching. Our Lord is watching. Because this is his church. Deacon ministry is his. He's called you and gifted you for this day and time. Now I move to explaining what it means to lay hands on and pray over and have a public ordination service like this. Most of us here have seen something like this, maybe been a part of it. I mean, is this just something we do? Is this just a Baptist thing? I mean, we're Baptists, although we don't have Baptist in our church name.

We're not confused. We are Baptists. And we're confused by some things, but not that. I mean, is this what the Methodists do, the Presbyterians do, the Baptists do? Or is this a biblical thing? In ordaining elders and deacons, the laying on of the hands and prayer is thoroughly biblical. And we see this in the Old and New Testament. The laying on of hands and prayer and ordination is a public recognition and affirmation of the man that the church has examined, found to be biblically qualified, and set apart for God, unto God, for that ministry. The laying on of the hands does not give the man special ability or make him qualified.

The laying on of the hands actually is a public recognition of what God has already done in the man's life. The laying on the hands expresses the church leadership's identification with, affirmation of, and support of the man in his ministry. This is why Paul warns us against laying hands on someone and ordaining them too quickly. We see this in 1 Timothy 5.22. The man must be tested, and proven, and qualified. And Paul says that when a church lays their hands on, and prays over, and ordains a man too quickly, the church shares in that sin.

I've watched churches share in grievous sin because they laid hands on men they shouldn't have laid their hands on. Church, every now and then, I get accused of being slow. I'm methodical and deliberate. There's a difference. If the church is not methodical, and deliberate, and slow here, we will lay hands on men we shouldn't lay hands on. We're not doing that. And this practice goes back deep into the Old Testament. Moses laid his hands on Joshua when God set apart Joshua to lead the nation. This was a public commissioning before God. We see that in Numbers 27.

And in the prayer, we are committing these men and their ministry to God, acknowledging our total dependence on God. Thus, the ordination of these men in the deacon ministry in our church, publicly affirming, setting apart, supporting, and commending them, we are doing this to our Lord and the deacon ministry, which is what we have been called to do. And I will say this as your pastor, I couldn't be any happier, and prouder, and thankful, and excited about the future. Now, at this time, I want to pray over the message Now, at this time, I want to pray over the message.

And when I get through with this prayer, I'm going to call our deacons to come down and take a seat. I'm going to ask you wives to stand behind them. And then our elders, I want you to come down and do what we see in the scriptures to lay your hands on them. And then I'll lead us in a prayer of ordination. And then we will dismiss, take some pictures, and we'll go back to the fellowship hall, and eat, and have a great celebration.