. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. In verse 13, Paul says, "For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and a great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." Paul is saying that those who serve in the often quiet, behind the scenes work of deacons, will be rewarded with high standing. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Their family lives prove that they apply the truth of Scripture in all areas of their lives. Let us always overcome. Help me to be a motivator and a spiritual weapon for her. Guide My Footsteps Prayer O God, my Promise-Keeper, be with me as I step out every day into the darkness of this world to bear Your light. 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. God, make me brave. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Verse 7)? Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. Recalibrate our intentions and refocus our hearts. Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Invite and encourage people to share whats happening in families, at work, whats distracting them right now, whats exciting, whats discouraging, etc. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. What does the Bible say about Deacons? And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. Setting a specific time for this meets a need, builds community, and reassures people who get quickly impatient with it because they know it has a specific boundary around it. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God? The expectations for elders differ from those of deacons in a one critical way. Woman's hips extend to new horizons on the east, our. Prayers An Opening Prayer for the Meetings of the Deacons Merciful God and Father, you have not only declared that we will always have the poor with us, but have also commanded us to support them in their need. It is necessary to begin your staff meeting with these collections of 6 Powerful Prayers for Staff Meetings with scriptures on this post. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). Deacons are to be problem solvers and preservers of church harmony. Only You know what lies ahead. Tell her then to help me.. S 7 And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. What the Bible says about Deacons Topics Deacons 1 Timothy 3:8 - 1 Timothy 3:13 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. It lists the order of business and topics of discussion that address the overall goals of the meeting. Loving heavenly Father, In standard usage, it described someone devoted to carrying out the commands, accomplishing the will, or meeting the needs of another person. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 2. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. II. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. The Bible says that deacons who serve well (meaning serve effectively) receive a high standing and have confidence in Christ ( I Timothy 3:13 ). Psalm 32:8 2. A.The Problem (verse 1)-Greek-speaking Jewish widows being overlooked in the distribution . Acts 6:1-7 1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Publication date: Feb 25, 2023. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 1 Peter 5:1-11 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Why was the office of deacon instituted? Tell Him your troubles. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 4. Make me Your vessel, dear God. Focus our work on the good things that can only come from You. R This office, therefore, is named for what it does: serve. Amen. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. Make me fertile ground for your inspiration and love. Let Your light in me shine brightly for all to see. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Give me the courage to overcome my shyness and be more social to further the impact I make in Your holy name. The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something . An exceptionally good piece of news is that these devotions are available for free on the DMC website! What do these verses teach about the function of pastors? Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Do you have feedback? Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. Ephesians 4:11-16 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. - Sort By Book Order. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Not only could this devotional resource keep our vision fresh, but it also will invite us to explore the meaning of the phrases in the charge of deacons - encouraging us to search for ways to make this come alive in our own contexts. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.read more. As we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose for it. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Blog, A I know you have strong feelings about keyboards, and so I wanted to have a conversation with you before the meeting to make sure you dont feel blind-sided, and help you feel assured that well handle this in a way that feels respectful to you.. 10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Give [them] a discerning mind to know your truth. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. Ladies' Dinner and Bible 0 Comments Add a Comment Cancel. In Jesus all-powerful name, I pray. Benediction End of school/church/calendar year 5. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.read more.Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Fences must be erected, must be guarded, and must be constantly repaired. The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. Diaconal Ministries of Canada (DMC) has created a set of 12 devotions, designed specifically for deacon meetings, based on the charge to the deacons. We love your comments! Ready us to make every moment count. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. I want to do my best for You, and I need Your help to do that. Forgive us for striving beyond our means, worrying, and forcing results. Ephesians 6:18 Whether you are headed into a work meeting that needs guidance and wisdom or gathering as a small group or church, these opening prayers will set your focus on God's will. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Give me health of body so I may serve with strength. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. b. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". Your acts are amazing Lord. It can really help to put time for personal talk and informal exchange on the agenda - first. Couples Prayer for Support Dear Jesus, as my wife and I strive to live as pure and honorable Christians in this secular world, stay near us and guide us to be Your righteous and faithful servants. #1 - Have a written agenda and give each of the deacons a copy. His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church. b. So they gave a dinner for him there. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Give [them] peace of mind in obedience and service. Keep us physically safe and guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. But do this with gentleness and respect,". To help focus on the TASK at hand, each agenda item should be labeled clearly, so that the group knows exactly what it needs to do with that agenda item. But it does include specifics on the roles and duties of church leaders. Nov 23, 2022 - Explore Lorna Andrejewski's board "Deacon meeting" on Pinterest. How would these passages help us understand the purpose of a deacons meeting? 5. In Jesus name, I pray. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Publisher: OpenBible.info. I need to be able to reach over and take Your hand at a moments notice. For Hard Times For Financial Prosperity For Physical Health For Emotional Health For Protection For a Marriage For Babies and Pregnancy For Family For Spiritual Warfare For Spiritual Health For a Death For the Workplace For Bedtime, Bible Commentary Bible Verses Devotionals Faith Prayers Coloring Pages Pros and Cons, 18 Strong Prayers for a New Place to Live, Righteousness Exalts a Nation Meaning and Meditation, 50 Biblically Accurate Facts About Angels in the Bible, 50 Most Profitable Youth Group Fundraising Ideas for Your Church, 250 Ice Breaker Questions for Teen Youth Groups, 25 Important Examples of Pride in the Bible, Why Jesus Wept and 11 Lessons from His Tears, 25 Different Ways to Worship God and Praise the Lord. For things to be done decently and in order, we must have a rule of order. Proverbs 24:10 4. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. In every situation we ponder in our daily lives, let the Holy Spirit translate Your commands. : Pre-Seminary & Bible, Baptist Bible College (Now Clarks Summit University)M.Div. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 - Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (Read More.) Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.read more.But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else. M Deacons Meeting Use chat feature below to be counted and heard. Amen. Implications? B.S. Give me peace of mind in obedience and service. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Inspire me with Your wisdom so that my wife and I can work together as a team so I can faithfully fulfill my duties to the church. God let this meeting be productive and, as should be the case in all areas of our lives, help us to keep You at the forefront of our minds as we do the work set before us. Bible verses related to Deacons from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. . Paul identifies nine qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-12: Dignified (v. 8): This term normally refers to something that is honorable, respectable, esteemed, or worthy, and is closely related to "respectable," which is given as a qualification for elders (1 Tim. May you find some insight from these related scripture quotes! You are our good Father, just and righteous. Z. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. D And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. The New American Standard Bible. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. 2.7 Short Funny Devotionals for Essential Oils Users. We need You. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. So now we are ready to invest a bit of effort and time, because we are MOTIVATED to improve those meetings! Remind me daily that it is an honor to be Your hands and feet. The agenda will show WHAT is coming up, AND, even more important, WHAT the group is being asked to do about it. Meetings of the first church have more to do with keeping in line with . The responsibilities of a deacon are not clearly listed or outlined; they are assumed to be everything that does not include the duties of an elder or pastor, which is to preach, teach, and exhort.