I had the privilege last night to attend a sectional leadership banquet and listen to District Superintendent Pastor Rick Dubose. What an awesome message he delivered on “Theocracy vs. Democracy” in the church. He is just so gifted in his ability to communicate with clarity. He also has a way of speaking correction without offense. I managed to take a few notes over the night on things that grabbed my attention…

+ I killed a deer and preached in the same morning…I got the blood off my hands just in time to preach!

+ Deacon means servant…but we’ve made it mean many other things than what it was never intended to mean.

+ God gives authority to match the responsibility He’s given…

+ The “lady at the well” wasn’t saved longer than a few minutes and she brought a bunch of guys back to meet the Christ…and we still struggle getting our ministries off the ground.

+ Healthy “prophets” raise the standards of our church…

+ When we get a “true” evangelist in our church the first thing that happens is they get our church people saved.

+ We need true evangelist in the church today…not pastors that are just out of work traveling.

+ God created opposition before He created man… (Think about that…good stuff.)

+ Healthy pastors effect generations…

+ Preachers need to be preached at…

+ My dad used to tell me that the best thing he could do for us kids was keep a healthy marriage.

+ Why we have deacons?

·   -----To meet needs and daily administrations…(The first time deacons are seen in scriptures they are handling complaints…it’s the deacons job to handle complaints before they get to the pastor.)

· +  + People have given up “ministry” in exchange to have authority…and use that authority to elect for themselves a pastor to do ministry.

+ Pastors…you have authority, but not all the answers. Learn that there is wisdom in the multitude of counsel.

+ Deacons must be; Full of the Spirit, Fruits of the Spirit must be evident, Full of wisdom

+ If you don’t have a man that can qualify for a deacon position based on the those principles than leave the spot open.

+ Have enough faith to submit to authority…

+ No one is meaner than a pastor with no anointing…

Isn’t that some good stuff? I know…you should have been there. It was awesome. I am so thankful for Pastor Ricks leadership over the North Texas district.