Seneca Community Church Messages

When was the last time you were surprised? What has been one of your most unanticipated surprises? Whether you like them or not, we can all accept that surprises are part of life. Then why are we often so surprised when trials come our way? Join us as we jump back into our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 12: Surprise! Get a head start by reading 1 Peter 4:12-19. We will look at how trials test our faith and how, if we continue to trust God, we can live out of a place of joy, surprises or no surprises!

Suffering. No one wants to go through it, but afterward, we can usually look back and see how it helped us grow. How do you think suffering can help us become more like Jesus? Do you see suffering as a snare or a springboard? In other words, is it a hindrance to your faith or a tool that brings you closer to God? Join us as we jump back into our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 11: Changed... Right? Get a head start by reading 1 Peter 4:1-11 and think about an experience of suffering you have faced that you are grateful for, even though you wouldn't want to endure it again

Have you ever participated in a team-building activity called a “Trust Fall”? How did it go? Who are you willing to trust enough to fall into their arms blindly? Join us as we wrap up our message series, When Love Speaks: Last Words from the Cross, with Part 7: Trust Fall. We'll hear about Jesus' final words (in Luke 23:44–47) and the ultimate “Trust Fall” while also considering how being a Christ Follower is like living out one “Trust Fall” after another.

Like most action movies, many scenes in the movie franchise Mission: Impossible really are impossible. There are so many parts that come together to finish with the words, “That's a wrap!” How does the life and completed assignment of Jesus seem like Mission Impossible? What are all the “unbelievable” parts that come together so that Jesus can say “Tetelestai” (it is finished)? How does that change everything? Join us as we continue to learn from Jesus' last words from the cross in our series, When Love Speaks - Part 6: Mission Impossible. Get a head start by reading John 19:30.

When was a time you were exceptionally thirsty? What did it feel like? How did you go about quenching your thirst? Read John 19:28-29 and join us for our Easter Sunday Service, as we continue our series, When Love Speaks: Last Words from the Cross, with Part 5: Thirst.

What is your favorite love story? Your first answer to that question was most likely about a romantic relationship, but what about the love between a parent and a child or other family relationships? In many verses throughout the Bible, Christ followers are directed to love, honor, and respect our parents, our family members, and by extension, other Christians. This attitude was modeled by Jesus on the cross, when even amid great pain and suffering, some of His last thoughts were about us (the world) and those standing beneath the cross (Mary and John). Get a head start by reading John 19:25-27 and then join us as we continue our Easter message series, When Love Speaks: Last Words from the Cross, with Part 3: There You Are.

How does uncertainty affect life? How about relationships? Think back to the last time you were in a dating relationship. How did you move from being uncertain to being certain and assured? Join us as we continue our Easter message series, When Love Speaks: Last Words from the Cross, with Part 2: Assurance. We'll see how Jesus' words to the criminal on the cross (in Luke 23:35-43) give us the option to choose assurance (and the redemption that goes with it) instead of rejection.

What kind of trips have you been on recently? A vacation with family, traveling for work? When was the last time you were on a guilt trip? Was it actually God-given conviction or guilt from another source? Join us as we begin our Easter message series, When Love Speaks: Last Words from the Cross, with Part 1: Guiltless. We'll look at the role of guilt and conviction in a Christ-follower's life and discover the power behind Jesus' first last words from the Cross. Get a head start by reading Luke 23:32–37.

When have you received a word of encouragement that came at just the right time? What difference did it make? Have you ever given (or received) advice that wasn't asked for? How might advice be received differently when it's requested? Our words matter - not just what we say but how we say it. Join us as we look at 1 Peter 3:8-12 and consider how to apply these truths to our words and conversations.

Athletes understand that a vital aspect of competing is the importance of focus. If you are not concentrated on the goal, you will lose. The same is true spiritually - it's deadly for us to be looking anywhere but forward. Join us as we reflect on a powerful and sobering statement from the words of Jesus in Luke 17:32 and discover how they speak to our lives today.

Have you ever been scrolling social media or watching TV and gotten sick of all the ads? It's really easy for ads and other influences around us to get in our heads and shape our thinking from the outside. But as Christ followers, we're called to live from the inside out! This important distinction can greatly impact our self-thoughts and our relationships. Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 9: Identity from the Inside Out. We'll look at 1 Peter 3:1-7, and see how our identity in Jesus should turn our relationships inside out.

Many of us would say a large part of our identity comes from our jobs - what we do for "work." But what if that role isn't our only job in life? Where else should we be getting our identity from? And where else should we be working? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 8: Identity Crisis. We'll look at 1 Peter 2:18–25, find out what role Christ-followers are called to fill, and hear about the example Christ left for us to follow.

When we hear the word "identity," many of us think of "identity theft." This is a scary situation that gets talked about a lot but not everyone takes it seriously, at least not until it happens to them. How do identity and identity theft apply to a Christ follower? Do you know anyone with a preconceived notion about Christians? Where did that come from? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 7: Identity Theft. We'll look at 1 Peter 2:11–17 and see how the way we live is an important part of preserving our identity and pointing to Christ.

Who are the book, TV, or movie characters you first think of as helping others? Superman? Mr. Rodgers? Who else? Do you have anything in common with them? Could you play a similar role in the lives of others? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 6: Rock and Role. We'll look at 1 Peter 2:4-12 and see how we may be called to take on a role we hadn't thought of for ourselves before.

Arguing over differing opinions (especially online) is an easy habit to fall into these days. Have you ever experienced “Cancel Culture”? Were you a recipient or, dare we ask, aligned with it? How do you reconcile the two? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 5: Cancel. We'll look at 1 Peter 1:22-2:3, see what behaviors we should be avoiding, and hopefully be involved in God's restoration of one heart at a time.

Have you ever heard of a AAA TripTik? Have you ever used one? How are they different from what we use now, GPS apps on our phones? Now stop and think about how God's direction for our lives is more like GPS than a TripTik. Does knowing that affect the way you live? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 4: Direction. We'll take a detour from 1 Peter and see how we can trust God for direction in our lives (and what that looks like).

When someone says “That's different!” what do they mean? Most likely, they're saying that something is weird. When following Christ, what is the distinction between different and weird? Which one should we be? Join us as we continue our message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 3: Different. We'll look at how Peter challenged those who follow Jesus to live holy lives, different from the culture.

Have you ever watched an episode of The Flintstones or The Jetsons? One takes place in the past and one in the future, which makes them different, but what makes them the same? How did they both connect with today? Join us as we continue our new message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 2: Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Today. We'll look at how the past and the future speak to life in the present. Get a head start by reading 1 Peter 1:3–12 MSG.

What are some of the painful experiences in your life that have been worth it? What kept you going in the middle of the painful experience? Join us as we start our new message series, "Traveler: Where is God taking me?" with Part 1: Painful Pleasure. We'll find out how the pain can become a pleasure, even the pain that grows out of following Christ. Whether you are new to faith, checking out faith, or have been following Jesus for years, we are all travelers in life. There are answers, directions, and rest areas in the letter that Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends, wrote, as we'll see throughout this series as we look at the book of 1 Peter.

Jesus is here! We just celebrated Jesus' arrival on earth for Christmas and we celebrate believing in Him. So… what now? Are we done and life is only waiting to go to heaven? As the New Year starts next week, let's ask ourselves, "How are we going to live?"

Join us as we finish our Christmas message series, Home for the Holidays, with Part 5: Home for Good

Do you love your home (and feel at home there) or do you sometimes sense that God has something else in store for you (eternity)? How does that make you feel when you realize that Jesus left his home of heaven and put it all on the line so we could be at home? Join us as we continues our Christmas message series, Home for the Holidays, with Part 4: Living at Home

When did you last feel that you didn't have a sense of belonging? How did you express that longing for home? Join us as we continue our Christmas message series, Home for the Holidays, with Part 3: Longing for Home. We will keep looking at the concept of “home” and the ultimate place to be.

Hope is Here in the person of Jesus! Does the reality of that statement create an awe that takes your breath away? For many of us, the unconvinced or the convinced, not much creates a state of awe in us. We live in a culture that has basically stripped all of our awe away. Just think of the news that has caught or even captivated your attention recently. The awful gets our attention, but not the awesome. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a moment to decide whether the news of Gabriel was awful or awesome. She decided awesome and responded: “I belong to the Lord, body and soul,” replied Mary, “let it happen as you say.” And at this the angel left her. (Luke 1:38 Phillips) What would it take for our awes to be more on the side of awesome rather than awful? We will try to unpack that idea in this message, as we learn what it means to live out of the reality that Hope Is Here, especially for the fearful!

When you think of the word “Home” what do you feel? Some of us feel warm, others not so much. Why is that? Join us as we kick off our Christmas message series, Home for the Holidays, with Part 1: Losing Home. We'll take a look at the home we lost in the garden of Eden and how, despite the brokenness of sin, we can find the hope of returning to our true home. Often Dave uses concepts and ideas from a variety of resources when writing a message. If you have any questions regarding these sources, pleas don't hesitate to contact Dave at daves@senecacommunitychurch.com.

What is the silliest thing you've complained about lately? Slow "high-speed” internet? Broken A/C in your second car? A cracked phone screen? Nothing to watch on TV? Can't find something in the grocery store? It's easy to forget about gratitude when it comes to the "small" things in our lives, but it can happen with the big things, too! Join us for a stand-alone message, "Grateful". We'll see what an attitude of gratitude could unlock in our lives.

Do you remember when stereograms (also known as magic eye or hidden pictures) were popular? Some people loved them and some didn't, probably due to being able to see them more than anything else. Why does the concept of vision go farther than seeing a stereogram image? Join us for the next installment of our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted. We will look at Proverbs 29:18 and find out the importance of really seeing!

Are you familiar with the classic movie, "The Princess Bride"? If you are, you can probably complete Mandy Patinkin's famous line, "My name is Inigo Montoya..." At the end of the movie, he says this: "I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life." While most of us probably haven't shaped our lives around payback as much as Inigo, it is still easy to let revenge (or even the desire to make things right) quietly control our lives. In our society, it's normal to hit back when we are wronged. We may even justify it by remembering this verse: But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Exodus 21:23–25 NIV Join us as we continue our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, with Part 11: An Eye for an Eye, and look at what God wants us to do when we are wronged. The Program and Message Listening Guide (printable format) with fill-in-the-blanks are available for download on our website.

When have you seen the wrong tool used for the right job? What was the result? Join us for the next installment of our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted. We will look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, a verse that can be used with good intentions but the wrong way.

"You can do anything if you just believe." That statement may sound like a cat poster when you first read or hear it. However, you may have heard a Bible verse that promises almost the same thing: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) or page 804 in an SCC chair rack Bible Is it true that all you have to do is believe enough in Jesus and you can do anything? Join us for the next installment of Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted - Part 9: I Can Do All Things. We will look at a verse that is on coffee mugs in kitchens everywhere and talk about what it really means for the life of a Christ follower.

Remember the “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” ads? They are silly but there is some truth to them. Would you do just about anything for a Klondike Bar right now? If not, what foods do you find almost irresistible? Join us for the next installment of Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted - Part 8: No More than You Can Handle. We will look at 1 Corinthians 10:13 (page 783 in an SCC chair rack Bible). What is your understanding of what Paul is getting at in this verse? When have you found those God-inspired words twisted by others or even yourself?

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 KJV Have you heard this verse before? If not, what is your first impression? If you have, what has your understanding been of it? Join us as we take a look at what this verse (and chapter) tells us, not just about God's presence, but about friendship and restoration. You won't want to miss the next installment of Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted!

If you knew you could ask God for anything and He would do it, what would you ask for? Do you think that's what Jesus is saying in this verse: You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.   John 14:14 NIV (page 737 in an SCC chair rack Bible) Join us as we continue our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, with Part 6: Anything! Where some may twist this verse in a way that can bring destruction, we will see how this promise from God really works.

When you hear the word "prosperity," what do you think of? Some of us may think of this verse from Jeremiah: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV (page 538 in a SCC chair rack Bible) Do you think that idea is (or should be) connected to "The American Dream"? In his book, The Epic of America (1931), James Truslow Adams coined the term when he stated, "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." In short, "The American Dream" is the belief that every person has the freedom and opportunity to succeed and attain a better life. Join us as we continue our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, and look at what God actually promised in that verse (and who he promised it to).

"Money, money, money, money, money!" Where you recognize that song from may be an indicator of your age. Do you remember it from The Apprentice or from the ABBA song? (Maybe you don't recognize it at all!) Here are some of the lyrics: Money, money, money, money, money Some people got to have it Do things, Do things, do bad things with it Dollar bills, y'all For that lean, mean, mean green Almighty dollar Talkin about money Give me a nickel, brother can you spare a dime Money can drive some people out of their minds Money, money, money, money, money If you haven't figured it out yet, the next installment of Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted is about money! Join us as we look at one of the most famous verses in Scripture about money, 1 Timothy 6:10, and find out if money really is the root of all evil.

Do you, or someone you know, always seem to have "bad luck"? How can this be true if "all things work together for our good"?  Join us as we continue our series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, and look at Romans 8:28. Together, we'll find out what God really promised us in that verse.

Who is your favorite reality TV judge? Watching those shows can be a guilty pleasure - it's fun to join in and pass judgment on the people along with the judge. But put us in the hot seat and we might not feel the same way! What is one of the first times you remember being judged? How did it make you feel? Join us as we explore Matthew 7:1-6, in our new series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, and look at how these verses are often twisted when we consider judging others and ourselves.

Kids are a blessing, but kids can be difficult. Teaching kids can be difficult! But teaching kids about the love of Jesus is one of the most important things we can do. Ask yourself this important question, "How am I teaching kids about the love of Jesus?" Everyone does it; even if you're not a parent or a teacher, you teach by example. Join us as we explore Proverbs 22:6, the first verse in our new series, Twisters: When God's Words Get Twisted, and look at how it is often twisted in our application of training up children. We'll discover how every person in God's kingdom has influence in the lives of His kids.

Being alone can be a good thing or a bad thing. How does being alone affect you? Join us for the next installment of The Seeking King - Part 17, as we see what happened to Saul when he isolated himself from God. If you get a chance, read 1 Samuel 28:3-25 NIV, page 204 in an SCC chair rack Bible.

How long do you have to go before you ask for directions? Said another way, how lost do you have to get before you ask for directions? What would a close friend say (or if you're married what would your spouse say)? In 1 Samuel 27:1-28:3 (page 202 in an SCC chair rack Bible), David gets lost as he moves towards getting trapped between a rock and a hard place.  Join us for the next installment of The Seeking King - Part 16, as we see how David responded to being trapped.

Have you ever experienced déjà vu? If you have, how does it make you feel? What does it mean to you? Within the framework of the movie “The Matrix,” déjà vu is a warning. What should it mean to a Christ follower? Join us as we find out how David responded to yet another risky opportunity and what it means for us when we have "spiritual déjà vu." If you get a chance, read 1 Samuel 26:1-25 (page 203 in an SCC chair rack Bible).

Who is the wisest person you know? Not to be harsh, but do you know any fools (or people who have acted foolishly)? Last week, we saw that David took a risk and it turned out to be a God-given faith-building opportunity. This week, we'll see how Nabal, David, and Abigail reacted to the situation they were in. One of them acted like a fool, one acted rashly, and one acted with wisdom and was the hero of the story. Join us as we find out how having a rich relationship with God can help us be wise. If you get a chance, read 1 Samuel 25:1-44 (page 201 in an SCC chair rack Bible).

We have all come across opportunities in life that seemed risky. Sometimes we take them and they go south. Sometimes they turn out great! Sometimes we hesitate and miss out.  Join us as we look at 1 Samuel 24:1-22 (page 201 in an SCC chair rack Bible) and find out if David rushed, missed, or took a God-given faith-building opportunity.

God is faithful to make me faithful to Him. How do I respond to His faithfulness? Join us as we look at the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) to see what a faithful response to God looks like.

Faithfulness is a word we say a lot in Christian circles but it's not just a Christian word. People use it in the context of relationships, work commitments, and more. But what does it mean? How does it change the way we see ourselves and how does it change the way we see God? Come find out as we explore Hebrews 10:19-25. Join us as Josh DePasacreta, our new Associate Pastor, explores the theme of faithfulness in scripture, which shows us (sneak peak) that we need a new heart and that God's heart is always faithful.

Congratulations, you've made it to the end of June! For many of us, this is an extremely busy time of year and we can wind up feeling depleted. When you feel “all used up,” where is the place you look to be refreshed? Back in the day, we were told to "Take the Nestea plunge!" (Look up "Nestea Plunge" on Youtube to find the old commercials.) While there is nothing wrong with a refreshing glass of iced tea when you are thirsty, we can look to the Bible for where to find real refreshment for our lives. Join us as we wrap up our message series, Life Hacks: When You Just Need a Better Way, with Part 10: Refreshed and hear about the ultimate life hack God has laid out for us. If you have the chance, prepare by reading Proverbs 11:25 and Matthew 16:25.

Maintaining sexual purity can be a significant challenge, especially in our sexually charged culture. It would be easy for us to think sexual purity is impossible or no big deal but fortunately God hasn't left us as prisoners to ourselves or our environment. Look up and read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. What motivation and steps do these verses give us to combat this challenge? Join us Sunday as we continue our message series, Life Hacks: When You Just Need a Better Way, with Part 9: Set Apart and look at God's plan for sexual intimacy. Parents, this Sunday's message will contain some PG-13 content. This does not necessarily mean your child shouldn't listen to the message, but that this will be a good opportunity for discussion in your household.

How do you feel about Mondays? Most people love them or hate them. Do you think your opinion about Mondays reflects how you feel about your work? How do you think God wants you to view your work? Last Sunday we started a Life Hacks message about God's plan for work. Join us this Sunday as we continue with Part 8b: Who's the Boss. If you have a chance, prepare by reading Ephesians 6:5–9 (page 801 in an SCC chair rack Bible).

What was your first job? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it? How do you feel about work now? For most of us, whether we love our job or not, work is a necessary part of life. Join us as we continue our message series, Life Hacks: When You Just Need a Better Way, with Part 8: Who's the Boss and look at God's plan for work. Whether you are the boss or aren't, it all comes down to attitude! If you have a chance, prepare by reading Ephesians 6:5–9.

How do you feel about this statement: "How I relate to my parents will affect every other relationship in my life"? For the past six weeks, we've been looking at God's plan for different relationships in our lives. This Sunday, we'll focus on the child-parent relationship, especially how it changes as we age. Join us as we continue our message series, Life Hacks: When You Just Need a Better Way, with Part 7: The Great Role Reversal. If you have a chance, prepare by reading Ephesians 6:1-4.

What do vacuum cleaners and the dog house have in common? Actually a lot! Join us for Part 6 our message series, Life Hacks: When You Just Need a Better Way, as we see how vacuum cleaners can speak to the health of relationships, especially a marriage. What at first may seem funny or cute can open our eyes and then hearts to stronger relationships and better ways.