Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

The Gift | Part 3 | A King Like No Other | Chris Voigt

A King Like No OtherThe GiftDecember24, 2022
Have you ever met a royal? There is a tremendous fascination with the British royal family here in the United States. Millions of Americans willingly crawl out of bed at an ungodly hour, to watch a royal wedding or funeral. All of the pomp and pageantry is undeniably breathtaking... even when you’re just watching on TV. I can’t imagine what it must be like to experience it all in person. It’s not likely that I ever will, but just in case... there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First of all, stand when a royal enters the room. And stay standing until they sit down. Be sure to use the correct titles: Your Majesty for a king or queen; Your Highness for a prince or princess. The most important ‘rule’ is to never touch a monarch! A slight bow of the head for men, or a brief curtsy for women is appropriate, but don’t try to shake hands unless it's initiated by them. And never attempt to give a hug! It’s primarily a security thing, but they are royal, after all; and the rest of us are just commoners.  I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. This Christmas season, we’ve been looking at the story of Jesus’ birth from a little different perspective, in a sermon series called The Gift. We’ve taken a look at the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus. Gifts, which, we have seen, were less appropriate for a baby, but certainly fit for a king. This Christmas Eve, we’ll consider the gift of gold and the significance of it. When the wise men brought their gifts to Jesus, the gospel of Matthew tells us that they bowed down and worshipped Him. They knew they were in the presence of The King. 

The Gift | Part 2 | It’s Hard to Believe | Michelle Snook

It's Hard To UnderstandThe GiftDecember18, 2022
It’s only one small word. But in the mouth of a young child, it has the power to drive a weary mom to the edge. Some kids repeat it incessantly... over and over and over. Why is the sky blue? Why do I have to go to bed? Why do people get sick? Why aren’t there dinosaurs anymore? Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast? Why do birds fly? Why is it dark at night? Why? Why? Why? It can be challenging to satisfy the insatiable curiosity of a child. And perhaps it’s our thinly veiled frustration with the never-ending questions that eventually kills their curiosity. Because sooner or later, many of them...and many of us, quit asking the ‘why’ questions. Somewhere along the way, we lose the gift of wonder. I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. This holiday season, we are looking at a piece of the Christmas story that we’ve not really unpacked before, in a sermon series called The Gift. Have you ever wondered about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus? I mean, why would anyone bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a baby? This week, we’ll be talking about the myrrh and what it represented. And we’ll consider an even bigger ‘why’ question along the way... why was Jesus even born? Why did God send Him? 

The Gift | Part 1 | Someone Finally Understands Me | Chris Voigt

Someone Finally Understands MeThe GiftDecember11, 2022
 The Amazon, UPS, USPS, and FedEx drivers are working around the clock this time of year making holiday deliveries. And if the traffic in and out of Keizer Station on the weekends is any indication, there’s a whole lot of people who are still working on their Christmas shopping. Gifts – both giving and receiving them – seem to be the centerpiece of the holiday season in our culture. But in a way, I think that’s appropriate. After all, the story of Christmas is all about the greatest gift ever given to mankind.Over the next three weeks, we will be taking a look at the gifts the wise men brought to the Christ Child in a new series called The Gift. Sometimes, I think familiarity with the Christmas story causes us to just read right past those three baby gifts without really thinking about them. I can’t imagine Mary putting those items on her Amazon wish list! Have you ever stopped to wonder why the wise men gave the things they did? How are gold, frankincense and myrrh even helpful for a new baby? Wouldn’t burp cloths, blankets and diapers make more sense? This week we’ll dig a little deeper into why frankincense was among the gifts given.What gifts are on your wish list this holiday season? Our wish is that you would join us at Dayspring this Christmas season as we celebrate the gift of Jesus!

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 8 | Becoming Victorious | Chris Voigt

Becoming VictoriousEphesians: Becoming Who You AreDecember 4, 2022
Almost every Wednesday our staff spends time together praying for our Dayspring family. This week, as we reviewed the list of requests and shared concerns for family and friends, someone commented that it is definitely ‘sick season.’ Various versions of ‘the crud’ are going around – be it colds, the flu, covid, or whatever – lots of people are down with some sort of bug! When we get sick, there is a battle raging in our bodies. Though we can’t see it, we definitely feel the effects. Coughs, sore throats, body aches, fevers and other assorted symptoms alert us to the fact that something is amiss within. We respond by doing whatever we can to help our bodies fight off the offending invader. We rest, drink fluids, take medication, slurp chicken noodle soup and ginger ale... all in an effort to conquer the virus that’s trying to take us out. If good habits like exercise, drinking water, and a healthy diet are part of our everyday lives, we are better prepared to fight off the occasional illness. I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. We are wrapping up our series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are this Sunday. As we come to the end of Paul’s letter, we find a prescription of sorts from Paul; instructions for fighting another kind of unseen battle - the spiritual one that rages all around us. Just like we take care of ourselves physically, in order to be healthy and strong, there are things we must do every day to be ready for the attacks that try to knock us down spiritually. In order to fight back against things like fear, doubt, discouragement, anger, or any of our enemy’s attempts to take us out, we must be prepared. Ready or not, you’re up against an enemy who wants to knock you out. Don’t be caught unprepared!

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 7 | Becoming Imitators | Chris Voigt

Becoming ImitatorsEphesians: Becoming Who You AreNovember 27, 2022
It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. The idea behind this proverb has been around for centuries, but it was first popularized by English author Charles Caleb Colton who included it in a book of axioms and essays published in 1820. The word imitate means to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example; to mimic or resemble. I’m not much of an outdoorsy kind of guy. But let’s think about the sport of fly fishing for a minute. I do understand enough about it to know that the goal of the fisherman is to actually catch fish, not just whip his line back and forth on the river all day.  According to the ‘experts’ at Wikipedia, a successful fly imitates something that the fisherman’s target species preys on. All successful fly patterns must imitate something to attract the fish to strike. So, to return to our proverb, the fly has been sufficiently flattered, enough to convince the fish to bite! I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. We’ve spent the last several weeks studying our way through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus in a series we’ve called Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are. In the first half of the book Paul tells us what it means to be a Christian; helping us to understand who we are in Christ. Now, as we work our way toward Paul’s conclusion, we’re unpacking what it looks like to live out our identity as a follower of Jesus. I invite you to join us this Sunday as we learn what it means to become imitators of Christ; to live out our faith in such an attractive and authentic way that others will be drawn to the Jesus they see in us. Enough so that they might “take the bait” so to speak.

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 6 | Becoming Righteous | Chris Voigt

Becoming RighteousEphesians: Becoming Who You AreNovember 20, 2022
In March of 2020 the world turned upside down and inside out. ‘Normal’ was redefined and daily rhythms reworked as we figured out how to do school from home, order groceries online, attend church via livestream, and of course, attempt to work remotely, surrounded by all the chaos. One thing that quickly became a part of our “new normal” was the Zoom call... the virtual meeting space where we could see and communicate with our people... family, classmates, friends and co-workers. The bulk of our personal interactions moved from in-person to online. Having the technology to maintain our connections while navigating the challenges of the pandemic was an incredible benefit. But occasionally, the Zoom window into our personal worlds allowed people to see a little more than they bargained for! For most of us, who we are and how we dress (or don’t, as the case may be) in the privacy of our homes is just a bit different than who we are with the whole wide world! Which made for some pretty awkward, but funny videos! Most of the time, we dress for the occasion. Although, I have seen the occasional pajamas and slippers at Target. But usually, we wear workout gear to the gym, swimsuits to the pool, fancy duds to prom or a night at the theater, and pajamas to bed. What we choose to put on is usually appropriate for whatever environment we’ll be in. I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. We are working our way through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus in our series we’ve called Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are. This week we’ll be unpacking what it looks like to ‘take off’ the garments of our old life – the old habits, old thinking, old attitudes that were part of our before-Jesus way of life - and put on the garments of our new life – new perspectives, new realities, new disciplines. In Christ, we are not who we once were. The old is gone, the new has come. Let’s be sure to ‘dress’ for who He has called us to be!

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 5 | Becoming United | Michelle Snook

Becoming UnitedEphesians: Becoming Who You AreNovember 13, 2022
I love a good musical. My favorite is probably Singin’ In the Rain... or Seven Brides For Seven Brothers... or... My Fair Lady (which I get to see in Portland with my daughter next Spring!) ...there are just so many good ones! Another that would land in my top ten would be The Music Man... the classic with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. I’ve worked with enough young interns to know that I can’t take anything for granted when it comes to the musical education of the younger generations. So, for those of you who have not yet seen this classic film, allow me to enlighten you. “Professor” Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, posing as an organizer and leader of a boys' band. In reality, he’s a just a slick con man. He convinces the naïve townspeople to purchase band uniforms and instruments from him, while promising to train the young band members. But his real intentions are to skip town with their money. As you might expect, nothing goes as Professor Hill planned. I don’t want to spoil the ending for those of you who haven’t seen it. So, let’s just say that something special starts to happen when those boys put on their band uniforms. A new identity starts to be shaped, and there’s a transformation that begins to happen in the community. The boys are playing a variety of instruments – it’s not all trombones or cornets; each one playing at their own level of competence. But something about being part of the group, dressed in their uniforms but contributing their own unique ability to the band, creates something powerful among them. We are studying our way through the book of Ephesians in a series we’ve called, Becoming Who You Are. This week, we’ll be looking at the idea of unity – what it is, what it isn’t, and how we promote and protect it.  At the end of the movie, we see the uniformity of the River City boys' band, as they march in formation, all dressed alike, steps in sync. But it’s their unity – being in tune with one another, playing at the same tempo, maintaining the same rhythm, and staggering their breathing, that matters most…each one playing their part and contributing to the performance of the song. The beautiful organism that we call the church is also filled with a diverse group of people…all crafted in the image of God…but with different backgrounds, a variety of giftings, and individual uniqueness. We are not the same, but the miracle of Jesus is that unity brings it all together.

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 4 | Becoming Rooted | Chris Voigt

Becoming RootedEphesians: Becoming Who You AreNovember 6, 2022
If you’ve been around here very long, you know that I’m a sunshine and blue skies kind of guy. Summer is my favorite time of year. I am thankful that, for the most part, our typical rainy fall weather didn’t kick in until the end of October this year. Which made for a beautiful fall. We were treated to a gorgeous display of autumn glory as the leaves turned colors, creating a tapestry of vibrant red, yellow, and orange throughout our city. The changes we see in the trees as the seasons turn are pretty spectacular. But what is even more amazing is what is going on beneath the surface, where we can’t see! The root systems of trees are really just beginning to be understood by scientists. An online article published in Smithsonian Magazine by journalist Richard Grant outlines new discoveries about the incredible things that take place within the “wood-wide-web” beneath the forest floor, as groves of trees “communicate” with one another; sharing water and nutrients, sending distress signals about drought, disease, or insect attacks, and how other trees alter their behavior when they receive these messages. In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, giant sequoia trees grow. They are on average 200-300 ft tall, have a diameter of 25 ft, and can live up to 3,000 years! Amazingly, the root systems of sequoia trees are not that deep, but they are intricately intertwined. Sequoias grow close to each other, and the networked effect of their matted roots provides incredible strength and stability to the Sequoias. It is a powerful reminder of the strength of the community. I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. We are in the middle of our series, Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are. This week we’ll be taking a look at what it means for us as followers of Jesus to be deeply rooted in our faith. Strong, healthy roots enable us to thrive as we grow in relationship with Christ, as a community of believers, and as the body of Christ.

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 3 | Becoming One | Chris Voigt

Becoming OneEphesians: Becoming Who You AreOctober 30, 2022
September 1938. Tension as thick as the London fog hung heavy over the city. Less than one generation away from the horrors of World War One, Britain teetered on the edge of yet another war. Six months earlier, Hitler had annexed Austria, laying claim to everyone and everything that could fuel his ruthless march toward the creation of a greater Germany. Now, he vowed to invade Czechoslovakia on October 1. Two days before Hitler’s promised invasion date, he agreed to meet with British Prime minister Neville Chamberlain, as well as Italy’s Mussolini and French leader Daladier. The negotiations resulted in an agreement, known as the Munich Pact, which ceded part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler’s control, as well as establishing a non-aggression pact between Germany and Britain. Returning to London, Chamberlain declared, “Peace for our time!” And for a brief moment, Londoners breathed easier. But five months later, in March of ’39, Hitler annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia before invading Poland in September. The peace agreement proved as flimsy as the paper it had been written on. On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Dr. Warren Wiersbe writes, “It seems that most peace missions fail. I read somewhere that from 1500 BC to 850 AD, there were 7,500 ‘eternal covenants’ agreed on among various nations with the hope of bringing peace; but none of them lasted longer than two years.” Today, headlines from around the world continue to be filled with reports of war... from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to civil wars in Yemen and Ethiopia, conflicts in Afghanistan, Sudan, Congo, Nigeria, the drug war in Mexico, threats and concerns from North Korea and China, and the ongoing worldwide war against terrorism. There are culture wars, political strife, racial tensions, generational divides, and religious conflicts. With the myriad of things that separate, segregate, and isolate people from one another, is there any hope for lasting peace? Every attempt seems doomed to fail. We are in week three of a series we’ve titled Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are. This week, we’re taking a look at the greatest rescue mission in the history of the world. A mission that makes real peace possible. And not just possible but promised! Join us as we unpack the peace plan that God has put in place for you and for me. Peace, friend.

Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are | Part 2 | Becoming Alive | Jon Sprouse

Ephesians: Becoming Who You AreOctober 23, 2022
Tony Merida, in his commentary on the book of Ephesians. recounts the story of eclectic English philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who lived from 1748-1832. Merida writes, “He was an interesting figure in more ways than one. In Bentham’s will he apparently left a fortune to a London hospital. But there was one condition: Bentham was to be present at every board meeting. Reportedly, for more than 100 years, the remains of Jeremy Bentham were wheeled into the boardroom every month and placed at the head of the table. His skeleton was dressed with seventeenth-century garb, along with a hat, which sat on his wax head. In the minutes of every board meeting, a line read, “Mr. Jeremy Bentham, present but not voting.” Of course, he never voted because he had been dead since 1832!” I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, Oregon. We are in the second week of our new series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are. This week, we’re unpacking the truth of what it means to be “alive in Christ.” Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says, “when we were spiritually dead, God made us alive with Christ.” To our human way of thinking, death follows life, not the other way around. But Paul wants us to see that from God’s perspective, we were “present but not voting,” physically alive, but spiritually dead, until God gave us new - everlasting - life in Jesus Christ.