B. Serving Deacons. 3:8-13 12 qualifications for the position of deacons v.8-13 Deacons are help ministries that support the elders. Acts 6:1-6; Phil.1:1 V.8 a) The heart of an deacon - The sound deacon’ s. v.8-9 I. Reverent “ Attitude” - Heart issue. Being respectful. II. Double-tongued “ Speech” - Tongue issue. Speaking the same things to everybody. III. Wine “ Self-control” - Willpower issue. Wine - The meaning is not abstaining from wine but being self-controlled with wine. Not a habitual drinker of wine and not coming under alcohols influence. IV. Greedy “ Contentment” - Mind issue. He shall be a giver and not cheat to obtain money. 1.Tim.3:3; Tit.1:7 V.9 b) The conscience of an deacon - I. Conscience - Spirit issue. II. Conscience is one of the senses of the spirit. III. He holds on to the faith and behaves accordingly to his beliefs. V.10 c) The testing of an deacon - Character - Purity. No obvious public sin. The church should not test the deacon with a trial period but they should have examined his life long before they ordain him to the ministry. V.11 d) The female deacon - The sound deaconess’ s character. Paul is referring to female married deacons and not to the deacons wives, then elders wives would be more necessary than deacons wives. II. Slanderers “ Speech” - Tongue issue. Not given into gossiping. III. Temperate “ Self-control” - Willpower issue. Clear-headed person. IV. Faithfulness - Heart issue. Trustworthy and patiently continuing in good. V.12 e) The home of an deacon - The sound deacon’ s home. I. Marriage - Keeping the standard of a Scriptural marriage. Like the elders in v.2 the meaning is that if he is married, he should be married with only one wife. II. Household and children - Keeping the standard of a Scriptural home. There is no reason to let a deacon serve the church if they have not ordered their own home, then the family will suffer even more. V.13 f) The good standing of an deacon - The blessing upon the sound deacon. I. Position - They receive a Good standing. (Man’ s view upon them) II. Boldness - They receive Great boldness in the faith. (Their view upon man and God)