CONSTITUTION
Article 1
CHURCH INCORPORATION AND PURPOSE
Little Red River Bible Church (hereafter referred to as LRRBC) is incorporated as an Arkansas non-profit for the purpose of legally holding property, operating, and receiving/distributing funds.
The purpose of LRRBC, as all biblical new covenant churches, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever as expressed in:
Eph 4:11-16 ESV 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
LRRBC is committed to “building itself up in love” through “the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers” as expressed in Acts 2:42
THE APOSTLES TEACHING
LRRBC is committed to this primary function of the local church, the faithful preaching and proclamation of the Word. Biblical preaching is the explanation and application of the Scriptures. The effectiveness and power of preaching is dependent upon a faithful exposition of the Biblical text, which must be preceded by earnest prayer and diligent study of God’s complete revelation, THE BIBLE. The Word changes lives; therefore, our goal is to faithfully exposit and apply the Word. The goal of expository preaching is to preach verse by verse through the books of the Bible in order to discover the intended, historical and contextual meaning of the passage, and then to bring out the timeless truths that we may apply them to our lives. This exposition, though done primarily through preaching, is also accomplished through teaching and congregational hymns.
THE FELLOWSHIP
LRRBC is committed to God’s call of his people to organize and function together in local assemblies, for the purpose of daily exhortation stirring up one another to love and good works.
BREAKING OF BREAD
LRRBC is committed to the ordinances given by our Lord Jesus to his church. Baptism to be administered after public confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and the Lord’s supper to be administered as often as possible which we take to mean on every Lord’s day.
Prayers
LRRBC is committed to humbling ourselves before the Lord in public prayer.
1 Tim. 2:8a ESV I desire then that in every place the men should pray,
This should include spontaneously spoken prayer and reading aloud from written prayers.
We are also committed to teaching and learning primarily from biblical examples or directives, but also from church history the most God honoring way of public and private prayer.
Article 2
CHURCH AUTHORITY
Acts 6:4 ESV But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The responsibilities of this office and the men who fulfill it shall be determined as set forth in Acts 6:1-6 and 1Tim. 3:8-13
Article 3
MEMBERSHIP
After publicly professing faith in the Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour, and being instructed in this constitution/statement of faith by an elder/pastor, any person may become a member of LRRBC who is willing to confirm the covenant of this local fellowship of saints.
Heb. 13:1 ESV Let brotherly love continue.
Heb. 10:24 ESV 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Preaching being the primary means of preventive discipline, the church is also commanded by Christ to practice corrective discipline.
2 Tim. 4:1-2 ESV I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The purposes of corrective discipline:
3. To protect and promote purity in the church
1 Cor. 5:6 ESV 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Tim. 5:20 ESV 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
The process of corrective discipline:
2. In the case of offence against scripture and the church, the corrective discipline will follow
Titus 1:10-16 ESV For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
The results of corrective discipline:
Col. 3:12-13 ESV 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
2. If there is impenetantance from the offending member, the exclusion process will follow
Matt. 18:17 ESV If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
1 Cor. 5:9-12 ESV 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.
2 Thess. 3:6 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Tit. 3:10-11 ESV 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more
to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Article 4
The Home
LRRBC is committed to equipping the saints for the work of ministry, and we believe that every Christians primary responsibility for ministering to the lost and the saints begins in the home. We seek to protect and encourage this responsibility by not allowing the church to usurp the Biblical charge given to heads of homes. This principle is demonstrated by God’s word to natural Israel, and this principle holds true today for the Israel of God, which is the Church that Jesus Christ purchased with his own life.
Deut. 6:4-9 ESV “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
We seek to promote family unity by encouraging, exhorting, and equipping the family to worship together at home and to worship together with the church.
We encourage the family to remain together during the exposition of scripture, prayer, breaking of bread, and fellowship because the preaching of the word has been ordained by God as the primary means for conversion and sanctification.
Article 5
EVANGELISM
LRRBC seeks to encourage, embolden, and equip its members to be evangelistic. We believe that every Christian is called to be a missionary and a light to the world. Evangelism starts in the home with family worship, and flows out of a life that is spiritually immersed in daily communion with Christ through his word.
We also, as the Lord directs, endeavor to support ministries financially and by prayer both in our nation and abroad. Having a desire to be good stewards of the financial resources God has given to us, we choose ministries to support by the means of prayer and fasting, who stand firm for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, and who function in observance of Matt. 28:19-20.
Article 1
CHURCH INCORPORATION AND PURPOSE
Little Red River Bible Church (hereafter referred to as LRRBC) is incorporated as an Arkansas non-profit for the purpose of legally holding property, operating, and receiving/distributing funds.
The purpose of LRRBC, as all biblical new covenant churches, is to glorify God and enjoy him forever as expressed in:
Eph 4:11-16 ESV 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
LRRBC is committed to “building itself up in love” through “the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers” as expressed in Acts 2:42
THE APOSTLES TEACHING
LRRBC is committed to this primary function of the local church, the faithful preaching and proclamation of the Word. Biblical preaching is the explanation and application of the Scriptures. The effectiveness and power of preaching is dependent upon a faithful exposition of the Biblical text, which must be preceded by earnest prayer and diligent study of God’s complete revelation, THE BIBLE. The Word changes lives; therefore, our goal is to faithfully exposit and apply the Word. The goal of expository preaching is to preach verse by verse through the books of the Bible in order to discover the intended, historical and contextual meaning of the passage, and then to bring out the timeless truths that we may apply them to our lives. This exposition, though done primarily through preaching, is also accomplished through teaching and congregational hymns.
THE FELLOWSHIP
LRRBC is committed to God’s call of his people to organize and function together in local assemblies, for the purpose of daily exhortation stirring up one another to love and good works.
BREAKING OF BREAD
LRRBC is committed to the ordinances given by our Lord Jesus to his church. Baptism to be administered after public confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and the Lord’s supper to be administered as often as possible which we take to mean on every Lord’s day.
Prayers
LRRBC is committed to humbling ourselves before the Lord in public prayer.
1 Tim. 2:8a ESV I desire then that in every place the men should pray,
This should include spontaneously spoken prayer and reading aloud from written prayers.
We are also committed to teaching and learning primarily from biblical examples or directives, but also from church history the most God honoring way of public and private prayer.
Article 2
CHURCH AUTHORITY
- Elder/Pastor:
Acts 6:4 ESV But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Deacon:
The responsibilities of this office and the men who fulfill it shall be determined as set forth in Acts 6:1-6 and 1Tim. 3:8-13
Article 3
MEMBERSHIP
After publicly professing faith in the Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour, and being instructed in this constitution/statement of faith by an elder/pastor, any person may become a member of LRRBC who is willing to confirm the covenant of this local fellowship of saints.
- Member responsibilities:
Heb. 13:1 ESV Let brotherly love continue.
Heb. 10:24 ESV 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
- Member discipline:
Preaching being the primary means of preventive discipline, the church is also commanded by Christ to practice corrective discipline.
2 Tim. 4:1-2 ESV I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
The purposes of corrective discipline:
- To guard the honor of God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
3. To protect and promote purity in the church
1 Cor. 5:6 ESV 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
1 Tim. 5:20 ESV 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
The process of corrective discipline:
- In the case of a personal offence against another believer, the corrective discipline will follow
2. In the case of offence against scripture and the church, the corrective discipline will follow
Titus 1:10-16 ESV For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
The results of corrective discipline:
- If there is confession and repentance from the offending member, the restoration process will follow
Col. 3:12-13 ESV 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
2. If there is impenetantance from the offending member, the exclusion process will follow
Matt. 18:17 ESV If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
1 Cor. 5:9-12 ESV 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.
2 Thess. 3:6 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Tit. 3:10-11 ESV 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more
to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Article 4
The Home
LRRBC is committed to equipping the saints for the work of ministry, and we believe that every Christians primary responsibility for ministering to the lost and the saints begins in the home. We seek to protect and encourage this responsibility by not allowing the church to usurp the Biblical charge given to heads of homes. This principle is demonstrated by God’s word to natural Israel, and this principle holds true today for the Israel of God, which is the Church that Jesus Christ purchased with his own life.
Deut. 6:4-9 ESV “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
We seek to promote family unity by encouraging, exhorting, and equipping the family to worship together at home and to worship together with the church.
We encourage the family to remain together during the exposition of scripture, prayer, breaking of bread, and fellowship because the preaching of the word has been ordained by God as the primary means for conversion and sanctification.
Article 5
EVANGELISM
LRRBC seeks to encourage, embolden, and equip its members to be evangelistic. We believe that every Christian is called to be a missionary and a light to the world. Evangelism starts in the home with family worship, and flows out of a life that is spiritually immersed in daily communion with Christ through his word.
We also, as the Lord directs, endeavor to support ministries financially and by prayer both in our nation and abroad. Having a desire to be good stewards of the financial resources God has given to us, we choose ministries to support by the means of prayer and fasting, who stand firm for the faith once for all delivered to the saints, and who function in observance of Matt. 28:19-20.