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THE CHARACTER OF SERVICE

Chapter Theme

While not many men are cut out for leadership in the church, it is the duty of all believers to serve the body of Christ. They can do so in both official and unofficial ways. First Timothy 3:8–13 and Titus 2:1–8 delineate the characteristics that ought to exemplify all believers willing to serve.

Icebreakers

• What thoughts and perceptions do you usually associate with the word deacon? Do you view a deacon more as a leader or as a servant? Why?

• What do you suppose is a good age to stop ministering to others? At what age should you begin serving others? What have you learned from older believers? What have you learned from younger Christians?

Group Discovery Questions

1. What happens to the church when individual believers don’t serve with the unique abilities God gave them?

2. What are the three levels of service the Bible delineates?

3. In what way do deacons specifically assist the elders?

4. What qualities ought to be true of a deacon’s personal character? Explain each one.

5. Out of necessity, what is the foundation of a deacon’s spiritual character?

6. What overarching quality that is to be true of elders must also characterize deacons? Why?

7. What factors indicate that Paul established a separate office for women deacons?

8. What rewards await those who serve well as deacons?

9. What characteristics and virtues should be manifested by older men in the church? In what way does their experience of years heighten those qualities?

10. What are older women in the church to be busy doing? Why is this such a vital ministry?

11. What are the older women to teach the younger women to do (Titus 2:4–5)? Explain each one.

12. What kind of dangers do young Christian men face in our society?

13. What godly qualities should young men cultivate?

Personal Application Questions

1. Review the personal character qualifications of a deacon. How would you rate yourself in each of those areas? What kind of changes would you need to make to be known as righteous in those areas? Do some serious self-examination. As you do, realize that the outcome of your examination holds greater significance than merely the possibility of a future role as a deacon. It means you will have a greater capacity for glorifying God.

2. To what degree are you actively using your gifts in serving the church? If you are an older believer, are you investing your life in someone who can gain practical wisdom from your experience? If you are a younger believer, are you allowing yourself to be held accountable to someone older so that you can arm yourself against the temptations of youth?

Focus on Prayer

Perhaps you’ve been unsure about whether you should pursue a ministry opportunity that has come your way. Or you may be looking for a ministry to serve in. If you haven’t already, begin seeking God’s guidance. Ask Him to clearly show you where you might serve. Sometimes the best place to start is where you know there are needs. You may find that, as you begin serving in needy places, you have found the very spot where God wants you.

Assignment

According to Acts 6:3, the people were to look for men who were “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” Acts 6:5 mentions that Stephen was “full of faith.” Those characteristics identified seven men of integrity. Can you be characterized as a person of integrity? On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate yourself in each of those four characteristics? In which one are you the weakest? Make it your goal this week to improve your Christian walk in that area. For example, if you are weakest in your faith, look up faith in a concordance and do a word study on that topic. Or you might make a list of all the times God has been faithful in blessing your life; in turn, that will increase your faith in Him.