Deacons: Understanding the Office

Deacon: Shock-Absorbers and Servants
by Jamie Dunlop

The Biblical Qualifications and Responsibilities of Deacons
by Benjamin Merkle

Do We Need to Use the Titles ‘Elder’ and ‘Deacon’?
by Benjamin Merkle

Deacons: Putting It Into Practice

The Committee-Free, Task-Specific Deacon
by Matt Schmucker

Moving from a Deacon-Led to an Elder-Led Church
by Phil Newton

How to Separate Deacon Work from Elder Work
by Matt Schmucker

A Deacon on a Deacon’s Reward
by John Ingold

Book Reviews

The New Testament Deacon: The Church’s Minister of Mercy, by Alexander Strauch
by Bobby Jamieson

Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, by Kent and Barbara Hughes
by Ken Barbic

Editor’s Note:

Jesus came to deacon (Mark 10:45; Rom. 15:8).

So did Paul, Apollos, and Tychicus (1 Cor. 3:5, 6; Eph. 3:7; 6:21; Col. 4:7). And the greatest among us will be deacons (Mark 10:43). It’s not a bad label to wear, apparently.

The New Testament only mentions this unassuming office two, maybe three times (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; cf. Rom. 16:1). But pay attention. It seems to direct the deacon’s attention to the church’s physical good, which in turn will serve the church’s spiritual good. The deacon is a unity builder—and shock absorber! There should be nothing unspiritual about a deacon.

What about your church? Do you officially recognize anyone as a deacon? Doing so publicly holds forth models of Christian love and service. We hope these articles will stimulate you to consider why and how to employ such individuals in your congregation.

—Jonathan Leeman