Churches in Santa Cruz

Active churches in Santa Cruz

850 High St, Santa Cruz
hscchurch.org
10 sermons
2245 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz
fhus.org
1 sermon

Types of churches in Santa Cruz

Non-denominational

Modern music, practical teaching, and a relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere — popular with young adults and families who want a welcoming community without strong denominational ties.

Mainline & historic

Traditional worship with beautiful sanctuaries, choral music, and liturgical services — congregations that connect faith with history and a long-standing community presence.

Students & young adults

With the University of Colorado nearby, many churches emphasize student ministry — Bible studies, worship nights, and service opportunities built for people in their college and early-career years.

Family-friendly

Strong kids’ programs, youth groups, and safe, supportive environments — with Sunday school, childcare, and age-specific ministries throughout the city.

Sermon clips from Santa Cruz churches

80s
#ItIsFinished
“Jesus came to earth for one thing, to give his life as a ransom for sin. That was the death blow to Satan and all demonic forces of darkness. The idea that Jesus had to go kinda head to head with Satan as if Satan embodies an equal but opposite power is not only wrong, it's blasphemy. It's blasphemy. Jesus no rivals. He has no rivals. When Jesus gave his life as a ransom for sin, the shedding of his holy blood was the death blow to Satan and all demonic forces. Because through Christ's blood, sin no longer has a hold on us. Our chains are broken. The battle for our souls was fought in the Garden Of Gethsemane in prayer and finished on the cross through Christ's shed blood. This is why in his final breath, Jesus could declare it is finished. Nothing needed to happen after the cross. It is finished. He said it himself, and the resurrection is proof that Satan's reign has come to an end.”
27s
“"Love should always be your motive. It must be the foundation for everything that you do. If you go wrong with anything, but you love, you'll be all right. You'll be all right. Love. Love is the greatest manifestation of God's power. Now I don't want this to be an excuse, so I don't want you to say, oh, yeah, healing doesn't work, but, but I love people. Okay. But that's not what I mean. But love is the greatest manifestation of God's power."”
70s
#UnexpectedWitness
“I mean, who else would be a greater witness to reach them? This is just the wonderful mind and wisdom of God that the delivered would become the deliverer of good news. The chained would become a champion for Christ. By his very life, this man would display the glory, power, and mercy of God. And so God leaves behind a witness, the very person the people tried to keep shackled and chained is the one Jesus sets free to proclaim his power and mercy. Don't you just love how God chooses the most unlikely people to invite into his kingdom work? See, the world sees a crazed naked man, but God looks at him and says, that's the one. I choose him. He will be my witness. He chooses the weak. He chooses the broken. He chooses the outcast. He chooses the one everyone else had written off, a man who only moments before looked beyond hope, beyond reach, beyond redemption.”
41s
#SatanOnAShortLeash
“Now notice that when it comes time for Satan to be taken out of the way, Jesus doesn't need to bother going after Satan himself. The lord of heaven's armies doesn't need to send his army. He sends one angel. Go throw that lying serpent in the pit. It's time. A single angel with a single chain is all God needs to put Satan in his place. God has Satan on a short leash, and he will reign him in altogether precisely when he determines the time has come.”
74s
#MercyNotBlame
“``You want to know what stirs my heart the most about this story? It's not what's written in the text, it's what's missing. How did the man with this army of demons get this way? Was he to blame in some way? And how on earth did it reach the point where thousands of demons entered him? Well, scripture gives us no answer. Apparently, how he reached this point of desperation plays no part in Jesus' decision to rescue him. I love that about this story. No blame, no condemnation, mercy. Just mercy. Do you realize what this means for you and mean? It for me, it means that whatever leads us to reach our own points of desperation, whatever got us there, plays no part in God's decision to rescue us. We come to him, our past is ripe, wiped away. There's no blame, there's no condemnation, mercy.”
54s
#CreatedInHisImage
“God cares for all of his creatures, but human beings are created in the image of God. Created for an intimate, eternal relationship with God. And if our hearts are momentarily grieved that God would allow, not cause, but allow 2,000 innocent pigs to to die in order to free this one man from a living hell. How much more should our hearts break that God would allow his son, the holy one, to die in order to save us from eternal hell. The fact that we are of such worth to our creator should cause us to just fall to our knees in worship.”
42s
#OneSoulMattersToGod
“If this man were your loved one, your father, your brother, your son, you'd be begging Jesus to rescue him no matter the cost. And when he did, you would be so overcome with joy and gratitude. You would not give those pigs a second thought. For God to allow 2,000 innocent creatures to plunge to their deaths in order to save the life of one human being gives us just a glimpse into the value God places on even one human soul.”
41s
#BeStillIsACommand
“be still is not a gentle encouragement to to be quiet and calm. It is actually a command to stop and let go even in the midst of war and chaos. And the second part of the verse, to acknowledge that God is sovereign overall, no matter what turmoil is swirling all around us. Anyone here ever feel like life's swirling out of control? Maybe you're in a tough season and you feel like right now you wish you could just stop and let go. It's easier said than done, isn't it?”
60s
#HopeForTheHopeless
“It's true for me, it's true for you, and it's true for this man with the demons because let's face it, on the surface, his case looks beyond hope. A man so violent, chains can't hold him, so tormented of soul, he cuts himself, runs screaming into the night. It all seems so hopeless except for Jesus. With Jesus, there's always hope. And so, Jesus comes for him, that's why he set sail that night. He is on a rescue mission to reach this one man, to set him free from his never ending nightmare because Jesus sees what no one else can see. God is going to redeem this life in the ways that no one could have imagined because God has a plan for his life just as he does for each one of us. And nothing, no raging storm, no army of demons, nothing is going to get in his way.”
58s
#NoOneTooFar
“And the truth is, the reality is you and I are a lot like the man with the legion. Apart from Christ and covered in sin, we are helpless, we are hopeless, we are foul and defiled, a danger to ourselves and to others. But Jesus, he sees past all that. He sees the soul created in the image of God and so Jesus goes on a rescue mission and not even violent storms or armies of demons are going to get in his way. And he feels that same passion towards me and towards you. There is not a soul on earth too far gone that Jesus cannot deliver him. No matter how high the pile of sin, no matter the no matter how far we fall, no matter the stench of our failures, none of it is any match for the mercy of God. None of it.”

Why Santa Cruz churches are unique

Tradition meets innovation: The spiritual landscape in Santa Cruz reflects both heritage and progress, with long-established mainline churches standing alongside newer congregations that emphasize casual gatherings and contemporary worship.
A culture all its own: Many churches mirror the city’s culture of inclusivity and connection to the outdoors, offering spaces where people of all backgrounds can experience faith and community in an authentic, welcoming environment.

Recent sermons from Santa Cruz churches

Nearby cities: 13 churches in San Jose 5 churches in Fremont 5 churches in Burlingame 6 churches in Castro Valley 8 churches in Alameda