Lead pastor Josh Carstensen continues our Sermon on the Mount series.

Similar to last week's topic of generosity, Jesus calls us to pray in secret. There are many ways we might subtly use prayer or spiritual practices to seek the approval of others, but ultimately this is a poor substitute for a genuine connection with God.

Prayer starts with God and ends with us. If we can follow the model of prayer that Jesus gives us, we will have a much greater reward, found in an intimate and vulnerable place of dependence on the God who loves us deeply.

Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on March 16, 2025, at 9:30am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome

01:50 Message: Secret Prayer - Genuine Connection with God

03:23 The Temptation of Public Prayer

06:02 The Subtlety of Seeking Attention

15:35 Barriers to Genuine Prayer

20:24 The Lord's Prayer: A Practical Example

33:38 The Unseen Heart Connects With the Unseen Father