Dignified, Blameless, Faithful in All Things

In one paragraph

Pastor Carl walked through 1 Timothy 3:8-13, the qualifications for deacons, as the next step in the church's chronological study of the New Testament. He spent time reviewing the overlapping list from the previous week's passage on overseers before working through what is distinct about the deacon qualifications, including a close look at a contested word that has divided careful readers of the...

Read together

1. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 reviewed as the attributes of an overseer/elder, covering the previous week's sermon
2. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 the main passage for this sermon, covering the attributes of deacons and women/wives who serve
3. 1 John 1:9 cited to show that confessing sin results in God forgiving and cleansing from all unrighteousness, making a pure heart possible
4. Ephesians 3 referenced to show that what was once hidden has now been revealed by God in the gospel
5. Romans 16:1 cited from the NIV to support the possibility that women served as deacons, referencing Phoebe as a deacon of the church at Cenchreae
6. Philippians 1:1 cited as another passage that mentions overseers and deacons together
7. 2 Corinthians 13:11 used as a benediction: rejoice, strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace

Talk about it

1. Pastor Carl described 'above reproach' not as sinless but as surrendering what you know to be wrong and walking in victory through confession. What does that look like practically in your own life right now?
2. The sermon described 'double-tongued' as saying one thing to one person and another thing to someone else, and connected it to gossip. Where do you find it hardest to be consistent in what you say, and what do you think drives that?
3. Pastor Carl talked about holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, and said that when we have confessed our sin and trusted God, there is nothing willfully between us and God. Is there something you are carrying that you have not yet agreed with God about?
4. The sermon said that those who raised their hand and had served as deacons or elders came out of it with greater confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. What kind of serving has deepened your faith most, and why do you think that is?
5. Pastor Carl held the question of whether the women in verse 11 are deacons' wives or women deacons, and said to hold your interpretation with great humility because the term is ambiguous. How do you personally handle passages where faithful Christians reading the same Bible reach different conclusions?