Who Are the Church Workers and Deacons?

Imagine that you arrive on Sunday, sit in your chair, open your quarterly, and the class begins. It seems simple. Now answer this: who unlocked that door? Who turned on the lights? Who arranged the chairs in the right rows? Who cleaned the restroom you are going to use? Who was standing in the hallway, welcoming the person who arrived late and embarrassed?

You probably don't know. And that is precisely the point. Things in the Kingdom of God are not made only of the stage — there is also a backstage. And the backstage has a name in the Bible: service.

Today's question is about the people who work there: Who Are the Church Workers and Deacons?

In this class we are going to see four things: where the deacons came from, what the difference is between a church worker, a deacon, and an elder, what the Bible requires of those who serve, and why serving where no one sees is the most serious part of all.

I — Where the deacons came from

The word deacon did not fall from the sky ready-made. It was born out of a problem.

The church in Jerusalem was growing too fast: "So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7). It sounds like nothing but good news — yet growth comes with a bill to pay. With so many people, the twelve apostles could not keep up with preaching, praying, and still organizing everything.

And then what always happens when no one is in charge of a task happened: someone was left out. The Bible does not hide it: "In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." (Acts 6:1).

Read that slowly. There was a daily distribution of food for the widows — women who had lost their husbands and had no way to support themselves. One group was being served; another group was being forgotten. Probably not out of malice. Out of a lack of organization. But for the widow who went without, the reason changes nothing: she went without.

Notice that the church did not pretend everything was fine. The apostles called everyone together and said: "So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.”" (Acts 6:2). That is not contempt for table work — it is recognition that the job was too big to be done in their spare time. And then came the solution: "Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them" (Acts 6:3), while the apostles remained steadfast: "and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." (Acts 6:4).

The church made its choice, and the Bible kept the names: "This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism." (Acts 6:5). Then, "They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them." (Acts 6:6).

That is how the first deacons in the history of the church were born. Not because of a fancy title. Because of some widows who were hungry.

αβ In the original — Greek. Diákonos (διάκονος) means servant — more precisely, the one who waits on tables, who brings the plate to the person. From that word comes "deacon". And its sister word, diakonía, means service, ministry. Keep this in mind: the name of the office is a job description, not a medal. To call someone a deacon is to call him a servant.

And notice what the text requires of those seven: good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom (Acts 6:3). None of the three is a résumé. Reputation is what your life says about you when you are not in the room. Being full of the Holy Spirit is depending on God, not on your own strength. Wisdom is knowing what to do with what you know. The church did not choose the seven most available — it chose the seven most trustworthy.

II — Church worker, deacon, elder: who is who

Now comes the part that usually gets tangled up in everyone's head, including adults'.

Start with the broadest term: church worker (lay minister). A church worker is someone who works in the Lord's work. It is the umbrella word, and the Bible uses this kind of language for everyone who makes themselves available: "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Corinthians 3:9). In many churches, the brother who helps in the office, with the sound system, at the door, with cleaning, or in teaching is called a church worker or co-worker — someone who serves in the church's activities without being tied to just one role. The Statement of Faith of the Assemblies of God describes it in exactly this way: believers who place themselves at the disposal of the local ministry to serve in the work.

Then come the two offices that the New Testament describes by name and requirement. And the simplest way to see the two together is the greeting of a letter: "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:" (Philippians 1:1). Two groups, in the same church, in the same sentence.

Elder, bishop, pastor. Last week we saw this: in the New Testament these three words describe the same office, viewed from three angles — an elder is the mature man, a bishop is the one who oversees, a pastor is the one who shepherds. The emphasis of this office is teaching and the spiritual care of the flock.

Deacon. This is another office, with a different emphasis: service. He takes care of order in the worship service, the upkeep and maintenance of church property, caring for those in need, and helping the pastor with visits. In Acts 6, the seven were raised up precisely so that the Word would not stop and no one would be left out.

Two different offices, then, with two different jobs — and neither of them is a "second-class position". By the way, there are Christian churches that organize these titles a little differently than we do. That is no reason for fighting or mockery. What the Bible makes clear is this: the service needs people responsible for it, and those people need to have character.

🏛 Did you know? — the table was a serious matter. When the Bible speaks of serving tables (Acts 6:2), it is not talking about party decorations. Back then there was no government aid, no pension, and no social program. A widow with no living children was literally left without income: she depended on the community to eat the next day. That is why the complaint in Acts 6 was so serious. The church was not arguing over an organizational detail — it was deciding who was going to eat.

III — What the Bible requires of those who serve

If being a deacon were only about carrying chairs, strong arms would be enough. But Paul wrote a list, and it says nothing about strength or skill: "Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." (1 Timothy 3:8-9).

Translating that for today: an honest person; someone who does not say one thing to one person and another to someone else (being double-tongued means exactly that — speaking with two faces); someone not controlled by addiction; someone who does nothing out of greed for money; and someone who truly believes, with a clear conscience. Add to that what comes right after: "Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons." (1 Timothy 3:10), and also "A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household." (1 Timothy 3:12).

There is the principle from last lesson again: character before position. No one is approved just for being friendly on Sunday. The Bible commands that they be tested first, and only then entrusted with the service.

Now the other side of the coin, and this one hurts more. A deacon serves without choosing the task. It does not matter if the job seems hard, dirty, or too small: caring for those who have little, visiting the sick, helping a widow, setting up the hall. The standard of Colossians applies: "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men," (Colossians 3:23). The question is never "is this job beneath me?". The question is "is this being done for the Lord?".

And be careful with the idea that those who serve in practical ways are used less by God. Stephen was chosen to wait on tables — and look at what happened: "Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people." (Acts 6:8). When educated men went to argue with him, "but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke." (Acts 6:10). The very same man from the food distribution preached with power, because it was the Holy Spirit speaking through him. God does not separate the line for "manual service" from the line for "spiritual service". He calls servants.

❤ For your life. There is a phrase that ruins a lot of good people: "that's not my job". In Acts 6, the problem did not start because someone was mean — it started because the task belonged to everyone and, belonging to everyone, belonged to no one. Pay attention to this at your age: the school group project where you wait for others to do the work; the mess in the Sunday School (EBD) classroom that you saw and walked right past; the person who was left without a partner in the activity while you pretended not to notice. Serving begins when you stop asking "whose part is this?" and do yours.

IV — Serving where no one is watching

The deacon is the most sought-after church worker during the worship service. Everyone calls for him, no one thanks him. And right there is where the lesson touches you.

Doing the work of God on stage, with everyone watching, is easy. Everyone likes a microphone. But real service has an uncomfortable trait: most of the time no one is watching, and no one is going to give you any credit. Jesus spoke about this plainly: "so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:4).

Yet "no one saw" is not the same thing as "it didn't count". Hebrews is direct: "For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so." (Hebrews 6:10). And Paul says that those who serve well gain something on the inside: "For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 3:13). Faithful service strengthens the faith of the one who serves.

Another important thing: the diaconate is a specific office, but service belongs to every believer. You do not need a badge to help. "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13). And each person has something in hand for this: "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." (1 Peter 4:10).

If someday God calls you to be a deacon, praise God — keep praying and He will raise you up at the right time. But do not stand still waiting for a title. Training has already begun.

Christ in the Lesson

Here the whole lesson changes in scale.

On the night before the cross, the Master did something no one expected: "So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him." (John 13:4-5). Washing a visitor's feet was the job of the lowest servant in the house. In that room there was no servant at all — and not one of the twelve volunteered.

Peter refused: "“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”" (John 13:8). Then Peter flipped to the other extreme, in his typical way: "“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”" (John 13:9). And Jesus explained why He had done that: "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you." (John 13:14-15).

This is the greatest Deacon who ever lived. He Himself took apart the world's measuring stick: "The greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matthew 23:11).

But Jesus did not come just to teach a lesson on humility with a basin in His hand. The towel was a rehearsal for what was coming the next morning: "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28). His service ended on a cross, and there He paid what you had no way to pay.

Notice the order, because it is the key to everything. You do not serve so that God will like you. You serve because He already served you first — and served to the very end. Every floor cloth, every straightened chair, every opened door in the house of God is a response, never a payment. And the Holy Spirit is the One who produces in us this willingness to serve; our part is not to resist, and to go.

Practical Application

At church. This week, find out the name of a deacon or church worker at your church and thank him in person. Tell him what he does that you noticed. Backstage work almost never hears "thank you".

At school. Notice who was left out — in line, when pairing up, in the circle. Acts 6 began with people who were forgotten without anyone intending to forget them.

At home. Pick the chore no one wants and do it without complaining, as for the Lord and not for people (Colossians 3:23). Serving without choosing the task is the mark of a deacon.

When things get serious. If someone — of any position — hurts you, scares you, or asks you to keep a secret, tell a trusted adult that very same day. You speak up; the adult handles it.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You because You did not stay seated waiting to be served. Thank You for the towel, for the basin, and above all for the cross, where You gave Your life as a ransom for many — including me. Thank You for the deacons and church workers of my church, who open the doors, set the house in order, welcome those who arrive, and care for those in need without anyone seeing. Bless their lives. And work in me, Holy Spirit: take away from me the "that's not my job" attitude, teach me to notice who is left out, and give me joy in serving even when no one says thank you. May I be a true servant, as my Master was. In Jesus' name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture governs; everything else, on its knees.

Teacher's Guide

Essence of the class

Deacon means servant: God raises up people so that no one in His house is left out — and the model for those people is Jesus, who served all the way to the cross.

Map of the class

Time	Stage
0–4 min	Opening — who unlocked the door to this room?
4–12 min	Point 1 — Where the deacons came from (Acts 6)
12–19 min	Point 2 — Church worker, deacon, elder: who is who
19–26 min	Class activity — The list no one sees
26–33 min	Point 3 — Serving without choosing the task
33–37 min	Christ in the Lesson + questions
37–40 min	Wrap-up + challenge + prayer

Start like this

Give no introduction at all. Start with the question right out of the gate: "Who unlocked the door to this room today?" Wait. Almost no one will know. Follow up right away: "And who turned on the lights? Who arranged these chairs? Who cleaned the restroom you are going to use?" You will hear "I don't know", "someone from church", "the custodian", and maybe one right name. Then say: "You walked in here and everything was already ready. Someone woke up earlier for this and did not ask to be applauded. Today's class is about those people — and about the name the Bible gives to what they do."

Point 1 — Where the deacons came from (Acts 6)

• In the quarterly: topic 1 ("Someone who watches over the order of the worship service"), with the sub-item on the growth of the Early Church and the choosing of the seven, plus the introduction to Knowing More About God and the glossary ("service", "social").
• What to teach: the diaconate was born out of a real problem. The church in Jerusalem grew fast (Acts 6:7), the apostles could not keep up with everything, and widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution (Acts 6:1). The apostles did not pretend everything was fine: they shared the work (Acts 6:2-4) and the church chose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom (Acts 6:3, 5, 6). Make it clear that the three requirements are not a résumé — they are character, dependence on God, and wisdom. Tell them the meaning of diákonos: servant.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them" (Acts 6:3).
• Key question: "Have you ever been left out of something without anyone doing it to be mean?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): "on a team, when people pick partners"; "when they forget to add me to the group"; "in the lunch line". Go deeper: "And did it change anything for you that no one did it on purpose?" — that is the exact weight of Acts 6. Do not ask for anyone's name and do not let the conversation turn into accusing a classmate or someone from church; keep the focus on the principle.
• If no one speaks: share your own story first, briefly and without drama, about a time you were left out of something by oversight — and ask how many of them have seen that happen to someone else.

Point 2 — Church worker, deacon, elder: who is who

• In the quarterly: the Theological Aid ("Co-workers", with 1 Corinthians 3:9) and the Statement of Faith box on the activities of deacons, tied to the base text of 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
• What to teach: three words, two offices. Church worker/co-worker is the umbrella term: someone who works in the Lord's work, available to the local ministry (1 Corinthians 3:9). Elder, bishop, and pastor are the same office with three emphases — maturity, oversight, and care. Deacon is a distinct office, with an emphasis on service. Show the two together in the greeting of Philippians 1:1, which addresses both the overseers and the deacons, and point out that 1 Timothy 3 gives separate requirements for each. Close with respect: there are Christian churches that organize these titles differently, and that is not a subject for mockery.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:" (Philippians 1:1).
• Key question: "What is a job at church that you have never seen anyone doing, but that someone obviously does?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): "cleaning"; "setting up the sound"; "buying the things for the Lord's Supper"; silence, because they have never stopped to think about it. Go deeper: "Why do you think we learn the name of the person holding the microphone and not the name of the person standing in the hallway?"
• If no one speaks: name three real tasks in your church yourself, with the name of the brother who does each one, and ask how many of them knew that work existed.

Point 3 — Serving without choosing the task

• In the quarterly: topic 2 ("Those who serve the Church", with Jesus as the greatest Servant and the foot-washing in John 13) and topic 3 ("Cooperating for the functioning of the church", with 1 Timothy 3:13 and the conclusion on Christian service).
• What to teach: the list in 1 Timothy 3:8-10 does not ask for strength or talent — it asks for honesty, a trustworthy word, self-control, freedom from the love of money, and faith with a clear conscience, and commands that they be tested first and serve afterward (v. 10). A deacon does not pick and choose the task: everything is done as for the Lord and not for people (Colossians 3:23). And practical service is not second-class ministry: Stephen was chosen for the tables and preached with power (Acts 6:8, 10). Close with 1 Timothy 3:13 — those who serve well have their own faith strengthened.
• Anchor verse (BSB): "Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons." (1 Timothy 3:10).
• Key question: "What is the service you would gladly do — and what is the one you would do with a sour face?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): "I'd play an instrument, but I wouldn't clean"; "I'll help, just not in the kitchen"; "I'll do anything" (not always true, and that's okay). Go deeper: "Who decides which of the two tasks God is watching?"
• If no one speaks: admit your own ("the one I do with a sour face is...") and move on. The teacher's honesty unlocks the class more than any question.

Class activity

• Goal: to see the size of the invisible work that sustains a worship service — and to realize that someone owns it.
• Materials: one A4 sheet of paper for each pair, a pencil or pen, and the board with chalk or a marker. Everything the quarterly already asks for.
• Step by step: divide the class into pairs (or groups of three). Hand out the sheet and give the instruction: "You have 3 minutes to list everything someone had to do BEFORE you sat down in this chair today." Everyone participates at the same time — no one goes up to the front alone, no one is singled out. After the 3 minutes, collect the answers aloud and write everything on the board, without repeating items. Add up how many items the class found. Then add three or four yourself that no one remembered (the schedule of who unlocks the gate, who checks the Sunday School materials, who handles the cleaning during the week, who prepares the elements for the Lord's Supper). Finish with just one question: "How many of these jobs have you ever thanked someone for?"
• Wrap-up (back to the text): "None of this showed up on its own. In Acts 6 the church found out, the hard way, that service that belongs to everyone ends up belonging to no one — and widows went hungry because of it. That is why God raised up deacons: people who take ownership of the task and leave no one out. And a big part of that board right there is done by people no one applauds — the Father who sees in secret is the One who rewards (Matthew 6:4)."

If they ask you this

• "Why did they choose only men in Acts 6? Can't women serve in the church?" The text records that those seven were men, and in our churches the office of deacon is held by men. But do not confuse office with service: the Bible shows women serving from the very beginning — Paul introduces Phoebe as our sister and a servant of the church in Cenchreae (Romans 16:1) — and right in the middle of the list for deacons it also addresses women (1 Timothy 3:11). Service has no gender and no badge; an office has requirements, and the local church, with the pastor, leads that.
• "Is a deacon a second-rate pastor?" No. They are distinct offices, not rungs on a ladder. Elder, bishop, and pastor are the same office with three emphases; deacon is another office, with an emphasis on service — and Paul greets both groups side by side (Philippians 1:1). And remind the class of Stephen: the man at the tables was the same man who preached with power and whom no one could withstand (Acts 6:8, 10).
• "If every believer should serve, why does the position exist?" Because a task without an owner becomes a forgotten task — that is literally what happened in Acts 6:1. The position ensures that the service gets done and that someone is accountable for it. Yet it does not excuse anyone: the command to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13) was written to the whole church.
• "What if a church worker treats me badly or asks me to keep a secret?" Say this clearly and plainly in class: policing leaders is not a student's job, and talking just to talk is gossip. But if anyone — of any position — hurts you, scares you, or asks you to keep a secret about something like that, you tell a trusted adult that very same day: your dad, your mom, a teacher, or another leader. That is neither gossip nor disrespect. You speak up; the adult handles it.

Wrap-up + challenge of the week

• Wrap-up: "We started by asking who unlocked the door to this room. No one knew — and that is exactly how service works. Deacon means servant, and God raises up servants so that no one in His house is left out. But the greatest Servant in history was not any of the seven: it was the Master who took the towel and the basin and washed the disciples' feet, and who the next day showed that He came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). You do not serve so that God will like you. You serve because He served you first."
• Challenge: this week, share once with someone who is usually left out — your snack, your school supplies, your spot in the circle. Choose someone who is not your best friend. On Sunday, come back with the story.

Teacher's kit

• Before: read the three topics in the quarterly and mark in your Bible Acts 6:1-10, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Philippians 1:1, John 13:4-15, and Matthew 20:28. Memorize the key phrase: "deacon means servant". Find out the name and one real task of two deacons or church workers in your church, and three backstage services that no one sees, to mention during the class activity.
• Bring: a Bible, A4 sheets of paper (one per pair), pencils or pens, chalk or a marker for the board.
• Pray beforehand: ask God for loving deacons for your church, and that no student leaves class thinking that service only counts when someone is watching — or thinking they have to stay silent about something serious.

Homework

Your mission for the week

Share once, this week, with someone who is usually left out. It can be half of your snack, lending your school supplies when the person needed them, or giving up your spot in the circle for someone who always ends up on the edge. Just one rule: it cannot be your best friend — it has to be someone who usually goes without.

Why

Because the diaconate was born precisely out of a distribution that left people out: "In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." (Acts 6:1). God raised up servants so that no one in His house would go without. And He Himself shared with you first: "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28).

How to know you did it

You can say the person's name and what you shared. If the person was someone you already share with every day, it doesn't count — choose someone else.

On Sunday, come back with the story

Next week's class starts with those who share who they shared with, what they shared, and what happened. Don't be left out.