In the first message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel breaks down the opening line of this most famous of prayers: Our Father in Heaven. Preaching through Matthew 6, Mel makes the case that Christ gave us the Lord's Prayer not for mindless recital, but as a template for how we should pray. Understanding God as our Father brings the temptation to filter how we see God through the image of our earthly fathers. Mel poses the question, "What 'baggage' do we bring to our relationship with God. He explains why every child needs acceptance, affection, and affirmation. He shows in scripture how God the Father gives these things to Jesus Christ. Since we are children of God and co-heirs with Christ, we must foster our relationships with God so that they are both honoring and intimate.