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)

Christ's Priorities and Power in His Church [Family Worship lesson in Acts 5:42–6:7]

What does God want, and use, deacons to do? Acts 5:42–6:7 helps us prepare to hear 6:1–7 proclaimed in the morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God wants deacons to facilitate the worship, discipleship, and evangelism of the church, and He blesses their faithful service unto the spread of the gospel. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

True Love, Truly Expressed, Truly Assures [Family Worship lesson in 1John 3:16–23]

How important is sacrificial love? 1John 3:16–23 prepares us for the second serial reading in public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that sacrificial love in our hearts is used by God to assure us, even before Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

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 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)

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)

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 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)

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)

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)

The Diaconal Expression of the Three Great Loves in Their Connection and Progression [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #38, 2023.06.18 Sabbath School]

Love of God produces love of neighbor (even/especially enemies!), but even more so love of brother, and all three have an expression in the use of material things. Though the church as a body is not a "neighbor," deacons as officers guide believers in how they conduct themselves as neighbors.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Following Christ in Serving One Another [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #37, 2023.06.04 Sabbath School]

Just as Christ humbled Himself and gave Himself for us, so we respond to Him by humbling ourselves and serving others—in dependence upon His grace and demonstration of His grace—even (and in some cases, especially) in material things.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Ordination and Success of the Diaconate [2023.05.28 Sabbath School; Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #36]

We study the training, selection, and ordination of the first diaconate to consider the application for when deacons continue to be ordained today.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Qualifications of the First (and every) Diaconate [2023.05.21 Sabbath School; Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #35]

Deacons must be male, and full of the Holy Spirit as identified by the markers that the Scripture gives of a Spirit-filled life.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

The Purpose and Work of the Diaconate [2023.05.14 Sabbath School; Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #34]

The purpose of the diaconate is to free elders for the ministry of the Word by doing the work of overseeing whatever is necessary with respect to material things.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)