Author: webadmin

Posted on

Genuine Spirituality

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/01/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

What is the attraction to alternative spirituality? It seems “special” and “intriguing”. There is an alleged connection with the dead. Accountability is totally optional. There is a feeling of control.

Alternative spirituality is dangerous. It insults God. It lacks grace. It invites demons.

Genuine spirituality is knowing Christ (Philippians 3:10-11). It is being inhabited by the Spirit of Christ (Colossians 1:24-29). You don’t need a “spirit-guide” or a “familiar”. If you are trusting in Christ, if you belong to Christ, you have the Spirit of Christ living in you. Genuine Spirituality is life transforming (Romans 8:29). Genuine Spirituality is driven by grace.

Choosing Christ has requirements. You need to be willing to see yourself clearly. When you’re ready to admit that you are lost and in need, when you see yourself clearly, ask God for help, for forgiveness. Ask for Christ’s forgiveness and for His Spirit to empower you to be a different person. Walk the path of Christ in His grace.

Genuine Spirituality is seeing yourself clearly. Admitting you inability to do good. Turning from you selfishness. Trusting Christ’s death to pay for you. Asking for forgiveness. Walking with God daily.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Strange Reflection :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/25/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Why do we miss the obvious? We use dull tools, comfy tools, “safe” tools and dead tools.

We deal with the strange reflection by respecting the Word of God. Pay close attention to what God says. That does not mean casual study. Don’t think you are smarter than the Bible. Study the Bible regularly.

We need to look for counsel and correction from the Word of God. Allow the Bible to open you up for correction. Respond to what the Word of God shows you.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Encountering Mercy :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/18/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Who deserves mercy? Mercy, by its very nature, cannot be deserved. No one could ever earn the forgiveness that mercy offers. You and I should be seekers of mercy. You and I should also become agents of mercy.

Mercy is a transaction. It is an exchange. Before the transaction, you carried guilt and Jesus carried righteousness. At the transaction, Jesus takes your guilt and gives you His righteousness. Mercy is available because of God’s greatness. The Party that offers mercy is the greater. The party that receives mercy is the lesser. The transaction of mercy is essential. Ephesians 2:4.

Blessings of mercy are multiplied. It blesses the forgiven. It blesses the merciful. It blesses the community.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Receiving Rest :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/11/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

How are you? Are you feeling overwhelmed?

It seems like the standard solution for overdoing is overdoing a little more.

God designed you to need a Sabbath – to benefit from taking one – and He gives you the Lord’s day, His day, to meet that need.

There is a tension regarding this rest. God introduces us to rest at creation. God models rest. He gives us a rhythm by which we can walk and find rest. God mandates rest because it is vital to our physical, mental and spiritual health. But we resist rest. Rest comes when we walk in God’s established rhythm of life. Rest disappears when we march to the beat of a different drummer.

The kind of rest God provides is a rest that says, “It is finished.” In creation on days 1-6 God said “it is good” and day 7 God said “it is done”. The kind of rest God provides is a rest that comes with faith. It doesn’t just come “by faith” it comes with the faith that saved you – so, hold onto that faith.

Hold to the One who holds onto you. Be intentional about trusting God. Listen for God to speak to you. Receive the rest that sends you out rested.

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27 (NLT)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

On Mission Together

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/27/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve goes through Ephesians 4:1-6 .

Every believer shares in a calling. This call puts us on mission together. The call is connected to what God is doing in the church and in the world. Unity flourishes when our calling is God-centered. God makes “the call” on your call because He’s God. The call is about what God is doing and how you can cooperate with that.

So, the question isn’t just “What am I called to do?”. The questions is “How does my call participate in what God is already doing?”

We are most unified when we are focused on God – focusing upward and outward. In the Kingdom, not everyone does the same thing. But everyone participates in the same mission.

Four ways we live out our calling. Believe you have a calling. Make a difference inside and outside of the church. Ask for the immeasurably more that God wants to do. Ask God to help each of us to see and support one another in our callings.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

We Walk With One Another :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/20/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Do you see other Christians as family? We walk together and we share our lives.

Being a community of believers means a place where you know and are known by people you’ve come to trust. It means a place to love and be loved by people. It is a place to serve others and to be served.

Community comes through unity and creates unity.

Value your Christian community. Choose to belong to God. Choose to belong to one another. Let belonging move you toward sacrifice. Prioritize knowing some people and being known by some people.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Jesus Walks With Us :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/13/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve goes through the 23rd Pslam.

For God’s presence to be meaningful, you need to know what kind of God He is. One’s behavior is an overflow of one’s nature. God’s nature guarantees the character and consistency of His behavior.

The God who walks with us. God is the source of goodness. He does the right thing. God possess infinite knowledge. God has unlimited power. God is all wise.

Awareness of God’s character is indispensable to our journey. The more we know of God the more we worship, the more we enjoy life, and the better we sleep.

You’re not alone!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Jesus Blesses Us on the Way :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/6/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

In Matthew 16:19-27 Jesus says some hard words regarding the kingdom. He speaks of willingly surrendering to Him. Willingly surrendering to Christ gives access to the kingdom. It brings us life. It makes a soul alive. The goodness of what Jesus is saying is the kingdom is worth everything, and He is giving you access to it.

When I deny myself, what does that bring about? The obvious answer is Heaven.

But what about on the journey? Spiritual blessings that are more valuable than any others is brought about by denying oneself.

Christ gives us the most essential blessings – the spiritual ones. The promise of good news (Luke 4:18). Release from what imprisons you (4:18). The ability to see clearly (4:18). The power to choose good (4:18). The confidence of God’s favor.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

The Bumper Cars :: THIS JOURNEY WE CALL OUR FAITH

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 8/30/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve speaks about Ephesians 2:1-9 and Galatians 3:1-4.

We see the more modern bumper cars that throw us off the journey. The need for self discovery. Elevating empathy above honesty. Seeing cynicism as wisdom.

When you get hit by a bumper car, go to the cross. At the cross, surrender your pride. Realign your GPS to walk with Jesus.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Posted on

Back To School – 2026

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 8/23/26 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve discussing holding onto what you have learned.

How do we hold onto what we have learned? Be a person who is teachable but not gullible. Be a person who is confident but not arrogant. Be a person who is respectful but not unquestioning. Be a person of curiosity with a heart of discernment.

Whether we are headed back to school or not, we can all learn to have the right kind of spirit.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS