How to Identify a Potential Church Deacon or Elder

This month (May 2012) we've been going through a sermon series on what an elder is and what an elder does.  The question has been raised, "How do we recognize a rising elder or deacon?"  Here is a guide to help answer that question:



Does the man possess the right equipment?
That is, does he have the right gifts for the office of deacon or elder?

1.  God endows these men with certain gifts and gives the men to His church
     (Mk. 16:15-18; Lk. 21:15; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:22; Ti. 1:7).

2.  The elder must be able to exhort-counsel from the Scriptures.
     (1 Thess. 2:11,12)

3.  The elder must be gifted to lead.
     (1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; 1 Tim. 3:5; 5:17)

4.  The elder and deacon must be gifted to serve.
     (Acts 20:24f; Rom. 15:26-33)

5.  He must be able to share his resources with others.
     (Acts 4; Eph. 4:28)

6.  The elder and deacon must be able to show mercy.
     (Matt. 25; 1 Cor. 12:28)

Does the potential officer of God’s Church possess the right motivation?
What we mean is that he has an inward call from God to serve.

1.  He is faithful and shows an above-average commitment to the Lord, this church,
     and his family.

2.  He is responsive to the gifting and the call of the Holy Spirit in his life
     (Acts 20:28).

3.  He desires the office  (1 Tim. 3:1).

4.  His motives are biblical and Christ-like (1 Peter 5:1ff).

5.  Not only does he have the inward call of God, but God’s people in this church 
     recognize his call as a qualified and legitimate (Acts 6). He cannot merely assume
     that because he may be gifted and has that inner motive that he can assume the
     office of elder. He must also be properly called of God through the means of God’s
     church (Jer. 23:32; Rom. 10:15; Heb. 5:4).

Does the man possess the right character?
As Kevin Reed points out, “these qualities (character qualities found in 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus and 1 Peter) focus upon the three important aspects of a man’s life: his moral behavior, his knowledge of Christian doctrine, and his family life. An elder continually will be in public view. The respect an officer receives often depends more on an example of good character than from anything else about him” (Biblical Church Government, p. 9). All godly men should have these qualities, but the man who is selected for office in Christ’s kingdom must be measured by these qualities to see if he is ready for the office (1 Tim. 5:22; 2 Tim. 2:2; Ti, 2:7,8). Every person in Christ is called to put off the old sinful nature and put on these traits of Christ. Though no man, candidate or officer in Christ’s Church demonstrates any or all of these qualities perfectly, nevertheless it must be obvious that the officer has and demonstrates most of these qualities with consistent regularity.

The following traits are what the Bible requires of a man being considered for office:

    The candidate is above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6).

    He has restrained control in his life (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Thess. 5:6,8).

    He is a true gentle man (approachable, kind, gracious, firm yet diplomatic)
       (Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:23-25; Matt. 11:29; Acts 24:4; 2 Cor. 10:1; 1 Thess. 2:7;
       James 3:17).

    He is not pugnacious, not prone to violence   
       (1 Tim. 3:3; Ti. 1:7; Prov. 3:30; 15:18; 17:14; 20:3; 25:8; 26:17; Phil. 2:3).

    He is not quarrelsome  (1 Tim. 3:2, 3; 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:22-26; Ti. 3:9 Eccl. 10:4;
       Matt. 5:9; Rom. 12:18; 14:19; Heb. 12:14; Jas. 3:17).

    He is not greedy (1 Tim. 3:3; Ti. 1:7 cp. 1 Tim. 6:5-10; Acts 20:33; 2 Tim. 3:6-7).

    He is not given easily to selfish anger (Ti. 1:7; Pro. 16:32).

    He is not over-indulgent or a drunk (1 Tim. 3:3; Ti. 1:7).
       The principle is one of control over bodily appetites (Gen. 19; Prov. 20:1; 23;
       Eccles. 10:17; Isa. 5:11; Isa. 28:1; Luke 21:34; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 5:18)..

    He is self-controlled     (Ti. 1:8; Eph. 5:4; Acts 24:25; Rom. 6:12; Jas. 3:2;
       2 Pet. 1:5-7; Matt. 26:41; 1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Pet. 5:8).

    He is truly humble (not self-willed)    (Luke 14:10; Phil 2:3; Ti. 1:7; Jas. 4:10;
       1 Pet. 5:5; Rom. 12:3, 10, 16).

   The candidate is holy (religiously, biblically devout, pious) (Ti. 1:8; Lev. 11:45;
       Luke 1:74,75; 2 Cor. 7:1; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:16; 2 Pet. 3:11).

    His persona and life demonstrate biblical hospitality    (1 Tim. 3:2; 5:10; Ti. 1:9;
       1 Pet. 4:9; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2).

    He is just (upright, righteous, impartial in dealing with people) (Ti. 1:8; Deut.
       16:20; Psa. 82:3; Prov. 21:3; Isa. 56:1; Rom. 13:7; Col. 4:1).

    The man is a lover of good (has a love of virtue, good men and things)    
       (Ti. 1:8; 1 Thess. 5:21; Heb. 3:6; 4:14; 10:23; Rev. 3:3).

    He is prudent, wise (skilled at bringing God’s thoughts to bear on all matters
       of life)    (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:8; Proverbs).

    He is respectable (well-ordered, well-arranged, decorous in behavior and
       speech; good manners)  (1 Tim. 3:2).


© 2003 D. Thomas Owsley