Imagine stepping into a space where worship is natural and uncomplicated. That is City Calvary Chapel. Here, the goal is to glorify Jesus through song and music. It is done as a response to God’s love.
City Calvary Chapel welcomes all new visitors. Sunday service includes announcements. Then, there is a time of worship. A sermon follows. It ends with prayer and fellowship.
City Calvary Chapel teaches verse by verse through books of the Bible. Nothing is skipped. The service is recorded. It can be viewed later on City Calvary Chapel’s YouTube page.
The Bible is the source for preaching at City Calvary Chapel. On Sundays, they gradually teach through complete books of the Bible. It goes chapter by chapter and verse by verse. The uncompromising Word of God and the Holy Spirit speak to everyone. They accomplish His purpose. They transform lives.
City Calvary Chapel’s Worship Ministry aims to glorify Jesus through song. Music is a response to the love and majesty of God. They sing songs both old and new. The worship style is natural and uncomplicated. They choose songs with gospel-centered lyrics.
City Calvary Kids is a Sunday school class. It is for elementary age kids. They study through the whole Bible. Kids start with their families. They worship in Sunday service. Then, they are dismissed to class. There are spaces for nursing moms. Families with toddlers can watch the service there. Kids can wiggle around in those spaces.
Weeknights at City Calvary Chapel are study-oriented. There is group discussion time. A variety of groups and focuses are offered. Some go deeper into God’s Word. Some are topical studies. On Wednesday evenings, they typically hold men’s and women’s groups separately. Childcare is not provided for evening studies.
Calvary Chapel is an international association of charismatic evangelical churches. It has origins in Pentecostalism. It maintains many radio stations around the world. It operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs.
Calvary Chapel began in 1965 in Southern California. It grew out of Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. In 2012, Pastor Chuck Smith founded the Calvary Chapel Association. It unites all of the movement’s churches around the world. According to a 2022 census, it had 1800 churches.
Chuck Smith’s “Calvary Chapel Distinctives” summarize the tenets. Calvary Chapels place great importance on expository teaching. It is a “verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book” approach. Calvary Chapels operate under a senior pastor-led system. This is known as the “Moses” model. It presents itself as a “fellowship of churches” rather than a denomination.
Affiliates of Calvary Chapel believe in the doctrines of evangelical Christianity. These include the inerrancy of the Bible and the Trinity. They stand in the “middle ground between fundamentalism and Pentecostalism”. They share a belief in the inerrancy of the Bible. They accept charismatic spiritual gifts. However, they feel that Pentecostalism values experience over the Word of God.
The pastors at City Calvary Chapel prefer expositional sermons. They often give sermons sequentially from Genesis to Revelation. They believe this allows the congregation to learn how all parts of the Bible address issues. Topical sermons emphasize certain issues more than others. City Calvary Chapels typically have a casual and laid-back atmosphere. People may wear informal clothes to church.
Calvary Chapel does not have a formalized system of church membership. Calling City Calvary Chapel one’s church means attending services regularly. It means becoming involved in fellowship with other members.
Remember, City Calvary Chapel is more than just a building. It’s a community. It’s a place to connect with God. It’s a place to find your purpose.