Philippians 1:1 Lesson 12

The Deacons Deacons are male believers with various spiritual gifts of administration and helps. Collectively, they are the system over which the pastor has authority for the administration of the local church. They are to take responsibility for various areas of administration in the local church. These include organization and running of a prep school to educate children, maintenance, finances, grounds, music, nursery and other areas. No one deacon is in charge of all areas except the chairman of the board of deacons. Each deacon has his own area of expertise and authority. A pastor must ensure that as he delegates responsibility to his board of deacons that he also delegates the authority for the fulfillment of these responsibilities as well. The deacons are individually accountable to the chairman of the board, and collectively accountable to the pastor-teacher. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 teaches the function of the 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. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified,not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.  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”. Timothy 3:8-13) NASB

The Deacons Deacons are male believers with various spiritual gifts of administration and helps. Collectively, they are the system over which the pastor has authority for the administration of the local church. They are to take responsibility for various areas of administration in the local church. These include organization and running of a prep school to educate children, maintenance, finances, grounds, music, nursery and other areas. No one deacon is in charge of all areas except the chairman of the board of deacons. Each deacon has his own area of expertise and authority. A pastor must ensure that as he delegates responsibility to his board of deacons that he also delegates the authority for the fulfillment of these responsibilities as well. The deacons are individually accountable to the chairman of the board, and collectively accountable to the pastor-teacher. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 teaches the function of the 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. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified,not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.  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”. Timothy 3:8-13) NASB

Hierarchy of the Local Church Philippians 1:1/ Lesson 12

Scripture “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:17ff “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” -Ephesians 1:22-23 NASB “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” -Ephesians 5:25-27 NASB

Hierarchy of the Local Church For a more thorough development of this doctrine, see the written documents, Philippians 1:1 and Local Church at http://home.comcast.net/~jimoliverministries/Media/studies/

Name your sins to God the Father. Hierarchy of the Local Church “Be filled with the Spirit...” Ephesians 5:18

Opening Prayer Hierarchy of the Local Church

Outline The Lord Jesus Christ The Bishop-Overseer The Deacons The Congregation

Organizational Chart of the Local Church

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ He is Head of the Universal Church and Each Local Church.

The Lord Jesus Christ He is Head of the Universal Church and Each Local Church. Delegated Authority “The Thinking of Christ”

The Lord Jesus Christ He is Head of the Universal Church and Each Local Church. Delegated Authority To Pastors “The Thinking of Christ”

The Lord Jesus Christ He is Head of the Universal Church and Each Local Church. Delegated Authority To Pastors To Apostles “The Thinking of Christ”

The Lord Jesus Christ He is Head of the Universal Church and Each Local Church. Delegated Authority To Pastors To Apostles Layers of Authority “The Thinking of Christ”

The Pastor-Teacher

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation Strict Authority The Issue is Obedience

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation Strict Authority Academic

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation Strict Authority Academic Function

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation Strict Authority Academic Function Teaching Authority

The Pastor-Teacher Definition Ephesians 2:19 Qualification Spiritual Gifting Preparation Strict Authority Academic Function Teaching Authority System Guardian Responsibility

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastor-teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13 NASB The Pastor-Teacher

The Deacons

The Deacons Definition Male Believers with Spiritual Gifts The System

The Deacons Definition Male Believers with Spiritual Gifts The System Responsibilities Administration Organization

The Deacons Definition Male Believers with Spiritual Gifts The System Responsibilities Administration Organization Scope of Authority

The Deacons Definition Male Believers with Spiritual Gifts The System Responsibilities Administration Organization Scope of Authority Limitation Delegated Authority

1 Timothy 3:8ff “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. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must, likewise, be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.  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.” The Deacons

The Congregation

The Congregation Congregation’s Benefit

The Congregation Congregation’s Benefit Privacy Protection from Distraction

The Congregation Congregation’s Benefit Privacy Protection from Distraction Status of Believer Never an Issue

The Congregation Congregation’s Benefit Privacy Protection from Distraction Status of Believer Never an Issue The Issue: Concentration on the Teaching

The Congregation Congregation’s Benefit Privacy Protection from Distraction Status of Believer Never an Issue The Issue: Concentration on the Teaching Responsible to the Lord

Closing Prayer Hierarchy of the Local Church Philippians 1:2 For a more thorough development of this doctrine, see the written documents, Philippians 1:1 and Local Church.