Questions to Ask a Deacon or Elder Candidate at an Ordination

W hen a deacon or elder is installed in a local church, what are the qualifications and what questions should be asked before he is ordained?

What is a Deacon?

We know that all potential candidates for being a deacon must be tested (1 Tim 3:1), so men must be biblically qualified to be in church leadership, but God clearly defines what the qualifications are. The term “deacon” comes from the Greek word “diakonos” meaning “servant” or “minister,” so a deacon must be a servant of the church, without regard to those they serve. The questions of a potential deacon candidate that are to be asked are in italics.

Questions for Ordination Candidates to Answer (from memory and no Bible)

How long have you been a Christian, and can you give a brief account of your conversion?

Do you believe in the sinless life of Jesus Christ and His substitutionary death on our behalf and resurrection on the third day?

Are you absolutely convinced of the virgin birth of Christ?

How is your personal walk with Christ, including daily devotional and prayer life?

Do you believe in the inspiration of the Bible comes directly from God and is without error and is the final and absolute authority given to believers?

Are there any areas of personal struggle, temptation, or unconfessed sin that could affect your service?

How do you handle disagreements and conflicts, particularly within the church?

Can you explain the gospel to a man dying on the highway that has only 3 minutes to live? [Time them…]

The candidate for an elder or deacon office must have reasonable answers for most of these questions. They should also know that at one time, they were separated by God by their sins, and they were sinners and headed for the wrath of God in hell, but through Jesus’ sinless life, death and resurrection they (and we) can be forgiven, and freely receive the grace of God by trusting in Jesus Christ. This means we repent and place our faith in the Lord and is not anything we do or earn (Eph 2:8-9). It should be something like that, of course, not word for word, but a deacon must know how to share the gospel which includes trusting in Christ, repenting of sins (Mark 1:15), and having received eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are all part of the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-5).

Church elders (and deacons) are called by God and equipped by God “to teach and preach the Word” if need be (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9). Could you teach a class or preach a sermon if necessary due to a pastoral illness or something else that prevents the pastor from preaching or teaching?

If they cannot preach, this is not a disqualification, but they should be able to at least teach a Bible study or answer a simple Bible question if they are a student of the Bible.

What is one of your most important duties as a deacon?

Answers: Teach, preach (if necessary), correct sinning members privately, serve, hold church members accountable, and live a life above reproach as an example of godly behavior (1 Tim 3; Titus 1).

What would you do if you saw someone in the church committing sin?

Matthew 18:15-18 tells us what to do first. Don’t talk to anyone first…go to your brother first.

What if they didn’t respond to your trying to reprove them of their sin?

Then the deacon or elder/pastor are to take another brother or two (no more than two, it’s not supposed to be a posse), and if that does not bring back the brother to repentance, then follow the rest of Matthew 18:15-20 and bring it up before the whole church. Again, they are not disqualified if they don’t know the entire discipline method, but they must know that God will hold them accountable for their deacon duties and all of the churches duties to bring back a sinner who is wandering away and into sin without repentance. We do know “that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).

What is your prayer life like?

Should be daily at least; better if they pray during the day too, not just morning and night.

What do you pray for the most?

Do they pray for the church, the lost, for overcoming sin, for others who need prayer, for God to be glorified, or mostly for themselves? Titus and 1 Timothy 3 show that the deacon (indeed, all believers) must be compassionate. Jesus will hold them responsible for His flock.

Why do you think God has called you to be a deacon?

Various answers but all calls are from God but our own will or desire is involved.

Biblical Qualifications for Deacons/Elders

We already know the biblical qualifications for a church deacon and one of the first few things mentioned is that “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain” (1 Tim 3:8). Paul writes “Deacons must be….” pointing back to the previous verses for pastoral qualifications like he “must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1 Tim 3:2-3) but the deacon must also not be double-tongued meaning they say one thing to someone else and something different to another. That is duplicity and God will not tolerate it. The deacon must also not have an addiction to alcohol and not be motivated by money.

Living Above Reproach

The word conscience means “with” (con) “knowledge” (science) which is why Paul wrote that the deacon “must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless” (1 Tim 3:9-10). If they have a good conscience then this means that they are not living in sin and have confessed all known sin to God. They must be blameless. This doesn’t mean perfection or sinless, otherwise none would ever qualify, but Paul means they should live a life above reproach where no one can accuse them with good cause and be blamed for sinful practices. They also have to be “tested first” which tells me that they must know the essentials of the faith by heart (e.g. Rom 10:9-13, Acts 4:12) and know them well enough to say what they are from memory.

In Good Standing

A church deacon must be an example for all of the church members and so “those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 3:13). A church member who is not in good standing in the church will not be qualified to be a deacon. This means, at least, that the deacon will be faithful in attendance, will serve the church (which is what the word “deacon” means), and they will have confidence in their own faith in Christ. A deacon that lacks confidence in their own faith in Christ cannot pass along that biblical confidence to others. If they are not in good standing with the church then Paul is clear that they will not be qualified to be a deacon. It is as clear as that.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: What is a Deacon? A Bible Study

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Deacon Candidates, Deacons, Elders, Examination, Ordination