The Biblical Deacon

The presence and plurality of New Testament elders is necessary for today's local church. That's true for deacons as well. The Apostle Paul addressed both a plurality of overseers (elders) and deacons in the church at Philippi (Philippians 1:1). Jesus' church (Matthew 16:18) should have the same leadership structure today as seen in His Word. Sadly, the New Testament standards and practices of these two offices are often missing, mutated, and even mutilated in the local church! Elders are not simply board members, and deacons are not glorified janitors. Both are needed and must be understood and implemented to lovingly lead and serve the local church body. Some churches operate in a single elder (senior pastor) leadership structure often accompanied by deacons with elder-like responsibilities. Sometimes churches are led by a power-hungry board called deacons that fail to be lead servants of Jesus. By functioning incorrectly (unbiblically), quasi-deacons/elders often overlook the biblical responsibilities needed from each New Testament office. The result can produce an under-led and underserved church. What a mess that can be!

This twelve-lesson workbook was designed to help the church and its leaders understand biblical deacons. It can be used to identify, train, and commission biblical deacons in a mentoring relationship while retaining (or starting) the plurality of eldership. This workbook will help local churches distinguish between the needed responsibilities of both elders and deacons and discover how these offices function harmoniously. May the result be a well-led and well-served flourishing local church that glorifies Jesus and makes disciples of Him.