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Foundational Wisdom :: WISDOM

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/16/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Listen as Pastor Steve takes us through the passage in Matthew 7:24-29 concerning foundational wisdom.

To have wisdom founded in Christ you’ve got to pay attention.

You’ve got to live His words by implementing them. Be humble and admit your need for grace. Be honest in prayer. Be light and not darkness. Invest in the eternal by laying up treasures in heaven. Love others. You can’t hate and walk with God. Trust God and give Him your whole heart. Don’t dehumanize. People are not objects. Be real. Don’t be a “pretender”. Make your word your bond. Let your yes be yes. Be golden – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Don’t be vindictive instead be gracious and forgiving. Be on your guard and beware of false teachers.

You’ve got to cling to the Rock.

These directives are benchmarks of faith. This is nothing to ignore, and everything to reach for!

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Finding Wisdom :: WISDOM

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/09/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

People look for wisdom in novel places. They look to someone with a big social platform, but not everyone with a big following delivers helpful content. Many people with excellent content go unknown in the world. People look to a professional. People look to someone whose life they can see.

So where do we find real wisdom? Wisdom comes from Godly men and women. The kind of people who reflect the image of God and display the character of Christ. Wisdom comes from those interested in you in the kingdom. They don’t give it for fame, money or attention. They give it because they care. Wisdom comes from one who cares about your wellbeing. Wisdom comes from those who worship the God of Scripture.

How do you receive wisdom? Be willing to discuss what you’re doing. Don’t hide your struggles. Don’t pretend to be someone you aren’t. Be willing to hear hard words. Be ready to evaluate and implement the wisdom. Discern that this is from God. Pray, evaluate, communicate and initiate.

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Oh Great, Now What Part II

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 11/02/25 by Rev. Bernie Knefley.

Listen as Bernie continues with Part II of Oh Great, Now What.

Life happens while we’re making other plans. Not every path is God’s direction. Not every detour is God’s plan. Not every obstacle is the enemy. Not every bad idea is a bad idea. Not every good idea is a good idea.

Just because you think it doesn’t mean you should do it! Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

The road of faith is marked with failure and uncertainty. The question is how do you respond? What do you do next?

Our victory is found when we see ourselves as God sees us. Learn to practice what God says about you through His word.

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Oh Great, Now What?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/19/25 by Rev Bernie Knefley.

We are told in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that we will be afflicted. When life gets you down, what do we do?

Sometimes we panic. Sometimes we do the opposite of what we should do. Life happens while we’re making other plans.

How do you respond? What do you do next? 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.

Our intentions are good, but our follow-through often falls short. Just like Peter when he denied Jesus 3 times in Matthew 26:34-35.

Our words and actions are two different things. We need to draw closer to Christ, and put on the armor of God daily.

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Prepared to Receive Wisdom :: WISDOM

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/12/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Life puts us in places where we feel unprepared. More accurately God puts us in places where we feel unprepared. A change of job. An illness. A windfall. And we ask ourselves am I ready for what is ahead?

Beliefs that are essential for receiving God’s wisdom. Believe that God is a God of grace – hesed. Believe that you are in need. Believe that the task is weighty. The tasks God gives are difficult. The tasks God gives are greatly important. Believe that nothing is more important than serving God.

This wisdom becomes accessible at the cross. You need grace. The work is too weighty for you. You can’t do this without God. Prioritize serving God.

Be prepared to receive wisdom.

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Pay Attention :: WISDOM

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 10/05/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Paying attention helps you live wisely. Failure to pay attention can cause drift. Failure to pay attention can bring disaster. Paying attention makes it possible to receive blessing..

Focus your attention on things that advance the Kingdom. What’s going on around us. What God says in His Word.

Hold on to what you have learned. Visit it repeatedly. Unpack it thoroughly but not creatively. Live it deliberately and dependently.

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Wisdom You Can Use :: Wisdom

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/28/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Wisdom is the centerpiece in all of life. You need wisdom in the good times. You need wisdom in the bad times.

James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James is talking about a wisdom that helps us stick with God. Trusting that His plan is a good plan.

As you grow in wisdom, you trust God’s plan and as you trust God’s plan, you grow in wisdom. Trust God’s plan so that you don’t get tossed around. Trust God’s plan so that you don’t get tricked. Don’t be deceived.

Receiving wisdom requires humility. The humility to revere God – to fear God. The humility to submit to God. The humility to trust God.

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Introducing Wisdom :: The Paradoxes of Wisdom

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/21/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Wisdom is a gift that must be pursued. While wisdom comes as a gift from God, you must pursue it as though it depended upon you.

Wisdom expands your life by limiting you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Wisdom is both earthly and spiritual. Biblical wisdom protects you spiritually.

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What Are We Doing Here? – The Church and Its Mission

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 9/7/25 by Pastor Steve Shields.

What is the church? A building. A family. A gathering. A moral and cultural fixture. A body. God’s implement to shatter the gates of hell.

Why I’m committed to Alliance Missions.

Our message is the centrality of Christ. Jesus answered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Our mission is to complete the great commission. A commission is a calling to complete a task. “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20

Our method is to plant missionary churches.

Our members are a missionary movement.

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