#4 - Use simple parliamentary rules. for choosing to use ordinary, average people like us to impact the world. For he is God's servant for your good. 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. B.S. What are the implications to us? Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. The pastor should be more than an "honorary" member of of deacons' meetings. 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. The last thing Ill mention here is the ounce of prevention step. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. But you have to get there one step at a time. I am Your servant and will go wherever You lead me. 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. All rights reserved. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Tell her then to help me.. c. What does this verse contribute to our overall subject? When you are a pastor or administrator, you need to plan the meeting just like any other event where your group can focus on resolving important issues. While planning any church meeting, you need to think of all the details about what will interest the church members that will make them attend the meeting without any confusion. Call it Personal Time, and make it part of opening devotions. Benediction End of school/church/calendar year 5. His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Deacon Pearson read Isaiah 55:9-12. The church secretary will record the church meeting minutes to distribute to all attendees and relevant absentees after the meeting has adjourned. The really good chair will know which agenda item is going to push a particular persons button. Strengthen our confidence in who You have made us to be. Ephesians 2:8 tells us, " For by grace are ye saved through faith.". Read Chapter All Versions 1 Timothy 3:10 How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Set us free from comparison in order to work together efficiently. An exceptionally good piece of news is that these devotions are available for free on the DMC website! That invariably calls for a business meeting. That even when we have done what You have asked, the results are so much greater than we ever could have imagined. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. We can not comprehend the number of blessings you pour out on us from day to day. Amen. 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. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. If no one does, expect the meeting to show it. If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. 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. Have you had experience with any of these ideas? Options to hear God's Word may be: a) Through a Relevant Bible Passage Select a Bible passage that relates to diaconal ministry. 2. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 6. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. 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. Discover the top Bible verses about Deacons from the Old and New Testaments. 12 Let deacons be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Comfort me when I question myself and my ministry. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. They are students of Scripture, holding to sound theology. Amen. 2.3 Short Inspirational Devotions for Women Who Love Christian Fiction. Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. They are to hold to correct doctrine (v. 9). We have talents, abilities, and time to work. Verse 7)? Often I hear deacons express an uncertainty about what is expected, and what their role actually is. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. But do this with gentleness and respect,". Listed below are 19 practical tips for pastors when conducting a Deacons' Meeting. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. God, make me brave. You are God's field, God's building. 5 Short Devotions for Online Meetings By Jordan An April 27, 2020 Meeting togetherin person or more often now onlineis an important way to stay connected. 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. In Jesus all-powerful name, I pray. Thank you for helping us uphold the Community Guidelines to make this an encouraging and respectful community for everyone. The pride that puffs us up and the pride that threatens to unqualify us. First Corinthians 12:5 tells us that "there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord." Ministries in that verse is also diakonia. These. Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. November 2022 - A Spiritually Healthy Church. But Martha was distracted with much serving. Geocoding 3. L They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. The last thing Ill mention here is the ounce of prevention step. To find the full context of shorter scripture quotes, click on "Chapter" above each verse. Give us the desire to find ways to excel in our work. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. View Pastor Viars' Salvation Testimony Video, 5526 State Road 26 EastLafayette, IN 47905. 4. There is only one way for us to go to heaven. Thank you for helping us uphold the Community Guidelines to make this an encouraging and respectful community for everyone. Steve is the author, co-author, or contributor to six books and numerous booklets. Deacons are to control their appetites either for alcohol or money (v. 8). We love your comments! Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:8-18. . - Sort By Book Order. As I continue the path of being a deacon in my church, I ask that You give me the words I need to help those who come to me. Give her the ability to be who You called her to be and lead me in my guidance of her. Amen. The men seek God's mind, heart, and guidance. Help me to persevere in all I do in Your mighty name. 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. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. Honor widows who are truly widows. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. January 2023 - A Biblical View of Church Membership. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. 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. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 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. Nov 23, 2022 - Explore Lorna Andrejewski's board "Deacon meeting" on Pinterest. Dr. Steve Viars has served at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN since 1987. 3) HEARING GOD'S WORD It is important for a deacon's meeting to begin with an encouraging Word from God. We love You for that, Father. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. A Taste of Life Time of trouble in congregation/community 3. Proverbs 3:5-6 3. The word "deacon" means "servant." It was used of those who waited on tables serving food and did menial work.1 Deacons are the servants of the church. 7. As we gather today around your name, we pray that you would fill our hearts, our minds and our souls. October 2022 - Sacrifice for God and Others. TopicalBible Acts 20:17-38 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. Focus our work on the good things that can only come from You. 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. Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. This can satisfy the craving on the part of some for relational time, and it can lead easily and directly into prayer time. Oh, right, we did that part already. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Month-by-month lectionary readings . We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. What's helpful when questions arise about purpose, is to be reminded about our calling to these roles, and how better to remember than to each meeting take a few moments and collect ourselves to remind each other what we were elected to do. The Bible is very clear on how the church should be run. He and his wife, Kris, were married in 1982 and have two married daughters, a son, and five grandchildren. Bless this meeting today, all those present, as well as the lives of those we will encounter afterward. Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. All rights reserved. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Amen. It can really help to put time for personal talk and informal exchange on the agenda - first. 12. See more ideas about scripture cards, deacon, scripture printables. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. I need to be able to reach over and take Your hand at a moments notice. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Never leave my side. It can really help to put time for personal talk and informal exchange on the agenda - first. Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. 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. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the The Scriptures teach us that all things should be done in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40). Take Away My Worry Prayer Dear God of All Comfort, thank You for all that You have given me. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Deacons from generations past are cheering you on from the sidelines of glory. Help us to share Your word and Your truth with all who enter our presence. Do not wait for that to happen in the meeting. Z. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Every meeting begins with prayer. Acts 6: The First Deacons. Deacons need to be able to look it over a couple of days in advance so it can "percolate"; we all need time to clarify our own thinking and decide what we want to say in the meeting. 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. Devotions and prayers suggested for daily meditation and prayer Lectionary readings Lectionary readings provide a disciplined way to read through the Bible. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Every project, every season, every life. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Make me a witness for You, Lord. 8. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. Bonus points if they get connected in the Young . Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that it is not me speaking, but You through me. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. decisions through this meeting." Then close the prayer. 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 some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses. Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Let me put my fears of public speaking and meeting new people behind me and allow me to be all that I can for You. You have ordained the service of deacons for your church, in order that the needy members may receive the necessary support. 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. 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. Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". Amen. It will help develop your language of faith and help you apply Scripture. Overcoming Roadblocks in Ministry - Devotions for Deacons. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. Our hosting of this content does not imply endorsement, nor can we verify the accuracy of user-submitted posts. Help all of the teachers to be able They were faithful in their time. Please take that worry from me and erase the apprehensiveness in my voice as I talk with others. The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. Dr. Viars serves on the boards of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Vision of Hope, and the Faith Community Development Corporation. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. 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. Make us both blameless in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. 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. Having set forth the qualifications for elders, Paul now does the same for deacons. Couples Guidance Prayer Righteous Savior, bless my role as a deacon in the church and bless my wife in her support of the work I do in Your name. But in Romans 16:1, Phoebe, a woman, is also called a diakonos. W They answer to the pastor as well as the congregation. The Bible says that deacons who serve well (meaning serve effectively) receive a high standing and have confidence in Christ ( I Timothy 3:13 ). Amen. 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. You have ordained the service of deacons for your church, in order that the needy members may receive the necessary support. 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. Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, Just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. You don't have deacon's meetings without the pastor present unless your goint to fire him. and social character. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. We ask that we would challenge each other to reach higher and farther to be the best we can be. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". Make [them] fertile ground for your inspiration and love. Please share your ideas for improved meetings. Fences must be erected, must be guarded, and must be constantly repaired. Deacon Campbell opened the meeting in prayer promptly at 8:15am. 13 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. We surrender completely to You. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Their ministry seems to have begun in Acts 6:3-4 when the apostles sought men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" who would serve the widows in the church. 1 Timothy 3:13 Here Paul explains the function of the deacon, and two things will result when the service of a deacon is done correctly. ( 1 Tim 3:13, NKJV) This statement foreshadows two eventual, compelling benefits for those who carry out their duties well. We need You. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Begin meetings by obeying this command and asking God for wisdom on all the matters on your agenda. Deacons' Meeting March 8, 2023 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Hamburg Bible Church 731 Port Clinton Ave. Hamburg, PA 19526 Get Directions Stitches For Souls. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 2 And 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. Give me the courage to overcome my shyness and be more social to further the impact I make in Your holy name. 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. 10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. I am so blessed to have Your mercy, grace, and love. Stephen's life shows that he received both these things: He received honor (high standing) because he had the privilege of giving up his entire life in one moment for the glory of Christ. He oversees the staff, deacons, and all Faith Church ministries. The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. Deacons are to be problem solvers and preservers of church harmony. D Make me Your vessel, dear God. 3:2). July 2022 - Honoring God with Our Giving. b. What then is Apollos? How do you start your deacon meetings? Romans 8:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful 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. Leading Others to God Prayer Light in the Darkness, keep my heart pure, let me do all that I can to lead others to You. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good. conduct our work with a spirit of joy and enthusiasm. #3 - Be prepared to lead the meeting, Remember, leadership is priceless. Christ is the Head, Elders are the physical leaders of the church, deacons fall under the . Amen. Acts 6:1-6 - And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a . Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Help us to understand that we don't need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You've inlaid in our lives. Because the Bible is God's word, it will not contradict itself. 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. Scripture: 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your .