RECOVER THE BIBLICAL OFFICE OF DEACON
The Deacon:
Mercy Made Visible
A Biblical and Practical Manual for the Office of Deacon
ENDORSEMENTS
"The office of deacon deserves more attention than it typically receives, and Austin Tucker has provided the church with a resource that is both biblically faithful and eminently practical. Rather than reducing deacons to administrators or maintenance men, this book recovers the beauty of Christ's design for servant leadership. I gladly commend it to pastors, elders, deacons, and every church seeking to strengthen the ministry of mercy."~ B.D. FLEMING, PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR OF STRONGHOLDS OF THE KINGDOM ~“Austin Tucker has given the church a rich and deeply biblical resource for recovering the scriptural office of deacon. The Deacon: Mercy Made Visible will help deacons serve with greater faithfulness and allow pastors to remain devoted to their calling. I wholeheartedly commend this work to any congregation seeking biblical order, fidelity, and purpose.”
~ SAMUEL WALTER CLEMENTS, PASTOR OF UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH IN OCALA, FLORIDA ~"Strong churches are built by qualified men who know their duty. Austin Tucker has given pastors a biblical and practical guide for training deacons who will protect the ministry of the Word through faithful, Christlike service. Every elder should keep this book within arm's reach."~ BRYAN D. FURLONG, PASTOR AND AUTHOR OF WITH FIRE IN OUR BONES ~
THE PROBLEM
Every church has deacons. Few churches share the same understanding of what a deacon actually is. Some function as administrators. Others as maintenance coordinators. Others as a second board of elders. Scripture gives us something better.
WHY THIS BOOK?
Biblical
Grounded in Acts 6, 1 Timothy 3, and the whole counsel of God.
Practical
Faithful guidance for the work of deacons in the local church.
Confessional
Written from a distinctly Reformed Baptist perspective.
who is this book for?
Pastors & Elders
Equip your church with a biblical understanding of the diaconate, and clarify the relationship between elders and deacons.
Deacons & Ordination Candidates
Learn to serve Christ's church with greater confidence and conviction. Prepare faithfully for the office before being set apart.
Church Planters
Establish healthy church structures from the beginning.
Seminary Students
Develop a biblical theology of the diaconate for future ministry.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN
Whether you're preparing for the office or leading those who serve, this book provides a biblical framework for understanding and strengthening the ministry of deacons in the local church.
| YOU'LL LEARN TO |
|---|
| ✔️ Recover the purpose of the office. |
| Understand why Christ gave deacons to His church. |
| ✔️ Recognize biblical qualifications. |
| Discern the character and calling of faithful servants. |
| ✔️ Cultivate mercy ministry. |
| Learn how practical service adorns the gospel. |
| ✔️ Clarify the relationship between elders and deacons. |
| Distinguish the unique responsibilities of each office. |
| ✔️ Exercise wise stewardship. |
| Think biblically about benevolence, finances, and service. |
| ✔️ Strengthen the local church. |
| Apply timeless principles with pastoral wisdom. |
About the Author
Dr. Austin W. Tucker is a pastor, educator, counselor, and author with more than twenty-four years of ministry experience. He serves as Preaching Elder at Gracepointe Church in Summerfield, Florida, and is the founder of Gracepointe Academy, a fully accredited K–12 school. He also taught Christian Counseling and is a certified clinical counselor with the NCCA. In addition to his Pastoral and Educational endeavors, Austin co-founded Dust & Glory Media, where he writes and speaks about theology, church life, Christian formation, and faithful living in a compromised age.He has been married for twenty-three years and is the father of three children who love the Lord and serve faithfully in the life of the church. His work is devoted to strengthening Christian households, advancing biblical truth, and calling believers to courage, clarity, and endurance.He wrote The Deacon: Mercy Made Visible out of concern that this vital office has too often been neglected, misunderstood, or reshaped according to modern instincts. His aim is to help churches recover a faithful diaconate, one that protects the ministry of the Word, brings order to practical service, and makes Christ’s mercy visible in the local church.