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January 18, 2023January 18, 2023

The Roundabout of Futility :: DANGEROUS SIDE ROADS

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/15/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.

Have you ever had feelings of futility?

The definition of futile is having no constructive effect, achieving nothing of value.

Everyone experiences futility at some point. These futile feelings are rooted in the mundane.

When we look in Ecclesiastes 1, we see Solomon’s perspective on futility. You cannot escape futility through education, pleasure, wisdom or keeping busy. Instead, you find satisfaction when you make God central in all things.

Some questions to think about. Is the Lord central to my faith? Is the Lord central to my mission? Is the Lord central to my family?

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January 9, 2023

Who Is This God We Follow?

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 1/08/23 by Rev. Brad Sickler.

We serve a God that scripture states is the absolute essence of holiness. What does that mean?

God is wholly other. He is totally different than us even though He created us in His image. He created everything out of nothing. He is completely righteous.

God is all sufficient. He doesn’t need us, but He wants us.

This holy, all sufficient God keeps His promises.

We have a sin nature, but God wants to save us. He loves us and wants us. He doesn’t need us, but He wants us.

We are not holy, and we have a holy, holy, holy God.

God made a solution for this problem when He took on flesh in the form of Jesus. The One who came, lived a perfect life, took our sins upon Himself, and was crucified on the cross. He died there because of our sin. He was buried, and rose from the dead. God made Him, who had no sin to be sin for us. So that in Christ we might be able to be holy.

God has promised He will supply our needs.

What is our response to this God that we follow? We seek to grow closer to God. Jesus opened the way to be in the presence of God.

We each need to be saved individually, but we are saved into the body of Christ. One of the ways the Lord develops holiness in us is our interaction with others.

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January 5, 2023

The Control Corridor :: DANGEROUS SIDE ROADS

Presented at Curwensville Alliance on 01/01/23 by Pastor Steve Shields.

God calls us to exercise control, but it can be tricky.

Control can become a problem depending on who is exercising the control in whose life? What is being controlled? When control is executed? Where control is taking place? Why control is happening? How control is implemented?

The engine behind control is often lust. Lust is a deep desire. Biblically, lust can be positive and negative.

Improper control (inappropriate desire) destroys relationships.

Keys for staying out of the control corridor. Know the One who is in control. Trust the One who is in control!

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December 26, 2022

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.

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December 19, 2022

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.

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December 12, 2022

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.

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December 9, 2022December 9, 2022

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.

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November 30, 2022November 30, 2022

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.