The Work of Shepherds (5)

“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business…” Acts 6.3

Draft Ecclesiastical Ordinances
John Calvin (1506-1564)
“There were always two kinds [of deacons] in the ancient Church, the one deputed to receive, dispense and hold goods for the poor, not only daily alms, but also possessions, rents and pensions; the other to tend and care for the sick and administer allowances to the poor. This custom we follow again now for we have procurators and hospitallers.”

The word, diakonos, originally referred to those who waited tables, and who kept a close eye on the diners in their charge, to make sure that they lacked for nothing. Deacons are also shepherds, serving with pastors and elders, but their primary concern is with the physical and material needs of the congregation, whereas the pastors and elders pay attention to the spiritual condition of the people. Caring for the Lord’s flock requires shepherds of both sorts, as we see throughout the New Testament. Tim Keller’s excellent book on diaconal ministries, Ministries of Mercy, is must-reading for every pastor, deacon, and elder. His vision for the diaconate reflects the way Calvin practiced it in Geneva. Shepherds lovingly care for the needs of the flocks, and they are the model God chose to use in establishing the order by which His churches should grow.

How do the deacons in your church help with the physical and material needs of the congregation?

T. M. Moore

The calling to make disciples
As pastors and church leaders, making disciples is our primary calling. But we need to make sure we’re growing as disciples, and that our tools for disciple-making are in top condition. Our book, Fan into Flame, provides an overview of the work of disciple-making, together with helpful assessments to discover areas where you most need to grow. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations from John Calvin, “Draft Ecclesiastical Ordinances,” in J. K. S. Reid, ed., Calvin: Theological Treatises in The Library of Christian Classics (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1954), pp. 58ff.