Different churches define the office of deacon in different ways, and Scripture itself is notably vague about the specifics of what deacons are to do. It is very clear, however, about what qualifies a man to be one.

The primary emphasis in church leadership, John MacArthur argues, should fall on what a man is rather than on what he does - and that reordering settles most of the questions congregations argue about. A short booklet, inexpensive enough to give to every man a church is considering.