conduct our work with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm. Beloved, confide in Him. If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 2. 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. Deacons hold important positions of service in their churches and shine Gods light through their words and actions. Please take that worry from me and erase the apprehensiveness in my voice as I talk with others. It is necessary to begin your staff meeting with these collections of 6 Powerful Prayers for Staff Meetings with scriptures on this post. Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. All rights reserved. Make me fertile ground for your inspiration and love. TopicalBible 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. Deacons are an example to people. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that all persons who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are priests with direct access to God (1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6; 5:10). But qualifications for a deacon's character are clearly outlined in Scripture. Having set forth the qualifications for elders, Paul now does the same for deacons. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 1. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. Our hosting of this content does not imply endorsement, nor can we verify the accuracy of user-submitted posts. Every meeting begins with prayer. 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. Comfort me when I question myself and my ministry. In the way the words are often used in Acts and the epistles, a believer in any form of ministry could be called the servant, or deacon, of Christ. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Publication date: Feb 25, 2023. That invariably calls for a business meeting. "I will still be the same when you are old and gray, and I will take care of you." Isaiah 46:4 As we grow older, our bodies begin to change. The greatest among you shall be your servant. You can find the devotionalsby clicking here. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. What leaders are being spoken of here (cf. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. Phil. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Fences must be erected, must be guarded, and must be constantly repaired. Bless, we pray, our work of mercy that we all may praise and thank you, while we await the blessed appearance of your Son, Jesus Christ, who became poor for our sakes that he might enrich us with eternal treasures. P So, we need to read all of Scripture in light of the whole Bible. 2.6 Short Morning Devotions for Couples. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain. 1 Timothy 3:8 - Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Acts 6:1-15 - And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the . Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Acts 20:17-38 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. 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. Psalm 3:5 NIV Let Your peace rain down on us today, as we seek You more than anything else. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Amen. Give me a discerning mind to know your truth. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. All of our devotions have a printable option at the bottom of each page if you wish to print. We love your comments! Amen. Bible verses related to Deacons from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. Meetings of the first church have more to do with keeping in line with . read more. Devotions. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Give [them] a discerning mind to know your truth. Finally, they are to be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and home with integrity (v. 12). 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. S Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. T F The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 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. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. Mold me in Your image and guide me in my actions each day. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Focus our work on the good things that can only come from You. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. Time is invested in deacon training. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. It is seen in several places in Scripture, most often describing someone who is a domestic servant that is subordinate to their superior. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus. Transform us Lord, and make us more like you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. Read through the biblical references of Deacons to learn more about its meaning and significance. M Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. For things to be done decently and in order, we must have a rule of order. Month-by-month lectionary readings . The pride that puffs us up and the pride that threatens to unqualify us. 3. They help to respect peoples time, their ideas, their willingness to serve. 12 Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Help all of the teachers to be able Qualities of Deacons and DeaconessesFaithful Servants (1 Timothy 3:8-13) Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. B Here is a beautiful prayer to use in closing your time together. The Bible is very clear on how the church should be run. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Invite and encourage people to share whats happening in families, at work, whats distracting them right now, whats exciting, whats discouraging, etc. J Bible scholars are generally agreed that the "office" of deacon finds its roots in Acts 6:1-7, where the early church selected seven men to assist the apostles in caring for the needs of the widows in the early church. Meeting people around the church and helping them get connected! Keep my breathing deep and peaceful, let anxieties roll off my back, and help me to stay focused on supporting the elders in my church. 1:1). 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. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faiththat you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. OK, you are on your way to consistently great meetings. He is a God of love: if you would give . Prayer For Deacons Meeting Lord Jesus Christ, Servant of all, Send your Spirit upon [our deacons and their wives] as [they] serve your Church. First, theres just no getting around it, somebody has to do some good preparation, and that usually falls to the chair. But Martha was distracted with much serving. 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. 33 I have coveted no ones silver or gold or clothes. You have called us to the office of deacon in this congregation, and we are now assembled in your name to deal with the matters pertaining to our office. Is the focus of these qualifications on a mans abilities, or his character? Now coming to what the Bible has to say, it has no firm rules on a church meeting. Bible verses related to Deacon Duties from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. But you have to get there one step at a time. They should be persons of deep faith and high moral standards (see 1 Timothy 3:8-13), committed to a life of prayer, study and other spiritual . Help me to persevere in all I do in Your mighty name. Romans 8:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Make me a humble servant, a role model, and a friend to all who call on Your name. Let us always overcome. These readings are available for both lectionary cyclesdaily readings and Sunday/Festival readings. Steve is the author, co-author, or contributor to six books and numerous booklets. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Even in failed attempts, You blow us away with Your faithfulness to provide what we need. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Thank you for the roles of deacon, elder, and minister and for the uniqueness each brings to the table. As an apostle, Paul described himself as a "servant of the Lord" (Rom 1:1; Col 1:25). First, theres just no getting around it, somebody has to do some good preparation, and that usually falls to the chair. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. Make me a witness for You, Lord. My job has many responsibilities such as teaching Bible studies, planning mission trips and retreats, and offering pastoral care to students and their families. 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. Call that person before the meeting and say, Harv, I want to give you a heads up that were going to be talking about the budget item for a new keyboard. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. Everyone must guard himself against the various foes that threaten to rob us of our joy in the Lord, our usefulness in the kingdom, our relationships with our brothers and sisters, and our leadership of our home. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. A.The Problem (verse 1)-Greek-speaking Jewish widows being overlooked in the distribution . And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. OpenBible.info Robert's Rules Of Orderis a handy reference to have on hand, but it is somewhat too detailed for the typical business meeting in a small, Baptist church. Diaconal Ministries of Canada (DMC) has created a set of 12 devotions, designed specifically for deacon meetings, based on the charge to the deacons. Loving heavenly Father, Amen. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them,You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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