Overview

The Church That Works: Democracy vs. Theocracy
by Rick DuBose & Mel Surface

The Church That Works: Democracy vs. Theocracy is a focus on how giving back His church releases followers of Jesus Christ to serve and unleashes God's power to back them. When authority rises from the people, the enabling power for ministry goes no higher than their heads. When authority flows from the Head of the Church through the offices He gave, it brings His power, all power in Heaven and earth, to bear on human needs.

The church that works wins its own children, reaches its neighbors, blesses its community, and makes God known to its generation, and the next, around the world. That church necessarily will be one in which the people, not just the clergy, do the work of the ministry. More than a body of believers, the church is a body of Christian workers.

When the people falter in ministry, the church fails in its mission. The church cannot work if the people who are called to lead are forced to follow or if those called to follow are trying to lead.

Product Details

Format: Paperback
Pages: 112
Size: 5¼ x 8¼
ISBN: 9781616583750
Publisher: DuBose-Surface
Pub. Date: January 4, 2010

Meet the Authors

Rick DuBose was elected assistant general superintendent of the Assemblies of God at the 58th General Council in August 2019. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Prior to his present position, he served as general treasurer of the Assemblies of God from 2017-19. He served as superintendent of the North Texas District from 2007-17 and assistant district superintendent from 2005-07. DuBose pastored Sachse Assembly of God in North Dallas from 1987-2005. Prior to that, he served a pastorate in Hallsville, Texas, and began his ministry as a youth minister in Mesquite, Texas.

Mel Surface shares a passion for healthy churches and the Great Commission from his background as a missionary, evangelist, church planter, pastor, and both national and district denominational staff member. A journalism graduate of the University of Houston, he has served as a newspaper and magazine reporter and editor. His work regularly appears in a variety of print and Internet publications.

Table of Contents

Introduction
  1. Whose Church Is It?
  2. What Is the Church That Works?
  3. Christ Channels His Authority Ministry Offices—Apostles
  4. Christ Channels His Authority Prophets and Evangelists
  5. Christ Channels His Authority Pastors-Teachers
  6. What about Deacons?
  7. Democracy vs. Theocracy
  8. Real Power to the People!
  9. What about Pastors Out of Control?
10. How Churches Become Deacon-Possessed
11. When Churches Are Deacon-Blessed
12. A Healthy Board Meeting
13. When Should the People Vote?
14. Becoming a Church That Works
Appendix
1. Lessons from the Sachse Experience
2. Tenure of Office
Notes