| 1. |
You create and distribute what materials you feel are necessary to complement the program and aid each deacon in fulfilling their ministry:
recommended readings, studies, records, tracts, business cards, etc.
|
| 2. |
If you don't already have one, create and provide for them to distribute to the membership a complete church resource kit as suggested
in the program and as wisdom leads you: church history, bylaws, constitution, tithing envelopes, contact information, etc.
|
| 3. |
A complete training program be successfully completed by those deacons who will be involved before the Ministry Program is initiated, including your
church's doctrine on Biblical teachings. You likely have already discovered differing views, and some Biblical errors, in these basic beliefs. This
will give you an opportunity to address this with group support without singling out any one individual's differing views from your church's
teachings. (This might help.)
Award certificates and recognize their completion before the congregation, enlisting the peoples' prayers and encouragement. Develop the
study yourself, deciding the lessons, topics and discussions to be held. Be thorough. Own it. Ask His anointing on it. Train them as the New Testament
co-laborers they are. Sixteen weeks, meeting once per week, is suggested for a minimum time frame. Some situations may require as long as one year.
Many good training manuals and books are readily available for reference through your preferred Bible book outlet. Certainly, this brief guide may
be used as one or more training lessons, depending on how you develop or modify it. Much has already been written on the New Testament teachings on
this subject. Therefore, to keep this guide brief, look to those and your own studies for the Biblical basis for your teaching, its appropriate topics
and need for this ministry.
|
| 4. |
"Lord, teach us to pray" was the disciples' injunction to their Master. As you begin their
training and before one asks, and they will, lead them in a study of Prayer, teaching them not only to pray but how to
pray--how to pray successfully. This is their question. It can be done! Let's take God at His absolute word that He will
answer our prayers if His required conditions are met. I cannot tell you how many times over the years I have been asked a form of this question:
How do I pray and know that my prayers will be answered as He promises over and over in the Bible? Continuing, they say: "I pray but
it seems He either does not hear or will not answer."
This question invariably comes during or after leading others who desire into a deeper walk in their faith with our Lord, as in the case you will be
doing in this ministry. The blueprint is right there in His Word. Let Him speak to you as He guides you and you lead them. Don't teach them the latest
book or catchy clichés by the hottest contemporary author, some who speak with a silver tongue and adeptly turns a phrase thus producing unintended consequences.
All too often the book and/or author becomes the reader's focus, almost, if not, an idol. Leave it on the shelf. Turn to His Book, His Word, His Spirit.
Search out John 13 through 17 to start.
If any one, any thing, is to be studied, praised, adored, revered, adulated, and whose acquaintance we should grow deeper in, it is the Father, the original
author of all knowledge. Receive it from Him, yourself, in prayer. Teach it from His Word, His Book as your text. He will unlock its mysteries and wisdom to
those who seek Him with whole heart. Trust Him. He will guide you. He will demonstrate. He will give testimony in their presence for what they seek and
as a witness to your/His teaching. They will know He alone is responsible for what transpires before them. Their acquaintance with Him will deepen.
Their faith will increase. Their work will be more fruitful. Here, I will share with you one rich text on this matter: Job 22:21-30.
See this note.
Don't misunderstand me here. I am not saying reading and study of others' works are to be avoided or shunned; for what would be the point of my effort here?
What I am saying is that when you teach them in matters such as this, working in concert with His will to bring His people closer to Him in life, obedience
and joy, there is no substitute in curriculum, although I have heard some stand and speak from the pulpit as if they are reading a discourse from an adored
seminary professor. As the listeners departed I overheard some lamenting, some even boasting: One needs both dictionary and Bible to get all from today's
sermon and our preacher. What a travesty! With that caution, for those who do desire a look into my own personal Biblical exploration, journey, and experience
in giving a sincere response to this question, feel free to contact me.
|
| 5. |
In conjunction with the above training and teaching, lovingly lead them in and hold them accountable to a program of reading the Bible through in one year.
Encourage them in Scripture memorization. Give them examples from your own knowledge, testimony and context for when used. Guide them in their selection
in the beginning. covering as many areas for ministry as possible: death, sickness, soul-winning, despair, doubt, etc. Programs, phone apps, personal
pocket booklets, etc., are readily available to aid in this. Pair them for accountability and recitation. Knowing how to pray and personal familiarity
with His Word will be their greatest assets in their work. Your words shared in training may fail them but His Word will never.
So, when asked what I consider to be the two most indispensable things any Pastor could do for his deacons, or his people for that matter,
it would be to teach them how to pray and encourage and develop in them a desire for and depth in God's Word. Keep this in mind, however, only
God can give to them the desire to do either. Your responsibility is to pray that He does and encourage and teach them to do so. There are many
scriptures found throughout His Word teaching this. Lead by example. Let them see your love for prayer and reading and studying His Word in your personal
life beyond that just for sermon preparation.
|
| 6. |
After training and a period of time spent ministering, make it a point to partner with each one for at least one visit during their active
time of service. Do not make them feel as though they are being evaluated, though you will learn much. Instead, project the spirit of co-laboring
in His work for His people. Let him lead as he has become comfortable in his calling and ministering. Avoid critiquing him afterwards. If you see
where improvement or correction is needed, only after you have spent some time visiting with others, having already scheduled followup training or
briefing meetings with all, address those weaknesses or needs to them as a whole without disclosing those in whom you made the observations.
|
| 7. |
For as many as will and would be led by the Lord, give them an opportunity to speak to the entire congregation during a Sunday worship.
Yield the pulpit to them during the scheduled sermon time. Tell them you want them to preach, speak, or however your wisdom would lead to put it
to them. Some may develop their remarks in the form of a sermon, some a testimony, some a lesson, etc., whatever style or method the Lord would
have them to and they would feel most comfortable with doing. This time is not meant to be a promotion event for the Deacon Ministry itself.
That you can do at other times, enlisting whatever and whomever you may for that purpose. This is meant to be a ministering time, employing
them as co-laborers in this aspect of our Lord's ministry in worship as well. Pray earnestly for them and their anointing. Our Lord's Spirit will be present,
and has been in my experience, in a powerful way! Be prepared and expect a blessing on that day and in the days and time to follow. Set at liberty
here on earth what has been set free in heaven. Allow God's Spirit to move as He will.
|
| 8. |
This might seem controversial, especially at first thought, and although there is no specific New Testament instruction for doing so,
consider seriously establishing a "Junior Deacon Training Program." It is not my intent to go into this in detail here other than to speak
from a wonderful experience. Consider two New Testament co-laborers with the apostles and their early beginnings: Mark and Timothy. Look among you.
Likely you already are aware of young men who are demonstrating a level of spiritual maturity and hunger for growth and service that distinguish
them from their peers. They possess, in varying degrees, many of the characteristics and traits necessary for servanthood and leadership,
especially Biblical study and knowledge, humility and wisdom. Do not ignore these young men. Begin laying the foundation in their lives for
future leadership and service. It doesn't matter if you believe they will remain within your church after maturity and independence. The impact
of your leadership in their lives will follow them in service to our Lord wherever and however He may lead them. Some will go on to become deacons,
others, pastors, still others, missionaries. At any rate, each's life will be spiritually impacted and the future blessings to His Kingdom unknown
and immeasurable.
Naturally and Biblically, you would not take them through the full New Testament process of setting them aside in ordination and service,
but give them a precursor of study and training of the full model of the New Testament Deacon, identifying their endeavor to the people and allowing them
on occasion to stand in for or work along side their fully recognized and ordained mentors. I realize not every field may permit this, but you will know
within your spirit what His Spirit would have you to do and how to do this for the blessing of your people and the glory to God. Proceed with great wisdom and
expectancy of great blessings if led to do so. If you do so, seek His Wisdom in the selection, training and implementation process. Never should the selection
be or become a popularity or political process. Set the limit on the number to be chosen. Solicit your candidates through prayer from your Deacon body and yourself.
Repeat the Program as led, possibly every other year or so. Set a minimum age, youngest, sixteen, preferably 17 and older. As I said, there is no need to go into
further detail here. Yours and His wisdom will dictate whether and how to proceed.
|
| 9. |
Finally, if you have approached and implemented this ministry to your people through much prayer and seeking our Lord's blessing and anointing upon it,
you will discover a spirit of revival, beginning within your deacons, maybe not all but some, likely, many. Know this. Be prepared for this. Pray for this.
Expect this. And pray and expect it to manifest itself in your people as you lead in this. Prepare your sermons in expectancy and encouragement of this,
before and after its implementation. Remember this, so, when the time comes if and when that spirit of revival seems to wane, begin again with your deacons.
Instead of trying to lead the whole congregation in one mass effort of revival, as often is typically attempted, begin quietly and earnestly with your
deacons. Lead them into their prayer closets. Lead them in a time of renewal of their ministry. Expect that spirit of renewal to spread.
Watch for the evidence of it among your people as your men are renewed in their service. It may be only one seemingly small event, experience or fruit
of their work but recognize God in it. Seize upon it. Lift Him in it. He will do the rest. Sometimes revival begins from the "bottom up", as a
small bubble rising to the earth's surface, straining to burst forth into a full and ever-flowing flood of sweet spring water. All it takes is for one
to gently prick it, or as Moses, strike it, to loose it and its pent up waves wash over everyone in its wake! At other times, and should be so, it is
from the "top down." It begins within the leadership. God's Spirit moves within the heart of the true shepherd when He is sought on behalf of his people.
Scripture is replete with example after example. Search them out. Here is but one, seemingly small and obscure: Hag 1:14. Others will spring upon the page
when opened and explored. So lead your people by leading your men, and lead them most of all as our Lord did, by example.
|
May God bless you in your vision, leadership and progress of this work. Please know this as well. This program has my daily prayer for His blessings upon all
who choose to use it and to what ever degree you may do so. Our words and work fade and passes here but His lived out through us live on. As He is timeless, so
too are His works and Words. Those He will honor. Your fruit, His fruit, will abide. Let us pray together as our Lord instructed:
"...Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth..."
Let us labor together in His love and to His Glory (Mt. 9:36-38).
|
Additional copies of this brief guide may be obtained at: https://adam2.org/deacon/deacon.html.
Even though you may and are encouraged to modify it for your situation, please remember it is copyrighted by Ken Livingston of Adam2.org.
This copyright should remain intact for its free use and distribution.
|
|
