Calvary Chapel Old Bridge

Salt and light are both easy to overlook, until they're missing. Jesus chose these two ordinary, everyday illustrations to describe the extraordinary influence His followers are to have in the world. But what did He mean, and why did He choose them?

Over the past two weeks, we've been studying the Beatitudes in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We discovered that Jesus isn't simply giving us a list of moral virtues to imitate. He's describing the character of those who belong to His Kingdom. True Kingdom citizens are transformed from the inside out. The Christian life is not about trying harder to be a better person; it is about becoming more like our Savior as He transforms our hearts.

This Wednesday, we'll continue our series, The Upside Down Kingdom, with a new message entitled: The Heart That Influences the World (Matthew 5:13-14). Jesus now turns from describing the character of His disciples to explaining their influence in the world. What did Jesus mean when He called His followers "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world"?  

In this message, David is heartbroken by a victory that came at the cost of his son Absalom’s life. Pastor Lloyd emphasizes David’s grief as he wishes he could have died in the place of his rebellious son. Yet David could not save Absalom. His sorrow points us to another Son of David—Jesus Christ—who willingly died in the place of rebels so that they might be forgiven, redeemed, and saved.

Last week, we continued our journey through the Sermon on the Mount by studying the first four Beatitudes. We discovered that Jesus begins His greatest sermon by addressing the heart. True citizens of God's Kingdom recognize their spiritual poverty, grieve over sin, walk in humility, and hunger and thirst for righteousness. These qualities stand in stark contrast to the values of our world, reminding us that God's Kingdom is truly an upside-down Kingdom.

The Beatitudes don't simply describe how Christians should act, they describe who Christians are becoming through the transforming work of Christ. As we conclude this section of Jesus' sermon, we'll see that the character of God's people shines brightest in a world that often values the exact opposite.

This Wednesday, pastor Robert Baltodano will expound on the final four Beatitudes (Matthew 5:7–10), where Jesus reveals how a transformed heart begins to impact our relationships with others and our witness to the world.

In this message, Pastor Lloyd emphasizes the danger of pride and how it ultimately leads to destruction. Absalom’s pride consumed him and brought about his downfall, while David submitted to God and relied on Him for strength and safety. Even when God seems to be working behind the scenes, we can trust that He is sovereign and His purposes will prevail.

This Wednesday evening, Pastor Robert Baltodano continues our journey through the Sermon on the Mount as we begin exploring one of the most well-known and life-changing sections of Scripture: The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–10).

Last week, he laid the foundation by examining the historical setting of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount—looking at the crowd, the significance of the mountain, and why the King sat down to teach His disciples. With the stage now set, we're ready to begin unpacking the truths of the Beatitudes. Over the next two weeks, we'll be looking at the Beatitudes in two parts as Jesus reveals the character of those who belong to His Kingdom.

This week we'll begin with: Part 1 - The Heart That Depends on God (Matthew 5:3-6)

These opening Beatitudes remind us that the Christian life doesn't begin with what we do for God, but with recognizing our complete dependence upon Him. 

Pastor Bobby is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel of the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he began the church in 1994 as a small Bible study alongside his wife, Liz. His heart has always been to reach his community with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, and we are looking forward to what the Lord will do through his teaching.

Before we dive into the Beatitudes and the teachings of Matthew 5–7, pastor Robert will begin with an introduction that explores the world Jesus stepped into, the audience He addressed, and why His message was so revolutionary. In a culture marked by religious tradition, political tension, and spiritual confusion, Jesus announced a kingdom unlike anything the world had ever seen an Upside Down Kingdom where greatness is found in humility, strength is expressed through meekness, enemies are loved, and true righteousness begins in the heart.

More than 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to challenge our values, reshape our priorities, and call us to a radically different way of living. If you've ever wondered what it truly means to follow Christ in today's world, this study will clearly show us what it means to live as citizens of God's Kingdom in a world that often stands in opposition to it.

As David flees from his son Absalom, the unfolding crisis exposes the true character of everyone involved. Pastor Lloyd emphasizes that seasons of conflict reveal what is truly in a person's heart. While Absalom pursues power through pride and self-interest, David humbly entrusts himself to the Lord in prayer and submission. In these chapters, David's rejection by men and dependence on God point forward to Jesus Christ, who was likewise rejected yet faithfully submitted to His Father's will.

After Absalom kills his brother, he is sent away from Jerusalem. Though David is eventually persuaded to bring him home, Absalom slowly steals the hearts of the people of Israel, leading a rebellion against his own father. Pastor Lloyd contrasts these two charismatic leaders, showing that while David trusted in the Lord despite his failures, Absalom trusted in himself, revealing the danger of ambition, pride, and a heart that seeks power apart from God.