What about God’s word?
We hold the Word of God in high esteem, both in theology and practice. We believe the Bible to be the inspired and infallible Word of God. We believe the Bible we have today is an accurate account of the writings of the men who were inspired by the Spirit of God. We believe everything we need to know about God—salvation and life—are fully and accurately given to us in the Bible. Therefore we encourage every believer to have individual, daily Bible study where they can be instructed from the Word of God. As a corporate body, we study the Bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter. It is not only our goal to teach from the Bible, but to actually teach the Bible itself. Therefore our services are structured in such a way as to give ample time for the study of the Word of God, taking note of its application to our lives. We recognize that topical Bible study affords a certain benefit and we will from time to time study certain topics of the Bible. However, our commitment is to study the entire Bible, trusting that God will thoroughly teach us and help us through every issue we face in life.
What about worship?
A time of corporate praise and worship takes place at every service at Calvary Chapel Fellowship. With a contemporary and relaxed style, we are led into worship by musicians and singers. We do not emphasize style, but rather encourage all to join in the exalting of God in sincere, heart-felt worship. During this time, we encourage all believers to be sensitive to those worshipping around them and to do nothing that would take the focus off of God. In each of our services, we enjoy significant uninterrupted times of praise and worship. We believe God is worthy of worship and should therefore be exalted in the congregation. We also believe this time of worship begins the dialogue between the worshipper and God, and serves as an invaluable time of preparation for what God will say to us in the study of His Word.
What about Calvinism and Arminianism?
We are neither Five-Point Calvinists, nor are we Arminians. We adhere firmly to the biblical teaching of both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We avoid any theological systems of belief that go beyond the written Word and thereby divide the body of Christ.
What about Communion?
We believe communion is a Christian ordinance that Jesus established at the Last Supper, and is to be done by all believers until His return. We believe the elements are symbols of what Jesus Christ did for us in his sacrificial death and atonement. We do not believe the elements of communion hold any spiritual value—in and of themselves—but, instead, serve as a powerful reminder of how Jesus allowed His body to be broken and His blood spilled for our sins to be forgiven. Communion is open to all believers and we encourage everyone to join us on the first Sunday morning of each month as we share together at the Lord’s Table.
What about Water Baptism?
We believe in full water immersion for those who have put their trust and faith in the Lord. We do not believe Baptism is a prerequisite for salvation, but rather an act of obedience for those who are already saved. We believe it is through faith in Jesus Christ that the grace of God is appropriated to cleanse a person from their sin and bring them into a right relationship with God. This does not diminish, however, the importance of obedience to the instruction of Scripture that all believers should make this public profession and identification with Jesus through Baptism. We encourage all believers who have yet to be baptized to obey the Lord at our next Baptism. These are held in public places where we can testify publicly of our faith in Christ.
What about Money?
We believe all we have is from the Lord and that the Bible teaches believers to participate in the worship of God and to support the local Church with their finances. We have chosen to take a low-key approach to the issue of finances in order to avoid the overemphasis that has been placed upon money within the Church as a whole. We believe that tithing and offering is an act of worship, and that it should come from a joyful heart in response to all the Lord has done for us (II Corinthians 9:7). We encourage everyone who attends Calvary Chapel Fellowship to be led of the Lord, and obedient to the scriptures, regarding their tithes and offerings. We teach on giving when it comes up in Scripture and do not seek to make this a regular matter of discussion.