Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

How much do we really depend on God in our everyday lives? It's easy to say we trust Him, but what does that dependence look like when it comes to our daily needs, our struggles with sin, and our relationships with others? As we continue through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His disciples that prayer is more than bringing requests before God. It is a daily reminder of just how much we need Him.

As he continues Part 2 of “When You Pray – Our Dependence on God.” In Matthew 6:11–15, we'll discover how Jesus teaches us to depend on our heavenly Father for our daily provision, forgiveness, and protection and why trusting Him in these areas is essential to our daily walk with Christ.

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as followers of Jesus Christ. We can come before the Creator of heaven and earth, knowing that He hears us, loves us, and invites us to bring our hearts before Him. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself, Am I praying the way Jesus taught me to pray?

As we continue our series, The Upside-Down Kingdom, we're moving into one of the most familiar passages in the Bible, what is often called: the Lord's Prayer. In Matthew 6, Jesus has already warned His disciples about the dangers of religious hypocrisy, praying to be seen by others, and using empty words. Now He takes them a step further by teaching them what genuine prayer looks like.

This Wednesday, pastor Robert Baltodano will begin a two-part study titled "When You Pray," by looking at part 1, "Beginning with God The Father" in Matthew 6:9–10. We'll discover why Jesus teaches us to approach God as our Father, what it means to honor His name, and why His kingdom and His will should take priority in our prayers. 

As we continue our Wednesday night series, The Upside-Down Kingdom, we've been walking through the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus challenges us to live differently from the world around us. In Matthew 5, Jesus showed us that true righteousness goes beyond outward behavior. It's not simply about following rules or doing the right things, but about having a heart that reflects the character of our heavenly Father. We concluded chapter 5, with one of His most challenging teachings: loving our enemies and showing kindness even to those who mistreat us.

Now, as we move into Matthew 6, Jesus takes us even deeper, addressing something that every believer needs to examine: our motives. Pastor Robert will look at Matthew 6:1–8 in a message titled "Living for an Audience of One." Jesus begins by addressing three important areas of spiritual life: giving, prayer, and the desire for recognition. We can appear spiritual on the outside while quietly seeking the approval and applause of others.

Pastor Robert Baltodano will continue our journey through Matthew 5, as we come to Jesus’ challenging and powerful words in Matthew 5:43–48. Jesus calls us to something radically different: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” What does it look like to love those who don’t love us? Why does Jesus call us to this kind of radical love? And how does loving our enemies reflect the heart of our Father in heaven?

Come ready to hear God’s Word and allow Jesus to challenge us to love in a way that reflects His heart towards those who don't love us. 

As David’s life and reign draw toward a close, 2 Samuel 23 reflects on the legacy of a man who sought to follow God. Through David’s final words and the account of his mighty men, we see the importance of faithful leadership, courage, and devotion to the Lord. David’s influence extended beyond his own accomplishments to the people who stood beside him and carried forward a legacy of faithfulness. This message reminds us to live a life surrendered to God. Though David was a great man of God, he was not a perfect ruler and committed sin, but his kingship ultimately points to the perfect, righteous King who is to come—Jesus Christ.