Calvary Chapel is a non-denominational evangelical Christian church movement focused on the inerrancy of the Bible and the expository teaching of God’s Word. The Calvary Chapel movement began in 1965 when Pastor Chuck Smith started pastoring a small church called Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California.
Some of the key beliefs and characteristics of Calvary Chapel churches include:
- Emphasis on the authority of the Bible: Calvary Chapel holds to a fundamentalist view of the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture.
- Verse-by-verse expository preaching: Pastors work through books of the Bible sequentially, verse by verse, to extract teachings.
- Simplicity in presentation: Services are designed to be straightforward and understandable to appeal to non-believers.
- Casual and contemporary setting: Calvary Chapel adopted contemporary music and a casual “come as you are” approach early on.
- Pentecostal practices: Belief in the continuation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as tongues and healings.
- Pre-tribulation rapture: Calvary Chapel strongly holds to the pretribulational view of the rapture.
- Dispensationalist theology: Sees God working differently in different eras which form the dispensations of Scripture.
- Non-denominational stance: Calvary Chapel has no formal denominational affiliation or hierarchy.
- Practical application: Applying the Bible to everyday life issues and experiences.
The Calvary Chapel denomination began with Chuck Smith resigning from his position as an ordained minister in the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel to take over the pastorate of the small Costa Mesa church. Under his leadership for over 30 years, Calvary Chapel grew into a large fellowship of over 1,000 members with many affiliate churches being established.
Chuck Smith became a leading figure during the “Jesus People” revival of the 1960s and 1970s, when many hippies and counterculture youth became Christians. His expository preaching attracted these young people who appreciated his simple and relevant style. Smith emphasized that church should be welcoming and understandable to unbelievers.
Musically, Calvary Chapel adopted the folk and rock music styles popular with the Jesus People movement. Praise bands led worship with electric guitars and contemporary songs. This expanded the appeal of Calvary Chapel to youth who were not attracted to traditional church music.
Doctrinally, Smith aligned Calvary Chapel with fundamentalist, Evangelical, and Pentecostal beliefs. Some of the core doctrines include:
- The inerrancy and divine inspiration of Scripture.
- The Trinity – one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The deity and sinless life of Jesus Christ.
- Christ’s atoning death on the cross and bodily resurrection.
- Salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ.
- Empowerment of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
- The second coming of Christ and rapture of the church.
Smith taught the Bible sequentially, verse by verse, through books of the Bible. He avoided overtly intellectual and philosophical approaches, focusing on simple and practical teachings believers could apply in their daily lives. His preaching style became a signature component of Calvary Chapel ministry philosophy.
By the early 1990s, over 500 Calvary Chapel affiliate churches had been established across the United States. The Calvary Chapel Association was formed to license new churches entering the Calvary Chapel fellowship. However, each church remained independent, self-governing, and self-supporting.
The growth of the Calvary Chapel model is attributed to several factors:
- Strong central leadership and vision from its founder Chuck Smith.
- Emphasis on expository preaching and teaching the entire Word of God.
- Prioritizing the simplicity and accessibility of its services.
- Contemporary worship format.
- Focus on the Holy Spirit, gifts and experiences.
- Decentralized structure allowing freedom for local pastors.
Key teachings of Calvary Chapel include:
The Authority of Scripture
Calvary Chapel regards the 66 books of the Bible as the true, inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. The Bible is considered the final authority for Christian beliefs, practices and doctrine. All preaching, teaching and guidance should come from Scripture. This fundamentalist view of the Bible is foundational to Calvary Chapel’s ministry philosophy.
Calvary Chapel pastors avoid doctrines and practices not explicitly taught in the Bible. Some common teachings Calvary Chapel rejects based on lack of scriptural support include transubstantiation, praying to Mary or saints, purgatory and infant baptism.
Smith often said, “Calvary Chapels have only one book and that’s the Bible!” All other books, commentaries and resources are useful only to the degree they remain faithful to Scripture.
Verse-by-Verse Expository Preaching
A signature mark of Calvary Chapel is the method of preaching sequentially, verse by verse, through books or sections of the Bible. This expository style avoids moralizing, allegorizing or imposing meaning. Instead, the text speaks for itself and is left to teach and admonish believers.
Rather than developing topical messages, pastors preach through entire books, unpacking the biblical text in order. This exposes the congregation to the full counsel of God rather than only their pastor’s favorite topics. It also forces pastors to address difficult or uncomfortable passages.
Verse-by-verse preaching follows the biblical admonition to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). Pastors mine each verse for key insights and practical applications. This produces in-depth teaching and equips Christians with comprehensive biblical understanding.
Simplicity of Presentation
Chuck Smith sought to make Calvary Chapel services intelligible for non-believers, including the unchurched. He avoided religious symbolism, liturgy, rituals and insider vocabulary common in institutional churches. Services emphasize simplicity and comprehensibility.
Teachings are shared in everyday language avoiding theological jargon. Worship songs also use common chords and accessible melodies. Facilities often display a simple, industrial aesthetic instead of ornate religious décor.
The goal is removing artificial barriers to the Gospel. Services remain Bible-focused but are understandable even for those without a church background. Unbelievers can come as they are to encounter Christ without awkwardness or confusion.
Casual and Contemporary Setting
Calvary Chapel was one of the earliest adopters of contemporary worship music and a casual “come as you are” approach. This contrasted sharply with the formality and liturgical traditions common in mainline Protestant churches.
Congregants wear casual clothing instead of Sunday best. Facilities also have an informal feel, often resembling warehouses or community centers. The vibe is a friendly gathering rather than a religious ritual.
Praise bands perform the latest contemporary Christian rock, folk and pop worship anthems. This music appeals to younger generations and creates an celebratory atmosphere where the Spirit can move freely.
Calvary Chapel made church feel welcoming for the hippie and counterculture youth who felt excluded from mainstream Christianity. Adopting their music and casual dress made church accessible. This innovative approach fueled the growth of the Jesus People revival.
Pentecostal Practices
Though not doctrinally Pentecostal, Calvary Chapel embraces beliefs common in charismatic churches. There is an emphasis on the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through supernatural manifestations and the exercise of spiritual gifts.
Gifts of prophecy, miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation and word of knowledge are welcomed in Calvary Chapel services. There is also an emphasis on experiencing God through the Holy Spirit with visible emotions and manifestations.
Smith taught that the gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 are still active today. He warned against excess and encouraged order and decorum in exercising gifts for edification (1 Corinthians 14:40). But the Holy Spirit remains engaged with believers today as in the early church.
Pretribulational Rapture
Calvary Chapel affirms pretribulation rapture theology. This view, popularized by John Nelson Darby in the 1800s, maintains the church will be raptured into heaven before the tribulation prophesied in Revelation transpires on earth.
Pretribulationists interpret passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 to mean Christ will remove believers from the world before he pours out judgment. After the tribulation, Christ will return visibly with his church to reign on earth.
This belief is foundational because it reinforces the “blessed hope” of Christ’s imminent return. Smith criticized posttribulationism as undermining expectancy and joyful anticipation of the rapture among believers.
Dispensationalist Theology
Calvary Chapel theology embraces the system of biblical interpretation known as dispensationalism. This maintains that God relates differently to man during changing dispensations or eras described in Scripture.
Key dispensations highlighted include Innocence, Conscience, Civil Government, Promise, Law, Grace, Millennial Kingdom. Each period brings new revelation, responsibilities and a test of obedience with consequences.
Seeing Scripture divided by dispensations allows Calvary Chapel to distinguish teachings intended only for certain eras. For example, some commands of the Mosaic Law were revoked when the dispensation changed from Law to Grace. This informs practical application of the Bible today.
Calvary Chapel pastors teach sequentially through the Bible to identify and explain the various dispensations. This provides a narrative framework for understanding God’s unfolding plan across biblical history.
Non-Denominational Stance
While formally a church association, Calvary Chapel considers itself a fellowship and movement rather than a fixed denomination. Local churches remain autonomous without top-down control.
This decentralization allows flexibility in contextualizing ministry for different communities. Pastors can be innovative and respond to local needs without adherence to restrictive policies.
Affiliate churches are bound only by shared commitment to the core Calvary Chapel teachings and ministry philosophy. Local leadership makes determinations on all other matters of doctrine, practice and governance.
This non-denominational stance helps Calvary Chapel avoid sectarian tendencies toward institutional tradition or doctrinal rigidity. Keeping the movement loosely defined facilitates continued growth and relevance.
Practical Application
Chuck Smith focused on preaching the Word in a simple, practical manner. Teachings aim to connect scriptural truths to the everyday experiences and challenges people face.
Sermons apply the Bible to real issues like relationships, work situations, finances, suffering, decision-making, temptations, family dynamics and more. Biblical principles come alive through integration with daily life.
This practical emphasis makes Bible study transformative rather than informational. Instead of mere exposition, the text is mined for personal insights believers can live out. Calvary Chapel teaches the Bible as a practical guidebook for navigating life.
The final section of most Calvary Chapel sermons highlights key takeaways and action steps. Pastors call believers to apply the Word through specific changes and obedient steps of faith.
This attention to life application makes the teachings immediately relevant. Listeners are challenged to follow the Bible authentically, not just gain scholarly information.
In summary, Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of churches united by core biblical doctrines, enthusiastic worship, verse-by-verse expository preaching, and a casual contemporary setting. It began during the “Jesus People” revival through the ministry of Chuck Smith in Southern California. While a visible movement, it maintains a non-denominational status with independent local churches. Calvary Chapel has impacted Christianity worldwide through its renewed focus on the centrality of Scripture, pneumatic worship, and uncomplicated preaching for everyday believers.