Deacons Are Vital to the Church

Please notice the announcement on the other side of this bulletin that on January 29th, Lakewood members will have an opportunity to nominate new deacons to serve.  Those who are ultimately called to serve will be added to our current deacon body.

As you consider who you may nominate, I would like to ask you to do several things.  Primarily, you must pray about your nominations.  Please ask the Lord to bring to your mind those whom He would have to serve.  Additionally, you need to study 1 Timothy 3:8-13, reading it multiple times for better understanding.  Compare the names which you are considering with the qualifications listed in this passage.  Finally, it is good to do these things privately, not speaking about specific names with others, until the process has been completed.  Of course, you should indeed discuss the Scripture reference from above, sharing with and gaining insight from other Lakewood members.

The office of deacon is just that – an office, prescribed by the New Testament (as previously noted).  The word deacon simply means servant, and that is exactly what those who fill this office are called to do – serve the church.  Deacons are not required to teach or preach (though it is permissible for them to do so).  The position of deacon is first mentioned in Acts 6 to give those were teaching and preaching more time to prepare their studies (it would be good to read that passage as well).

A biblically faithful deacon body is not one that rules the church and oversees all decisions.  That might surprise you because many churches today get this wrong.  The Bible does not teach that deacons are to rule in authority over others – but make no mistake, faithful deacons are indeed strong leaders in the church.  However, they lead by serving.  I have mentioned this in the past, but in the lead up to the Lord calling me to pastor a church, I was concerned about serving at a church where the deacons were a “board of directors” so-to-speak.  Upon coming to Lakewood I was greatly relieved to see that the deacons were not a ruling board, but a biblically faithful servant body.

Please pray for our deacons, please pray for potential new candidates, and please pray for our congregation as a whole as we continue to seek the Lord in all things.

Blessings, 

Pastor Bruce

bruce.cullom@gmail.com