Episode 7: Character Before Competence: What Makes a Faithful Deacon

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Welcome to The Deacon's Table, a podcast of The Deacon's Fellowship.
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I'm your host, Benjamin Schultz, the Administrative Deacon of the Presbytery
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of Central Florida. Here at The Deacon's Table, our goal is to equip,
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support, and connect deacons for faithful, wise, and compassionate ministry.
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These episodes are intended to be brief, practical, and insightful to maximize
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your ability to serve with clarity and care.
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So pull up a chair and join me at The Deacon's Table.
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In this season, we're going through the Deacon Reference Book to build a shared
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understanding of what faithful diaconal ministry looks like in the life of the church.
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In each episode, we take one topic at a time so we can stay clear,
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practical, and unified in how we serve.
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Today, we're going to look at something fundamental to the office of deacon,
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the kind of man this work requires, because before competency,
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before structure, before strategy, Scripture emphasizes character.
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Let's start with something that is easy to miss. When the Bible describes the
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qualifications for deacons, it doesn't begin with skill sets.
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It begins with character. The qualifications from scripture are dignified,
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not double-tongued, not greedy, holding to the mysteries of the faith with a clear conscience.
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Those are not technical requirements, they are spiritual ones.
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And that tells us something important. The effectiveness of diaconal ministry
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is not built first on what a man can do. It is built on who he is.
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Now that cuts against how we naturally think. We tend to look for capable people,
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organized people, people who can get things done.
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And those things matter. They are important. But the primary qualifications
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in scripture are something else. That is because you can train someone in skills
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and abilities, but you cannot quickly or easily form someone's character.
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A friend of mine was training to be a deacon, and he doubted himself because
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he could not change the brakes or the oil on a car.
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He could not build a shed. He could not carry multiple sandbags.
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I tried to encourage him by walking through the qualifications for this office.
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None of those things that he could not do were listed. I wish I could tell you
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he became a deacon, but he did not. He was so focused on what he could not do
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rather than seeing the servant's heart that the Lord had placed in him.
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Imagine two deacon candidates. One is highly organized, efficient,
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and physically capable.
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But he struggles with patience, is not honest in small things,
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and is inconsistent in his walk with the Lord.
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The other is less polished, less efficient, but he has a servant's heart.
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He is prayerful, honest, and dependable. Over time, which one builds trust?
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Which one reflects Christ? That's the point. Diaconal ministry runs on trust.
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People are inviting you into vulnerable parts of their lives,
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into their financial stress, family tension, and personal struggles.
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In those moments, They don't just need competence. They need character.
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This is why Act 6 matters so much. When the church identifies men to lead in
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this work, the first thing they look for is not ability.
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It is spiritual maturity. They selected men of good reputation,
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full of the spirit and of wisdom.
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They did that because first and foremost, diaconal work is spiritual work.
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It requires discernment. It requires humility. It requires a man who is being
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shaped by the gospel. And here's where this gets personal. You cannot lead people
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into mercy if you are not regularly experiencing God's mercy.
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You cannot extend grace if you are not living in it. You cannot walk patiently
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with others if you are not being formed by the patience of God toward you.
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I'll say that again because it needs to be emphasized.
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You cannot lead people into mercy if you are not regularly experiencing God's mercy.
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You cannot extend grace if you are not living in it. You cannot walk patiently
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with others if you are not being formed by the patience of God toward you.
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So character is not just about behavior. It's about formation.
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It's about how you are becoming like Christ. And the Spirit does that formation in ordinary ways.
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In reading scripture, in prayer, in worship, in fellowship, but also in how
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you handle frustration.
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In how you respond when things don't go your way. It shows up in your home,
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in your work, in your relationships. That's why the qualifications include things
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like managing your household well. Because character is not compartmentalized.
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It carries across every part of life.
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Now, let's bring this into the work of a deacon. Character shows up in how you listen and care.
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It shows up in whether people feel safe to be honest with you.
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It shows up in whether you follow through on what you say.
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It shows up in how you handle confidential situations. And over time, that builds something.
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It builds credibility. Not the kind that comes from title or position,
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but the kind that comes from consistent, faithful presence. So here's the takeaway.
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Competency matters, but character carries the weight.
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Before we close, here are a few questions to consider. Where is God shaping
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your character right now?
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Where are you tempted to rely on skill instead of spiritual maturity?
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And how is your life aligning with the calling that you have been given?
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Because we as deacons lead in mercy ministry, we must be shaped by the mercy of God.
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Thanks for joining me at the Deacons Table, where our aim is to equip,
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support, and connect those called to serve.
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In our next episode, we'll be joined by Kurt Moore and Bruce Cullen,
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both M&A disaster response specialists serving the state of Florida.
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They'll be talking about the upcoming Mission to North America Disaster Response
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Chainsaw Training, hosted at Willow Creek Church in Winter Springs,
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Florida, Friday evening, October 9th, and Saturday morning, October 10th. We'll hear.