Deacons and Their Wives
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Deacons and Their Wives

1 Timothy 3:8-16  (ID: 1964)

What exactly is the role of a deacon, and how does it differ from the role of an elder in the church? Alistair Begg clarifies the similarities and differences between these equally valued roles and describes the character requirements that are necessary for deacons and their wives. Serving the church well and with a good attitude brings blessing to the servant and glory to God, regardless of the roles we fulfill.

Series Containing This Sermon

Household of Faith, Volume 1

1 Timothy 1:1-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-15, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, 1 Timothy 4:1-16 Series ID: 15401


Qualifications for Deacons

8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,3 not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11Their wives likewise must4 be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He5 was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated6 by the Spirit,7

seen by angels,

proclaimed among the nations,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

Copyright © 2023, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.