What Is a Deacon?
March 28, 2023
Dear CPC Family,
Have you ever considered what a blessing it is that Jesus provided his church with officers who are called and gifted to show his love and mercy?
In a Presbyterian church, the three “special” offices (as opposed to the general office that belongs to all believers) are minister, ruling elder, and deacon. All three offices are called to the servant leadership, but deacons are especially called to service in the practical, concrete, but no less spiritual work of mercy ministry. In fact, the Greek word at the root of deacon means “servant.”
What Is a Deacon?
Deacons are “called to show forth the compassion of Christ in a manifold ministry of mercy toward the saints and strangers on behalf of the church” (Form of Government, XI.1).
You can trace the office of deacon back to Old Testament Israel with those (primarily the Levites) who were set apart for mercy ministry and for overseeing the practical needs of the a worshipping covenant community.
In the New Testament church, the apostles were overwhelmed with practical needs in the early church that kept them from the ministry of the Word and prayer. With that real need, in God’s providence, the New Testament office of deacon was born:
Acts 6:3: “Pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”
Read the qualifications for deacons listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
If elders are “under-shepherds” of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1-4), deacons are “under-servants” of the Great Servant, Jesus Christ. Jesus uses the same word for deacon to describe himself in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What Do Deacons Do?
When considering what deacons do, our Form of Government (XXV.6.a.2) puts it like this: The duties of deacons consist of
encouraging members of the church to provide for those who are in want
seeking to prevent poverty
making discreet and cheerful distribution to the needy
praying with the distressed and reminding them of the consolations of Holy Scripture.
As we learned on Sunday from Nehemiah 5, members of God’s people have often faced material need and Christians will continue to be in need until Jesus returns. For this reason, we can give thanks for the office of deacon.
Building the CPC Diaconal Fund
Before I help you get to know our deacon better, I want to let you know of a change we’re making to better support CPC’s diaconal ministry: moving forward, on Lord’s Supper Sundays (2nd Sunday of the month) we will collect a deacon’s offering in addition to our usual general offering. Giving in this offering will be used to build up our diaconal ministry fund to better equip CPC for the work of mercy ministry.
Getting to Know Our Deacon
I'm glad that the Lord raised up Ray Sahagun as CPC's first deacon! Not only was Ray (along with his family) part of the original core group that became Corona Presbyterian Church, he served previously as a deacon in the PCA. Read on to learn more about him!
How did you become a Christian?
The Lord saved me through the witness of my high school football and wrestling coaches. At an all you can eat pizza party at a local Baptist church I responded wholeheartedly to the pastor’s call to faith and repentance. I didn’t have any pizza that evening. But, I went away having Christ.
How did the Lord bring you to CPC?
We came to CPC when it started as a Bible study at the Robblee’s home. We transferred our membership from Grace PCA, Yorba Linda to CPC when we had our first service.
What is your favorite Bible verse?
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
Other than the Bible, what book has most shaped your Christian life?
The Puritan Hope by Iain Murray
What are you praying for CPC this year?
That we would continue to grow in grace, that our gospel outreach would be fruitful, and that we would see adult baptisms
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy sitting at my backyard fire pit with a good cup of coffee, and camping
As a church family, let's give thanks for Ray and his service as a deacon. And let's pray that the Lord will equip Ray (and all of us) for the ministry of mercy at CPC, in Corona, and beyond.
In the Father's Love,
Pastor Andrew