by Bret Capranica | Jun 3, 2006 | Deacons, Ecclesiology
Parallels Between Acts 6 and Later Deacons Acts 6:1-6 can be seen as the demarcation of the beginning of what would eventually and officially be termed deacon ministry. First, there is a linguistic parallel. The key problem in Acts 6:1-6 is a diakonia (service) problem. The Hellenistic widows were not being served (6:1, diakonia). It was not agreeable to the apostle’s to forsake the word of God in order to serve (6:2, diakonein) tables, because the ministry (6:4, diakonia) of the Apostles would be devotion to prayer and the word. Acts 6:1-6 is fundamentally a passage about diakonia (service). As noted previously, the term diakonia or diakonos can have a very broad range of ministry including physical service as well as the service of preaching and teaching. It clearly has both senses here. However, the focus of the passage is not upon the diakonia of preaching but upon the diakonia of serving the widows, because the Apostles needed assistance so as not to neglect the diakonia entrusted to them. The question remains then in the remaining two passages in the New Testament that directly refer to an official group of leaders who serve alongside the overseers (Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13), as to why they are called by this term (diakonoi)? When this linguistic parallel is seen in light of the yet to be mentioned structural/functional and selection parallels, it becomes much more clear that Acts 6 is referring to a deacon body; unofficial as of yet in the development of the church, but nonetheless, an acting body of servants. Second there is a structural and functional parallel...
by Bret Capranica | May 28, 2006 | Culture
Poll: Americans like instant gratification – Yahoo! News The Department of Motor Vehicles, the U.S. version of the old Soviet bread line, is among the top spots where Americans hate to wait. But grocery stores are the worst. Most Americans don’t like to wait for anything. I confess that I identify with the majority. I’m convicted that I need to be more patient and kind when waiting for something. I wish I had those qualities right...
by Bret Capranica | May 27, 2006 | Miscellaneous
Robertson says he leg-pressed 2,000 pounds – Yahoo! News When will this guy quit discrediting himself and the Christian community? He claims to have leg-pressed 2000 pounds, due to his powerful protein shake. I am a little surprised this charlatan didn’t attribute it to his charasmatic theological stance on prayer and the...
by Bret Capranica | May 25, 2006 | Pastoral Ministry
In light of yesterday’s video game post, I found this to be a refreshing reminder: Since the principal business of a preacher of the gospel is to “teach”, or to communicate to his fellow-men the knowledge of the truth, the necessity of this qualification for a pastor to be skilled at teaching is obvious. No one should be allowed to enter the ministry who is not qualified to impart “instruction” to others on the doctrines and duties of religion; and no one should feel that he ought to continue in the ministry, who doesn’t have the work ethic, self-denial, and the love of study that constantly drives him to increase in knowledge, in order that he can be qualified to teach others. – Albert Barnes HT: Steave...
by Bret Capranica | May 24, 2006 | Pastoral Ministry
Death by Ministry | TheResurgence Here is some interesting info and advice from Mark Driscoll on a hard-working, but balanced approach to ministry and...
