Gospel Training for Deacons lays a solid foundation for diaconal service by providing tools for spiritual formation biblical direction for the role.

How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church? Deacons are essential to a church's health—yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What's their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church's overall mission? In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.

Offers critical definitions about the work of a pastor or elder -- what his job description is and what the limits of his authority are in the context of church government.

This book lays out an application-intensive approach to seeking out and developing qualified church leaders. Thoughtful analysis of key passages in Acts and 1 Timothy are balanced with practical action points in a contemporary context.

Is the deacon a minister for our times? Written for deacons of all denominations, this book has implications for the whole church as the issues it raises go beyond the diaconate and touch on the nature of the church itself, on its ministry and its use of the scriptures. It is essential reading for bishops and members of synods with responsibilities for deacons as well as for those who develop or deliver programmes for deacons, for those who might be considering becoming a deacon and for all those who like to be informed about what is going on in the church today.

Among evangelical Christians, there are widely diverse views on the roles of deacons. What does Scripture actually teach about deacons and their role in the church? Views range from deacons being the board of directors, to the church building maintenance crew. In writing this completely new book Strauch states that his purpose is "to encourage my deacon friends and fellow church leaders to think more critically about what they are saying, what they are doing, and what the Scripture actually teaches about deacons." Whatever your view of deacons may be, this study will help you examine in detail the biblical facts ondeacons, alowing those facts to guide your thinking. This book offers the opportuity to build broader agreement among our Bible-believeing chruches as to what deacons do. This is not simply a revision of Strauch's popular book, "The New Testament Deacon: Minister of Mercy." It is a completely new study with a fresh perspective.

To help readers discover what the Scriptures say about the duty of a deacon, O'Donnell explores the biblical basis for these servants of God, giving relevant application to the works they are to perform.

The office of deacon is God's gift to His church, but today it is often undervalued, misunderstood, and perceived to be of little importance. In The Deacon , the author considers the Old Testament background for this calling, the deacon in New Testament times and in church history, and the current function of the office. You will rediscover the high and privileged calling of deacons and come to a better understanding of what God requires of them. Table of Contents: Part 1--The Old Testament Background 1. The Poor in Israel 2. Providing for the Poor Part 2--New Testament Times 3. Christ's Teaching on the Poor and Needy 4. Ministering to the Poor in Acts 6 5. The Office of Deacon 6. Female Deacon? Part 3--The Office of Deacon in the History of the Church 7. The Testimony of the Early Church and the Heritage of the Reformation 8. Women and the Diaconate Part 4--The Current Functioning of the Office 9. The Official Position of the Deacon Today 10. Enabling and Prioritizing 11. The Diaconal Ministry within the Congregation 12. The Diaconal Ministry outside the Congregation 13. The Blessing of the Poor

A godly deacon is a great asset to the work of God. His servant leadership benefits the entire church family, and his support and care for the pastor is invaluable. The Ministry of a Baptist Deacon is written for local church deacons who desire to invest themselves in the work of God and give themselves to the service of God's people. It is designed as a handbook to equip deacons as servant leaders. This two-part manual scripturally defines the office and responsibilities of a deacon as well as providing practical helps for local church ministry. This book also includes several appendices with sample forms, financial procedures, and a sample church constitution.