Deacon Qualifications

Acts 6:3, 5-6   ³Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them...  ⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

A.  Reputation:  People who were already known for something.  Reputation takes time to develop.
B.  Full Of The Spirit: the term means “under the influence of and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.” (Eph 5:18)
Scriptural Indicators Of The Fullness Of The Spirit: one full of the Spirit

• Demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)
• On his tongue has praise and Scripture (Eph 5:18-21)
• In his heart has a melody for the Lord 
• In situations, gives thanks for all things
• In relationships, is submissive to the role God has given: (Eph 5:22-6:9)
  • Husbands sacrifice for their wives like Christ did for the church
  • Wives respect and follow their husbands like the church does Christ
  • Parents raise their kids in the discipline and nurture of the Lord without frustrating and angering them
  • Children obey their parents in the Lord for this right
  • Em­ployees work for their bosses like they were working for Christ
  • Employers treat their employees rightly for their Boss is in heaven

To be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18) is a continuing, repeated process of

• Confessing sin
• Centering life on Christ, asking for his control
• When you break fellowship with the Spirit (disobey), stepping back into fellowship

• Fears and trusts the Lord. (Pro 1:10)
• Operates within the boundaries of Righteousness and Justice. (Pro 8:12, 20)
• Knows proper and effective timing and procedures to get things accomplished (Ecc 8:5-6)
• Lives a good life of deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (Jam 3:13)
• Operates with strategies and methods that have the flavor of heaven to them (Jam 3:17-18)
• The Wise person has learned of the heart and mind of God enough to get things done in a way that is pleasing to him.

1 Tim 3:8-13  ⁸Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
¹⁰They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
¹¹In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. ¹²A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. ¹³Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

• Worthy of respect (semnous): a gravity and dignity that inspire reverence and awe
• Their tongue
  • Men (me dilogous): not double-tongued; not saying different things to different people
  • Wives (me diabolous): not malicious talkers, “devils,” slanderers accusing falsely
• Regarding alcohol
  • Men:  “not given to much wine”
  • Wives: (nephalious): sober
• Money (me aischrokerdeis): not fond of base gain; not pursuing dishonest gain
• Family 
  • (mias gunaikos andra): “a one woman man” - he is not looking around, flirting, etc.
  • Manages his children and household well
• Response to the Word of God Hold the deep truths of the faith with a clear (clean) conscience:
• Tested Examined to see if he is genuine; found (anegkletoi): irreproachable, there is nothing against them 
• Wives Must be “faithful in everything”