1 Thessalonians 5:12
Ordination of Deacons and Elder
This sermon ordains deacons and an elder, charging them to serve with humility rather than seek rank, to prioritize others' interests, and to grow spiritually while shepherding the congregation toward Christ.
This is a great day. This is the day we have been looking forward to. This is the day we have been praying for. This is the day that we have entrusted God to provide for us. Because we believe in the Father and because we have sought his help, we believe that today is his day and we are receiving even now his divine blessing. You have selected four men—Scott Chrisman, Paul Neal, Ron Sisson, and Allen Worley—to serve this congregation in the role of a special servant, as a deacon. Paul Neal is out of town and unable to be with us today.
The Deacons
Scott, Ron, and Allen, it is the conviction of this community of believers that you have demonstrated the gift of service and the manner of life which causes us to select you as a special servant among us. We consider you to be “models of service.” We believe that you demonstrate the nature of the Christian life. We believe in you and do willingly ordain you to the ministry of service as deacons.
As you assume your responsibility, we charge you to remember that you have been called to service, not to lordship; you have been called to a work, not a rank. Perform your ministry accordingly. Avoid the temptation to ignore people as you follow your own desires.
As you consider the problems and decisions which will surely arise, remember that the interests of others should be considered above your own. Do not forget to provide for your own spiritual growth. We are depending on you to grow in your relationship with Christ so that you can demonstrate what a spiritual man looks like. Remember your family. You were called to care for them long before you were called to this ministry.
Make sure you know who you are and what you are about. Be positive about God, about God’s people, about God’s church and its mission, about Park Avenue, and about yourself. Love God; love the Lord Jesus Christ; love yourself; love us.
I am now going to address a series of questions to you and you will respond with “I will.”
Will you trust in Jesus as your Savior and acknowledge him as Lord and head of the church?
Will you pledge to abide by the scriptures and to be ever vigilant in studying them?
Will you promise to love us, serve us, and think of us before yourselves?
Will you vow to use God’s call to this work not as a badge of honor but as a towel to serve?
Now to the wives, two questions with the response “I will.”
Will you promise to support your husband in this work and to also love us?
Will you pledge to serve as examples for us as Christian women and to use your gifts to serve?
Scott, Ron, and Allen, do you wish to say anything to the congregation?
Will the other deacons please join these men on the platform, and as they are coming forward, Carl is going to come and lead us in prayer.
The Elder
It is the conviction of this community of believers that the manner of your life causes us to want to follow you as you follow Jesus. We believe you model the life of Christ in such a way that we do not doubt your sincerity or focus.
We say to you as a congregation that you are to be person-centered and not to lose sight of people as you make decisions and consider problems. We say to you that you need to provide for your own spiritual development, that you need to continue to grow so that you can help us to grow. We say to you that you are to work with the current elders as one and to consider the other before yourself. We say to you that we ordain you as an elder of this congregation and ask you to shepherd us ever closer to the Father.
I am now going to address a series of questions to you and you will respond with “I do.”
Do you trust in Jesus as your Savior and acknowledge him as Lord and head of the church?
Do you pledge to abide by the scriptures and to be ever vigilant in studying them as you lead us?
Do you promise to love us, care for us, walk among us, touch us, and think of us before yourself?
Do you vow to use God’s call to this work not as a badge of honor but as a towel to serve?
Now to Debbie, two questions with the response “I do.”
Do you promise to support your husband in this work and to also love us?
Do you pledge to serve as an example for us as a Christian woman and to use your gifts to serve?
I would ask that the other elders come to the stage and stand with Mike.
The Congregation’s Response
To the congregation: remember that this is our decision being expressed today. We assume a serious and lasting responsibility to minister to these men and their families even as we have asked them to minister to us. We have initiated a relationship which will be built upon mutual responsibility and mutual submission.
We have called on these men to lead; let us hear the call to follow. We have called on them to fulfill their ministry; let us hear the call from God to fulfill our own ministry. We have called on them to model the life of Christ; let us hear the call to be like Jesus in our own lives so that their work may be a joy.
May we be vessels of God’s grace to them and to their families, expecting no more than should be expected from ourselves and certainly expecting no less.
I am going to ask you as a congregation to stand and to answer the following three questions with the words “we do.”
Brothers and sisters of the Park Avenue church, do you regard Mike White as worthy of the work of elder?
Do you, brothers and sisters, having sought divine guidance, accept him as one of your spiritual overseers?
Do you promise to give to him and these leaders your honor, encouragement, and support as he and they perform their task?
You may be seated. Mike will now have a short response.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, we have come to this hour with faith, prayer, and wisdom. The responsibility of this decision has been ours, according to the will of God. We have truly served as the instrument of divine choice. Therefore, these men—Mike White, Scott Chrisman, Paul Neal, Ron Sisson, and Allen Worley—are ordained this day because we believe God wills it to be so and we are trying to work with him.
To the congregation, Paul’s words from 1 Thessalonians 5:12 are still true today: “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”
May God bless us as we continue to seek his direction and guidance. Barney Gardner will now come and lead us in prayer. Following that prayer, Randy will lead us in “A Common Love” and then we will be dismissed.
Follow Jesus
If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.