It can really help to put time for personal talk and informal exchange on the agenda - first. 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. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Options to hear God's Word may be: a) Through a Relevant Bible Passage Select a Bible passage that relates to diaconal ministry. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. In Jesus name, I pray. 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 . Dashes January; to memorialize someone 6. Deacons bring stability for people. Give me peace of mind in obedience and service. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Your email address will not be published. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 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. rather than doing business as usual, using a meeting or a part of a retreat to have a foot-washing service together. Publication date: Feb 25, 2023. Prayer should be biblically informed. As an apostle, Paul described himself as a "servant of the Lord" (Rom 1:1; Col 1:25). Let all things be done for building up. Proverbs 3:5-6 3. G 8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. I need to be able to reach over and take Your hand at a moments notice. As we gather today around your name, we pray that you would fill our hearts, our minds and our souls. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. 12. The Four "F" Words Deacons Utter About Classis and Synod, Deacons at Classis & Synod: Moving From Formal to Focused. A Bit of Clay Anytime; Pentecost 2. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. But Martha was distracted with much serving. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Help us to understand that we don't need full clarity to walk into the unique purpose You've inlaid in our lives. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. Their family lives prove that they apply the truth of Scripture in all areas of their lives. Though our circumstances will be unfair from time to time in this life, You are always our unwavering protector and shield (Psalm 3:3). Thats assumed. 1. Allow others to see You in everything I do and the gratefulness in my heart for the privilege of serving You. You can find the devotionalsby clicking here. #5 - Set a quorum of deacons to be present. Is anyone among you sick? What leaders are being spoken of here (cf. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Let Your light in me shine brightly for all to see. But you have to get there one step at a time. The process of preparing a good agenda demands thought and prayer. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. For he is God's servant for your good. We humbly ask that You make us worthy to be Your servants. 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. So what else? O 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. It will also increase your ability to use Scripture as you minister to those inside and outside of the church. Those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 7. c. List several characteristics of a healthy church from this passage. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 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. Deacon Campbell opened the meeting in prayer promptly at 8:15am. Every project, every season, every life. Give me health of body so I may serve with strength. 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. Romans 8:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful 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. If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. God, make me brave. H You are God's field, God's building. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. How would these passages help us understand the purpose of a deacons meeting? There is only one way for us to go to heaven. Acts 6:1-6 - And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a . Give me a discerning mind to know your truth. 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. 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. A Diaconate that PRAYS Together, Stays Together! Deacons from generations past are cheering you on from the sidelines of glory. 2. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. Amen. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. What truths was Paul trying to emphasize to these Ephesian elders? 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. Please take that worry from me and erase the apprehensiveness in my voice as I talk with others. 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. Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something . 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. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. In Jesus name, I pray. See more ideas about scripture cards, deacon, scripture printables. Meetings of the first church have more to do with keeping in line with . Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. 3. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. b. Grant us sufficient means to bring relief to the needy. Forgive us for our pride. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. Service Times8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. 1920 Northwestern AveWest Lafayette, IN 47906, Biblical Counseling in Winter Break Childcare, The Hope of Avoiding Poisonous Responses to Trials. The agenda will show WHAT is coming up, AND, even more important, WHAT the group is being asked to do about it. The pastor should be more than an "honorary" member of of deacons' meetings. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Lead us to them and help us to distribute the offerings that have been collected in a spirit of joy, fidelity, and liberality. Grant [them] grace as [they] age so [they] may share your wisdom. 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. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband. V Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. For we are God's fellow workers. Our prayer today is that Your will be done through this event. 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. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 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. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. In a cultural context deprived of Christian commitment, today is the day for deacons to model the change they want to see in the church. They answer to the pastor as well as the congregation. ); 6 and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. August 2022 - The Priority of Prayer. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Amen. Here is a beautiful prayer to use in closing your time together. That means we must begin with an understanding of biblical complementarity in Genesis 1, 2, and 3. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. 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. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 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. Geocoding July 2022 - Honoring God with Our Giving. The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 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. The expectations for elders differ from those of deacons in a one critical way. If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Ladies' Dinner and Bible 0 Comments Add a Comment Cancel. I wanted to briefly share what our meeting will look . Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. I want to help and be there for our members and friends, but I worry that I wont say the right thing or have the correct answer. Strengthen our confidence in who You have made us to be. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). 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. Do not wait for that to happen in the meeting. Or am I trying to please man? N What then is Apollos? The last thing Ill mention here is the ounce of prevention step. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. Transform us Lord, and make us more like you. Sculpt us into Your image and make our actions illustrations of Your loving grace. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. : Biblical Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary. S Your acts are amazing Lord. U If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. However, only You can see in perfect detail the end of every beginning. So they gave a dinner for him there. We ask that we would challenge each other to reach higher and farther to be the best we can be. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. We need You. Meeting people around the church and helping them get connected! 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. 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. Scripture: 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your . b. 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. 2.3 Short Inspirational Devotions for Women Who Love Christian Fiction. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 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. 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. September 2022 - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing. 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. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. It will help develop your language of faith and help you apply Scripture. Please share your ideas for improved meetings. 3:2). 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. We can not comprehend the number of blessings you pour out on us from day to day. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Amen. 1. Y Amen. 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. In Jesus all-powerful name, I pray. Create in us an everlasting determination to grow Your kingdom that produces good fruit. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 3 But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. Our hosting of this content does not imply endorsement, nor can we verify the accuracy of user-submitted posts. Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 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. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.
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