Elementary Doctrines

“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings (baptisms), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.” Hebrews 6:1-3 (ESV)

This series is based on the teachings of Derek Prince. My original notes were recorded in the 1970’s, but have have been modified to reflect my own personal observations over the years. The teaching was used by Agape Fellowship in Kansas City for new converts and others who believed they were missing these foundational truths. There were seven lessons with the classes held over a seven week period and were held separate from regular meetings. They proved essential to our ability to mature the new believer as the Holy Spirit was adding daily to our number.

These were not the only foundational doctrines taught, but they were the first series. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to get the excited new believer “up-to-speed” as quickly as possible. Upon accepting Christ, new converts were immediately baptized, assigned a home fellowship group (usually with those who led the new convert to the Lord), and then encouraged to attend the “Foundation Series” lectures.

The home fellowship groups were the basis of our community. This is where discipleship and fellowship took place, as well as where everyone could learn to use their gifts and gifting. Our purpose was to create an environment where no one had lack or need. As a home group grew in number, it would reach a point where it would divide into two groups. The leadership for the new group would have been raised up in the original group. This was called multiplication through division.

The groups grew larger because the individual believers in the home groups were seeing and participating in the things of God. From healings and miracles, to the lonely being placed into households, to growing in the faith, excited disciples were sharing everywhere what Jesus was doing in their midst. This sharing lead many to the Lord and many away from their denominational churches.

This all lasted but ten years as problems arose in the Charismatic Movement and the leadership at Agape. In the future, I will share my perspective of what went wrong with the leadership of the Charismatic Movement and how it negatively impacted local fellowships (churches). Suffice to say, that the cause of these failures must be learned, if we are to recapture the Spirit and Truth of the Book of Acts.

Soon the Holy Spirit will be moving on the Church to bring it back to the Father’s original intent. Real leaders who understand Divine Order will rise up and take their place, but before that happens we will continue to see the counterfeit.

There is a great void in the education of believers to the basic truths the Bible teaches. At The Galilee Project we believe it is our responsibility to bring these foundational teachings back to the body of Christ. The Father’s original intent for his Son’s church has been lost or perverted over time since the apostolic fathers wrote what is now called the New Testament. Today, we do not have a church growing in unity and maturity, with a sense of community and outreach; but rather a church divided and for the most part powerless.

I know of no other way to achieve this community but through the truth shared by the Apostle Paul in Ephesian 4:11-13, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors (shepherds) and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

If one purpose of these “Five Main Ministries” is to bring individuals in the body of Christ to a place of maturity, then the foundation for that is laid out in Hebrews 6:1&2: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” It is only after these foundational teachings or doctrines are mastered that we can start the solid food that leads to maturity.

In addition to this work from a collective “Five Main Ministries” there needs to be true elders appointed to oversee the work at the local level. This is the Lord’s highest form of local government. These elders must learn how to function with the apostles that the Lord raises up in each generation, as true apostles must learn to correctly work with local churches.

May God bring each one of us to that place where we know the hope of our calling in Christ. May we each learn and then share the foundational truths of Scripture. “For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

What is coming are seven lessons, starting with the Introduction: Understanding God’s Word, then followed by the six elementary teachings from Hebrews 6:1-2:

1. Laying the foundation
2. Repentance from dead works
3. Faith towards God
4. Doctrine of baptisms
5. Laying on of hands
6. Resurrection of the dead
7. Eternal judgment

So until next time, thanks for reading.
Rick