Deacons as Faith-Multipliers [2024.11.10 Morning Sermon in Acts 5:42–6:7]

Deacons are prescribed by Christ to support the ministry of the Word, by which He works powerfully in His church

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Ordained to Logistical Service in Support of Worship [Family Worship lesson in Numbers 8:5–26]

What are we to see in the ordination and work of the Levites? Numbers 8:5–26 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these twenty-two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Christ, our High Priest, all of His saints are designated by God for priestly service as living sacrifices.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Benefits of Deacons Who Prove True in Their Ongoing Ministry [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:12–13]

What fruit may we expect the Lord to produce by the ministry of a faithful deacon? 1Timothy 3:12–13 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that faithful deacons advance well in the faith, and are very free with their faith, for attesting Jesus to others.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Testing of Deacon Candidates for the Glory of Jesus [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:10–11]

What is the proper process for installing a qualified man to the office of deacon? 1Timothy 3:10–11 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that deacons must be tested (and test those whom they enlist for service), and only after being found blameless, be admitted to minister in the office.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Foundational Qualifications of a Deacon [Family Worship lesson in 1Timothy 3:8–9]

What are the primary qualifications of a deacon? 1Timothy 3:8–9 looks forward to the second reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that deacons must be dignified men who live consistently with their sound doctrine.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Dangers of Our Wealth [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #54, 2023.10.15 Sabbath School]

Pride, false security, ingratitude, and complacency threaten believers who are rich in this present age(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Greed as a Gauge of Our Treasuring God [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #53, 2023.10.08 Sabbath School]

Just as the way that we use theology can be a gauge of whether we are treasuring God or this world and ourselves, so also our attitude toward material things tells us much about whether we are content to have God Himself.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Valuation of Elders' Ministry [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #52, 2023.10.01 Sabbath School]

Congregational spending on elders and ministers is an integral part of how Scripture says they are to value the ministry of the Word.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

How God Sanctifies Women (and the vital role of the Diaconate in that) [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #51, 2023.09.24 Sabbath School]

In those whom God has called to wifehood and motherhood, He does a special part of HIs sanctifying work through the decades of filling their lives with the service of husband, children, guests, and saints.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Roll of Widows, part 1 [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #50, 2023.09.10 Sabbath School]

The church is to maintain a roster of "true widows" who, not having anyone left to take care of her or for her to serve, is taken care of by the church, as she devotes herself to prayer and service for the church.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 4: The Deacon's Oversight of Service in His Own Household and in Christ's Household [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #49, 2023.09.03 Sabbath School]

A Deacon's first testing ground and ongoing chief priority in his ministry is overseeing the service of his own household, so that he may be well-equipped to oversee the service of a congregation of households that maintain the same covenantal priority.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 3: A Deacon's Doctrinally Produced Character and Conduct [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #48, 2023.08.27 Sabbath School]

Deacons must be examples of doctrinally-produced godliness and spiritual maturity—particularly in ways that are critical for oversight of the service of the church in earthly things.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 2: What an Elder Mustn't Be and Where He Must Prove It [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #47, 2023.08.20 Sabbath School]

Part of the reformation in Ephesus, which also included properly ordaining and installing a diaconate, was the ordination and installation of elders who weren't fleshly, and who were proven in the home, in the church, and in the community.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Officer Qualifications 1: What an Elder Must Be [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #46, 2023.08.13 Sabbath School]

Being an elder is a good (beneficial) work (labor), for which the Lord prepares good (grace-formed character) men (males).(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reformation in 1Timothy (2): Depending upon Christ via Christ-Appointed Roles [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #45, 2023.08.06 Sabbath School]

Christ's prescription for bringing reformation of doctrine and practice to Ephesus emphasized the restoration of Christ-appointed roles. Depending upon Him to revive His church in His way is the context in which we will find 1Tim 3:8–13 and its instruction for recognizing those whom Christ Himself has called to be deacons in His church.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reformation in 1Timothy (1) : Restoring Holiness through Good Doctrine via Christ's Means [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #44, 2023.07.30 Sabbath School]

As we prepare to handle 1Tim 3:8–13, we begin establishing the context, so that we may see how a properly restored diaconate fits into the whole work of reforming a church.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Reasons and Procedures for Corporate Giving [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #43, 2023.07.23 Sabbath School]

Some Christian giving must be done corporately, as a body or through the body. In this case, individuals lay aside what is then entrusted to the hands of certified men for disbursement and delivery. One focus of corporate giving is that those whose life's labor is preaching the gospel can get their living by preaching the gospel.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Corporately Giving by Grace, What We Have by Grace, to the Glory of Grace [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #42, 2023.07.16 Sabbath School]

In the context of calling them to corporate giving, Paul taught the Corinthians that it's not just our possessions that we have by grace but the cheerfulness and diligence to give also comes by God's grace.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Church-to-Church Diaconal Ministry (1) [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #41, 2023.07.09 Sabbath School]

In addition to overseeing person to person ministry in material things, deacons administer that temporal ministry that must be done corporately, including church-to-church ministry.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Spiritual Men to Lead a Spiritual People in Service to the Soul and Body [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #40, 2023.07.02 Sabbath School]

By virtue of other believers' union with Christ, they ought to be the special objects of our love and service—especially in helping their weaknesses, since we have missed our opportunity to reciprocate Christ's love to Him in His human weakness. Service to one another in soul requires corresponding service to one another in body. And both require that the work of the Spirit in us be expressed in the manner in which we help one another. To lead us in this service, the Lord has given us ordained servants over both the spiritual service of the body and the material service of the body.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)