Our Goal Is To Be The Church Described In The New Testament
We believe that when the seed, the Word of God (Luke 8:11), is sown in the hearts of honest individuals who then obey that Word, it will produce Christians – nothing more and nothing less. This is what happened in the first century, and this is what we strive for today.
Our Only Head is Christ
We answer to Christ our Lord. He is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18). There is no human head or group of men who legislate for this church.
We Are Autonomous
This means that we are self-sustaining and independent. The elders of the Rice Road church oversee the affairs of this congregation and no other church or organization. We are not a part of any denomination.
The Bible Is Our Only Guide
The Bible alone governs our faith and conduct. The Bible is inspired (literally, “breathed out by God”) and infallible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13). What the Bible directs on any given subject is the final word for us. It is what we preach from the pulpit; it is what we teach in our Bible classes. We believe and accept all of it as truly God’s Word.
Unity Is Our Desire and Plea
We believe unity is commanded by God and possible (Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:1-10). Religious division is condemned and an indication that God’s pattern and will is not being obeyed (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). We believe division can be repaired by returning to the revealed truth of God’s Word (John 17:17, 20-21). The Bible requires that we only speak and act where God has spoken (1 Peter 4:11).
