Die Afrikaanse Protestantse Akademie Biblioteek

Includes indexes.

Includes indexes.

Introduction -- Diakonia: from leaves to fruit -- I. Stewardship : The fundamentals of stewardship ; What may I keep for myself? ; Why give? ; Why give money and goods? ; Why give to and through the church? ; How much? (from mites to millions) -- II. The deacon: background : The offices of the church ; The deacon in the body ; The deacon in history ; Sacrifice ; Meaning of sacrifice ; Enter the deacon ; From Levite to deacon ; To the Reformation ; Since the Reformation -- III. The deacon: foreground : The deacon today ; Biblical profile: the office of the deacon ; Levels of awareness: faith and works ; Are you saved? ; Voluntary gratitude ; Mandatory gratitude ; Faith is good works ; How to attain level four ; The deacon and the kingdom ; The deaconess -- IV. Perspectives on stewardship : As seen from above and within ; Investment and return ; Conscience ; Twin mysteries ; The mystery of poverty ; The mystery of wealth -- V. Circles of service : First circle: serving the congregation ; Provision of the material needs of the congregation ; General survey ; Methods of giving ; The deacon as trustee (appendix I) ; Provision for instruction and information ; The deacon as teacher ; The deacons' newsletter ; Provision for encouragement and guidance ; The diaconal visit ; Criteria for giving outside the congregation ; The deacon as "elder" ; Second circle: serving the congregational needy ; Meeting obvious needs ; Challenging the congregation ; Determining need ; Third circle: congregational extension ; For the children ; For the adults ; For the elderly ; Fourth circle: serving the neighborhood ; Fifth circle: seeking out the neighborhood needy ; Sixth circle: cooperative diakonia: national/international ; The regional conference ; The national diaconate ; International diakonia ; And the Great Commission ; Appendix A -- Constitution for a diaconal conference ; Appendix B -- Profile for a diaconal consultant ; Appendix C -- Model constitution for national/international diaconal agency ; Seventh circle: positive diakonia

VI. Blueprints and projections : Blueprints for deacons ; The Good Samaritan ; The vineyard ; The Good Samaritan: another look ; Give and forgive ; Simon's surprise ; Apprenticeship Christianity ; Projections ; The church and the welfare state ; Social structures and human need: Marxism and Liberation theology ; The church and the international community ; Epilog ; Appendix I: The deacon as trustee.