WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD
Calvary Chapel Ocean Gateway accepts the Apostles’ Creed as an authoritative statement of our faith.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again;
He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen
WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT WORSHIP
We Believe Worship of God Should Be Spiritual.
Therefore, we remain flexible, so the Holy Spirit may direct our worship.
Our services are “done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14: 40). We provide opportunities for group prayer, fellowship, and taking Holy Communion on a regular basis. But we strive to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit during our services. This may involve additional praise, special prayer (laying on of hands/anointing), and/or prophecy.
We believe God can and does make His presence known, but does not need charismania (a hyped-up environment) for this.
We do not believe in extra-biblical practices. God is the initiator and we are the responders, so we do not attempt to “force” God to reveal Himself.
We Believe Worship of God Should Be Inspirational.
Therefore, we give a great place to music in our worship.
Psalm 95 reads: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation…‘Do not harden your hearts…’ ” Calvary Chapel follows this model. A time of worship through song precedes the Bible teaching, so that hearts are prepared to receive the Word of God in faith.
We believe praise songs are not an end in themselves. Rather, they are an opportunity to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit, in order that He may equip us for the work of ministry through the teaching of Scripture.
We Believe Worship of God Should Be Intelligent.
Therefore, we emphasize biblical teaching in our services, so God may instruct us on how HE would be worshipped.
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
We can become spiritually malnourished by seeking only emotional food, resulting in discontent and stunted growth. The remedy is the Word of God bringing life application (spiritual nourishment), as it is taught verse by verse, through the entire Bible.
We Believe Worship of God Is Fruitful.
Therefore, we look for His Love in our lives as the greatest evidence that we are truly worshipping Him.
We believe true worship is not a quest for an emotional high, but a privileged opportunity to exalt the Name of the Lord by a life lived in practical service to others.
Calvary Chapel Ocean Gateway 