Articles
The Three Tables
Is Our Deacon Body Too Small for “The Three Tables” Model?
On Saturday, September 9, 2023, I was invited to present The Three Tables to the Calvary Baptist and Little Red River Associations in a gathering
Dr. James Leo Garrett Jr. on the Historical Role of Deacons
I am the editor of the eight-volume Collected Writings of James Leo Garrett Jr.: 1950–2015. In volume 3 of the series, we published Dr. Garrett’s
Dr. R. Stanton Norman on The Three Tables
In “Ecclesiological Guidelines to Inform Southern Baptist Church Planters,” a 2004 document written by R. Stanton Norman for the SBC North American Mission Board, Dr.
The Three Tables (Audio) Overview with The North Arkansas Baptist Association
On Thursday, January 18, 2023, I offered an overview presentation of The Three Tables to a number of North Arkansas Baptist Association pastors, deacons, and
The Three Tables and the Passing of the Flame
Last Christmas Eve, our church, like so many others, held a candlelight Christmas Eve service. We sang and prayed and turned to the Word to
Table of the Lord
Thomas Grantham’s 1678 Observation on Deacon Distribution of the Elements
In 1678, the Baptist Theme Grantham published in London Hear the church, or, An appeal to the mother of us all to all the baptized
Ray Van Neste on Deacon Service at The Table of the Lord
In his essay, “The Lord’s Supper in the Context of the Local Church,” in the 2010 Broadman & Holman publication, The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and
A Challenge to the First Table
Some have protested the Baptist inclusion of “The Table of the Lord” under the “Three Tables” served by deacons. For example, an 1879 Presbyterian synod report entitled “The Diaconate” seems to take issue with this Baptist practice.
Table of the Pastor
Dr. Steve Lemke on “How Deacons Can Help Their Pastors”
Dr. Steve Lemke has written a helpful piece on the different ways that deacons can help their pastors. He encourages deacons to: be problem solvers;
One Important Way the Deacons of Central Baptist North Little Rock Serve “The Table of the Pastor”
As The Three Tables study argues, the single greatest way for deacons to serve the Table of the Pastor is to assist him in ministering
How One Church Has Embraced “The Table of the Pastor”
Dr. Darrell Paulk, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia, has shared with me the way that he and the deacons have decided to
Amongst the Saints in Light: On the Faithfulness of Deacon George Charlton
A letter from 1810 describes the importance and impact a faithful deacon can have on his pastor.
Table of the Poor
Want to Serve the Poor? Appoint Deacons.
This article’s title is not my own. It was the title of a post written by Andrew Wilson of King’s Church London at the “Think Theology” website.[1] It
The Historical Drift of Deacons from and Return of Deacons to “The Table of the Poor”
Jeannine Olson has written1 of the history of deacons in general terms as (a) first a body through whom charity and benevolence were dispensed, (b) then
