We have seen that the New Testament church (in the local sense) is made up of elders, deacons, and saints (Philippians 1:1).  While being an elder is the most important role one can have in a local church, being a deacon is an honorable role as well.

1 Timothy 3:13 (ESV)
¹³ For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

We need good deacons in local churches today, but, like elders, they must qualify (1 Timothy 3:8-12).  What is a deacon?  A deacon, first and foremost, is one who serves.  The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, and means the following:

Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
To run on errands; an attendant, i.e., a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); a servant.

Expository Dictionary of Bible Words
Diakonos is a noun found in thirty contexts meaning “servant,” or “minister,” and also “deacon.” The usage is varied.  The general sense of “servant” as “one who serves or ministers” is indicated in Matt. 20:26; 23:11; Mark 9:35, etc.  Slaves are mentioned in Matt. 22:13; John 2:5, 9.  Diakonos refers also to “ministers” of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6); and to “ministers” of the gospel (Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23).

So, then, the one described by this word diakonos is one who serves in some capacity.  Now, while the word diakonos appears 30 times in the New Testament, in only five of those appearances is the word translated deacon.  In all other appearances, the word is translated either minister or servant.  So then, the word diakonos is used in an official sense in which it describes the work accomplished by men who meet specific qualifications, and in a non-official sense describing a general work of serving.

In a non-official sense, there are many in the New Testament who are referred to by the word diakonos (Christ – Romans 15:8; the apostles – 2 Corinthians 3:6; evangelists – 1 Timothy 4:6; faithful followers of Christ – John 12:26; civil authorities – Romans 13:4; Satan’s servants – 2 Corinthians 11:15; and women who serve others in the church – Romans 16:1).

None of these passages refer to the office of a deacon from an official standpoint, but rather they describe those who serve.  It is because people misunderstand the official and non-official us of the word diakonos that they erroneously conclude that Pheobe was an official deacon in the Lord’s church; thus, it is concluded that women may serve in that capacity.  The truth, however, is that Pheobe was simply a woman who served others in the Lord’s church.  How do we know that she was not an official deacon?  We know because she did not fit the qualifications.  According to the inspired pen of Paul, a deacon has to be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:12), meaning he must be a married man.

Deacons are important in local churches because they assist the elders by doing service relating to the physical realm so that elders can place most of their focus on the spiritual needs of the flock.  There is no specific work that deacons do, they simply do whatever the elders require of them.  It might involve things like taking care of the benevolent needs of the church, the physical needs of the church building, preparation for worship services, caring for the treasury, etc.  The point is they serve, and as servants they are an invaluable part of the local church.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.