WEBVTT

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 We've been a little topsy-turvy this morning. They probably have caught on that the printer went kaput.

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 There's a whole story there.

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 Yeah, thank you to the band for being willing to pivot.

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 I typically try to pay attention to the song just before preaching so I know when it's ending.

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 We clearly caught that I wasn't sure what we were about to do there.

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 We're going to begin this morning in Acts chapter 6, verses 1 through 7.

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 There's one other text we'll go to before we read it together.

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 I'd like to say a few introductory comments.

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 Last week in this, we're taking a break from our normal verse-by-verse exposition of a Bible text

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 because from time to time and for a specific purpose,

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 it can be helpful to summarize what the Bible teaches on a given topic.

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 There's a topic before us. What does the Bible say about this?

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 Now, this is the second of two weeks taken to think together about the offices of the church.

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 As Gary mentioned earlier in his prayer, church polity or governance is what we're thinking about,

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 particularly because we need to think as a church about the office of deacon.

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 As stated last week, this office has been neglected in the life of our church,

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 and I want you to hear, this is exactly what I said last week,

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 that I will be the first to admit that this is to my shame.

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 There's much that I could say about that.

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 I'll spare you all of my thoughts there.

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 To get there, to get to talking about deacons,

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 Last week we considered the office of elder and how that office works with the congregation.

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 How we together are led by elders to do congregational work.

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 The church of Jesus Christ is precious because it is purchased by his blood.

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 His universal church finds its expression in local churches.

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 We exist, this gathering here this morning,

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 because of his redeeming life, death, and resurrection.

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 He loves us so much that he lived and died, was raised and ascended for us.

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 He loves us so much that he has not left us alone.

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 He sends his helper, the Holy Spirit.

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 He has given us his word and he has given us the church.

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 He loves local churches.

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 I hope you love the local church in just a small measure of the way he loves local churches.

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 And he loves local churches so much that he's given us instruction for how we are to govern the local church.

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 Polity, not boring at all.

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 And it matters for every single one of us.

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 Every church has a polity.

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 All are functioning in some way, some better than others.

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 We want to be as biblical as we can be in our polity

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 because we think that Jesus loves the church

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 and he's given us instructions for how we are to be effective at the mission that he's given to us.

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 We most regularly call our polity elder-led congregationalism.

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 And I added last week for our thinking, elder-led, deacon-assisted congregationalism.

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 Now, I'm not sure that deacon-assisted is the best phrase.

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 I think it could be misunderstood what I mean by that.

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 It's probably not going to make its way into our normative vernacular concerning our polity,

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 but I want to be clear today what I mean by that

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 and help us think about the role this office serves in the church.

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 I hope that I showed you sufficiently last week from Ephesians 4

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 that the congregation of a local church,

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 the whole congregation,

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 is to teach one another the truth and apply that truth in our lives.

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 So the congregation is responsible for holding to sound doctrine.

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 The truth we're supposed to speak to each other in love, we find in Ephesians 4.

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 Then again, I hope sufficiently, I showed you from Matthew 16 and then Matthew 18,

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 that the congregation is meant to correct sin in one another's lives.

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 We're supposed to point out to one another when we're sinning against each other

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 and against the Lord for the sake of repentance.

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 And in some process and sad cases, to see somebody outside of the church

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 because they can't possibly be a Christian if they're living in unrepentant.

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 Sin.

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 So the congregation is responsible for discipling.

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 Perhaps nowhere more clearly states the purpose of the church

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 than Matthew chapter 28, verses 18 through 20.

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 There Jesus says,

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 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

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 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

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 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

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 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you,

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 and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.

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 This is the mission that we call the Great Commission given to the church.

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 And of course, that works itself out in local congregations.

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 So the congregation is doing the holding sound doctrine work and the discipling work.

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 Congregation as a whole.

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 Mission of the church in total.

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 And greater certainly includes the lesser.

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 So it's the mission of our church.

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 This congregational process is meant to be led by elders and assisted by deacons.

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 Now, here is where that phrase, right, could be so clearly misunderstood.

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 Perhaps supported by deacons?

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 Rather than me going through a litany of other possible verbs,

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 allow me just a quick analogy to kind of explain what I mean.

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 There's a really wonderful, I would argue, seminal work by a man named Colin Marshall

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 and another named Tony Payne called The Trellis and the Vine.

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 And in that book, which is really a plea for congregationalism,

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 for the whole church to be doing the work of ministry,

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 they start with an analogy.

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 And one of the two men, I can't remember which,

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 talks about a jasmine vine that he has growing on his fence.

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 And it's a flourishing, beautiful vine.

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 And behind that vine, attached to the fence, is a trellis.

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 And so what he sets up is that there are some works that need to be going on

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 in the life of a church that are to support the most important work

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 that should be going on in the life of the church.

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 So vine work in a church is the work of ministering the gospel to one another, right?

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 This holding sound doctrine and this discipling work that we talked about last week.

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 The trellis work is that work which holds up the vine.

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 So the trellis is not unnecessary, but it's necessary for the vine work to flourish.

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 And so that's what I mean when I say deacon-assisted or perhaps supported, right?

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 Holding up, making possible this very important work of congregationalism.

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 So I hope that gets our brains moving in the right direction.

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 In Acts chapter 6, verses 1 through 7.

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 Let me pray before I read it.

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 Father God, we do thank you for your great love for the church.

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 We recognize that Jesus shed his very blood for the people that gather together on Sunday mornings

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 and sing and pray, open your word, that we might worship Christ rightly.

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 What a thing it is that today we are gathered, that people are gathered all over the place.

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 What a wonderful picture of your grace.

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 Even just those in this room are immeasurable reason to praise you.

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 We thank you that you've given us your word and you've shown us how we're to be ordered

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 under your good, loving, kind authority.

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 We humbly recognize that we need your help to rightly understand it and give it application.

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 We pray to this end that you would help us for the glory of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 All right.

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 Acts chapter 6, beginning in verse 1.

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 Now, in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists

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 arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

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 That would have been Greek-speaking Jews.

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 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,

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 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

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 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute,

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 full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

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 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

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 And what they said pleased the whole gathering.

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 And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,

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 and Philip, and Procurus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas,

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 a proselyte of Antioch.

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 I read those so confidently, you think that's how those are pronounced.

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 I don't have a clue.

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 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

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 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.

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 And a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

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 All right, so we can make some profitable observations about the office of deacon from this text.

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 This is understood, this text, to be the origin of the diaconal ministry.

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 These seven, the very first deacons.

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 So that's the first observation.

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 Here it is.

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 We think in the history of the church, these are the first deacons.

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 So we begin with a problem, right?

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 In these days, the disciples were increasing in number.

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 There's a great number of people professing faith in Christ.

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 The church in Jerusalem is growing in droves,

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 and this complaint arises between two ethnic groups of people, right?

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 There's a distribution problem going on, right?

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 The growth is a good problem, but with that growth comes some complexity.

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 Some challenges have arisen in the process.

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 This division along these cultural lines,

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 and it's coming out in a very practical issue, right?

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 Widows are being denied daily distribution.

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 They're not getting the food that they need.

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 It's not merely a logistical failure.

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 It's a threat to the very unity of the church.

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 Notice how it is that the apostles respond.

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 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

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 I don't believe that this is a statement of superiority.

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 I don't think they're saying, well, it's below us

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 that we would spend any of our time in service this way.

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 That word serve is where we get our word for deacon from.

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 I don't think they're saying that at all.

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 What I think they're saying is that it's a statement of priority.

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 The apostles understand that Christ has entrusted them

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 with the ministry of the word and prayer, verse 4.

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 If they neglect that, the entire church is going to suffer for it.

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 So what do they do?

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 There's a real need going on, but there's a priority at play.

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 So they call together the congregation to appoint qualified men.

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 Pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute,

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 full of the Spirit, and of wisdom.

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 Men who have professed faith in Christ and given evidence of that,

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 and men who are wise.

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 They take men and they set them apart to handle

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 the practical needs of the church,

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 ensuring fairness, care, unity.

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 And then note the result in verse 7.

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 And the word of God continued to increase.

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 You see the connection there?

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 Remember, when the churches rightly ordered,

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 the word set themselves to this work of prayer and ministry of the word.

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 And so the word of God continued to increase.

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 I think we would all say yes and amen to that, right?

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 That the word of God would go forth,

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 take root in people's lives,

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 show the evidence of repentance and faith.

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 So that's the first thing we notice.

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 This is the initial.

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 This is the situation when we see this diaconal ministry arise.

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 Second, we can note some things about the nature

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 and then the specific purposes of the office of deacon.

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 Now, the church has historically recognized this passage

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 as the prototype of what this type of ministry should look like.

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 Deacons are servants.

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 Servants.

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 That's what the word means.

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 Intentional, recognized, qualified servants

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 who are tasked with meeting the tangible needs in the body.

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 You could separate spiritual and physical needs in this way.

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 Physical needs are being met by these individuals.

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 They are not elders.

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 They are not spiritual overseers,

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 but they are servants of Christ for the good of his church.

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 So this is the nature of who these people are to be.

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 From Acts 6, we can draw out four purposes,

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 specific purposes of the diaconal office.

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 Why should we call people to serve in this way?

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 The first purpose is to care for the physical needs of the church.

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 It's fairly on the nose.

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 Here in Acts 6, they appointed men

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 who will do the work of caring for these neglected widows.

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 We're not given details.

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 We don't know exactly how this took out,

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 but it is probable that as the growing number of this early church was large,

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 that these men were not themselves doing all of the work.

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 It's just my guess.

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 It's my years of serving and leading.

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 I just don't feel like seven is quite enough to get the task done,

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 although I don't know the total number.

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 But I would be willing to bet

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 that they were organizing people to accomplish the task.

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 They are serving by helping others serve this need.

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 And this ensured that, number one,

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 there was physical well-being amongst this group of widows,

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 so that their spiritual well-being could be addressed.

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 They just eliminated the issue of being taken care of now,

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 and now their spiritual well-being can be the focus.

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 And that thirdly, it served as a witness to the onlooking world.

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 Just think, Jesus says in John 13 and verse 35,

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 by this all people will know that you are my disciples

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 if you have love for one another.

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 So there it is on display as this group of widows was being neglected,

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 and now those needs are being met.

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 There are people in place to make sure

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 that there's some kind of mechanism

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 that these women would be loved,

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 and the onlooking world can marvel

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 at that kind of service to them.

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 So they're to care for the physical needs of the church.

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 Secondly, we can see in Acts 6

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 that they're to protect the unity of the church.

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 There's something going on here.

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 There's this division with the presenting issue.

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 The deacons step into this sensitive situation

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 and ensure that care is distributed fairly and wisely.

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 Deacons are a kind of shock absorber,

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 Mark Deber likes to say,

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 in the life of the church.

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 They step into moments of tension,

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 not to wield authority,

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 but to preserve peace

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 around things that are physical in nature.

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 How?

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 With plans to meet those physical concerns.

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 They catch the,

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 hey, I noticed.

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 A handrail would be really nice right here.

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 Those types of things.

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 Keep me from falling down the concrete steps out front.

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 That was a real issue

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 that was really met in the life of our church.

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 It was brought to our attention,

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 and it needed to be.

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 So they protect the unity of the church in that way.

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 Thirdly,

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:25.299
 to support the ministry of the word.

00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:26.579
 It's been said in measure,

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:29.139
 but it deserves more of our attention.

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.740
 The apostles are clear.

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:34.059
 We will devote ourselves to prayer

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:36.700
 and to the ministry of the word.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.700
 We're going to set our attention

00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:41.660
 on these two tasks.

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:45.860
 Deacons do not replace this ministry.

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:49.279
 They protect this ministry.

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.580
 Again, shock absorbed.

00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.319
 They buffer.

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:55.360
 So that ministry can be focused on.

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:58.259
 When deacons are faithful,

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:01.000
 elders are freed.

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.099
 When elders are freed,

00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.579
 the word of God is central

00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:08.159
 in the life of the church.

00:19:08.919 --> 00:19:10.159
 And when the word is central,

00:19:10.979 --> 00:19:11.779
 the church is healthy.

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:14.500
 This is the downstream effect.

00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.139
 Invariably,

00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:18.879
 this is how it works.

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:21.419
 It's not a competition of roles.

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:24.580
 It's a cooperation of callings.

00:19:25.900 --> 00:19:26.380
 Now,

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.220
 I want to speak briefly

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.160
 to my own failure

00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:29.039
 to work hard

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.000
 at promoting this office

00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.400
 in our church at this point.

00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:33.140
 There's a lot of reasons

00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.440
 that I could explain to you.

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:36.820
 If you come to our members meeting tonight,

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.060
 I'll say a bit more.

00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.880
 But I do want to say

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:41.920
 it is in no way

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.880
 because I have a desire

00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:46.560
 to be in control of anything.

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:49.360
 This has been levied at me

00:19:49.360 --> 00:19:51.019
 from time to time.

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:51.560
 Right?

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.680
 But please note,

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.860
 this has never been

00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:54.880
 why I've neglected

00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:57.400
 and neglected to be sure.

00:19:58.580 --> 00:20:00.860
 This has been the impulse for me

00:20:00.860 --> 00:20:02.539
 that largely has driven

00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.400
 my neglect of this good.

00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:05.500
 And then I want to

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.920
 bring the corrective as well.

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.840
 Let me read to you a quote

00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:11.060
 from The Trellis and the Vine,

00:20:11.120 --> 00:20:13.580
 the book that I mentioned previously.

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.700
 So remember the imagery, right?

00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.980
 We're working on vine work.

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:18.320
 The vine work is the thing

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:20.300
 that's so critical and important.

00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.819
 It is the mission of the church.

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.180
 And then the trellis work

00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.220
 is the thing that's coming up

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:25.079
 and supporting it,

00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.299
 making it possible.

00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:26.740
 Okay?

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:27.779
 So, quote.

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:31.019
 That's the thing about trellis work.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.639
 It tends to take over

00:20:33.639 --> 00:20:35.180
 from vine work.

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.639
 Perhaps because trellis work

00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:39.879
 is easier and less personally threatening.

00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:42.279
 Vine work is personal

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.899
 and requires much prayer.

00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:46.300
 It requires us to depend on God

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.320
 and to open our mouths

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.420
 and speak God's word

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:50.380
 in sum to another person.

00:20:51.300 --> 00:20:52.120
 By nature,

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.860
 we shy away from this.

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.340
 Trellis work also often

00:20:56.340 --> 00:20:57.380
 looks more impressive

00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:58.259
 than vine work.

00:20:58.600 --> 00:21:00.380
 It's more visible and structural.

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.500
 We can point to something tangible,

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.500
 a committee, an event,

00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:04.519
 a program, a budget,

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.220
 an infrastructure,

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:07.300
 and say that we have achieved something.

00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:10.820
 The concentration on trellis work

00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:12.919
 that is so common in many churches

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:15.659
 derives from an institutional view

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.960
 of Christian ministry.

00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:19.639
 It is very possible for churches,

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.960
 Christian organizations,

00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:22.279
 and whole denominations

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:24.119
 to be given over totally

00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:27.179
 to maintaining their institution.

00:21:27.919 --> 00:21:28.779
 Whatever the reason,

00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.619
 there is no doubt

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:30.619
 that in many churches,

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:33.259
 maintaining and improving the trellis

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:35.619
 constantly takes over

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:38.279
 from tending to the vine.

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:41.599
 And this was early in our thinking

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:43.000
 about the church

00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.420
 as we planted

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.680
 and wanted to see

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:47.960
 good and healthy relationships

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.200
 within the life of the church,

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.920
 as we wanted to see the church

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:52.339
 being congregational,

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.480
 doing this important work

00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.920
 of defending sound doctrine

00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:57.180
 and discipling one another.

00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.940
 And so what I ended up doing

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.200
 was running around in circles

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.000
 around everybody

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.440
 to try to keep you free to do that.

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.500
 That's my main problem.

00:22:06.639 --> 00:22:07.879
 I think at the core of it all,

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:09.560
 as I want to help you do

00:22:09.560 --> 00:22:12.360
 the thing that you do so well,

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.780
 loving and serving one another

00:22:13.780 --> 00:22:16.140
 with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:20.540
 Perhaps, in some measure,

00:22:21.300 --> 00:22:23.160
 keeping tasks off your plate

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.880
 has helped you be a congregation

00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.360
 that is well concerned

00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:28.080
 with discipling.

00:22:28.760 --> 00:22:29.360
 I don't know.

00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:31.140
 Maybe I left you a little bit bored

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.440
 and then you had to actually

00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:34.120
 minister the gospel to one another.

00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:36.139
 However,

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:38.479
 as we continue to grow,

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:41.699
 your elders need to maintain

00:22:41.699 --> 00:22:42.579
 the bandwidth

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:44.779
 to focus all of our time

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.419
 and energy

00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.619
 on prayer

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:48.500
 and ministry of the word.

00:22:48.719 --> 00:22:49.939
 To be devoted to that.

00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.619
 Because frankly,

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.359
 it's enough.

00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:52.659
 It is a massive,

00:22:52.939 --> 00:22:54.259
 massive work.

00:22:54.719 --> 00:22:55.939
 To pray for you

00:22:55.939 --> 00:22:56.779
 and to minister

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.699
 the word of God to you

00:22:57.699 --> 00:22:59.539
 on all of the various ways

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.359
 that that can be done.

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.839
 If our polity is going

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.779
 to keep working,

00:23:05.479 --> 00:23:06.339
 you don't want

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.759
 one of your pastors

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.740
 putzing around

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.819
 with a copier

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:12.779
 trying to get the bulletins printed

00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:16.639
 at 4 a.m. this morning.

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.219
 It's not profitable

00:23:19.219 --> 00:23:20.139
 for you ultimately.

00:23:20.959 --> 00:23:21.059
 Right?

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.259
 That copier has not been

00:23:23.259 --> 00:23:24.799
 working right since September.

00:23:26.699 --> 00:23:27.579
 It's not the way

00:23:27.579 --> 00:23:28.779
 I should be spending my time.

00:23:28.879 --> 00:23:30.219
 I recognize that fully

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.720
 and it's largely my fault

00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.400
 that I'm doing it.

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.360
 So don't hear me

00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.860
 accusing you at all

00:23:34.860 --> 00:23:36.319
 of that.

00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:39.039
 You want

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.860
 my prayers

00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.779
 and my careful preparation

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.839
 if we are to hope

00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:46.980
 that our good vine work

00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.519
 will go on.

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.940
 We together

00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:50.960
 have to be concerned

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.480
 about that

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.140
 and think about

00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:53.319
 how we together

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:55.579
 keep that health going.

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.360
 And it's going to mean

00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.680
 that we have to build

00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.500
 careful,

00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:01.400
 careful strategic trellis

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:03.420
 to hold that vine up.

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:06.360
 I have too often

00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.600
 misspent my time

00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:08.759
 in ways I thought

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:10.060
 would best serve you

00:24:10.060 --> 00:24:11.840
 but I believe

00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:12.980
 may have been

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.360
 to your detriment.

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.700
 We can't run the experiment

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.360
 a different way

00:24:17.360 --> 00:24:18.560
 so it's really hard to know

00:24:18.560 --> 00:24:19.680
 if I'm right about that

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.140
 at all.

00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.039
 But what I am confident of

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.140
 if the Bible instructs us

00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:23.700
 to do something

00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.460
 we should do it

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.279
 and trust that it's

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.259
 ultimately good.

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.960
 Whether or not

00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:29.180
 our experience affirms it

00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.779
 if God's commanded it

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.799
 we should do it

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.480
 and trust

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.579
 that it's going to work out

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.359
 for good.

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.200
 This problem

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.720
 needs fixing.

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.399
 Deacons are at least

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:41.160
 a significant part

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.660
 of the solution.

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:44.379
 So that was the third one.

00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:46.359
 The most primary one

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.759
 I think

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.660
 to support the ministry

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.039
 of the word.

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:50.899
 Fourthly

00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:52.180
 it's worth mentioning

00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:54.460
 deacons exist

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.400
 to model

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.360
 Christ-like service.

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.720
 Practical

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.500
 Christ-like

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.840
 service.

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.580
 This I think

00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.420
 is implicit

00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.500
 in this text

00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.980
 the character

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.920
 of these men

00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.259
 but we need

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.000
 to step out of it

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.640
 a little bit

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.259
 at this point

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.920
 to see it

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.620
 most clearly.

00:25:13.299 --> 00:25:13.820
 Deacons

00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:15.480
 dignify

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.660
 unseen

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.120
 work.

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.279
 They elevate

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:20.940
 humble

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:22.000
 service.

00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.240
 They show

00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:23.740
 the church

00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.460
 that greatness

00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.200
 in the kingdom

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.140
 is measured

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.420
 not by

00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:28.480
 platform

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:30.240
 but by

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.920
 sacrifice.

00:25:32.060 --> 00:25:32.460
 Turn with me

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.799
 if you will

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.480
 to 1 Timothy

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.360
 chapter 3.

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.900
 Let's look at

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.380
 some of the

00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:36.860
 qualifications

00:25:36.860 --> 00:25:37.779
 that are outlined

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.539
 there for us

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.460
 for deacons.

00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:49.660
 Now

00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.940
 we can't

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.180
 derive

00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.600
 clearly

00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:51.819
 from

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.019
 Acts

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.480
 chapter 6

00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:52.740
 that there's

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.160
 an office

00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.799
 being established

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.079
 here

00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.500
 but this

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.240
 is where

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.620
 these two

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:55.880
 things

00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.480
 come together

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:56.900
 for us.

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.100
 So

00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:57.880
 just

00:25:57.880 --> 00:25:58.440
 after Paul

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:58.740
 has talked

00:25:58.740 --> 00:25:58.900
 about

00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.500
 qualifications

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.819
 for

00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.460
 elders

00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.940
 he goes

00:26:01.940 --> 00:26:02.519
 on

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.259
 in verse

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.559
 8

00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:03.880
 to say

00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.940
 deacons

00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:06.039
 likewise.

00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.920
 So this

00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.139
 is the

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.339
 word

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.579
 that could

00:26:07.579 --> 00:26:07.720
 be

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.200
 translated

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.379
 servant

00:26:09.379 --> 00:26:10.579
 servants

00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:11.079
 likewise

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.139
 but he's

00:26:12.139 --> 00:26:12.440
 clearly

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.039
 talking about

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.639
 an office

00:26:13.639 --> 00:26:14.079
 in this

00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.279
 case

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:14.700
 because he's

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:14.940
 putting

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.700
 qualifications

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.099
 on it

00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.659
 just like

00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:17.000
 he did

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.259
 for the

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.659
 office

00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:18.519
 of

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:18.759
 elder.

00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:20.960
 So

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.599
 deacons

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.240
 likewise

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.480
 must be

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.680
 dignified

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.180
 not double

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.639
 tongued

00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:28.359
 not addicted

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:28.799
 to much

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.180
 wine

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.119
 not greedy

00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.119
 for

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.000
 dishonest

00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.799
 gain.

00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:33.979
 Notice

00:26:33.979 --> 00:26:34.199
 there

00:26:34.199 --> 00:26:34.419
 what

00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:35.159
 Paul

00:26:35.159 --> 00:26:35.299
 is

00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.000
 emphasizing

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.619
 the

00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.539
 character

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.839
 of

00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.000
 these

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.339
 people

00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.979
 dignified

00:26:40.979 --> 00:26:41.559
 worthy

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.279
 of respect

00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.939
 serious

00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.679
 about

00:26:43.679 --> 00:26:44.339
 holy

00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:44.899
 things

00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:46.419
 not

00:26:46.419 --> 00:26:46.679
 double

00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:47.039
 tongued

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.679
 consistent

00:26:47.679 --> 00:26:48.519
 in speech

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.539
 trustworthy

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:51.500
 self

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.119
 controlled

00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.519
 not

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:53.219
 mastered

00:26:53.219 --> 00:26:53.739
 by their

00:26:53.739 --> 00:26:54.579
 appetites

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:56.000
 financially

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.699
 honest

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.419
 driven

00:26:57.419 --> 00:26:58.839
 by

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.379
 gain

00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:01.320
 and more

00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:01.900
 verse 9

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.260
 they must

00:27:02.260 --> 00:27:02.660
 hold

00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:02.900
 the

00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.400
 mystery

00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:03.700
 of

00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:03.840
 the

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.200
 faith

00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:04.420
 with

00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:04.600
 a

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:04.900
 clear

00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:05.700
 conscience

00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:07.020
 deacons

00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:07.220
 must

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.440
 be

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.180
 theologically

00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:08.820
 sound

00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:09.980
 they are

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.140
 not

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.560
 teachers

00:27:10.560 --> 00:27:10.880
 in the

00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.080
 same

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.260
 way

00:27:11.260 --> 00:27:11.400
 that

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.720
 elders

00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.020
 are

00:27:12.020 --> 00:27:12.180
 but

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.320
 they

00:27:12.320 --> 00:27:12.560
 must

00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.140
 love

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.600
 and

00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:14.380
 live

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.140
 the

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.620
 truth

00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:16.100
 the

00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.620
 reason

00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:16.860
 for

00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.500
 service

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:17.800
 in the

00:27:17.800 --> 00:27:18.240
 church

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.660
 must

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:19.820
 be

00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.080
 coming

00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:20.400
 out

00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:20.500
 of

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.640
 the

00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.040
 truth

00:27:21.040 --> 00:27:21.200
 of

00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:21.420
 the

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.940
 gospel

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:23.580
 verse

00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:23.900
 10

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.320
 says

00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:24.680
 and let

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:24.840
 them

00:27:24.840 --> 00:27:25.200
 also

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.400
 be

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:25.980
 tested

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.660
 first

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.640
 there's

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:27.920
 no need

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.100
 to

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:29.100
 rush

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.619
 into

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.119
 this

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:31.359
 certainly

00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:31.740
 17

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.119
 years

00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.539
 is not

00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:32.879
 rushing

00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:34.539
 the

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:34.799
 church

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:35.879
 observes

00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:37.339
 discerns

00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:37.859
 and

00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.899
 confirms

00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:39.899
 the whole

00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.559
 congregation

00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.039
 does

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.599
 this

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.799
 Paul

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.139
 even

00:27:43.139 --> 00:27:43.859
 includes

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.359
 the

00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.839
 household

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.199
 verse

00:27:45.199 --> 00:27:45.659
 12

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:45.980
 let

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.619
 deacons

00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.019
 each

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.519
 be the

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:47.719
 husband

00:27:47.719 --> 00:27:47.980
 of one

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.299
 wife

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.879
 managing

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.179
 their

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.699
 children

00:27:49.699 --> 00:27:50.219
 and

00:27:50.219 --> 00:27:50.559
 their

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.039
 own

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.779
 households

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:53.559
 well

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.319
 similarly

00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.619
 to

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.000
 elders

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.339
 right

00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.240
 how can

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.419
 you give

00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:56.559
 any

00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:56.859
 leadership

00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.159
 in the

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.359
 church

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:57.519
 if

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:57.619
 your

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:57.939
 household

00:27:57.939 --> 00:27:58.479
 itself

00:27:58.479 --> 00:27:58.779
 is

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.079
 not

00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:00.479
 ordered

00:28:00.479 --> 00:28:00.859
 right

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.179
 the

00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:01.399
 home

00:28:01.399 --> 00:28:01.539
 is

00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:01.759
 the

00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.639
 proving

00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:03.079
 ground

00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:04.059
 of

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.500
 ministry

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.479
 a man

00:28:05.479 --> 00:28:05.619
 who

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:05.839
 cannot

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.219
 shepherd

00:28:06.219 --> 00:28:06.500
 his

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.000
 home

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.719
 cannot

00:28:07.719 --> 00:28:08.039
 be

00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:08.459
 trusted

00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:08.819
 to

00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:09.319
 serve

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:11.139
 Christ's

00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.579
 church

00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:13.059
 and

00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.259
 then

00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.799
 comes

00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.199
 a

00:28:14.199 --> 00:28:14.819
 promise

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.099
 verse

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.599
 13

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.659
 for

00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:17.939
 those

00:28:17.939 --> 00:28:18.219
 who

00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:19.000
 serve

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.279
 well

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.459
 as

00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:19.839
 deacons

00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.139
 gain

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:20.339
 a

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:20.639
 good

00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.179
 standing

00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:21.479
 for

00:28:21.479 --> 00:28:21.979
 themselves

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.299
 and

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.880
 also

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.620
 great

00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:24.500
 confidence

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.460
 in

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.599
 the

00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:25.940
 faith

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.400
 faithful

00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.000
 service

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.480
 deepens

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.380
 assurance

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:30.940
 and

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:31.980
 strengthens

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.579
 witness

00:28:33.579 --> 00:28:34.620
 so

00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.259
 so these

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.579
 people

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.019
 serve

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.259
 to

00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.039
 model

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.880
 Christ

00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.120
 like

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:38.660
 service

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.759
 it's

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:39.940
 not

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.920
 limited

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.220
 to

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.480
 them

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:41.640
 we

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:41.819
 should

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.220
 all

00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.500
 be

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:42.960
 serving

00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.420
 one

00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:43.819
 another

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.140
 but

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:44.400
 they're

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:44.559
 to

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:44.819
 give

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.120
 us

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.019
 leadership

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:47.160
 in

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:47.319
 this

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:47.720
 regard

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:49.339
 so

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:49.460
 the

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:49.600
 new

00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:49.920
 testament

00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.740
 presents

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.620
 two

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.559
 distinct

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.259
 offices

00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:53.680
 elders

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.140
 and

00:28:55.140 --> 00:28:55.600
 deacons

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.559
 elders

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.180
 lead

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:57.440
 through

00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:57.980
 prayer

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.460
 and

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:58.720
 ministry

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.000
 of the

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.299
 word

00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.819
 deacons

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.220
 serve

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:00.420
 through

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:00.799
 tangible

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.240
 ministry

00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:01.579
 and

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.680
 practical

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.660
 care

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.339
 help

00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.579
 the

00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.279
 congregation

00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:05.759
 do

00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.019
 the

00:29:06.019 --> 00:29:06.500
 work

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:06.660
 that

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:06.799
 the

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.319
 congregation

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:07.680
 is

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.339
 meant

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:08.680
 to

00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:08.980
 do

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.620
 hold

00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:09.900
 that

00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.319
 sound

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.180
 doctrine

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.759
 and

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.420
 disciple

00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.740
 one

00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:13.079
 another

00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:13.940
 in

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.059
 the

00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.420
 truth

00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:15.519
 both

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.680
 of

00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:15.860
 those

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.240
 offices

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.980
 are

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.960
 essential

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.860
 they're

00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.160
 essential

00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.440
 because

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:19.779
 they're

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.400
 biblical

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:20.839
 whether

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.160
 or not

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.299
 we

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:21.640
 fully

00:29:21.640 --> 00:29:22.279
 comprehend

00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.079
 how

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.220
 it

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.519
 all

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.160
 works

00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:24.480
 out

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.740
 a

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.000
 church

00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.200
 with

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.720
 elders

00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.120
 but

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.360
 no

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.039
 deacons

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.180
 here

00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.360
 this

00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:29.660
 church

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:29.839
 a

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.000
 church

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.160
 with

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.519
 elders

00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:30.779
 but

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.000
 no

00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.400
 deacons

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:31.640
 will

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:31.980
 be

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.400
 strained

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.759
 a

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:34.920
 church

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:35.099
 with

00:29:35.099 --> 00:29:35.660
 deacons

00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:36.400
 but

00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.539
 no

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:36.860
 elders

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.819
 will

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.120
 be

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:39.539
 unanchored

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:41.740
 Christ

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.200
 in his

00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:42.740
 wisdom

00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.380
 and his

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:43.700
 great

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.579
 love

00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:44.980
 for the

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.200
 local

00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.700
 church

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.160
 has

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.519
 given

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:46.960
 us

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.539
 both

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:50.660
 Charles

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:50.960
 Spurgeon

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.259
 once

00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:51.519
 said

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.259
 this

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.400
 would

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:52.500
 have

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:52.620
 been

00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:52.779
 on

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:52.920
 your

00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.299
 bulletin

00:29:53.299 --> 00:29:53.640
 today

00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:53.940
 if

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.039
 you

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.240
 had

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.480
 it

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.259
 quote

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.059
 deprive

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.299
 the

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.600
 church

00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:57.740
 of

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:57.860
 her

00:29:57.860 --> 00:29:58.319
 deacons

00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.039
 and

00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.240
 their

00:29:59.240 --> 00:29:59.920
 loss

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:00.380
 would

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.539
 be

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:00.779
 the

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:01.259
 shaking

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.579
 of

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:01.759
 the

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.240
 pillars

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.480
 of

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:02.640
 our

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.140
 spiritual

00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:03.660
 house

00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.500
 and

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.660
 would

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.140
 cause

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.400
 a

00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.140
 desolation

00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:06.660
 on

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:06.980
 every

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.420
 side

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.079
 end

00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.380
 quote

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.860
 isn't

00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:09.059
 that

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.440
 great

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.700
 man

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.039
 Spurgeon

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.279
 said

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.640
 if we

00:30:11.640 --> 00:30:12.319
 lose

00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.579
 the

00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.019
 deacons

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.200
 of

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.380
 the

00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:13.720
 church

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:13.920
 the

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.180
 church

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.340
 will

00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.500
 be

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:14.740
 in

00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.680
 shambles

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:18.220
 so let's

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.440
 think about a little bit of application

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.759
 and then I'll

00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:21.539
 close

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:23.880
 number one

00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:26.680
 honor the office

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.380
 we

00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:30.539
 put myself at the front of the line

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.320
 have not

00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:32.420
 done well

00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:32.980
 if we had

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.580
 we'd have more deacons

00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:37.420
 deacons are set apart by the church

00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.799
 recognized for their godliness

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.759
 entrusted with real responsibility

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:44.299
 as we work to establish more deacons

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:48.599
 pray for your elders in their nominating efforts

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:53.920
 and pray for the whole church in their affirming efforts

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:56.299
 your elders want to bring to you

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:59.660
 people we think are qualified to do this

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:03.839
 you have to help us to be sure that this is

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.920
 right

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:07.140
 once we have

00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.440
 pray for them

00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:10.480
 be encouraging to them

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:12.120
 jump in and help

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.620
 as they give us

00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.480
 direction

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.680
 in this physical

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.660
 service

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:19.019
 secondly

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.100
 it's worth mentioning

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:21.500
 that we ought to aspire

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.460
 to the character

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.400
 even if you're never

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:25.799
 to hold the office

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:27.660
 you're called to the same

00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:29.019
 Christ-like maturity presented

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.880
 in first timothy

00:31:30.880 --> 00:31:32.320
 these

00:31:32.320 --> 00:31:34.320
 qualifications in chapter three

00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:35.100
 are not

00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:36.360
 extraordinary

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:37.779
 they are exemplary

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:39.099
 but we should all be striving

00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.919
 to be godly

00:31:39.919 --> 00:31:40.639
 in this way

00:31:40.639 --> 00:31:42.519
 they show us what normal

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:44.199
 Christianity looks like

00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:44.899
 when it's

00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:46.479
 taken seriously

00:31:46.479 --> 00:31:48.359
 pursue

00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.119
 godliness

00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:50.459
 show up

00:31:50.459 --> 00:31:50.919
 serve

00:31:50.919 --> 00:31:52.079
 whether or not you hold

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.779
 the office

00:31:53.779 --> 00:31:55.539
 third

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:57.859
 consider the call

00:31:57.859 --> 00:31:58.719
 the church

00:31:58.719 --> 00:31:59.500
 needs

00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:01.240
 faithful deacons

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.039
 we may be coming

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.879
 and speaking to you

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:03.539
 at some point

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.199
 or you may find

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.580
 that you have

00:32:04.580 --> 00:32:05.340
 particular gifting

00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:05.960
 and you may want

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:07.080
 to offer it to us

00:32:07.080 --> 00:32:07.779
 hey I think

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.400
 there's a place

00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.860
 I could jump in

00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.160
 and I'm willing

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:12.180
 to receive some scrutiny

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:13.000
 and I want to see

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.720
 if maybe I could

00:32:13.720 --> 00:32:14.400
 serve the church

00:32:14.400 --> 00:32:15.920
 in higher order

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:17.620
 and fourthly

00:32:17.620 --> 00:32:18.380
 and extraordinarily

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.080
 practically

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:20.600
 if you're a member

00:32:20.600 --> 00:32:21.279
 of our church

00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:23.160
 come to tonight's

00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:23.700
 members meeting

00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.880
 now we will not

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.440
 be nominating

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.380
 anyone to the role

00:32:27.380 --> 00:32:28.039
 this evening

00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:29.180
 but we're going

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:30.259
 to propose a structure

00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.039
 for nominations

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.980
 and talk a bit

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.879
 about the present

00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.460
 needs

00:32:33.460 --> 00:32:34.839
 and how we all

00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:35.940
 have a part to play

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.500
 in meeting

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:38.379
 those specific needs

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.579
 how we can do this

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.139
 better together

00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:44.200
 so in conclusion

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.559
 beloved

00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.519
 the office of deacon

00:32:45.519 --> 00:32:47.000
 is not merely

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.000
 about logistics

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:50.180
 it is about

00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:51.659
 the gospel

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:53.279
 when deacons

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.119
 serve well

00:32:54.119 --> 00:32:55.220
 the needy

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.940
 are cared for

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:57.099
 the church

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.740
 is unified

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:59.099
 the elders

00:32:59.099 --> 00:32:59.839
 are freed

00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.759
 and the word

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.400
 of God

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.579
 advances

00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:04.460
 and in all of it

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.779
 the supremacy

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.579
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:08.240
 is experienced

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.279
 proclaimed

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:10.779
 and displayed

00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:12.299
 to the very ends

00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:13.440
 of the earth

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:15.000
 let's pray together