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Peter Barnes | Acts 6:1-7
SERMON NOTES
THE WORK OF DEACONS
Isaiah 1:1-18; Acts 6:1-7
– no deacons in the church in Acts 1-5; like no elders at Crete until Titus 1:5; but both elders and deacons in Phil.1:1
1. The Church is to be engaged in two main kinds of work.
– 6:1-2, 4; Israel had to look after the poor (Deut.14:28-29; 24:17)
– not an absolute division (Gal..2:10), and Stephen and Philip preach (Acts 6-8), but there is still a division of labour.
2. Deacons look after the welfare of other Christians.
– 6:2, 4; preachers concentrate on preaching the Word (2 Tim.4:2)
– deacons to serve tables (James 1:27); Calvin: ‘if God gives a man wealth, it is to put his charity to the test.’ See Gal.6:10
3. The church’s task is to choose suitable persons.
– 6:3, 5-7; odd that there are no women
– ordination does not confer the Spirit but recognises Him
– deacons to reflect the character of God (Deut.10:17-18)