Chapter 5: Building the Church God's Way

Building the Church through Word and Spirit

From its earliest days, Calvary Chapel has stood upon two pillars — the clear teaching of the Word of God and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. These same pillars sustain a healthy counseling ministry. The Word gives direction; the Spirit provides power.

Pastor Chuck Smith wrote, “The Spirit without the Word can lead to fanaticism; the Word without the Spirit can lead to formalism. But together they bring life.”

In the ministry of soul care, this balance is vital. The Ministering Servant must open Scripture prayerfully, trusting the Spirit to apply it personally. Truth without power becomes information; power without truth becomes confusion.

Bob Hoekstra often said, “The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the Son of God.” That pattern defines biblical counseling. Every encounter with God’s Word under the Spirit’s illumination leads the believer deeper into the life of Christ.

At the Calvary Chapel Fellowship of Biblical Counselorsd, we train leaders to maintain this dual emphasis. When the Word is faithfully taught and the Spirit freely moves, the result is transformation — hearts renewed, minds renewed, relationships restored. The church is built up not by strategy but by Scripture and Spirit working together.

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

Psalm 119:130