Monthly Leader Guide
Question i (2) - Faithful Deacon
W-4.0404 i (2) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?
REVIEW
1. Begin this session with a study of Acts 6:1–7 and the term “deacon,” as noted in the resource material.
2.
(Slide 48) There are five specific tasks of deacons highlighted by this
question:
a. Be faithful in your role as servant among the people.
b. Teach charity.
c. Urge concern.
d. Direct people’s energy and help toward those in need.
e. Show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.
3.
(Slide 49) Using resource materials, review each of
the five tasks outlined in the ordination question.
a. Faithfulness—Emphasize that the commitment to serve as a deacon is a commitment to keep ministries of compassion alive in the midst of challenges and resistance. Faithfulness also requires a commitment to care for our spiritual lives, so we can continue to care for others.
b. Teach charity—Explain the understanding of the word “charity” as simply “love of persons.” Note the admonition from Luke 10:1–11 to serve in pairs. Invite comments on the advantages of partnering in ministry. Describe the concept of “toxic charity” and how it differs from true charity.
c. Urge concern—Review the various areas of ministry that are undertaken by the deacons in your context that urge concern for the friendless and those in need. Ask participants to identify which ministries show love for those within the congregation and which ministries show love for those beyond the congregation.
d. Direct help to those in need—This task requires deacons to be attentive to the actual needs of the community and of the congregation, and to match needs with the resources of the congregation.
e. Show the love and justice of Jesus Christ—Read Mark 2:1–12 and 8:1–9 as illustrative of the love and justice of Jesus Christ. Read G-2.0201 from the Book of Order. What similarities do you hear between the gospel of Mark and the instructions to deacons in the Book of Order?
REFLECT
1. Ask participants:
a. Where do you experience the greatest joy and satisfaction in your ministry as a deacon? Where do you experience the greatest challenge?
b. How do you care for your own spiritual life and spiritual growth so that you can continue to care for others?
c. How might we work to avoid engaging in “toxic charity?”
d. How will you seek to fulfill the promise to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ in your personal life, as well as through your ministry as a deacon?
RESPOND
As the final lesson, invite the participants to share why they answered the call to serve as a deacon with one another in pairs.
(Slide 50) Read Colossians 3:12–17. Close with prayer for the deacons and for their ministry with the congregation and the community.