Follow along with us in our continuing series taken from Pastor Chuck Smith’s book, Why Grace Changes Everything. In this installment, he examines the futility of trying to establish our own righteousness by laws or works—the fact that we rarely live up to even our own moral standards.

After a brief night of sleep on the kitchen floor of his brother’s apartment, George Markey, Jr., leaves Ternopil, Ukraine, and drives through the Carpathian Mountains to Vajta, Hungary. His wife, Sharon, sleepless and exhausted, eagerly anticipates being reunited with other members of the Markey family—including George.

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the annual Northeast Missions Conference this coming Saturday at CC Philadelphia, PA. Missionaries serving all over the world, and even locally, will share what God is doing as they answer the call to bring Jesus to the neighborhoods and the nations. The conference is free, but registration is requested.

We have a choice, according to Pastor Chuck Smith. We can strive to make it to heaven based on our own efforts, or we can place our faith in Jesus. But the fact is, faith is our only hope, he urges. In this installment of our series from Chuck’s book, Why Grace Changes Everything, he affirms, “The gospel of grace is the best news I have ever heard.”

In the cold, dark night, Sharon Markey and her boys cross into Hungary on foot. Housing arrangements had been made by Calvary Chapel members in Hungary, and to Sharon’s delight, it was a place she was well acquainted with—the CC Conference Center in Vajta, Hungary—once home to CC Bible College Europe.

After surviving civil wars and mudslides, Sharon Faith Ries is now in the presence of her Savior, Jesus Christ, after her lengthy battle with cancer. Wife of Pastor Raul Ries of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, CA, she had no regrets as she ran her race exceptionally well. Sharon had previously shared memories with Calvary Chapel Magazine of what God had done over the past 50 years in her marriage, women's ministry, and missions.

Heading out into the chilly morning air an hour before curfew is lifted, George Markey Jr., says goodbye to the family dog, Jack, and walks to the subway station in Kyiv. With just the clothes on his back, he begins the exhausting 14-hour journey to Ternopil.

Are we able, through our good works and self-righteousness, to enjoy fellowship with God? Pastor Chuck Smith explores this question, using two practical illustrations, in this installment of our series taken from his book, Why Grace Changes Everything.

Can we ever be good enough to be acceptable before our holy God? Pastor Chuck Smith answers that question in this installment of our series taken from his book, Why Grace Changes Everything.

Loss of a beloved senior pastor

As Sharon Markey and her six boys travel towards Poland in a crowded van, a last-minute decision to escape to Hungary instead requires them to walk across the border. Rejoicing as they approach safety, Sharon’s thoughts are on her husband, George Markey, Jr., still in Kyiv.

Pray unto our Creator God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the Holy Spirit to descend upon the situation in the Holy Land. Lift up Israel for godly wisdom in its response to the unprecedented recent attack from Iran.

Pastor Chuck Smith shares how he came to a deeper understanding of God’s grace—a life-changing event in his life—in this installment of our series taken from his book, Why Grace Changes Everything.

After a terror-filled night, Sharon and her six boys flee Ternopil, moving farther from her husband, George Markey, Jr. She and George make a heartbreaking decision to leave behind a beloved family member—their dog, Jack.

Pastors and leaders at the Calvary Chapel Deep South Conference focused on loving God with all we are and on the sustaining power of God’s love.

On this Easter weekend, we share with you a message of hope from Pastor Chuck Smith challenging us to believe the words of Jesus when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

As gangs and escaped prisoners wreak havoc in the city streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, residents rove between neighborhoods seeking refuge from the street warfare. In the midst of escalating violence, scarce food, water, and medical aid, and no electricity, the Gospel message continues to be taught and preached at Cross to Light, a ministry of Calvary Chapel.

In his book Why Grace Changes Everything, Pastor Chuck Smith unfolds the mystery of grace and reveals the surprising truth: We can never grow in grace by our own efforts. Join us as we present insights from the book over the coming months, starting with the first installment here.

While George Markey, Jr., is in Kyiv, now under martial law and curfew after the Russians invade, his wife Sharon and their boys spend the night in a bomb shelter as air raid sirens ring out in Ternopil. Exhausted, Sharon reaches her breaking point.

God has given us feelings, and that’s a good thing! But when our emotions start calling the shots in our lives, it’s time to put them in their place. Learn how to crush your emotions, especially in times of suffering, in this episode of Real Life TV with Jack Hibbs.