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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 explores the profound question 'Who am I?' as posed by Moses after forty years of shepherding in the desert. He emphasizes that Moses' initial confidence, stemming from his royal upbringing, was transformed into humility and self-doubt, leading him to realize that it is not about who he is, but about who God is and His sufficiency. Smith highlights that God's call comes with His presence and empowerment, regardless of our perceived inadequacies. The sermon illustrates that true revelation from God often exposes our imperfections, yet it is through these humble vessels that God accomplishes His great work.
Exodus 3:1
"WHO AM I" Intro: God's watchful care over His people, "I have seen, etc." I. WHEN DID HE ASK THE QUESTION. A. After forty years of herding sheet In the desert regions of Median. B. Forty years earlier he would not have asked the question, "Who am I?" 1. He was the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 2. He was trained for the throne. 3. He was conscious of God's call on his life. a. He figured God had placed him in this unique position for this reason. b. He thought all the Israelites would know this also. c. When forty years earlier he was asked "who are you made you to be ruler over us?" He was shocked, Acts 7. C. After God had called him again to lead the people out of bondage. 1. He had started to do this forty years ago without success. a. He did not succeed in burying on Egyptian. b. God was wanting to bury the whole army. 2. Moses' call was right, his timing was off. a. He was forty years too soon. b. God not only calls to a task, but will tell when. 3. Moses sought in the energy of the flesh to fulfill a purpose of God. a. Sought with carnal weapons to fight a spiritual battle. b. God does not call us to a task and then say "have at it," but he also seeks to equip us for the task. D. His question revealed that the second phase of his preparation was completed. 1. He had spent his first forty years in the schools of Egypt training to be something. 2. His next forty years where to be spent in the isolation of the desert learning he was nothing, "who am I?" 3. His next forty years were to be spent in learning how God could take nothing and make of it the greatest human leader in history. II. THE ANSWER OF THE QUESTION REALLY DOESN'T MATTER. A. We all have a personal estimation of ourselves. 1. Sometimes they are exhalted. 2. Sometimes very low self-estimate. a. Tried & failed so often. B. Who I am doesn't count, it is who God is that matters. 1. God said "certainly I will be with you." 2. It is not a matter of - my strength. my qualifications. my wisdom. my abilities. 3. God was just seeking an instrument through which He might do His work. C. God is sufficient for any task He has called you to perform. III. THE QUESTION FOLLOWED THE REVELATION OF GOD - WHAT HE WAS DOING. A. I am the God of thy Father... I have surely seen... I. have heard their cry... I know their sorrow.... I. am have come down to deliver. 1. God's true revelation always reveals our moral imperfections. Isa. a. "I am a man of unclean lips." Dan. b. "My comeliness was turned onto corruption." Job. c. "Behold I am of small account." Peter d. "I am a sinful man." Paul e. "The chiefest of sinners." These are the men through whom God worked to magnify His grace.
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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