Seneca Community Church Messages

When have you felt strong pressure to compromise? The church at Thyatira was under extreme pressure to compromise when a teacher came up with a work-around. Some gave it try and it seem to be working, but then Jesus inconveniently sent a letter which short-circuited the work-around. Jesus' inconvenience continues today when He calls us out on our inadequate answers for compromise especially now when that pressure seems to grow each and every day. How can we hold onto intolerance when Jesus calls us to accept people where they are at without approving what they do? Join us for this very relevant letter to the church, our church, for the year 2022

None of us like the idea of being judged, especially by someone who we don't think knows us. On the hand, all of us, I hope, would welcome some grace and truth-filled advice, especially if it would keep us from making a huge mistake. That is exactly what Jesus in doing for these seven churches - just a local group of Christ followers trying to live out their faith in community - and in each letter there are significant takeaways for us as Christ followers even thought the letters were written close to 2,000 years ago.

7/03/2022 - Seven - Part 3: The Suffering Church by Dave Spencer

Have you ever watched the TV series, Undercover Boss? If you haven't, it is all about a boss (CEO) pretending to be a regular employee to see what really is going on, which can be really entertaining. There is usually an off-the-rails employee in some supervisory role that gets in trouble and another employee who is exemplary who is rewarded. What do you think would happen if Jesus played undercover boss in our church? How about our personal lives? That might not be so entertaining. Or maybe it would be more satisfying if there was a commendation rather than condemnation.

Join us for the first part of our series on the letters to the seven churches as we discuss the purpose of the Book of Revelation and what we can take away from prophecy.

In the first installment of our new series, we will look at how "buts" (excuses) in our lives stop us from serving. In the book of Acts, Barnabas was a great example of serving, by giving of his money and his time. In today's society, where none of us feel time-rich, how can we look past our excuses (get off our "buts") and make a difference?

6/05/2022 - I Want to Say Yes, But... - Part 3: I'm Focused on What My Life Needs by Dave Spencer

5/29/2022 - I Want to Say Yes, But... - Part 2: I Don't Know What to Do by Dave Spencer

In the first installment of our new series, we will look at how "buts" (excuses) in our lives stop us from serving. In the book of Acts, Barnabas was a great example of serving, by giving of his money and his time. In today's society, where none of us feel time-rich, how can we look past our excuses (get off our "buts") and make a difference?

Have you ever had someone say to you, “I would believe in God, but there is too much suffering?” Have you ever struggled with that question yourself? What do you think the answer is? Join us this Sunday as we will wrestle with the possible answers. Hopefully, we will leave with a little more understanding so we are more equipped to respond to the suffering in our world and the suffering in our lives.

This week we will continue our series, "I Want to Believe, But..." with our third installment, "Not Feeling It!" We'll wrestle with what it means to feel God's presence and what we do when everyone around us seems to be sensing it except us.

5/01/2022 - I Want to Believe, But... - Part 2: The Rules by Dave Spencer

We are so used to life on demand. When was the last time you binged-watched a TV series? No commercials, it was there exactly when you wanted, no cliff hangers. Sometimes we expect God to be like that... Looking at it another way, some of us may remember I Dream of Jeanie or Aladdin (if you are younger). Either memory makes us think of wishes on demand. Do we ever expect God to be that way? When God doesn't answer one of our prayers, we may wonder why God isn't a Genie. We can be completely disillusioned when we wonder why God allows suffering, or are confused about feeling His presence. God may not meet all our expectations, but that could be good news! Find out why in our new series: I Want to Believe, But....

Sometimes what seems like the end is actually the beginning. The first Easter found the disciples of Jesus discouraged, defeated, and convinced it was over. It seemed like an empty dream. If you’ve ever found yourself in that place, you need the message of Easter. When it feels like things are over, and even dead, they might be just beginning. Join us as we ask “What If?” and discover the power behind that simple question.

Sometimes what seems like the end is actually the beginning. The first Easter found the disciples of Jesus discouraged, defeated, and convinced it was over. It seemed like an empty dream. If you’ve ever found yourself in that place, you need the message of Easter. When it feels like things are over, and even dead, they might be just beginning. Join us as we ask “What If?” and discover the power behind that simple question.

Join us for our last installment of Esther and the Unseen Sovereign: Uno-Reverse. The Reverse card can be the best thing or worst thing that can happen to you in a game of Uno. Find out how that can also be true in life!

April 3, 2022, Esther, part 9, Whatever by Dave Spencer

"What a difference a day makes!" is usually said in connection to a surprise. That surprise can be good or not so good. In this message, we are going to see that phrase in action. It is unbelievably good for Esther and her people and unbelievably bad for Haman (Hey, I heard you hiss!). The real question we all want answered is, "How can it be good for us, instead of bad for us?" Well, you will need to join us to find out! How is that for a teaser? If you want to be a little more prepared for this week's message, read Esther 6:14-7:10.

What's the first thing you do when you are having trouble sleeping? I try not to get irritated. If I do, I will be up for a while. Just this past week, (sorry Cindy) one night after I had fallen asleep, Cindy dropped her phone or something (we haven't even talked about it - Cindy, when you see this, text me what it was and I do forgive you). The bang woke me right up. Immediately, I repeated silently "Don't get irritated" about 3-5 times and fortunately I drifted off to sleep. Most sleepless nights, the first thing that comes to mind is not that maybe God's providence is in play. Maybe He wants me awake for me to do something like pray. You may be wondering, what does this have to do with this week's installment of Esther: The Unseen Sovereign? The title of the message is Sleepless in Susa and in this case, it wasn't a bump in the night that was keeping the King awake, it was God. Join us as we see how something as ordinary as a sleepless night can be a part of God's plan to do something in our live and

When was the last time you experienced a “Best Day Ever” moment? In this week's installment of Esther: The Unseen Sovereign, everyone is thinking they are experiencing a "Best Day Ever", but that really is the case for only one of them. Actually, one of them is getting ready to have the "Worst Day Ever" his last day, but he is clueless. Join us as we learn how to have more "Best Day Evers" and how to avoid having "Worst Day Evers." In all of this we need to remember the words of C.S. Lewis: "Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous."