A deacon body can finish Johnny Hunt's *The Deacon I Want To Be* in six meetings, one session each time. Put the deacons and the pastor in the room, watch the session, then work the workbook before you leave.
That's the whole plan. The rest of this page covers who comes, what each meeting covers, how long it runs, and what to do when someone misses.
Who is in the room
The deacon body and the pastor. Everyone, every meeting.
This is officer training, not a Sunday School elective. The pastor sits in because the series is about how deacons serve alongside him, and the conversation after each video goes better with him there.
One heads-up: wives are part of session 3. Tell the deacons before that meeting so no one is surprised when you ask them to bring their wives.
The six sessions
Take them in this order.
- The Deacon and His Worthiness. Qualifications, calling, and walk with Christ.
- The Deacon and His Work. Mission, responsibilities, and mentoring.
- The Deacon and His Wife. Her attributes, her ministry, and their home.
- The Deacon and His Worship. The Word, the church, prayer, and praise.
- The Deacon and His Walk. Kingdom principles for daily living.
- The Deacon and His Witness. Sharing Christ and helping grow the church.
One session per meeting. Don't double up to finish sooner.
How long the meeting is
Each session is about 30 minutes of video. Leave time after it to talk. That talking time is where the series sticks, so protect it.
Two schedules work well:
- A weeknight meeting, six weeks in a row.
- Six weeks of your regular deacon meeting. Give the series the first part of the night and handle business after.
A weekend workshop is the other way to use this series. It's not the plan this guide is built for.
The workbook
The kit is the series with streaming, a reproducible workbook, and a leader guide, for $149.95. See the kit here.
Hand out the pages for that session. Don't read the workbook to the group. They have it in front of them. Let them fill it in, then talk through what they wrote. Finish the pages before you leave the room so the work doesn't follow them home undone.
When someone misses a meeting
He watches that session on his own, using the streaming password. It takes about 30 minutes on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Two kinds of access, so you know which one you have:
- A kit password covers this series only.
- [STREAMALL](/streamall) is the full catalog. If your church already has it, you're covered with nothing extra to buy.
Passwords and workbooks stay with the purchasing church.
What "done" looks like
After session 6, the deacon body goes back to serving with the pastor. That's the goal. The series isn't meant to become a standing class.
When you start, the session 1 leader sheet will help you open the first meeting.
Browse all deacon training or learn more about Johnny Hunt's video studies.
Studies in this guide
Related
Questions churches ask
Who should be in the room?
The deacons and the pastor. Wives join for session 3 only, unless your church decides to invite them to more.
Can we do this on a deacon meeting night?
Yes. Give the first part of the meeting to the session and the workbook, then move to regular business. Six regular meetings, six sessions.
What if a deacon misses a session?
He watches it at home with the streaming password, then picks up with the group at the next meeting. A kit password covers this series. STREAMALL covers the whole catalog.
Do the wives come to every meeting?
No. Session 3, The Deacon and His Wife, is the one built for them. Tell the deacons ahead of time so they can plan the evening. Whether wives come to more is the church's call.