God’s Design for Church Leadership #5 - Deacons: Servants Who Strengthen the Body

It is unfortunate that we live in a time when the role of deacons is often overlooked, neglected, or even practiced in unbiblical ways. I would argue that part of the unhealthiness of the Western church is due to the lack of a strong, functioning diaconate.

One of the first occurrences of the diaconal pattern in the Bible is found in Acts 6:1–7. In that passage, seven men—full of the Spirit and wisdom—were chosen and commissioned to serve the church in a very specific way. They were tasked with protecting the unity of the church, meeting practical needs, and eliminating distractions from the elders. Let’s briefly walk through each of these areas:

🛡 Protecting the Unity

The issue in Acts 6 wasn’t that food wasn’t being distributed at all—it was that some were being neglected, and this was causing division within the church (specifically along ethnic lines between Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking Jews). The seven men weren’t simply asked to launch a food ministry—they were appointed to address a relational fracture that threatened the unity of the church.

Their work was not merely physical; it was deeply spiritual. They were to apply gospel principles to a practical problem—avoiding favouritism, ethnic division, and partiality—behaviours incompatible with the Kingdom of God.

Unity in the church is not a luxury—it’s essential. It reflects the wisdom and love of God and bears witness to the reconciling power of the gospel. True unity crosses ethnic, economic, gender, and social boundaries—bringing together rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, locals and foreigners. A deacon’s work is not validated by how impressive a ministry looks on paper, but by whether the unity of the body is preserved and strengthened.

🤝 Meeting the Needs

Throughout the New Testament, we see a constant call to care for the needy—providing for the poor, protecting the vulnerable, and practicing what James calls “pure religion” by caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27). Sadly, some churches create a false tension between spiritual and material care—as if we must choose between preaching the gospel and feeding the hungry.

But that’s not a biblical distinction. The gospel addresses the whole person—body and soul. While pastors are primarily focused on preaching and spiritual shepherding, deacons make sure that no one is neglected or overlooked, especially within the household of God (Gal. 6:10).

When the church shows tangible love for one another—and when no one among us is in need—it becomes a beautiful testimony to the power of the gospel and a living glimpse of the coming Kingdom.

🧹 Eliminating Distractions

Deacons are not “junior elders” or future elders-in-training. They hold a distinct and honourable office with a complementary function to the elders. Elders are charged with the spiritual and directional leadership of the church—devoting themselves to the ministry of the Word, prayer, and oversight of doctrine and mission (Acts 6:4; 1 Peter 5:1–3).

Deacons, by contrast, handle practical responsibilities that would otherwise distract the elders from their primary calling. Their faithful service ensures that the ministry of the Word remains central and undisturbed. Deacons eliminate distractions—not by doing unimportant work, but by making sure the essential work of shepherding can flourish.

That said, this doesn’t mean elders are uninvolved in practical matters. They are still responsible for the oversight of all areas of church life—including finances, facilities, and stewardship. As those who “manage the household of God” (1 Tim. 3:5), they remain accountable for the decisions and direction of the church.

Deacons, then, carry out and implement the vision and direction set by the elders—coordinating logistics, managing resources, and ensuring needs are met in a way that fosters love and unity. They are not independent managers, but servant-leaders operating under the spiritual leadership of the elders.

Sadly, in many churches, pastors are forced to do the work of deacons—fixing toilets, managing spreadsheets, coordinating events, distributing food—which leads them to neglect their calling to shepherd the flock. But when deacons serve faithfully, the entire church thrives: elders can lead, the flock is fed, and the body is built up in love.

🔥 A Spiritual Calling

Lastly, we must remember that the office of deacon is a spiritual role. In Acts 6, the men chosen were to be “full of the Spirit and of wisdom”. This is not a vague standard. In 1 Timothy 3, we find clear qualifications that describe what Spirit-filled, godly men look like.

Deacons must be: dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, tested first, blameless, faithful to their wife, and managing their household well (1 Tim. 3:8–13).

At Knox Church, we believe the office of deacon is reserved for qualified men, while acknowledging that some other faithful churches hold a different view. We may address the reasoning for our position in a future article, but we are persuaded that this interpretation best reflects the relevant biblical texts and the consistent pattern of male leadership throughout Scripture.

We also affirm that deacons are leaders in the church who exercise real, though distinct, authority. They are not merely glorified “helpers” or ministry leaders; they are servant-leaders entrusted with real responsibility in the life of the body.

Deacons are a gift to the church and a vital part of God’s good design for His people.

May the Lord raise up godly, Spirit-filled men who will serve His church with faithfulness, humility, and joy—making the love of Christ tangible.

Nino Marques