INTRODUCTION
This document is not a traditional exposition of foundation truths. It has been designed as a unique support-resource to help both teacher and students. A key feature are the many scripture references associated with each topic. They have been selected so that the word of God will do much of the teaching as these verses are studied. The manual is structured in format so that it is easily personalized. Other churches can use the manual by simply replacing Fountain of Life’s mission statement with their own. References are kept on the work page, so that teachers can easily supplement or replace them.
The following books are referenced:
Dale Rumble, GRAFTING IN THE NATURAL BRANCHES, F.O.L. Book; 1999.
Dale Rumbles, GIVE THE LORD BACK HIS CHURCH, F.O.L. Book; 1999.
Dale Rumble, BODY, SOUL & SPIRIT, GOD'S BUILDING BLOCKS, Selah Publishing, 800-917-2665; 2003.
To you who are just discovering us, and to those who have recently made this fellowship your church home, we bid you welcome. The following words will introduce you to our vision as a fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can only fulfill our call in God as He sends men, women and children to us whose hearts are open to the same vision. For that reason we want to present the call that our Lord has placed upon us as a church.
FOUNTAIN OF LIFE began as a Bible study in the 1960’s. Our goal from the beginning has been to become a fellowship walking in the truths and practices of the early church described in Acts and other New Testament epistles.
We believe that as this present age comes to a close, whether in our generation or one to come, there will be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a visitation of God, where He will restore and prepare the body of Christ for a mighty work of evangelism in the earth. Jesus will return for a glorious bride who is holy and blameless. The desire of our hearts is to prepare for that day.
The following are truths, ministry objectives, priorities and values that jointly define our God-given vision. They are what unite us as a local expression of the body of Christ.
We believe that Jesus is not only our Savior, He is also our Lord (Rm. 10:9).
He merits our personal obedience and the full surrender of our life to Him. He is the image into which the Holy Spirit seeks to transform us. He is the most important Person and emphasis of each life and ministry in the church. He is our Savior, Lover, Shepherd, Friend and King! All that we will ever need is found in Him.
Just as Jesus is Lord of each personal life, He is also Head of our collective lives as a church; we are part of His body! We believe that God desires us to relate to Him and one another, not as a “Christian institution” but as a spiritual body. A living organism has only one head, and we believe that Jesus is Head over all things to our assembly (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23). All life functions, such as anointings, prophetic direction and ministry graces originate in Him, and as a church, we seek to be led by His Spirit.
We seek to make converts and to disciple them to maturity in Christ. (Col. 1:28). We believe that each disciple is a member of the body of Christ with a specific call and grace from God for service (1Cor. 12:12-27; 2 Tim. 1:9). Ministries and leaders in FOUNTAIN OF LIFE are responsible to help believers discover their call and to equip them. This process begins with a whole hearted willingness by each candidate to serve in menial tasks (Luke 16:10; Acts 6:2,3). Equipping addresses such things as character, faithfulness, prayer, worship, willingness to serve and ministry.
We believe that all gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit should come forth in the church. This includes apostles and prophets who are foundational ministries in the body of Christ (Eph. 2:20-22). We believe the Lord has called us as an apostolic church, to be a house of prayer for all the nations and to send foundational ministry by men, teams and literature to the wider body of Christ.
We believe in plural oversight, where a team of men who qualify as elders provide godly diversity, accountability and safety in shepherding because of the different ministry graces among them (1 Pet. 5:1-4; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; Acts 14:23; 20:17-35). Elders will be men who lead by word and example, who will not manipulate or control the sheep. Our goal for leaders is not conformity, but diversity in submission. The elders and deacons work together as a team of servants who must continually be held up in prayer by the church.
We believe that the small group environment of house churches is ideal for neighborhood evangelism, for the building of relationships, where prayer, worship and ministry gifts can be practiced and established in lives. All believers committed to FOUNTAIN OF LIFE are expected to be part of a house church, for this is where “grass roots” shepherding takes place in the assembly.
The death and resurrection of Jesus has totally defeated Satan and stripped him of all his power. This is the key of evangelism! We believe He has called FOUNTAIN OF LIFE to be an instrument of harvest in our day. We recognize that a deep work of renewal is required in our hearts for this to take place. We need God’s love, mercy and compassion to reach poor, handicapped, crippled and dysfunctional persons in society. We believe that the present visitation of God is intended to restore these qualities within us. As we deny ourselves and take up our cross with prayer, fasting and worship, we believe that the love of God and the power of His cross will bring in the harvest. It is vital that we work together with other churches in this area in humility, trust and integrity as the Lord opens doors of cooperation for evangelism.
We believe that a unique part of God’s purpose is the regathering of Jews to their homeland of Israel. In God’s own time, there will be a great ingathering of souls in Israel leading to national salvation (Rm. 11:1-26). As a church, by prayer and ministry, we support outreach to Jews, for we believe that restoration of the church is not complete without restoration of Israel. The salvation of Israel will be a great testimony of the riches of God’s mercy (Rm. 11:12,15,31). God’s ultimate goal of restoration is the “one new man” made up of Jew and Gentile believers (Eph. 2:14-16).
We believe that when we give our lives to Jesus, this includes all that we possess. To be saved means that we become stewards of all that God places in our hands. Tithes, offerings and personal service are practical expressions of our stewardship in the church family. We are committed to financial integrity in the handling of all moneys placed in our hands. Our church is like a tree of life. The roots represent tithes and offerings, the trunk corresponds to our local ministries, resources and services, while the branches with fruit represent our outreach by ministries and literature to individuals, churches and nations.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
—GOAL #1
—GOAL #2THE CREATION OF MAN
— THE THREE FOLD NATURE OF MANTHE ORIGIN AND ISSUE OF SIN
—THE REBELLION OF SATAN
—THE FALL OF MANTHE PROVISION OF GOD
—GOD’S PROMISES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
—GOD’S PROMISES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
—THE CROSS OF CHRIST
—THE WORD OF GOD
—THE NATURE OF GODTHE PROCESS OF SALVATION
—OUR FACULTIES
—THE GOSPEL
—FAITH AND GRACE
—REPENTANCE
—JUSTIFICATION
—WATER BAPTISM
—HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM
—BUILDING CHARACTER
—WORSHIP, PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING
—SUFFERING
—EVANGELISMTHE PURPOSE OF GOD
—FELLOWSHIP
—THE WAY OF THE CROSS
—THE KINGDOM OF GOD
—THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST
—THE FAMILY
—HOUSE CHURCHES
—THE LOCAL CHURCH
—MINISTRY
—SHEPHERDING AND OVERSIGHT
—GROWING UP IN CHRIST
—KINGDOM FINANCESTHE END OF THIS AGE
—THE FINAL HARVEST
—OUR INHERITANCE AND REWARDS IN CHRIST
—SPIRITUAL WARFARE
—RESTORATION
—THE LORD'S RETURN