Little Red River Bible Church Distinctives
What makes Little Red River Bible Church unique is its simplicity. We are not seeking to fulfill a thousand-and-one different concerns and objectives. We are not trying to compete with other churches that offer a wide range of age-related programs and social activities. Our goal is simple. We exist to glorify God by keeping our focus upon proclaiming and living out the truth. We seek to exalt Christ by preaching the Word, edify the saints by applying the Word, and engage the culture by sharing the Word. With a Word-centered approach to exalting God, edifying the saints, and engaging the world, Little Red River Bible Church focuses its ministry upon these following core distinctives.
Expository Preaching
The most important function of the local church is the faithful preaching and proclamation of the Word. Biblical preaching is the explanation and application of the Scriptures. The power of preaching is not found in oratory skills, clever and relevant topics, or in the charisma of the speaker, but in the precision and accuracy of the exposition of the Biblical text. 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.
Biblical Eldership
Little Red River Bible Church is submitted to a plurality of elders who are required to submit themselves to the authority of God’s Word. The church’s doctrine, purpose, standards for membership and discipline are determined by Scripture alone. Our elders rule by teaching, preaching and applying the Scriptures.
Reformed Baptist Theology
Our goal is to teach the whole counsel of God as we preach expositionally through the Bible. Although we do not want to become unbalanced by overly focusing upon one doctrine to the neglect of other truths, we firmly believe that the understanding of the absolute sovereignty of God affects every aspect of our church life: our doctrine, our preaching, our philosophy of ministry, our counseling, and our worship.
Family Friendly
Little Red River Bible Church is committed to church and family. We seek to promote and encourage, not worship, the family. We seek to be a Christ-centered church, not a family-centered church. Yet, God has designed the family, and as a church body, we seek to help protect and encourage the unity of family. 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 on Sundays.
Complementarian
Little Red River Bible Church holds to the complementarian view of men and women and their roles. We believe that both men and women were created with equal worth before God. They were both created in His image and for His glory. Though equal before God, they were created to fill different roles, and these roles complement one another. For further explanation of what we believe, see the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
Mission Minded
Little Red River Bible Church seeks to encourage, embolden, and equip its members to be mission minded. We believe that every Christian is called to be a missionary and a light to the world. Missions start at the home with family worship, and flows out of a life that is spiritually immersed in a daily communion with Christ.
Adapted from "The Church: Why Bother?" by Jeffrey D. Johnson, Pastor of Grace Bible Church, Conway, AR
What makes Little Red River Bible Church unique is its simplicity. We are not seeking to fulfill a thousand-and-one different concerns and objectives. We are not trying to compete with other churches that offer a wide range of age-related programs and social activities. Our goal is simple. We exist to glorify God by keeping our focus upon proclaiming and living out the truth. We seek to exalt Christ by preaching the Word, edify the saints by applying the Word, and engage the culture by sharing the Word. With a Word-centered approach to exalting God, edifying the saints, and engaging the world, Little Red River Bible Church focuses its ministry upon these following core distinctives.
Expository Preaching
The most important function of the local church is the faithful preaching and proclamation of the Word. Biblical preaching is the explanation and application of the Scriptures. The power of preaching is not found in oratory skills, clever and relevant topics, or in the charisma of the speaker, but in the precision and accuracy of the exposition of the Biblical text. 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.
- We believe that Spirit empowered preaching of God’s Word not only glorifies God, but also effectually changes lives.
- We believe the authority and power of the local church is found only in the Word.
- We believe that preaching should demonstrate our firm conviction upon the authority, infallibility and sufficiency of the Scripture.
- We believe that if you take away the preaching of the Word, the church ceases to exist.
Biblical Eldership
Little Red River Bible Church is submitted to a plurality of elders who are required to submit themselves to the authority of God’s Word. The church’s doctrine, purpose, standards for membership and discipline are determined by Scripture alone. Our elders rule by teaching, preaching and applying the Scriptures.
- We believe that elders are called to rule, oversee and pastor the church of God.
- We believe in a plurality of elders who have an equality of authority.
- We do not make any non-doctrinal decisions based upon a popular or democratic vote, but rather we seek to be led by the Spirit through the wisdom and counsel of our elders and the input and harmonious agreement of the congregation.
- All major logistical decisions are introduced to the congregation with the desire for collective agreement after a season of prayer and consideration.
- Minor and everyday functions of the church are often delegated to church members who are gifted in those particular areas of concern.
Reformed Baptist Theology
Our goal is to teach the whole counsel of God as we preach expositionally through the Bible. Although we do not want to become unbalanced by overly focusing upon one doctrine to the neglect of other truths, we firmly believe that the understanding of the absolute sovereignty of God affects every aspect of our church life: our doctrine, our preaching, our philosophy of ministry, our counseling, and our worship.
- We stand upon the “five solas” of the Reformation as essential doctrines of the faith: Sola scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola fide (faith alone), Sola gratia (grace alone), Solus Christus (Christ alone), and Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). It is required of church membership to affirm and have a basic understanding of these five core doctrines.
- We hold, love and teach the Doctrines of Grace: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Efficacious Atonement, Efficacious Call, and the Perseverance of the Saints. Although we do not require full ascription to these doctrines for church membership, we ask our membership not to be divisive or argumentative over these doctrines.
- We practice believer’s baptism by immersion, and ask all of our members to follow the Lord in this command.
Family Friendly
Little Red River Bible Church is committed to church and family. We seek to promote and encourage, not worship, the family. We seek to be a Christ-centered church, not a family-centered church. Yet, God has designed the family, and as a church body, we seek to help protect and encourage the unity of family. 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 on Sundays.
- We encourage the family to remain together during the worship service, and believe that church should be a major part of children’s lives.
- We seek to encourage, equip and promote fathers to carry out their responsibility to be the spiritual leader of their families, and for parents to teach, train and raise their children in the admonition of the Lord.
- We love children and believe that they are a blessing from the Lord.
- We seek to encourage and equip fathers to lead their families in family worship at home.
- We do not view children as an inconvenience, but we are thankful to God for the little “distractions” that accompany small children in our corporate worship.
Complementarian
Little Red River Bible Church holds to the complementarian view of men and women and their roles. We believe that both men and women were created with equal worth before God. They were both created in His image and for His glory. Though equal before God, they were created to fill different roles, and these roles complement one another. For further explanation of what we believe, see the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
Mission Minded
Little Red River Bible Church seeks to encourage, embolden, and equip its members to be mission minded. We believe that every Christian is called to be a missionary and a light to the world. Missions start at the home with family worship, and flows out of a life that is spiritually immersed in a daily communion with Christ.
Adapted from "The Church: Why Bother?" by Jeffrey D. Johnson, Pastor of Grace Bible Church, Conway, AR
