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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 striving against God ultimately harms ourselves, as God desires a better path for our lives and loves us deeply, wanting us to be with Him eternally. He warns that resisting God invites disaster, as Christ is the only answer for our sins, and rejecting Him means rejecting our only hope. Smith highlights that fighting against God is futile, as He has rightful claims over us through creation, redemption, and preservation, reminding us of our weakness in comparison to His power.
Scriptures
Isaiah 45:9
STRIVING WITH GOD I. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO FIGHT AGAINST YOUR OWN GOOD. A. God has a better way for your life. B. God always calls to a better way. C. God loves us more than we can realize. 1. He wants us eternally with Him. 2. He gave His son so we might be. II. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO INVITE DISASTER. A. Christ only answer for our sin. 1. Sins not forgiven by Christ must be punished in hell. B. To reject Christ is to reject only hope. 1. God has made only ONE provision for our sins. a. He refuses all substitutes good as they might be. III. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO FIGHT A LOSING BATTLE. A. God has three claims on us. 1. He made us. 2. He sent His son to redeem us. 3. He has preserved us to accept His grace. a. You owe your very existence. B. Who is man to strive with God? 1. How pitifully weak we are beside Him! C. To win is to lose! Read Ezekiel 7:8,9.
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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