Deacons: Bearing Christ’s Priestly Presence (Acts 6:1-15), September 21, 2025

Seven Chosen to Serve

6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Introduction

We are in an important season of change and transition. We are prayerfully discerning and preparing to elect new servant-leaders to add to the current deacons and elders. I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation to all the nominees. Even though I wish that everyone would've at least accepted the nomination, I know all of you prayed about it and came to the decision. So, thank you for your prayer and consideration. I would like to extend special thanks to those who have accepted the nomination. I know that every decision comes at a cost. So, “thank you” on behalf of the church. The names are being announced today, and the church will have one week to pray before making it official through the congregational meeting next week.

Now, I realize that some might wonder. Why do we go through this process of nominating, praying, voting, and eventually installing new servant leaders? Why not just ask for volunteers? Why not appoint people? And, why do we have to ordain them by laying on of hands?

Well, I don’t think I will have time to answer the ordination question, but I did want to take the time to examine the two very distinct and important offices in the church—ordained deacons and ordained elders. Today, I would like to speak about the deacons, and next week, the elders. Recognizing their importance, perhaps you can understand why we undergo this process, which may seem somewhat cumbersome for those outside the church.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 6, we see the historic moment when the office of deacon was born. The early church was growing, but this growth brought challenges. A complaint arose that certain widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. What could have easily split the church became instead an opportunity for the church to display the wisdom of Christ. And the deacons played a major role in that.

But what exactly is a deacon? And how does their ministry show us Christ? Today, let us focus on how deacons embody the priestly heart of Christ, how they outshone the Old Testament priesthood, and how Stephen’s testimony reveals Christ as the true Temple.

1. God prepared the way for the office of deacon

In the Old Testament, God established priests and Levites to serve in the temple. Their role was central in sacrifices, offerings, and the care of worship. But there were no ordained deacons. Why? Because the priesthood was a shadow pointing forward to Christ, the great High Priest.

Hebrews 10:11–12, “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.”

The Old Testament priesthood was temporary, anticipating the once-for-all priestly work of Christ. Only when Christ fulfilled the priesthood did God raise up deacons as an ordained office. Their ministry was not sacrificial but compassionate, showing forth the fruit of Christ’s finished sacrifice.

This is why Acts 6 is so significant. After the deacons were ordained to serve the widows, Luke records:

Acts 6:7, “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

Do you see the irony? The temple priests themselves were being converted, because the deacons’ ministry of mercy revealed that the true priesthood was now fulfilled in Christ.

2. God calls deacons to embody Christ’s priestly service

What, then, do deacons do today? They do not sacrifice animals or atone for sin. Christ has already done that. Instead, they embody His priestly compassion by caring for the needy, the widows, and the broken.

The very word “deacon” tells us this. The Greek word is διάκονος (diakonos), meaning servant or minister. In Acts 6:2, when the apostles say, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables,” the phrase is literally:

διακονεῖν τραπέζαις (diakonein trapezais) — “to deacon tables.”

The first deacons were ordained to be table-servants. Their work was humble, practical, and physical. But in God’s design, it was profoundly spiritual. They were not just handing out bread—they were embodying the mercy of Christ, ensuring the vulnerable were cared for, and guarding the unity of the church.

Paul later uses the same word to describe gospel ministry:

1 Corinthians 3:5, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants (diakonoi) through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.”

And even Christ used the same word of Himself in Mark 10:45:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve (diakonesai), and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Every Christian is called to fulfill the role of a priestly office, and the diaconal ministers are ordained (set apart) to help the church fulfill this call. Their priestly service points directly to Christ, who stooped low to wash feet, feed the hungry, and lay down His life.

3. God shows in Stephen that Christ is the true Temple

Among the first deacons, Stephen stands out. Acts 6:8 says:

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”

His ministry provoked opposition. False witnesses charged him, saying:

Acts 6:13–14, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

What was Stephen declaring? That Jesus Christ is the true Temple. God’s presence is no longer bound to stone walls in Jerusalem. In Christ’s body, heaven and earth meet, sins are forgiven, and God dwells with His people.

Jesus Himself said in John 2:19–21:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.”

Stephen’s witness struck at the very heart of the old temple system. By proclaiming Christ as the true Temple, Stephen revealed that God did not want a religion, but a relationship with His people. And for this, he was put to death.

Conclusion

The ordained offices together show the Christ—Prophet, King, and Priest. Teaching Elders preach and provide pastoral oversight; Ruling Elders provide care through oversight; diaconal ministers meet the needs of the church by serving with compassion. And in all of this, Christ is revealed as the true Prophet, King, and Priest.

Stephen’s witness reminds us: the temple is finite, but Christ is eternal. He is the true temple, and we, His body, are to be the "temple" witnesses to this world.

So let us honor the office of deacon. Let us pray for and support those whom God calls to it. And let us all live as Christ’s temple, where truth is proclaimed, order is upheld, and mercy overflows.

Pastoral Prayer

Heavenly Father,

we thank You for giving Your Son, our true Prophet, King, and Priest. We thank You that in Him the temple is fulfilled and Your presence now dwells with us by the Spirit.

We thank You for the gift of deacons, who model Christ’s priestly mercy in tangible acts of service. We pray for those nominated in this season—give them humility, wisdom, and courage to serve with compassion. We pray for our elders, that they may shepherd with faithfulness, and for our whole congregation, that we may together be the living temple of Christ.

Make us bold like Stephen to bear witness to Jesus as the true Temple, even in the face of opposition. Unite us in love, guard us from division, and let Your mercy flow from this church into the world.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.