Smith paired him with John Higgins who already had a Bible study going for youth; they started a Christian commune called "The House of Miracles".

[11] At its beginning, Calvary Chapel operated as a cross-cultural missions organization that bridged the "generation gap" as it existed during the Vietnam War period.

Calvary Chapel pioneered a contemporary and less formal approach in its worship and public meetings; for example, it did outreaches on the beach, and baptisms in the Pacific Ocean.

Rather than being a teacher of systems and methods of growing large churches (elements of which frustrated him in his denominational experience), Chuck Smith taught his personal brand of leadership at pastors' conferences which included one single male leader, who held the majority of the power, with a group of elders who served primarily as figure heads to reinforce pastoral authority.

Chuck Smith is the author and co-author of several books; titles of his books include Answers for Today; Calvary Chapel Distinctives; Calvinism, Arminianism & The Word of God; Charisma vs. Charismania; Comfort for Those Who Mourn; Effective Prayer Life; Harvest; Living Water; The Claims of Christ; The Gospel According to Grace; The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel; Why Grace Changes Everything; Love: The More Excellent Way; The Final Act; and others.

[15] Smith supported his convictions again in his 1980 manuscript "Future Survival", postulating that from his "understanding of biblical prophecies… [I am] convinced that the Lord [will come] for His Church before the end of 1981."

"[16] Calvary Chapel held a New Year's Eve service in 1981 for their followers to wait for the end to occur in accordance with Smith's prediction.

[20] Smith later stated that setting dates for the end of the world was wrong and he "came close" to doing that, which journalist Gustavo Arellano described as a "wimpy non-apology" for his failed prediction.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Smith Jr. was dismissed when he raised questions about his father's theological beliefs and philosophy of ministry.

After he was buried, his funeral was held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, where more than 200 churches worldwide planned to show his tribute, live via webcast.