Teaching from Curwensville Alliance (Pastor Steve Shields)
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Listen as Pastor Steve goes through the parable found in Luke 14:28-33.
This message is for the disciples. All of Jesus followers are disciples. We are all disciples of someone or something.
Jesus wants us to do three things. Consider “Do I want to be a disciple.” Consider what it means to be a disciple. Consider again “Do I want to be a disciple.”
What does being a disciple mean? It means having a radical set of priorities. It means setting aside less than honorable desires (sin). It means embracing the cost of discipleship. It means surrendering to the King.
There is a beauty in discipleship. It is sad that humankind is marked by sin. It is sad that people refuse Jesus’ invitation. But there is a beauty in seeing the Spirit work in lives, turning our hearts to Christ and finding salvation.
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The resurrection affirms God’s promises. The promise of forgiveness. The promise of eternal life. The promise of the Holy Spirit. The promise of final victory, and His return.
You can trust the promises of God. About your sin and shame. About your destiny. That you are never alone. That your home is in Christ.
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Listen as Micah speaks on the meaning of Palm Sunday as well as the role he took on in January as Executive Director of Mahaffey Camp.
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Listen as Rev. Brian Smeal speaks on Psalm 98:1-7.
There are songs of celebration, songs of victory, songs of wonder.
Praise God for the things He has done. Praise admires the individual behind the accomplishment.
Worship God for the things He is doing. Worship is the connection of the human heart to the person of God. Worship is the response of the soul to the attributes and activities of a holy God. Worship is an experience, not an expression.
Exalt God for the things He is going to do!
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Listen as Rev. Smeal walks through Psalm 91:1-7.
Don’t live your live in the wrong shadow. The shadow of who you were. The shadow of what you did. The shadow of where you’ve come from.
Instead, live in the shadow of the Almighty. It is a place of safety. The shadow of the Almighty is a place of deliverance. The shadow of the Almighty is a place of rest. The shadow of the Almighty is a place of peace. The shadow of the Almighty is a place of victory!
Jesus can change the script of your life!
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The kingdom contains contaminants. Weeds are growing in the wheat. Birds are inhabiting a growing spice plant. There is yeast in the baking flour. There are carp in the net with walleye.
The kingdom will never be perfect until the harvest.
God allows things to happen in the kingdom for His own reasons.
Maybe God allows what he allows because He patiently loves people.
The good, the bad and the ugly. Some things are best left in God’s hands. These parables don’t say we should ignore someone who is struggling with sin. But they do show us that zealously purging the kingdom of weeds is not our job.
Guarding your heart is your full time job. When you demand that the kingdom look like something God doesn’t demand it look like, you suffer. And you fail to grow because you feel like you are doing a lot of work fixing other people. Real spiritual growth is fixing yourself – taking your own sin and brokenness to God. So guard your heart against thinking that contamination elimination is your job.
Live in such a way as to show the good – the goodness of God.
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Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on the parable of the wineskins found in Luke 5:33-39.
The Gospel is an irresistible force, but it doesn’t always behave like an irresistible force. Jesus is a gentleman. He knocks. We need to receive what He has and who He is.
People like to think they are immovable, but you’re not. Behaving like we’re immovable is dangerous. Even believers can fake immovability.
The Gospel invites you to join the unstoppable. It does this by changing you. Open your eyes to Christ, and open your eyes to your place. You have a purpose.
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Listen as Pastor Steve takes us through the Parable in Luke 7 about the two debtors.
Let’s set the scene for the lesson. Jesus is a guest of a religious professional. It is all a set up, put into place to trap Jesus. A woman with a bad reputation arrives. She heard Jesus teach on grace at some point, and she has a heart of gratitude for that grace. However, the self righteous Pharisee just doesn’t get it.
What can we learn from this lesson from Jesus? A need is a need regardless of the size. The amount is irrelevant since both are unable to pay.
How can we develop a thankful heart? Find the effective way to deal with your guilt. Take your heart to the cross. Give your heart into Christ’s hands. Find ways to honor Christ for what He has done for you. The love you act out doesn’t cause you to be forgiven. Rather, it is evidence that you’ve been forgiven. Cling to the forgiveness you have received.
Forgiveness is not a matter of what you feel. It is a matter of who you trust.
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Pastor Steve presents the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.
There are several hinderances to using our talents. Our perceived lack of talents. The idea that you are inadequate is simply inaccurate. You were given the talent you were given because it is exactly what you can use. The fear of failure is also a hinderance to using our talents. God knows what you can and cannot do. He gives you the resources you need.
The two take home lessons are you can do significant things with what God has given you. Also, there is a lot on the line: great regret vs great joy.
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Listen as Pastor Steve goes through the passage on Luke 11:1-13.
Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance. Prayer is laying hold of God’s highest willingness. – paraphrased from RC Trench
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