Curwensville Alliance Church Podcasts

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 6/8/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve discusses the parable concerning the shrewd manager in Luke 16. Remember that Scripture should be interpreted as the writer intended. What did the writer want his reader to understand as he penned these words?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 6/1/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Pastor Steve begins by presenting the elements in the parable. The ten virgins are the bridal party. The bridegroom is Jesus. The wedding banquet is the reception. The lamps are necessary to make the journey. The oil is the Holy Spirit. Foolishness can neglect an encounter with the holy, the sharing in the joy of others, or God-given glimpse of eternity. Signs of neglect are a casual attitude toward the gift, a dimming of the light - a cooling of the fire, or a disinterest in the return of Christ. To avoid the pitfall of neglect be sure you have the gift. Keep the end in mind always. Be alert.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 5/25/25 by Noah Smith. Listen as Noah Smith speaks of his work in the Solomon Islands with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 5/18/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. There are right and wrong ways to build a life. They differ in terms of the builder. Is the builder wise or foolish? They differ in the place. Am I building on rock or sand? They differ on the outcome. Does it stand in the storm or does it fall with a great crash? The deciding factor on the way to build your life is the builder and the foundation. How to be a good builder? It's more a matter of being than doing. It's more a matter of dying to self and becoming alive to Christ. It's more a matter of internalizing Jesus' Words than busying yourself. Keys to being wise. Be a person of Godly character. Be a person who sees your own faults. Be a person who trusts in God. These keys are found at the cross. I want to build well, God, but I don't know how. So, I come to the cross; I come to die to self. I come to the cross because I trust You completely.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 5/11/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. What does being found mean? The Gospel of Christ brings hope to those struggling for hope. Some people avoid looking at their real needs. God is looking for people who know they are spiritually hungry. The rejoicing in heaven is greater because the deep lostness of that person demonstrates the incredible value and power of God's salvation. Take a look at yourself. Do you ever struggle to find hope? Do you ever find good things crowding out the best things? Do you ever forget that God pursues you radically - seemingly recklessly?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 5/04/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve walks us through the parable of the prodigal son. What the father saw in his son. He saw the rebellion of his son. He saw the futility of pushing for control. He saw the hope of reconciliation. What the older son saw. He saw his father's pain. He saw the apparent injustice. He saw a gracious father. What the younger son saw. He saw a lot of stupid rules. He saw the chance to live without restraint. He saw the outcome of his life. He saw the mercy of his father. What do you see when you look at God the Father? A Father who gives guidance. A Father who gives forgiveness. A Father who gives love.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 4/27/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 4/20/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 4/13/25 by Micah Yarger. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 4/6/25 by Rev. Brian Smeal. 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!

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 3/30/25 by Rev. Brian Smeal. 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!

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 3/23/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 3/16/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 3/9/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 03/02/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 2/23/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. 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

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 2/16/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on Luke 13:1-9. Humans tend to think that those experiencing suffering have done evil. However, suffering is not a clear indicator of unrighteous living. Everyone needs to repent whether you are suffering or prospering. What does the parable of the fig tree say to you and me? It's dangerous to make judgements based on circumstances. Judgement is coming from the Judge. Jesus shows us the way to life. It is never through our own merit. The way of live involves repentance. The way of life is resting in Christ.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 2/9/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Over and over, people come to Christ, not because of what they will avoid, but because of what they will receive. You see it personally. To find a fuller life, to find meaning, to find help for their everyday struggles, to find peace of mind, to be right with God, to be forgiven. You observe it in the Gospels. We don't base our worldview on what we experience, but on what the word of God tells us. Jesus sees us as being capable of demonstrating His grace. He builds us up and expects us to build up others. You are the salt of the earth. Stay salty. You are the light of the world. Keep shining. Glorify your Father in heaven so people will see the truth.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 2/2/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve goes through the passage Luke 14:1-22 on the great banquet. Have you ever seen people who say "I wanna be somebody"? It's often without regard for the needs of others. It's often without regard for the fleeting nature of respect from people. It's often without regard for eternity or for eternal outcomes. How do we overcome hindrances to being somebody - in God's eyes? Examine your thinking to ensure you are trusting in Christ and Christ alone. Remember your commitment. Reaffirm your priorities. You can be somebody - you are somebody if you're trusting Christ. You have been invited to the table. Have you RSVPed? Have a heart ready for the banquet.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/26/25 by Rev. Brian Smeal. Listen as Rev. Brian Smeal speaks on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Chaos is the devil's plaything. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are meant for something more. When we use the term sanctification, we have in mind the idea of being set apart. Sanctification means being set apart in your views on sexuality. Sanctification means being set apart in your views on brotherhood. Sanctification means being set apart in your views on living.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/19/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. Pastor Steve begins by asking why consider the doctrine of hell. The typical answer is to warn people. It also gives a greater appreciation for your salvation. Most importantly Jesus spoke about hell the most. In understanding the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, we see what it is not. It is not saying that poor people go to heaven and rich people go to hell. It is not saying karma is coming. Instead, the parable is saying choose what you depend on carefully. You'll take the heart you are developing with you into eternity. Develop a heart of repentance, a heart of faith and a heart of love.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 01/12/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. The parable of The Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25-37. The question the expert in the law asks Jesus is about what to do. Jesus shows him who to be! What kind of person do I need to be? A person with a heart of humility. A person with a heart of compassion. A person with a heart of brotherly love. You become this person by coming to Jesus. You cannot gain eternal life by doing something. You find life by receiving Someone. You grow by walking with Jesus. Living a heart of humility. Living a heart of compassion. Living a heart of brotherly love.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 01/05/25 by Pastor Steve Shields. God has a timetable. Knowing that He has a timetable helps us to trust Him. Knowing that He has a timetable helps us preserve. God's timetable brings purpose. Human history pivots on the fullness of time. God's timetable should be played out in your life. You are invited to participate in God's redemptive plan. You are invited to be redeemed. You are invited to invite others. How will you connect with God's timetable? Look back over your role in God's timetable. Look ahead to your role in God's timetable.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/29/24 by Tom Ford. What comes after Christmas? 2024 has been a hard year for many. What is God's message for us at the beginning of the New Year? Christmas is not over, but just beginning. We must take the spirit of Christmas into the New Year, but how do we do that? We do that as a church. And we do that as individuals. Take the spirit of Christmas into the new year, by God dwelling among us. God dwelling in us. God dwelling through us.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/22/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. The light of Christ changes how we feel about ourselves. The light of Christ brings personal joy. The light of Christ brings personal peace. The light of Christ changes how others see us. Don't hide who God is making you. Allow God to use your life to shape the life of others. Christ makes us shine as light so we have something to give Him. When I see what God has given me, I want to give to Him . The most important gift you will ever give is a life lived in the Light for the Light.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/15/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Immanuel, God with us, demonstrates commitment. A covenant is the strongest of commitments. A covenant is not easily broken. Immanuel, God with us, defines covenant. This is not a covenant of rule keeping. This is a covenant of grace and intimacy. Immanuel, God with us, creates connection. This is a harmonious connection. Their is a powerful transformation. Truly forgiven people become truly forgiving people.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 12/08/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. You have to look for the Light. You will see Him if you are spiritually hungry. You will continue seeing him as you continually walk in Him. Your relationship with Jesus involves a continual looking not for Him but to Him. You have to receive the Light. Receiving is surrendering yourself to the transforming power of the Light. Receiving the Light is a spiritual event. You get to rejoice in the Light. You are living a new life. You are not the person you once were.

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!

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/24/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve discusses Psalm 91. Psalm 91 discusses what you need in life: a place to be, a Rescuer - a Savior, a real security, and a bigger perspective. What do you need to do? Love Him! Call out to Him. Rely on Him.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/17/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on Luke 9:57-62 on Forward Thinking Christ Followers. Forward thinking Christ followers let Christ set the GPS. They also look ahead with desire. Forward thinking Christ followers leave behind the comfortable and the familiar. They proclaim the kingdom of God. Forward thinking Christ followers journey with Christ. They never look back.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/10/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Why do we believe the Bible? We believe the Bible because of Its honesty, unity, historical reliability, endorsement by Jesus, and Its power to change lives. What does the Bible teach us? The Bible teaches us how to live well. Primarily though, the Bible teaches us the redemption of humankind. How do we receive the Bible? We use our heads. We look at the words. We receive it with thankful hearts.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/03/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. What is excellence? Excellence is a virtue that encompasses other virtues. It is a way that we glorify God. How do we pursue excellence? We think prayerfully. We observe others. We imitate. What are the benefits of the pursuit of excellence? A peace that heals relationships. A peace with any outcome. A peace resting on God's presence.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/27/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve takes us through Acts 16:16-40. Spiritual darkness is marked by greed and control. Spiritual darkness is marked by confusion and chaos. Spiritual darkness is marked by toxicity and destruction. Spiritual light is marked by transcendence, rising above. Spiritual light is marked by power. Spiritual light is marked by transformation in everything. Walking in the light changes your life. Your life is marked by compassion. Your life is marked by doing right. Your life is marked by power.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/20/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. How is your prayer life? Do you struggle to pray? Pastor Steve discusses the importance about praying about everything. Why do Christians struggle to pray? Our ignorance. Our busyness. Our arrogance. Our confusion. We can look to Jesus for our example of times to pray. Jesus prayed at spiritual milestones. He prayed at His baptism. Jesus prayed in demanding moments. People flocked to see Him. He often withdrew to take time to pray. Jesus prayed before big steps. He prayed all night before choosing the twelve disciples. Jesus prayed when teaching vital concepts. Jesus prayed for a friend's faith to last. Jesus prayed when darkness descends. He prayed in the garden prior to His arrest. Jesus prayed in great stress. He prayed while He was on the cross. Jesus prayed when He was done. He prayed during His ascension. Jesus taught us to pray! Pray with a trusting heart. Pray with an amazed heart. Pray with a kingdom outlook. Pray with a confident mindset.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/13/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. The zeitgeist is the spirit of the age which is the pattern of this world. When you find yourself asking "What is wrong with people?" or "What is wrong with this world?" you'll likely find the answer by identifying the zeitgeist that is hiding and normalizing evil. We need to be aware of the zeitgeist. The zeitgeist appears to change- but does it? The spirit of the age is driven spiritually. It is important to recognize the spirit of the age. The zeitgeist turns people away from God and away from one another. We do things together to help one another remember ourselves and to remember our context. Together we help each other remember that we are Christ's, and to remember that we are aliens in this world. We do things together to be deeply rooted in the truth, and to help us through the storms that are ahead. We do things together to do the work of the ministry as demonstrated by Jesus in Matthew 16:24. What does doing everything together look like? Take the good and the bad honestly. Push one another! Work with one another. Never do a ministry alone that you can do with a friend. Learn together. Worship together.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/06/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve continues his series on Personally Incorporating the Values of Jesus. Why is building men who love God important? Jesus did it. Our church does it. Do you do it? Why men? Their absence in the church is noticeable. Their influence is far reaching. The Bible shows in Job that it is their call. What is a man who loves God? Let's look at 2 Timothy 1:1-14 to see what a an who loves God looks like. A man of relationships. A man of faith. A man ready to serve. A man of courage. A man who seeks purity. A man who finishes well. How do we build men who love God? We pray for them. We connect them to other men who love God. We encourage them.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/29/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. The first value of Jesus that Pastor Steve will discuss in the series The Values of Jesus is bridge building. Why do we build bridges? Relationships are fundamental to Christianity. Relationships close the gap. Relationships are powerful. We have to be careful we do not burn bridges we have built. Bridges can be burned because of a bad reputation. Bridges can be burned when we are indifferent towards others. Bridges can be burned when we are arrogant. How do we build bridges like Jesus built bridges? Give of your time. Pay for the bridge work. Deliver the payload.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/22/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Pastor Steve begins a new series on The Values of Jesus. Pastor Steve will discuss seven of the values of Jesus in the next few weeks. Jesus shows us His values when everything was on the line in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus valued connection with people. The twelve did everything together. Jesus valued wise investment in people. He built men who love God. Jesus valued prayer. He prayed about everything. Jesus valued doing things right. Excellence in all things. Jesus valued Godly influence. He was the consummate bridge builder. Jesus valued the Bible. He knew that the Bible had the answers for all of life's situations. Jesus valued forward thinking. He was willing to leave behind the familiar and comfortable. Pastor Steve will discuss each of these values of Jesus through the coming weeks.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/8/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. God puts us in places that require trust. There are times when God seems to test us. Our journey may be fraught with peril. You will encounter circumstances you cannot manage. Even when it appears you're alone trust Jesus. The real reason we fear is we lack understanding of who God is. We don't see that God IS love. Our hearts are hard. We struggle to trust Jesus. How can we overcome fear? Examine your own heart. Ask yourself these questions and be honest with yourself. Do you see any hardness toward others in your heart? Do you feel so sure of your heart's opinion that you feel certain that God must feel the same? Our own hard hearts prevent us from seeing the deep love of Jesus for others and in turn, for ourselves. Look for a fresh vision of God's love. He loves you, and He can calm the raging storm inside of you. Choose to trust as you choose to love. You can move from fear to faith.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 09/01/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Partners have shared experiences. Those shared experiences are often life changing experiences. They could also be a point of reference for the future. Partners have shared values. Christians have the shared value of that which honors Christ as well as that which helps others find Christ. Partners have shared objectives. Partnerships help us grow in love. Partnerships help us grow in purity. Partnerships help us find meaning in living. Who are you partnering with?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 8/25/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve discusses how the local church is a family as seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18. In the New Testament you see the local church as a family again and again. The family bond comes down to two things - a shared love for Jesus and their proximity to one another. We also see in this passage three warnings. Beware of unproductive idleness. If you do not concern yourself with what God gives you to do, you'll likely concern yourself with things that don't concern you. Beware of disruptiveness and dissension. Beware of drift or straying from the Truth. What are the steps we can take in order to beware of these things? Look for ways to contribute. Accept the differences. Don't let them disrupt what the Spirit is doing. Stay the course.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 08/18/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. This isn't just for students going back to a school building. This message is for everyone! Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on Luke 10:25-37. There are 3 essentials we all need as we live our lives. Love, integrity and self control are seen in the story of the Good Samaritan. Loving your neighbor as yourself means choosing to love whoever God puts in your path. If you chose to love whoever God puts in front of you, how would that change your heart? Integrity is making reality conform to your words. Integrity is the opposite of hypocrisy. Integrity comes with being near Christ. Self control gives you powerful influence. Self control gives you the ability to love. To make the rugged choice to do the right thing.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 08/11/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve goes through 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 and discusses the essentials for the Christian journey. The essentials for the Christian journey are a serious commitment to the truth that transforms life, a sincere covenant that encourages your heart, a sustaining community that carries the Gospel, a spiritual concern for one another and a shared confidence that God is good.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 08/04/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve leads us through the passage in 2 Thessalonians about the return of Christ. Christ's return is yet to come; so, don't let false teachers confuse you. There will be clear indicators of the day of the Lord. The deceivers will be in high gear. There will be rebellion with the world turning away from light to all that is dark. The man of lawlessness will come. BUT, God is in control! Evil is subject to God's control. It is limited by God. Evil is overthrown by God's power. We rely on the certainty of the return of Christ. These are the reasons Christians can keep there cool. There is God. Do you have Him?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 07/21/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on how we can shine through suffering. We shine more and more as we grow in Christ. We shine more and more as we press on. We shine more and more as we prove God right. Suffering can be difficult. Suffering is unfair. God is going to make a radical adjustment. Shining is a journey. There is something about suffering and staying the course that brings a blessing that nothing else can. Suffering is a time to shine for your own benefit. We should pray for one another. Pray that we would shine in suffering.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 07/07/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Respect is a key to healthy ministry. Leaders must respect those they lead. Respect means we recognize their service. Acknowledge everyone's hard work. Recognize that spiritual leaders carry burdens that others do not understand. Hold spiritual leaders in high esteem with loving regard. Respect means to prioritize peace. Keep the main thing the main thing. Keep the good news of Christ central in all you do. Contribute to a nurturing atmosphere. Respect means to personalize application. Focus on God's goodness. Make it personal. Look for God to speak to you. Yield to God's transformative presence.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 06/30/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. God gives us tools for overcoming anxiety. God gives you knowledge. The knowledge that God is in control. The knowledge that God is faithful. God gives you an identity. You are a child of the Light. To live your new identity as a child of God, you give attention to what's important and trust God's faithfulness, love and hope. God gives you belonging. You belong to Jesus. You have everything you need if you are trusting in Christ. We will be together with Jesus.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 06/23/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. What happens to believers when they die? They follow the pattern set by Jesus. They are given special priority during the rapture, Their bodies are resurrected. They will be reunited with loved ones. They will be in the presence of Jesus. The future brings us present comfort. The destiny of the believing is the hope we long for in Christ. In Christ there is an abundance of hope. Christians grieve, but we grieve with hope.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 6/16/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and the beauty of values. The beauty of values are they are beliefs that you own. Values are beliefs that cannot be forced. Values are beliefs that can be adopted. Values are beliefs that steer our life. Some values belong to Christ followers. We value personal growth. We value the Word of God. We value being set apart. We value God's gifts. We value respectability and respectfulness. We own these values more and more. Living them out will become more and more natural. Being set apart will become warmly familiar. Cherishing God's good gifts will become non-negotiable.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 06/09/24 by Pastor Steve Shields Do you have a lot of friends? Close ones? Do you find your relationships satisfying? Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on 1 Thessalonians 2 :17-3:13 on how to live meaningful friendships.

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 06/02/24 by Pastor Steve Shields. To have a life of meaning you need to live intentionally, undauntedly, authentically, compassionately, responsibly, encouragingly and earnestly. Listen as Pastor Steve speaks on 1 Thessalonians 2 on how to live a life of meaning in the everyday.