The Light That Is Seen :: ADVENT

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/01/24 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve goes through Isaiah 9:1-7.

The Light that is seen is the Light that invites. The Light invites you to leave the darkness. The Light invites you to see the world as it is.

The Light that invites us is the Light that gives us peace. The Light provides all you need. The Light lifts your burdens. The Light resolves your conflicts.

What kind of relationship do you have with the light? Enter the Light. Walk in the Light. He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!

Unfathomable Glory :: BEST GIFTS OF 2023

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/17/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Glory can be something achieved or something received.

God does not yield His glory to anyone.

God reveals Glory in us that He put in us.

Glorification affects all of you!

Unfathomable glory is incomparable, all encompassing, on its way and is a certainty.

Unfathomable glory was purchased by Christ on the cross. It is only available from Him, and is only applicable to His.

Transformation :: BEST GIFTS OF 2023

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/10/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Transformation is one of the best gifts of 2023.

Think about your story. Think about how you were before Christ. Think about when you had that moment. Think about the transformation that God brings. Transformation may be God’s favorite part. Transformation is His end game.

God is transforming your perspective. You seeing things differently. You begin seeing eternity differently.

God is transforming your lifestyle. He is putting deeds of the flesh to death. This process is not burdensome.

God is transforming your identity. He is giving you a new freedom. He is making you a part of a new tribe!

Look for God to transform how you see life, how you do life and how you view yourself.

Unearned Freedom :: BEST GIFTS OF 2023

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/03/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.

For Advent 2023, Pastor Steve will be speaking on a series titled Best Gifts of 2023. The first Best Gift of 2023 is Unearned Freedom.

Why is unearned freedom a best gift? God prizes freedom. Freedom allows for heart expressions. Freedom allows us to really live.

We are free from condemnation. We are free from the law of sin and death. We are free from the Law of Moses. There is freedom in the law of the Spirit who gives life.

Don’t waste your freedom. Consider the source and cost of your freedom. Consider the purpose of your freedom.

Faithful Love :: WHAT’S HIDDEN IN THE MANGER

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/25/22 by Pastor Steve Shields.

As Pastor Steve discusses Isaiah 9:1-7, he points out that the passage is a promise that light is coming.

We see God’s faithfulness to the promise in John the Baptist’s birth. We see God’s faithfulness to the promise when Jesus is presented at the temple. We see God’s faithfulness to the promise in Jesus’ ministry.

God’s faithfulness destroys every kind of darkness.

The Light of Christ overcomes spiritual darkness.

The light of Christ eliminates Evil’s darkness.

God’s faithfulness has brought you light. It points you to Jesus. It points you to salvation. It points you to transformation.

Loyal Love :: WHAT’S HIDDEN IN THE MANGER

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/18/22 by Pastor Steve Shields.

God’s love is also hidden in the manger. We see many aspects of God’s love in the manger, and Pastor Steve discusses just three of them.

God’s love is generous.

God is love, not just overflowing with love, but pouring from Him.

God’s love is loyal. His love is unfailing because He is unfailing.

Lean into God’s generous love towards you. Allow God to pour out abundant love to you. Feel His loyal love.

Slow To Anger :: WHAT’S HIDDEN IN THE MANGER?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/11/22 by Pastor Steve Shields.

God had good reason to be angry at Christmas. The people rejected Jesus. Herod, the king, committed wholesale infanticide.

God’s anger is different than we may expect.

His anger is slow to ignite, and we can see His patience. God’s anger is just. His anger is not His go to response.

God’s anger gives us peace. He doesn’t give evil a pass. He never judges prematurely. God always gives opportunity for repentance and redemption.

Grace :: WHAT’S HIDDEN IN THE MANGER?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance by Pastor Steve Shields on 12/4/22.

Grace.

Grace is there from the beginning, but we need reminded regularly of God’s grace.

Receiving God’s grace has nothing to do with what we do, and everything to do with God’s goodness.

God takes delight in what He has created, and He takes delight in giving grace.

God is never short on grace. Grace and truth are not opposites. Rather, grace is “I forgive you” and truth is “My forgiveness is your hope”.

Grace overflows to us.

What’s Hidden in the Manger? :: ADVENT

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/27/22 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Why may the Goodness of God seem hidden to us?

Because we take it for granted. We don’t see it because it is always there, right in plain sight.

Because pearls don’t sit well before swine.

Because the enemy blinds us to God’s Goodness. We can be so focused on other things – even good things- that we totally miss God’s Goodness.

The manger is filled with compassion!

Compassion is an emotional word, and stands opposed to indifference. Compassion is an action word. Compassion is a connection word. Advent demonstrates that connection like little else.

Focus your eyes on what’s hidden in the manger. Make it your aim to let God define Himself. Fill your mind with truth about God’s Goodness. His compassion that reaches out to connect with us. His grace that shows us blessing when we deserve judgement. His patience that gives us one opportunity after another to turn to him. His loyal love that keeps all His promises to us. His faithfulness that doesn’t shift or fail or give up on us.

Walking In The Light :: ADVENT

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/19/21 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Jesus is the light! He is light for everyone. He is a powerful light, but some do not recognize Him. He is a rewarding light as well as the glorious light.

Walking in the light with Christ is beautiful! It brings self awareness. Walking in the light helps us avoid danger as well as brings creativity and productivity. Light brings us life. Christ brings us eternal life.

Walking with Jesus is walking in the light. When we humble ourselves and follow Him, we expose the darkness in our life. When we read the Bible and learn His word, we can see the path ahead of us. When we interact with His people, we sharpen each other.