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Chuck Smith: A Memoir of Grace
In times of trouble, trial, pain or loss, we often can t see the value in what we re experiencing. We don t realize what God is doing, or why He has allowed us to struggle. But there comes a day when we look back over the road map of our lives and we understand, finally. We see the dots laid out along the path, and the events God permitted in order to move us to our destination. I am pleased to invite you to pull up a chair and listen as my Pastor Chuck tells the story of his life. This book is presented to you with the prayer that what you read will help you see how God s grace is at work in your own life. Everything you have experienced in the past, everything you re going through now, and everything that awaits you on the path ahead is all part of God s plan. His will for you is perfect, and He knows just how to prepare you for your life s purpose. Everything is preparation for something else.
207 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
42 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 29, 2017
Very insightful testimony! I love the central lesson about how God uses everything in our lives to prepare us for the next thing to come, and how because of this, we can always trust Him—even when we don’t fully understand our situations or circumstances.
November 3, 2023
Selective Memoir of the Events and Circumstances that Shaped a Leader
Chuck Smith: A Memoir of Grace is the work of Chuck Smith, Jr., the son of the famous founder of the Calvary Chapel movement. Calvary Chapel is a charismatic mega-church association birthed during the Jesus People Movement of the late 60s, early 70s, which emphasized Christian growth through a systematic teaching of the Bible instead of preaching, contemporary music in worship, and personal evangelism through relationship and small study groups. It is one of only a handful of church organizations that managed to keep the ethos of the Jesus People Movement moving forward (Wayman Mitchell's Christian Fellowship Ministries, the Neville's Praise Chapel Fellowship, and former Calvary Chapel leader, John Wimber's Vineyard Association are the others) yet its success as a multimedia evangelical association largely overshadowed all others.
Chuck Smith, Jr., knew his father was disinterested in writing an autobiography, yet felt his father's life lessons in ministry and Christian living would inspire and educate others. His solution was to ask his father to tell him his story while he recorded it and published it as a memoir. When his son asked him to come up with a theme for the memoir, the elder Smith replied, "God prepares His vessels." Which is exactly the focus of this hybrid memoir/biography because this selective work focuses entirely on the early life/ministry events that brought Pastor Chuck Smith to the pinnacle of the Jesus People Revival Movement as the iconic Southern California "Hippie Pastor" [Smith was no hippie himself -- he humorously describes his own first encounters with the counter-culture as the equivalent of a National Geographic foray into a jungle]. The later years of Calvary Chapel growth and development into its current status as a global ministry are referred to but left out of the telling [Smith passed away in 2013 and his son-in-law now leads the Calvary Chapel association].
As a memoir, the content of this book is somewhat self-serving, as would be expected. It is hard for a person to tell their own triumphant life story without coming across as the one who is always right or prescient about certain conflicts or challenges. But in life, Smith was a largely self-deprecating individual with the ability to laugh at himself.
Smith recounts his salvation testimony and early life in Southern California without hyperbole. He faced his first challenges with the conventional wisdom of his denomination while at Life Bible College and then in his early pastor years moving from place to place as finances, circumstances and denominational leadership whims directed him. Yet he maintains that God was using all of it to develop him as a man of God. It is in describing his final break with his denomination, Foursquare Gospel Church, that some of Chuck Smith's memories seem most self-serving, describing it as a case of a bad "fit" for his personality, when, in his own books, Chuck Smith often expressed his distaste with classical Pentecostal theology and confrontational preaching. And knowing a bit about the history of his parent denomination, Foursquare Gospel Church, and the organizational train wreck it had become by the late sixties, I sympathize with his decision. Foursquare had lost its way and was a struggling Pentecostal group by 1970. Many key church planting figures at the 1970s end of the Jesus People Movement felt the same way about the denomination. Yet this is an important part of the book because it is clear that Smith left without rancor and without taking church property and money with him. He truly lit out as an independent with a passion to restore Bible teaching to the church and embrace contemporary culture to reach it with the gospel in the least offensive way possible. And the results speak for themselves.
This book is well-written and at 207 pages, not too long or too light. I found it fascinating and read it in one day. Church history is a favorite topic of mine and I am active in ministry so the material was very relatable to me. Others may find it less interesting. For the record, I am not affiliated with Calvary Chapel nor do I happen to agree with all of Pastor Chuck Smith's methods or approach. I would also argue that moving forward into the 90's and beyond, Calvary Chapel as an organization is not what it was in the golden years of initial revival and growth. But this era is not covered by this memoir.
This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who enjoy well-written memoirs about fascinating and influential leaders and their lessons-learned, those who are in active ministry, and those with an interest in church history, the Jesus People phenomenon, revivalism, church growth, or Calvary Chapel in particular.
Chuck Smith: A Memoir of Grace is the work of Chuck Smith, Jr., the son of the famous founder of the Calvary Chapel movement. Calvary Chapel is a charismatic mega-church association birthed during the Jesus People Movement of the late 60s, early 70s, which emphasized Christian growth through a systematic teaching of the Bible instead of preaching, contemporary music in worship, and personal evangelism through relationship and small study groups. It is one of only a handful of church organizations that managed to keep the ethos of the Jesus People Movement moving forward (Wayman Mitchell's Christian Fellowship Ministries, the Neville's Praise Chapel Fellowship, and former Calvary Chapel leader, John Wimber's Vineyard Association are the others) yet its success as a multimedia evangelical association largely overshadowed all others.
Chuck Smith, Jr., knew his father was disinterested in writing an autobiography, yet felt his father's life lessons in ministry and Christian living would inspire and educate others. His solution was to ask his father to tell him his story while he recorded it and published it as a memoir. When his son asked him to come up with a theme for the memoir, the elder Smith replied, "God prepares His vessels." Which is exactly the focus of this hybrid memoir/biography because this selective work focuses entirely on the early life/ministry events that brought Pastor Chuck Smith to the pinnacle of the Jesus People Revival Movement as the iconic Southern California "Hippie Pastor" [Smith was no hippie himself -- he humorously describes his own first encounters with the counter-culture as the equivalent of a National Geographic foray into a jungle]. The later years of Calvary Chapel growth and development into its current status as a global ministry are referred to but left out of the telling [Smith passed away in 2013 and his son-in-law now leads the Calvary Chapel association].
As a memoir, the content of this book is somewhat self-serving, as would be expected. It is hard for a person to tell their own triumphant life story without coming across as the one who is always right or prescient about certain conflicts or challenges. But in life, Smith was a largely self-deprecating individual with the ability to laugh at himself.
Smith recounts his salvation testimony and early life in Southern California without hyperbole. He faced his first challenges with the conventional wisdom of his denomination while at Life Bible College and then in his early pastor years moving from place to place as finances, circumstances and denominational leadership whims directed him. Yet he maintains that God was using all of it to develop him as a man of God. It is in describing his final break with his denomination, Foursquare Gospel Church, that some of Chuck Smith's memories seem most self-serving, describing it as a case of a bad "fit" for his personality, when, in his own books, Chuck Smith often expressed his distaste with classical Pentecostal theology and confrontational preaching. And knowing a bit about the history of his parent denomination, Foursquare Gospel Church, and the organizational train wreck it had become by the late sixties, I sympathize with his decision. Foursquare had lost its way and was a struggling Pentecostal group by 1970. Many key church planting figures at the 1970s end of the Jesus People Movement felt the same way about the denomination. Yet this is an important part of the book because it is clear that Smith left without rancor and without taking church property and money with him. He truly lit out as an independent with a passion to restore Bible teaching to the church and embrace contemporary culture to reach it with the gospel in the least offensive way possible. And the results speak for themselves.
This book is well-written and at 207 pages, not too long or too light. I found it fascinating and read it in one day. Church history is a favorite topic of mine and I am active in ministry so the material was very relatable to me. Others may find it less interesting. For the record, I am not affiliated with Calvary Chapel nor do I happen to agree with all of Pastor Chuck Smith's methods or approach. I would also argue that moving forward into the 90's and beyond, Calvary Chapel as an organization is not what it was in the golden years of initial revival and growth. But this era is not covered by this memoir.
This book is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who enjoy well-written memoirs about fascinating and influential leaders and their lessons-learned, those who are in active ministry, and those with an interest in church history, the Jesus People phenomenon, revivalism, church growth, or Calvary Chapel in particular.
October 27, 2018
I love Pastor Chuck Smith!
I used to listen to Pastor Smith's teachIngs over the radio in New Mexico. I do not have his teachIngs in Utah where I now live. He was chosen by God for His purpose and Pastor's humility and his love for the people are all part of God's plan. We love you, Pastor Smith and your family who also are called by God according to His purpose. Bless y'all!
I used to listen to Pastor Smith's teachIngs over the radio in New Mexico. I do not have his teachIngs in Utah where I now live. He was chosen by God for His purpose and Pastor's humility and his love for the people are all part of God's plan. We love you, Pastor Smith and your family who also are called by God according to His purpose. Bless y'all!
January 20, 2024
I disagree with a lot of his theology and interpretations but he was a brother in Christ. This is an inspiring look into the ways God used him to share the Gospel with those around him. It was worth reading to get a glimpse into a unique time in church history and to hear how he followed God through difficut situations.
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May 10, 2023God Blesses and Uses the Humble Believer.
Chuck Smith's life-long ministry testifies that God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary work in His kingdom. If you are searching to serve God more effectively
then you should read Chuck Smith's autobiography.
Chuck Smith's life-long ministry testifies that God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary work in His kingdom. If you are searching to serve God more effectively
then you should read Chuck Smith's autobiography.
February 26, 2020
Good book and witness of God's grace
Good witness of God working in a man's life. I love how Chuck gives the glory to God. I will read this again.
Good witness of God working in a man's life. I love how Chuck gives the glory to God. I will read this again.
March 2, 2020
Excellent and encouraging
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, this book will greatly encourage you to trust Gods plan for your life.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, this book will greatly encourage you to trust Gods plan for your life.
March 21, 2023
When we get out of the way, God can do amazing things thru us. Pastor Chuck's life story vividly illustrates just that - an amazing journey yielding to the will of God.
July 12, 2023
One you won't put down.
Excellent read. If you are looking for some encouraging words, this is the book for you. It will make you sit up and think.
Excellent read. If you are looking for some encouraging words, this is the book for you. It will make you sit up and think.
May 26, 2024
I miss Chuck.
I got saved during the Jesus Freak movement and I’m old now. It’s fun to relive all the old stories.
I got saved during the Jesus Freak movement and I’m old now. It’s fun to relive all the old stories.
April 17, 2024
"Everything is preparation for something else." This one line rings over and over throughout this book, a steady refrain. Not only is it the theme of the book, it's also the theme of Pastor Chuck Smith's life. In this book, he recounts the paths the Lord has led him on and the twists and turns encountered along the way, sharing valuable lessons for walking by faith.
Only a couple of chapters are dedicated to the most well-known part of Pastor Chuck's life: the Jesus Movement. It isn't the main focus of the book, and that's okay. Pastor Chuck doesn't glory in his accomplishments and the incredible things he has experienced; instead, he praises God's providential preparation and guidance through it all.
Only a couple of chapters are dedicated to the most well-known part of Pastor Chuck's life: the Jesus Movement. It isn't the main focus of the book, and that's okay. Pastor Chuck doesn't glory in his accomplishments and the incredible things he has experienced; instead, he praises God's providential preparation and guidance through it all.
August 10, 2011
Pastor Chuck Smith has been used by God in a mighty way. This is his life story which records Pastor Chuck telling the amazing work that God has done in him, as well as through him. All in all it is a testimony of the grace of God.
Chuck’s journey began long before he began pastoring the little church called Calvary Chapel. As a teenager he heard the call of God to go into ministry.
He attended Bible college, where he met and married Kay. And then went on to pastor many different churches in California and Arizona over a 17 year period. Did you know that Pastor Chuck pastored two different churches right here in Corona, CA?
During this time of ministry God taught him the essential truths that his ministry at Calvary Chapel came to be founded upon. Chuck shares how he learned to teach the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse, how important the grace of God is, and how God provides where He guides.
Chuck then shares about the work God did at Calvary Chapel during the Jesus movement. He tells the story of watching the hippies and praying for them, and then meeting one for the first time.
Calvary Chapel has grown tremendously and touched many lives with the Gospel and the simple teaching of God’s Word. This is the story of a man who had much smaller goals, but was changed and used by God in a radical way.
-Jerry
Chuck’s journey began long before he began pastoring the little church called Calvary Chapel. As a teenager he heard the call of God to go into ministry.
He attended Bible college, where he met and married Kay. And then went on to pastor many different churches in California and Arizona over a 17 year period. Did you know that Pastor Chuck pastored two different churches right here in Corona, CA?
During this time of ministry God taught him the essential truths that his ministry at Calvary Chapel came to be founded upon. Chuck shares how he learned to teach the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse, how important the grace of God is, and how God provides where He guides.
Chuck then shares about the work God did at Calvary Chapel during the Jesus movement. He tells the story of watching the hippies and praying for them, and then meeting one for the first time.
Calvary Chapel has grown tremendously and touched many lives with the Gospel and the simple teaching of God’s Word. This is the story of a man who had much smaller goals, but was changed and used by God in a radical way.
-Jerry
July 10, 2016
How do you rate someone's life story?
I loved this book, I'm finding that I love autobiographies they are so interesting.
Chuck's is even better because it's full of what God did in his life and reads as a man astonished by what God is doing around him.
I gave it four stars because only the last two chapters deal with the Calvary Chapel period. I guess he thought people would know a lot about that already...
The theme of the book is that everything God does in your life is somehow preparation for something God is going to do in your life.
Chuck ends the book with a list of things he has learned throughout his life and in his time in ministry, a good and encouraging ending!
I loved this book, I'm finding that I love autobiographies they are so interesting.
Chuck's is even better because it's full of what God did in his life and reads as a man astonished by what God is doing around him.
I gave it four stars because only the last two chapters deal with the Calvary Chapel period. I guess he thought people would know a lot about that already...
The theme of the book is that everything God does in your life is somehow preparation for something God is going to do in your life.
Chuck ends the book with a list of things he has learned throughout his life and in his time in ministry, a good and encouraging ending!
November 16, 2010
Good Book on Chuck Smiths life and how the main Pastor of the Calvary Chapel Movement was moved by God and the Holy Spirit to build his church. Really easy read but lacks a lot of depth so it was an ok book I enjoyed it but it will remain on my shelf now.
January 31, 2013
Amazing book. Much I knew already, but the continuing story of how everything happens for a propose was much needed. Plus I understand how Chuck transitioned from preacher to teacher was facinating. Clavary Chapel was built on teaching plainly the Word of God.
June 23, 2014
Life changing book!
Life changing book!
this books put so much of my life into perspective. it's by Gods grace that I am who I am, and I will praise Him no matter what
Life changing book!
this books put so much of my life into perspective. it's by Gods grace that I am who I am, and I will praise Him no matter what
Read
July 3, 2015Excellent introduction to one of the most important men of the 4th Great Awakening. It told me things about Chuck Smith that I had not known from hearing his radio program. He tells the story of his growth into Christian maturity.
May 19, 2013
Loved it and was a part of this since age 11
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews