David Nakhla 0:02

Welcome to the Reformed Deacon, a casual conversation with topics specifically designed to help local Reformed Deacons. There are nearly a thousand deacons in the OPC alone. So let's take this opportunity to learn from and encourage one another. We're so glad you could join us. Let's jump into our next episode.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Hello, my name is Chris Cashin, and I serve as pastor of Trinity Reformed OPC in Atlanta, Maryland, and I'm also a member of the OPC's Committee on Diaconal Ministries. I'm excited about today's podcast, and with me today is Reverend Charles Biggs. Morning. How are you, Charles? Doing well, thank you. Charles served as the pastor of Katoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church in Percival, Virginia, for many years. How many years did you serve, brother?

SPEAKER_01 0:59

Right at 18. I was I was privileged to plant the church back in 2003 and then uh served there until I became the regional home missionary in 2022.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

We're so thankful for your service at Katoctin. Uh that church is a blessing I know, and now serving as regional home missionary, uh, quite uh uh quite the change, but also quite a blessing for the Presbyterian, for the church at large. Today, uh Charles and I will be discussing a short passage in scripture, uh, one that uh deacons are certainly familiar with, and uh we want to just take a bit of time and open it up. It's gonna be Acts chapter six, verses one to eight. And this is a little bit new from this day forward on the podcast. We want to take some time from time to time to take an in-depth look at passages like this one uh to strengthen a deacon's understanding and purpose of his office. And so we plan to invite some of our guests to open up scriptures which have particular application for the work of the reformed deacon. And this will be our start. So, Charles, welcome to the program. Uh, thank you for being with us. This is a great blessing. So, Charles, if you would start uh with the reading of the passage, Acts chapter six, verses one through eight.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

I'd be happy to. This is reading from the English Standard Version, and I'll read chapter six, verses uh one through seven. Now, in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists or the Greek-speaking Jews arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 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. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 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 Nicholas, proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 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. Thus ends the reading of God's word.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

Brother, would you pray for us as we seek to open up God's word?

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Our Father and our God, we thank you that you're the God who promises to always be with us, that uh you are our God and we are your people. And we thank you that you tell us, fear not, for I've redeemed you. I've called you by name, you are mine. You tell us that we're precious in your eyes and honored and loved. And we thank you that we see this fully realized uh in the Lord Jesus. We thank you, Lord Jesus, as you are ascended enthroned, uh King of kings and Lord of Lords, that you're the head of the church, your body, uh, that you are the Lord of all. We thank you that you are full of grace and the Holy Spirit. And we ask that you'd pour out your spirit upon us as we look at this passage together, that we would uh ultimately glorify you in and through it, that we would see your good work ultimately, and what you're doing in promise, keeping your promise to build the church, knowing that the gates of hell will not prevail. We pray that your Holy Spirit would open our ears to hear, our hearts to receive, and our minds to understand. Help your servants as we discuss this. We'd remember that this is your infallible, inerrant, breathed-out word, and that we are just mere servants. Help us uh by your spirit to to illuminate us so that we can properly honor you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 5:28

Well, I was uh first ordained as a deacon, and this passage was so very encouraging uh to me as I served in that office. Brother, uh, as as we come to this passage in Acts chapter six, where are we, just generally speaking, in church history at this point?

SPEAKER_01 5:48

Yes, that's a very good question. Well, we're in the time of fulfillment. You know, we're in the time of the last days. In Peter's Pentecost sermon, uh, he tells us this the last days have dawned uh with the death, the resurrection, the ascension, enthronement of the Lord Jesus. We we're reminded of that in Acts chapter two. Um, we're reminded that the Lord Jesus in his uh risen enthronement has received the Holy Spirit uh in his fullness, and he's poured out the spirit um upon his church. And so he's keeping his promises to build his church, to be with his church always, even to the end of the age. And so the larger uh redemptive historical context is that we're seeing, especially in the first uh five chapters of Acts, or up to this point, we're seeing how Jesus has promised um that his disciples, his apostolic disciples, and his church founded on the apostles, but his church uh founded on the apostles would be witnesses, first in Jerusalem, then in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And we are seeing uh in these first few chapters how Jerusalem uh is being called to him, that uh the apostolic witnesses are testifying to the resurrection and the enthronement of Jesus and the power of his Holy Spirit. And so many are coming to faith despite uh the uh the the still indwelling sin within the church, despite the uh conflict uh that that uh can arise in the car in the churches and the congregation, despite even the persecution, especially the persecution, uh Jesus is promising that uh in this world we'll have tribulation, but be of good cheer, we've overcome the world. And so we see that uh uh in in this larger context.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Well, as we open up any passage of scripture, it's good for us to kind of understand what was going on. What's the particular uh issue here? Uh who were these Hellenistic Jews or or Grecians, as the King James refers to them, and who were the native Hebrews? What's the problem?

SPEAKER_01 8:12

Yes, I I think it's helpful to be reminded that some 10,000 people had been added to the Jerusalem church by this time. And uh we can say, glory to God. You know, we we might think of what Jesus says in John 14, 12 through 14, that greater works than these will you do. I mean, to see 10,000 added to the church. Well, in adding, it's a great blessing, but there's also can be uh conflict, there can also be uh challenges that need to be addressed. And what we're told in this passage, right after we're told that uh that that the church continued to increase and grow is that um as the disciples were increasing, a complaint arose. Uh the Hellenists. And as I understand it, the Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews, uh, those part of a diaspora or diaspora um who lived outside of Palestine and who would come to the feasts uh uh at the temple. They would they would come uh singing their ascension psalms and come up uh to the Holy Temple on special feast days like Passover, like Pentecost. And um, and these Hellenists were uh those who uh had become uh believers. We are we hear of some of these in uh chapter two of Acts that uh then the Holy Spirit would use to go back out from Palestine um into the neighboring lands and uh would be become church planters. Um, here these Hellenists were primarily Greek-speaking Jews because they were uh from a different language, a different location, uh, a different culture. Um and uh uh contrary, contrastly, the the Hebrews were those who were the Palestinian Jews, they spoke Aramaic. And um and it seems what's happening here, uh, we're told, is that the widows of the Hellenists, of the Greek-speaking Jews, of those who perhaps had come to live at the temple um as a kind of retirement in as widows uh in older age, that they were uh being neglected. I don't think it was intentional, but uh they were being neglected in this daily uh distribution. And so the 12 um acting as the foundational apostolic office, uh acting in that apostolic office um as Jesus' witnesses, those who uh had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry had been uh witnesses of the resurrection. Thus, those 12 summoned the full number of the disciples uh of the church. They gathered the church together to discuss this matter and to uh to bring about a uh solution.

SPEAKER_00 11:06

Yeah, you you've described it very well. Lots of people coming into the church and the church being a place where uh mercy ministry is also poured out with the word, and there's a a segment uh that were not receiving uh that which they desired and they should have been receiving. So you've explained that very well in this call. When you use the word disciples, are we to understand that as being just a segment, just like what Jesus had his disciples, or was that something larger when he when they called the disciples together?

SPEAKER_01 11:41

It's hard to say, but it seems that uh it was a, let's just put it this way, it's at least a segment of the larger church that the apostles were acting uh as Jesus, as shepherd servant elders um to bring along uh the church or to hear from the church or to to to shepherd the church, to care for the church in in the matter that was at hand. And I think the disciples are just uh it uh particularly they're distinct from the 12. And if you notice also, even when uh later the uh the the there's uh there's an authority that the 12 has, where uh at the end of verse 3, the 12 appoint uh certain men to this duty. Um, they're asking the congregation, basically, or a segment of the congregation, uh, to help them in uh in providing a solution to this problem uh that is biblical and that is uh something that will bring glory to God and and and will be very useful to the church, will bring unity and peace.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Yeah, and so the apostles uh direct the congregation, the this group of disciples to go and select men. That that is a solution, right? That they would now be in charge of this and they would address that which was missing. That's right. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:09

It's a it's a it's a it's a wonderful opportunity to see how, though there's a foundational authority of the uh apostolate or the apostles, there's a um they've been charged and appointed for a certain task of of shepherding, of guiding, of leading the church. That nevertheless um they are shepherding in uh in in in being involved in in the the the matter at hand or the the the difficulty the sheep are are are are dealing with. They are uh involved in the congregation, they are listening to the congregation, they are involving the congregation. I think that's a that's a real uh reflection of the Lord Jesus' character um in the in the 12.

SPEAKER_00 13:57

Yeah, very good. So we see a problem, we see a solution. We'll talk about some of these details in a little bit, but I'd like to kind of get to the what the what is the end of the story? Uh, as the apostles uh come up with this idea, they present it to the church, uh, the church then comes with men uh uh to to take care of this problem. What's the effect? What's what's the end of the story?

SPEAKER_01 14:27

Well, the the the apostles, particularly the twelve, know that their greatest privilege um is to serve the Lord Jesus, but particularly to serve him in a particular way. That their primary calling is to devote themselves to prayer and ministry of the word. And that's a summary statement in verse four for everything they're involved in the worship of God, the formal gathering of God's people, the the discipling of God's people, the teaching, the continuing proclamation, the evangelism. So that is summarized in verse four that their privilege is primarily to devote themselves uh to prayer and the ministry of the word. And so what they see uh is good is to pick out from among uh the the Hellenist, uh what I gather is a majority of Hellenists, it seems like they they pick from Greek-speaking men, particularly, but not just because they're Greek-speaking men, but but they pick out from among you seven men, and they're described this way of good repute. Uh they have good reputation among the people. Um, that is, I I interpret as they're already um living and acting as servants. Um, they they have a reputation of being Christ-like, there's a certain maturity, uh, they're full of the spirit. You know, when you see in the book of Acts uh that that way of describing full of the spirit, it means someone who's been guided by God's word, someone who's being controlled uh as a servant of the Lord Jesus. Uh to name just a couple things. Uh, it means someone who is demonstrating love and the character of the Lord Jesus. And and of course, wisdom. Um, those who will be appointed by the twelve uh will be those who have reputation. They're known for being filled with the Spirit or full of the Spirit and His Word, and they're wise. They know how to very practically apply it. Um, they're involved in the church. Um, they're probably already those that um um uh that that people uh have acknowledged as trustworthy and useful, and uh have come alongside them uh in in demonstrating a certain wisdom. Uh the wisdom there, I take it, especially the wisdom of applying God's word, of of fearing God, uh uh with awe and reverence, uh having a love of God, but also a fear of Him. So that's their um that that's the the the wonderful solution is to uh come up with uh specific servants whose primary privilege will not be uh devotion to prayer and minister the word, though there will be prayer, they will be praying men, and they will be those who encourage one another in the word, but they will be primarily those who are the hands and feet of Jesus, the servants of the Lord um Jesus, and um will uh provide uh in in this um in this particular instance and in other uh situations, uh they will they will serve tables, which um like uh devotion to prayer and the ministry of the word, um, it it means so much more than just merely setting up tables, but the um the serving of the tables uh has in mind uh of the Lord Jesus. I think of Psalm 23, that preparing uh a table for us in um in the presence of our enemies. There it's it's it's being a servant of the Lord Jesus. What comes to mind really is how all Christians in a general sense are called to this, and then some very specifically, as we see in here, but all Christians are called to be like Jesus is revealed in John 13, as a servant at the table, a servant who washes feet, a servant who um who seeks to be um to do the service that's needed, uh both spiritually and physically. Uh there's a general sense in which all of us uh serve in that way. Jesus, in fact, says, if you remember that uh John 13, he says uh uh that uh a uh a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you who do them. So these are men who are particularly going to be Jesus-like servants of his table to take care of physical uh needs primarily, but uh needs having to do with uh the physical meeting places, uh logistics of meeting places, uh coming alongside uh those whose privilege is devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word. And uh and again, uh to uh reiterate being the hands and feet of Jesus. And I think it's useful. This is not original with me, but uh, somewhere in my learning over the years, I remember being taught that the apostles and then the office of elder that comes out of the apostles, that our privilege as um ordained officers, particularly in the office of elder, um, is with the privilege of setting the table of the Lord, um, of coming through prayer and word and uh the Lord's Supper, uh communion. Uh whereas uh the distinction with the deacons or the servants that are chosen here uh would be that they are charged with um all the other tables uh that might be needed uh to be set up, to be taken down, uh, to be filled with food. And so it's a helpful image to think about the table, setting tables, to think about um the distinction between uh the offices uh that are both very important offices, but are offices that um uh are distinguished between the office of elder and the office of deacon.

SPEAKER_00 20:29

Yeah, so what I hear is that there were tasks that needed to be accomplished within the church. The apostles recognized that they had a particular ministry of the word and prayer, and they needed others to take care of the mercy ministry, then obviously there was a problem that they needed to address. And what a great encouragement that as we get to uh verse seven, we see that the word of God continued to increase and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. As as these uh works, spiritual works, works of mercy are being addressed and well addressed. Uh what a great encouragement to see the church growing. Yes. Uh that seems to be ultimately what God was doing in the midst of them as they sought to address this particular problem according to his word. And we see this rate increase. Well, I don't want to spend a lot of time on this aspect, but do you think that this uh passage here in Acts chapter six is the beginning of the office of deacon? Or uh is is there something in the Old Testament that that may uh be what we might construe as being similar to, or maybe even the beginnings of the office of deacon? What are your thoughts on that?

SPEAKER_01 21:58

Yes, I I do think. This is the beginning of the office of deacon in the sense of the post-Pentecostal church, uh, the enthronement of the Lord Jesus, the once and for all resurrection and ascension, the once and for all pouring out of the Spirit on his church, uh, that uh the the time of the last days, the time in uh between the first and uh the second coming of the Lord Jesus, or the the ascension, enthronement, and the second coming of Jesus, I do think that uh it is the the first uh manifestation of what we would call the diaconate or the deacon uh that uh will be further explained uh in the pastoral letters of Paul, like 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1. But I think uh in many of these situations, and this is just a general rule of hermeneutics and interpretation, I try to remember, is when we come to a place like this, we are wanting to see it in the big picture, but we're wanting to remember that in the last days that implies former days. Uh as the author of Hebrews uh one, one through three reminds us that uh that we're part of the final volume, if you will, of God's uh special revelation in the Lord Jesus. We're in the time of fulfillment of the promise, but we can also go to the time of promise and often see certain things in seed form, uh typological form. And I find in the book of Numbers, uh, chapter three particularly, but uh in various places in Numbers, if you remember in the Aaronic uh priesthood, that uh what you had was all of the priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. And so you had this priestly office that was given primarily to worship, uh devotion to prayer, devotion to uh the word, uh devotion to uh in that time, the of course the the sacrificial services within the temple, but you had the Levites who were part of the same family, um, who had a another distinct calling um uh as Levites. And and and Numbers three gives us, I think it's a good place to look as as a diaconate in the seed form. Is it distinct from the priesthood? You have the servants um who take care of uh certain needs in the community, physical needs, you have um uh those who are serving the the the uh the the tabernacle, the the the physical plant, etc. So I think um in seed form uh you see in the the Aaronic priesthood uh the the priest being uh a seed form of what would become elders in the New Testament church dedicated or devoted, using this language in this passage, devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word, worship, etc. And you have the Levites who were appointed as uh servants, as uh um as uh uh uh servant uh diaconate. And and so when we say that uh all priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests, I think in the time of fulfillment, given our uh what what's revealed in scripture, we could say something like this that um that all elders are deacons, but not all deacons are elders. And the reason I make this point and would draw it out even further is at the end of chapter four, right around verse 35, you have before this occasion, before what I see as a fulfillment and the beginning of a diaconate post-Pentecost, um, you have the elders taking care of the needs of the community. You have that at the end of chapter two, at the end of chapter four, you have the elders serving as deacons. And I think that reminds us that ultimately, whether we're talking about the um the priests or the Levites, whether they're talking about elders, deacons, it's all a ministry in union with Jesus Christ. Because, in a general sense, we're um we're all to be called to be loving servants, to reflect the good Samaritan, our Lord Jesus. Remember when he said in Luke 10 uh who was the one who showed compassion? Who was the true good Samaritan? Who is the true um one who uh loved was the one who showed mercy? And he says, Go and do likewise. So that's probably a long answer, but I I've tried to give this some thought, and and perhaps that's a um, I think I think that's what's going on here, and I think that's a a helpful, useful way, because it one, it helps us not to uh think that uh uh the diaconate or being a deacon is somehow lesser uh than an elder, it's just a distinct calling. Um, all Christians, in a sense, you think of the, for instance, the uh qualifications for elder, why that's just a mature Christian. Uh it's a male Christian, particularly, but it's just a mature Christian, really. The qualifications, if you think about, um uh apart from one, the ability to teach, perhaps. But uh, you think about the dictat. That's uh that's that's that's what we're all called to do, is be like Jesus in uh in in and being good Samaritans and showing mercy, uh showing compassion. But uh I think one, it helps to see that they're they're just two distinct callings and um and and not something less or just different in union with Jesus Christ and a special calling and giftedness and grace that's granted by the Holy Spirit. Two, I also think it reminds us that our elders and our deacons are not only seeking to reflect Jesus Christ, but also to be example to the flock. Um I say this with all reverence and care, but a kind of uh an incarnational imitation to follow to some degree by God's grace.

SPEAKER_00 28:13

That's excellent. Uh, as we're thinking about the history of the office of deacon, uh, I'm wondering for the deacon today, uh, how important is it for him to reflect upon this history, whether it be the Levitical history in terms of setting up, tearing down the tabernacle, uh, or here in Acts chapter six, uh, with this, uh, I'm not going to say it's limited, but there's one particular uh problem that's being addressed. How do these pictures uh help a deacon today think about his role, his work in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? That's an excellent question.

SPEAKER_01 29:00

So uh may I address just our deacons um just uh directly to you, brothers. Um let me say that as those called and gifted and graced uh by the Lord Jesus, I think um our, but uh your for a fact here, um your most uh important work is um is is daily uh devoted um uh sincere prayer uh to your master and lord that you would grow through his uh his word, be transformed by it, uh, so that you could uh become more and more confidently humble and and a servant that uh that can serve the the needs of the people in the church, people in the neighborhood, um, people who come to uh to the church building uh to seek to find help. Um you you can be an example of the hands and the feet of the Lord Jesus and um and and and be a picture of the Lord Jesus as you do that uh joyfully. And um what a privilege. It's um it's a privilege to serve in that way. Um I know uh I've served with some really great deacons. I think some of the best deacons I know of. Uh I had the privilege to serve with. And um, and and there's many I haven't served with, but the the ones I have served with um were always examples of uh of seeking to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, uh, to know how to better be a servant by gazing on the glory of Christ and being transformed by through one degree of glory to the next uh through the Holy Spirit. Um they memorized the word. Uh they they they understood that every encounter to meet needs physically was an opportunity to tell the gospel. Okay. Um, they always joyfully wanted the church to see uh the privilege of um of taking the towel of our Lord and bowing a knee and washing feet, uh setting tables, um, uh doing something a little bit special, not just um a table just that that will feed and is functional, uh, but one that looks good, one that tastes good, uh, one that'll highly exalt um uh the king and to bring joy and happiness uh to God's people. I think it's the first thing. See the second thing, and there's many things you can uh beloved deacons look at in First Timothy three and Titus one. I remind myself constantly of the qualifications uh that um that we're called to live out uh in reliance upon God's gift and grace and calling. And I'd I would encourage you to go uh return there regularly, but but just note three things right here in verse three. You want to continue as you serve um to have a reputation of wanting to exalt Jesus and of serve as saints. You want to be filled with the spirit, which is found through the devotion to prayer and and taking to heart the things that you're taught um uh through the ministry of the word um as you receive the sacrament, um, as you join prayer meetings, um, be full of the spirit, um, uh always with an encouraging word to show in your you to tell in your lips, but to show in your life um that that you truly believe that the Lord um has enfleshed himself as a servant and has become obedient even unto death, to be filled with the spirit and to be wise, uh to seek to give counsel and wisdom um uh to elders and to others in the church as is appropriate. Um and so um I think I think I think that and and then third, I would just say you're part of Jesus' mission to extend his kingdom to the ends of the earth and um to glorify his his name. You're you're you're part of Jesus' promise of of um that he will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail. Um when a when a church is planted, it's wonderful to have two elders. It's even better to have two elders and two or three deacons. And if there's no deacons there, there are elders who have uh the diaconate built in, of course, but it is uh so rich, so rewarding, uh such a blessing. And and verse seven says that the word of God continues to increase at this time, it tends to do. That's what causes uh churches to multiply, is when the elders and the deacons are working together harmoniously, uh filled with the spirit, seeking to be wise, um, with good reputation of glorifying God and enjoying Him and seeking to uh to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, working together, uh serving two different tables, but two very important tables, that the Lord Jesus is ahead of both of them, uh, and then to see how God will bless uh the the increase uh both spiritually and numerically in our congregations. So, beloved deacons, you have a high calling, a wonderful calling, and such a privilege and opportunity to live it out to bless uh the Lord and his people.

SPEAKER_00 34:34

Well said, well said. I was going to be asking you that question. Uh, what would you say to the deacon who thinks, well, my my role is kind of like the guy who's on the sidelines, and I'm not the quarterback, I'm not in the game, but you've just described it so very well that in fact uh deacons are in the game. Uh they may be uh the running back, they they may be um uh on the line, uh, but they're definitely in the game. And so absolutely appreciate that uh that um that description. Um, could you just touch upon uh this idea of uh being full of the spirit and of wisdom and why it was that the apostles uh pointed out? They don't point out a lot of qualifications uh for these men, but that is certainly uh one of them, full of the spirit and wisdom. Why is it that deacons need to be uh full of the spirit and wisdom if they're doing uh physical work, if they're uh if they're pursuing mercy ministry, what why is that uh included here?

SPEAKER_01 35:40

Well, I think that what comes to mind first is uh that they have that privileged high calling to be like their Lord. And if you remember throughout the servant songs in Isaiah, uh whether you go to Isaiah 42, Isaiah 49, Isaiah 52, Isaiah 53, or any uh of the others, you you'll find uh that the Lord Jesus is particularly uh highlighted as one uh anointed by the Spirit, filled with the Spirit. Uh, we have in Isaiah 11 the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. And so I think that what we're being taught here, though we could exegete this and exposite it in quite uh a bit of detail, the full of the spirit of wisdom is being Christ-like. I'm reminded of what our brother John Owen, our father, brother John Owen taught us that who you are in secret is who you are and no more. And I would uh challenge you, encourage, admonish, challenge you and myself that a lot of Christ-likeness is um is attitude. It's how you're going about the word. And and is there a heart full of joy because you have the privilege of of being united to Jesus Christ, that you've been adopted as his son, that you've been graced and uh gifted and called to be a deacon. Um that's something that I think uh must fill our hearts. And and I think that while full of the spirit and wisdom is getting at uh being Christ-like, I think there's some very specific ways in which we can draw that out. Full of the spirit is feeding upon God's word for yourself, thinking about it, meditating on it, uh, letting it grow you, believing it, uh, trusting our God, and having a particular joyful attitude in your service. Not doing it because you have to, but because you get to. You know, you sometimes say in yourself, oh man, do I have to? You know, do I have to do it? We want to remember it's not that you merely have to, you get to. This is a big privilege. And so it's an attitude. I'd say the full of the spirit and wisdom is a is a is an attitude like Jesus Christ as you are uh seeking um to more and more understand your own union with him in his death and resurrection, the fact that your life is hidden with Christ in God, you've already been raised with Christ, you've been seated with him in the heavenly places, um, you have the fullness of his Holy Spirit, and you're living that out. Um, and and there are, I think if you if if if the full of the spirit, uh if we think of it as particularly uh from the Lord to us in a transformed heart and life that comes forth, I think the wisdom would be in the way that we fear God, the way we love him as our father, but also honor him as Lord, and as we seek to then interact, if you will, uh with his church, with his sheep, um, with with giving our whole heart to whatever situation uh may call for a little bit of wisdom from above. You know, we don't have all the wisdom in the world, but we do have wisdom. We possess wisdom in Christ and his word. But when we need wisdom, when we lack wisdom, the Bible tells us in James 3 that God uh is gracious to give that wisdom. And I think a diaconate, a board of deacons, whatever a committee of however you call the office of the deacon, the deacon gathering, the deacon meeting, when deacons pray for wisdom to help meet a need in the congregation or in the church. The Lord gives that wisdom. And I think the people will rejoice because they'll see that. I know I've experienced that again in my own privilege as pastoring at Catoctin is seeing faithful deacons who have lived out uh the these truths of being full of spirit wisdom.

SPEAKER_00 39:46

Well, as we come to the conclusion, brother, I almost uh hesitate to ask this question because uh as I'm listening to you, I'm so encouraged uh as you're opening up this passage. But if if you are training up men for the diaconia today, and I know that in your pastorate that uh you you certainly have done that, but if you were training up men today, how might you use this passage uh in addition to what you've already told us as a means of encouragement to them?

SPEAKER_01 40:16

What comes to mind is that fulfillment of God's promises, that he would be our God and we'd be his people, that Christ has promised, I'll build my church and the gates of hell will never prevail, that being a deacon is a privileged call and gifting of a son who has the privilege of knowing God loves him in Christ and has all the resources he needs to serve. And and to remember that this passage is taking place as part of the fulfillment of Jesus saying, On this rock I build my church, and the gates of hell will never prevail. He's growing his church, he's extending his church, he's blessing his church, and uh you're a part of that. And uh I think I think that's what I would uh keep in mind as you are first and foremost seeking to glorify God and enjoy him forever in the way that he has called you, the way he's gifted you. I might also add this, and that is sometimes we have gifts, but not much grace. Sometimes the problems in the church can be that we've been gifted to do certain things and and and yet we don't have the grace to use them because we're not growing in a in a way in the word and through sacrament, through prayer. And I would encourage you that for every day that you awaken, whether as a as first as a husband, a father, um uh perhaps a uh a leader in your community, um whatever your other vocation may be, um, that you remember the importance of the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. That you don't merely use your gifts, you seek the grace of God to use them humbly and patiently and wisely and lovingly.

SPEAKER_00 42:08

Dear brother Charles, thank you so much for taking the time uh to be with us today to open up this passage in Acts chapter six. It's been a great blessing and certainly for me a great encouragement. I'm happy to do it. And deacons, I do hope that this episode uh was encouraging to you and your labors for the Lord, and that you'll uh be reminded of this great calling that's been placed upon you, and what a great encouragement this passage is uh as you labor for the Lord Jesus Christ. One last thing uh to mention uh to the Presbytery Diaconal Committee members, the OBC Committee on Diaconal Ministries and the Committee on Ministerial Care are hosting the fifth Presbytery Diaconal Summit in Chicago, Illinois, and that's going to be held November 2nd through the 4th of this year, 2023. Uh if you're interested, and I hope you are, for more information or to register, go to opccdm.org. And the first two who register from each presbytery will be eligible to have their travel costs covered by the CDM and the CMC.

David Nakhla 43:23

Thanks for joining us. Go to our website, thereformdeacon.org. There you will find all our episodes, program notes, and other helpful resources. And please make plans to join us again next month for another episode of the Reform Deacon podcast.