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Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching
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Sermon Summary
Chuck Smith emphasizes that life is filled with stresses and challenges, highlighting the frailty of human strength and the breaking point we all face. He contrasts our limitations with the unlimited strength of God, who is infinitely powerful and wise, capable of holding us up in our times of need. Smith encourages believers to recognize their own weaknesses and to wait upon the Lord for help, as true strength comes from surrendering to God rather than relying on our own resources. He reassures that God is always willing to provide guidance and support when we feel overwhelmed. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deep trust in God's unfathomable mystery and strength.
Isaiah 40:28
"THE PLACE OF STRENGTH" I. LIFE IS FILLED WITH STRESSES. A. Man's capacity to endure phenomenal. 1. Tests that have been conducted. 2. "We are fearfully and wonderfully made." B. There seems to be inequities here. 1. Some seem to float along with no problems . 2. Others seem to have more than their share. (30) C. There does seem to be a breaking point. 1. The day I am forced to confess "I can't" can be the greatest day of victory or calamity, depending upon what I do or where I turn. D. Man is very frail. Life hangs on a thin thread. II. THE UNLIMITED INFINITE STRENGTH OF GOD. A. How big is God? vs. 12. 1. "Measured the waters in the hollow of His hand." 2. "Meted out the heavens with a span." 3. To Him nations like a drop in a bucket, small dust in the scales. B. Isaiah's disdain for men trying to mold or carve out likenesses of God. 1. This is a perennial problem. 2. Confine God to a shape. a. Put Him in a mold or box. 3. We always end up making Him less than He is. C. The wisdom of God. (13. 1. "Who has been His counselor or directed Him." (26. 2. Look up at the stars who created them? a. He not only created, but calls them by name. b. It is estimated over a billion stars in Milky Way Galaxy, over a billion Galaxies. 1. You who have trouble remem-Sering which one is Sagittarius-Arcturus - Alpha proxim and Beltequese. (28. 3. There is no searching of His understanding. II. THE UNFATHOMABLE MYSTERY. A. God is willing to make these resources available to you. 1. When you get weary and begin to faint, He is willing to hold you up. 2. When the temptation gets heavy and you start to fail, He will deliver you. 3. When your future is confused and you don't know where to turn, He will guide you. 4. When your problems overwhelm you, He will counsel. 5. When there seems to be no way out, you are tired of fighting the tide and you begin to sink, you put the traditional last hand up as you go under, He will grab that hand. III. HOW CAN YOU EXPERIENCE GOD'S HELP AND AID? A. You must despair of your own resource and power. 1. God doesn't help those who help themselves. 2. He will often bring you to despair by allowing you to exhaust every avenue. a. Why? B. "Wait upon the Lord." 1. Hardest advise to take that I know. 2. Test of faith. 3. Satan will constantly challenge it. 4. Friends will challenge it. a. "Well what are you doing-about it?" C. My greatest place of peril. 1. When I think I can handle the situation. 2. "Watch me take care of this one God." D. My greatest place of strength. 1. When I know I am beat, to weak to try anything else, when I have given up, and just waiting now upon the Lord. (192.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching