@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

The Spirit of Service

Deacons are beacons

This spirit of service was the attitude at the heart of every first century ministry but took a special focus in the work of a certain group. For in addition to the leadership roles we have already described, the first church benefitted hugely from the support and skill of men and women who were dedicated to performing certain necessary practical, personal, and administrative tasks. The word diakonos (διάκονος), translated as “servant” or “deacon,” denotes these remarkable men and women who served the community, particularly in practical matters. In Acts 6:1–6, seven men were appointed to oversee the daily distribution of food, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching. This became the model for what later developed into the office of deacon. The role of deacons was one of essential service, marked by dignity, faith, and integrity (1 Timothy 3:8–13). Diakonos can also describe broader ministerial service in the church, not just a formal office. If we are all diakonoi, to what degree have we embraced this aspect of our ministry? Is there some way that we could offer someone practical support today?