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 love of money. Benediction End of school/church/calendar year 5. Finally, they are to be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and home with integrity (v. 12). Devotions for Church Meetings Full All 20 devotions 1. 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. We ask that we would challenge each other to reach higher and farther to be the best we can be. 2.2 Short Devotions for Advent and Christmas. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Give [them] a discerning mind to know your truth. A Thank You Will Do Thanksgiving; Celebrations 4. The deacon chair has an opportunity to initiate honor by asking his pastor for input in front of the other deacons. What do these verses teach about the function of pastors? The world is pulling at us from all sides, but as long as You are near, we will be able to stand firm in You. Help us to work together and encourage It can be so vast and open ended that it's difficult to know what to focus on. And they were accompanying him to the ship. 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. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Use your departure as a time to thank God and ask for His protection and blessings. In Jesus name, I pray. Make me a witness for You, Lord. The primary relationship of the deacons to the church is as follows: 1. For he is God's servant for your good. Deacons' Meetings. 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. Read Steve Viars Journey to Faith for the full account of how the Lord led Pastor Viars to Faith Church. Scripture: 2 Samuel 23:8-18. . But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. Month-by-month lectionary readings . rather than doing business as usual, using a meeting or a part of a retreat to have a foot-washing service together. Bonus points if they get connected in the Young . Humble us in our servanthood and use us for Your will. We have an idea, a vision, hints, and daily instructions. It will involve you in followup on decisions from the last meeting, and it will help you to think about what you can do ahead of time to help insure that the next meeting is a good one. I commit everything I have and everything I am to You, Lord God. It is rooted in the Greek word diakanos, which is translated as deacon, minister, or servant (1). Romans 16:1: A Female Deacon (Deaconess) In Acts 6:3, the apostles appoint seven male deacons: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus. The really good chair will know which agenda item is going to push a particular persons button. c. What warnings do we find here, both for pastors and church members? P Scripture: 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your . The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. You and I must be diligent and watchful so that we are not deceived. 1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful What then, brothers? 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. M Deacons are to be problem solvers and preservers of church harmony. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. - Sort By Book Order. 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). #2 - Plan the meeting carefully. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. May you find some insight from these related scripture quotes! 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. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 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. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Our hosting of this content does not imply endorsement, nor can we verify the accuracy of user-submitted posts. We come to you this hour asking for your blessing and help as we are gathered together. The pride that puffs us up and the pride that threatens to unqualify us. Connect to The Network and add your own question, blog, resource, or job. 2.5 Short Devotions on Encouragement for Moms. Give me health of body so I may serve with strength. Every meeting begins with prayer. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 3) HEARING GOD'S WORD It is important for a deacon's meeting to begin with an encouraging Word from God. 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. Give [them] peace of mind in obedience and service. But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. Devotions. Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. 22 And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. c. How would you describe their relationship? 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 4. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. 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. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Give me peace of mind in obedience and service. Prayer should be biblically informed. 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. W Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Call it Personal Time, and make it part of opening devotions. We humbly ask that You make us worthy to be Your servants. Tell Him your troubles. Meetings of the first church have more to do with keeping in line with . For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Pour your heart before Him. They are to be blameless, the husband of one wife, a good household . That means we must begin with an understanding of biblical complementarity in Genesis 1, 2, and 3. Deacons are to control their appetites either for alcohol or money (v. 8). 4. Couples Spiritual Weapon Prayer Lord of Heavens Armies, bless my wife as she works and prays daily to be molded into the image of You. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. G The church secretary will record the church meeting minutes to distribute to all attendees and relevant absentees after the meeting has adjourned. Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. 2.6 Short Morning Devotions for Couples. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Having set forth the qualifications for elders, Paul now does the same for deacons. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Here is a beautiful prayer to use in closing your time together. Psalm 32:8 2. 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. Help me to be a motivator and a spiritual weapon for her. C Your email address will not be published. Christ is the Head, Elders are the physical leaders of the church, deacons fall under the . As we gather today around your name, we pray that you would fill our hearts, our minds and our souls. In standard usage, it described someone devoted to carrying out the commands, accomplishing the will, or meeting the needs of another person. 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. Allow both my wife and me to be encouragers, supporters, and smile-makers, not only at church but everywhere we go. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Publisher: OpenBible.info. . Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something . The agenda will show WHAT is coming up, AND, even more important, WHAT the group is being asked to do about it. They are to pass the test of public scrutiny (v. 10). b. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Give [them] a humble heart when [their] work goes unnoticed. They help to respect peoples time, their ideas, their willingness to serve. June 2022 - Called to Serve. Comfort me when I question myself and my ministry. 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. In Jesus name, I pray. But do this with gentleness and respect,". You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 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. Mold me in Your image and guide me in my actions each day. 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. 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. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 12. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 5. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. 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. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. 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. Cite this page: Editor: Stephen Smith. These. 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. 3. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Connect to The Network and add your own question, blog, resource, or job. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. N on 08/23/2019. 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. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. It lists the order of business and topics of discussion that address the overall goals of the meeting. The Bible says that deacons who serve well (meaning serve effectively) receive a high standing and have confidence in Christ ( I Timothy 3:13 ). Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. Z. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Remind me daily that it is an honor to be Your hands and feet. 11 In the same way, their wives are to be TopicalBible 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. b. Grant [them] grace as [they] age so [they] may share your wisdom. 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. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. 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. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Is the focus of these qualifications on a mans abilities, or his character? Please share your ideas for improved meetings. It will help develop your language of faith and help you apply Scripture. 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.. You have ordained the service of deacons for your church, in order that the needy members may receive the necessary support. Have you had experience with any of these ideas? Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. Phil. We have talents, abilities, and time to work. These short, but insightful and inspiring pieces, are all based around the theme of "Live As Examples of Christ Jesus". Y 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Labs 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 . All rights reserved. Thank You for every seat that has been filled here, today. 2. That means sitting through lots of less than great ones. A church meeting agenda is an outlined plan for a church administrative meeting. Shift our perspective to seek Your peace above all else. Amen. 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. You are free to use any of our devotions. That invariably calls for a business meeting. What is Paul? OK, you are on your way to consistently great meetings. 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 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. Make us both blameless in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. B You have ordained the service of deacons for your church, in order that the needy members may receive the necessary support. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? 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. Please take that worry from me and erase the apprehensiveness in my voice as I talk with others. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Focus our eyes on consoling those who hurt and bringing Your light into the darkness. Amen. Give [them] health of body so [they] may serve with strength. For example, the Bible is the authority for Baptist faith and practice. A Psalm of David. We love You for that, Father. Allow us to work together as a team to confront struggles of every kind, at home, in the church, and in our community. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God suppliesin order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Amen. 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. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. Amen. 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. Implications? 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. What are the implications to us? We know that when we gather together, You always have a divine agenda. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Trust the merit of His blood, the power of His arm, and the love of His heart. ); 6 and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. Loving heavenly Father, Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Ladies' Dinner and Bible 0 Comments Add a Comment Cancel. Let all things be done for building up. Mary the mother of Mark offering her home as a meeting place for the Apostles - Acts 12; Lydia offering hospitality to Paul - Acts 16; Priscilla offering her house to Paul and along with her husband, Aquila, having a Bible study with Apollos - Acts 18 . Forgive us for our pride. for choosing to use ordinary, average people like us to impact the world. Devotions and prayers suggested for daily meditation and prayer Lectionary readings Lectionary readings provide a disciplined way to read through the Bible. 25 And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see my face no more. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 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. Let us examine a final passage of Scripture regarding deacons. These readings are available for both lectionary cyclesdaily readings and Sunday/Festival readings. That even when we have done what You have asked, the results are so much greater than we ever could have imagined. What then is Apollos? Kindle fervent love for the needy in the hearts of your people, that they may generously contribute to them as your stewards. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. The greatest among you shall be your servant. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. 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. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. I will cross raging waters and walk through burning flames and not be afraid because You are with me through it all. So what else? b. 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. Let us bring love where there is hatred, healing where there is injury, faith where there is doubt, and hope where there is despair. This can satisfy the craving on the part of some for relational time, and it can lead easily and directly into prayer time. 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. When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. The deacon title derives from a general Greek word that describes the work of a servant (diakonos). Keep the words of King David fresh in our minds, and renew our hearts to the tune of Your truth.I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Keep us physically safe and guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. Or am I trying to please man? Bible verses related to Deacon Duties from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. Publication date: Feb 25, 2023. O He and his wife, Kris, were married in 1982 and have two married daughters, a son, and five grandchildren. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 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. Overcoming Roadblocks in Ministry - Devotions for Deacons. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Time is invested in deacon training. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good. Having a time of devotions and prayer at your deacon's meetings is meant to facilitate a sharing of the living Word. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that it is not me speaking, but You through me. Geocoding 37 And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, 38 grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. 7. Daily/Sunday Lectionary Readings Lectionary Frequently Asked Questions Printable lectionary lists. "Make every effort to preserve the unity the. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. read more. Make me a humble servant, a role model, and a friend to all who call on Your name. Invite and encourage people to share whats happening in families, at work, whats distracting them right now, whats exciting, whats discouraging, etc. Deacons bring stability for people. Oh, right, we did that part already. So, if you want the real Jell-O, do not be deceived by the Snack Pack. After almost three decades of deacons . We dedicate our lives to You, our God. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 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. H However, only You can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning. From this text and elsewhere, we know that the Bible recognizes two offices within the church: elder and deacon (cf. 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. Deacon Campbell opened the meeting in prayer promptly at 8:15am. Q Help us to understand that we don't need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You've inlaid in our lives. 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. It is seen in several places in Scripture, most often describing someone who is a domestic servant that is subordinate to their superior. Support us daily as we wear our full suits of armor for You, and when we go into battle, give us the words to say and the tools we need. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Do it by email, or do it by snail mail, or do it by using church mailboxes. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. Pray through a passage of Scripture. c. List several characteristics of a healthy church from this passage. Work in and through me, Jesus. 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. Send your Spirit upon me as I serve your Church. 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. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. Help us plant seeds of hope and faith in eternal life with You. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. All of our devotions have a printable option at the bottom of each page if you wish to print. His point here is that deacons are to have an upright character which is an example to people in the church. In Jesus name, I pray. Like deacons, elders live sincere, generous, faithful, self-controlled lives. 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. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. 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. Your will for our lives does not always reflect our plans. I wanted to briefly share what our meeting will look . August 2022 - The Priority of Prayer. Your righteousness transcends all our efforts and understanding. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? Comfort [them] when [they] question [themselves and their] ministry. Is anyone among you sick?
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