When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. Give [them] peace of mind in obedience and service. Give [them] a generous spirit when [they are] tired but needed. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. The deacon title derives from a general Greek word that describes the work of a servant (diakonos). 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. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Make me a witness for You, Lord. Proverbs 24:10 4. The term translated "deacon" simply means servant. Psalm 32:8 2. N Prayer For Deacons Meeting Lord Jesus Christ, Servant of all, Send your Spirit upon [our deacons and their wives] as [they] serve your Church. : Grace Theological SeminaryD.Min. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. We have talents, abilities, and time to work. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. . Diaconal Ministries of Canada (DMC) has created a set of 12 devotions, designed specifically for deacon meetings, based on the charge to the deacons. Couples Voice Prayer Jesus, my Master Potter, I pray that every morning when I wake up, You are there, right next to me and in me, to be the energy in my veins, the beat in my heart, and the voice in my throat. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Lift our eyes to seek You first today, and always, surrendering our need to achieve, understand, and be known. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. Proverbs 3:5-6 3. b. I need to visit more, share stories more, and fellowship more. 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. Devotions. Praise You for this event, and Your purpose for it. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. Help us to share Your word and Your truth with all who enter our presence. You are free to use any of our devotions. ); 6 and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. Blanket us with Your peace today, Father. 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. Use your departure as a time to thank God and ask for His protection and blessings. 7. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 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. Implications? 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. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. 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. I will cross raging waters and walk through burning flames and not be afraid because You are with me through it all. Connect to The Network and add your own question, blog, resource, or job. 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. Nothing is ever in vain, for even mistakes and missteps are used for good. Give [them] a humble heart when [their] work goes unnoticed. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. #4 - Use simple parliamentary rules. 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. Time is invested in deacon training. Give [them] eyes to see the needs of your people. Loving heavenly Father, And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So, if you want the real Jell-O, do not be deceived by the Snack Pack. The last thing Ill mention here is the ounce of prevention step. Like deacons, elders live sincere, generous, faithful, self-controlled lives. But it does include specifics on the roles and duties of church leaders. b. So each agenda item will be labeled one of three ways: for information, for discussion or advice (to someone, for example the pastor or a deaconal subcommittee), or for decision. 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. Couples Prayer for Support Dear Jesus, as my wife and I strive to live as pure and honorable Christians in this secular world, stay near us and guide us to be Your righteous and faithful servants. 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. God, make me brave. In the way the words are often used in Acts and the epistles, a believer in any form of ministry could be called the servant, or deacon, of Christ. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. It can be so vast and open ended that it's difficult to know what to focus on. In Your holy name, I pray. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. But do this with gentleness and respect,". Only You truly know what we are setting out to accomplish today. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. So now we are ready to invest a bit of effort and time, because we are MOTIVATED to improve those meetings! These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. Here are 10 powerful prayers for deacons. Those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. A Thank You Will Do Thanksgiving; Celebrations 4. View Pastor Viars' Salvation Testimony Video, 5526 State Road 26 EastLafayette, IN 47905. It can really help to put time for personal talk and informal exchange on the agenda - first. Help me to devote my life to best supporting the elders of the church and the congregation. They are students of Scripture, holding to sound theology. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff Make us both blameless in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Tell Him your troubles. It will also increase your ability to use Scripture as you minister to those inside and outside of the church. One of the important principles of Bible interpretation is that we must allow Scripture to interpret itself. 2023 Christian Reformed Church in North America. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf. That even when we have done what You have asked, the results are so much greater than we ever could have imagined. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 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. While planning any church meeting, you need to think of all the details about what will interest the church members that will make them attend the meeting without any confusion. Not double-tongued (v. 8): Those who are double-tongued say one thing to certain people but then say something . Amen. 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.. 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. We surrender completely to You. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Benediction End of school/church/calendar year 5. read more. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. But test everything; hold fast what is good. 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. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Remind me that though I fall short of the glory of God, I am Your handiwork and I am enough. : Pre-Seminary & Bible, Baptist Bible College (Now Clarks Summit University)M.Div. For website questions or corrections, please contact us at [emailprotected]. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Online Stewardship Course Going Live January 2023. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless. For example, the Bible is the authority for Baptist faith and practice. If you have short devotions that you wish to share, please contact us. 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. The Network is a collection of content posted by members of our online community. Im not going to list prayer as a way to improve meetings, because we all know that. 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. Deacons hold important positions of service in their churches and shine Gods light through their words and actions. Proud member Give me a discerning mind to know your truth. Give me patience, dependability, and a continued, trustworthy reputation. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 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. In Jesus name, I pray. A Purposeful Pastor/Deacons Meeting. Grant me grace as I age so I may share your wisdom. A Deacon's Relationship to the Church Membership at Large The deacons are to be active in ministry to the church family, promoting peace, harmony and a spirit of cooperation among the membership. Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. But this is your time. The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Bible verses related to Deacon Duties from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. We love your comments! He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Thank You for giving me this opportunity to work for You. P Having a good agenda in hand 2 or 3 days before the meeting is important. We dedicate our lives to You, our God. Take what we have prepared and multiply our efforts as only You can. Make [them] fertile ground for your inspiration and love. Online Stewardship Course Going Live January 2023, Orientation Resources for Deacon Leadership. c. What does this verse contribute to our overall subject? Let us bring love where there is hatred, healing where there is injury, faith where there is doubt, and hope where there is despair. 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. 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. We come to you this hour asking for your blessing and help as we are gathered together. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. What the Bible says about Deacons Topics Deacons 1 Timothy 3:8 - 1 Timothy 3:13 8 In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Meeting people around the church and helping them get connected! Have you had experience with any of these ideas? Steer our intentions to align with Your righteous will. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.). Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. Give me eyes to see the needs of your people. Give us renewed strength and godly courage to obey You without questioning. A Bit of Clay Anytime; Pentecost 2. S You can find the devotionalsby clicking here. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Take Away My Worry Prayer Dear God of All Comfort, thank You for all that You have given me. 2. Deacons are to be problem solvers and preservers of church harmony. Give her the ability to be who You called her to be and lead me in my guidance of her. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Keep us physically safe and guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. We might even want to call someone to check something out before the meeting. Connect to The Network and add your own question, blog, resource, or job. We love your comments! That means sitting through lots of less than great ones. Deacons' Meetings. Many pastors like to have a list of devotions that they can give to others as well as use in their own personal life. 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. This allowed the apostles to focus on prayer and ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). 4. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Amen. Have you had experience with any of these ideas? Make me fertile ground for your inspiration and love. These readings are available for both lectionary cyclesdaily readings and Sunday/Festival readings. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. 8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. The men seek God's mind, heart, and guidance. The agenda will show WHAT is coming up, AND, even more important, WHAT the group is being asked to do about it. Thank you for helping us uphold the Community Guidelines to make this an encouraging and respectful community for everyone. What if better preparation meant shorter better meetings?! Amen. Amen. They answer to the pastor as well as the congregation. Keep Me Grounded Prayer Lord Jehovah, Self-Existent One, I ask that You keep me grounded and on the path You have for my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Servant of all, Send your Spirit upon [our deacons and their wives] as [they] serve your Church. In every situation we ponder in our daily lives, let the Holy Spirit translate Your commands. What do these verses teach about pastoral ministry? Give [them] health of body so [they] may serve with strength. Overcoming Roadblocks in Ministry - Devotions for Deacons. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. 10 And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Please share your ideas for improved meetings. Invite and encourage people to share whats happening in families, at work, whats distracting them right now, whats exciting, whats discouraging, etc. 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Finally, they are to be faithful to their spouse and manage their children and home with integrity (v. 12). Send your Spirit upon [our deacons and their wives] as [they] serve your Church. G A church meeting agenda is an outlined plan for a church administrative meeting. In Jesus name, I pray. Make the agenda so it can be distributed ahead of time. Allow us to work together as a team to confront struggles of every kind, at home, in the church, and in our community. Help us to work together and encourage #2 - Plan the meeting carefully. Never leave my side. Woman's hips extend to new horizons on the east, our. 2.4 Short Devotionals for Young Women. 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. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. Id like to think of these as a few of the disciplines of good meetings. August 2022 - The Priority of Prayer. Depend on the Lord July; Pentecost; time of difficulty He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
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