Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

Gospel of John | Part 7 | Humility & Heart | Chris Voigt

Humility and HeartThe Gospel of JohnApril 24, 2022
What was the last promise you made to someone? We make little promises all the time without really giving it a second thought. You might agree to a task or errand, commit to a meeting or appointment, or something bigger like signing a contract or agreement. All of these, in one way or another, are some form of a promise. From the time we are kids, promises are a big deal. Whether it’s a pinky swear or a blood brother covenant, in our earliest relationships we long to know that we matter to someone else and that we can count on and trust them. Our sense of belonging and confidence deepens when we know we can trust another and that they, in turn, trust us. But as we’ve all experienced, broken people, operating in a broken world will not perfectly keep their promises. Sooner or later, we will experience disappointment. But, we were designed by God to be interdependent, not independent. And so even in our disappointment, we continue to look for trustworthy sources in which we can place our confidence. Sometimes, it can feel as if we are out of options. We’re picking back up with our series in the gospel of John this week; and as we do, we find Jesus’ disciples just a little... well, maybe more than a little disappointed in the way things are playing out. But in the midst of their confusion and deep disappointment, Jesus makes some promises. Things are about to get really ugly, and Jesus knows that they will need a lifeline or two. And so do we. I invite you to join us this Sunday as we look at six promises that Jesus gave His disciples just before their world got turned upside down.In a world where it can feel like everything is upside down, and things are going to hell in a handbasket, we need to know there is Someone we can count on and Who keeps His promises. The promises of Jesus are just as much for you, today, as they were for His disciples then.

Bad Boys of Easter | Part 3 | Twelve Feet of Separation | Chris Voigt

Twelve Feet of SeparationThe Bad Boys of EasterApril 17, 2022
In an online article from The Atlantic, author Ed Yong tells a story that illustrates an important truth. He writes, “At some point, a kauri tree fell in a New Zealand forest and no one noticed. Nor did anyone pay attention when the remnant of its trunk rotted away, leaving behind a stump that’s barely even a stump—a chair-size, hollowed-out half cylinder, sticking up from the middle of a hiking trail, leafless and apparently dead. 'It doesn’t look spectacular at all,' says Sebastian Leuzinger of the Auckland University of Technology. 'Everyone would have walked past it for years.'"
Out hiking with a colleague, Leuzinger stumbled across the tree stump. Yong continues, “He saw that even though it had no leaves, stems, or greenery of any kind, it did still contain living tissue—and when he knocked on the stump, it sounded different from deadwood. All appearances to the contrary, it was still alive.”
Things are not always what they seem.
There are a variety of factors that affect how our brains process information and come to conclusions. We rely on our senses to provide us with information. But we tend to enhance that information as it passes through various filters that we all use every day... things like past experience, memories, knowledge, and assumptions.
Optical illusions and practical jokes are effective because they mess with our assumptions. As Albert Einstein said, “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
 Over the past couple weeks, we’ve been in a short series called, The Bad Boys of Easter. As we wrap up this weekend, we’ll discover, much like Leuzinger and his dead-looking, but not dead tree stump, that things aren’t always as they seem.
It’s true that things are not always as they seem. Sometimes, they’re better!

Bad Boys of Easter | Part 2 | The Pretender | Chris Voigt

The PretenderThe Bad Boys of EasterApril 10, 2022
Back in the late 90’s there was an American television drama called The Pretender. Maybe you’re familiar with it. The storyline revolved around a young man named Jarod; a genius impostor who could quickly master the complex skill set needed to impersonate someone in any profession. Kidnapped as a child and raised by an organization known as The Centre, Jarod’s abilities were exploited for their sinister purposes. Eventually, as an adult, Jarod escapes. He goes on the run, moving from place to place, utilizing his unique abilities for good. In each episode, Jarod assumes a new professional identity, such as doctor, lawyer, soldier, or pilot, in order to investigate a crime for which an innocent person has been framed, and ultimately deliver justice to the real guilty party. He traded a ‘secure’ life aiding those whose plans were motivated by power and greed, for the unpredictable life of a fugitive, but one where he could use his skills for the benefit of others. This week, in our series The Bad Boys of Easter, we’re taking a look at a guy who was a pretender, a thief, and a con man. He was motivated by his own agenda... what’s in this for me? When following Jesus seemed like the most profitable option, he was in. But when Jesus didn’t live up to his expectations, when his hopes were disappointed, he flipped and aligned himself with those who offered what looked like a better deal. He traded his relationship with Jesus for a little bit of cash.I invite you to join us this Sunday as we consider the choices of Judas. Sooner or later, all of us experience disillusionment, disappointment and dissatisfaction. And it’s in those moments that we consider whether or not we should make a trade. Sometimes those pain points can prompt us to make good changes that benefit us and others. But there are also times when we are tempted to take a short cut, to give in and exchange what we ultimately want, for what would feel good right now. What kind of trades are you making?

Bad Boys of Easter | Part 1 | My Private Nation | Chris Voigt

My Private NationThe Bad Boys of EasterApril 3, 2022
Control. We like it. It feels good.We get irritated when our plans go awry, when we’ve got an agenda or timeline and someone or something gets in our way and slows us down, or completely blows up our carefully crafted plans.While there are some things that you can control, ultimately, control is an illusion. Sure, there are choices you can make; but the truth is, our ability to control is limited. I might choose to go to bed at a time that allows me to get enough sleep, only to toss and turn until it’s time to get up again. Our ability to control is limited. And yet, we as humans seem driven by the desire to be in control.If you look up the word ‘surrender,’ you’ll find a definition that is full of negative sounding words and a list of synonyms such as: abdicate, capitulate, acquiesce, relinquish, and succumb. Sounds fun, huh? When it’s painted that way, no wonder we resist surrender and pursue control. Those words are not on anyone’s list of life goals.Even as followers of Jesus, there are places in our lives where we resist surrender. We want to be in control. I know what’s best for me, because I know me. Because trusting in someone or something we cannot see, touch, understand or control, is scary.This week, we’ll be looking at Caiaphas, the high priest who finds his way into the story of Jesus. He too struggles with control and surrender. Even though he’s on the wrong side of history, there are valuable things we can learn from his story.Believe it or not, and contrary to popular opinion, there are benefits to not being in control and blessings to be found in surrender. I hope you’ll join us as we explore those ideas together.

Gospel of John | Part 6 | Crisis | Jon Sprouse

CrisisGospel of John: That You May BelieveMarch 27, 2022
I’ve traveled outside the United States a fair amount. One thing that has been fascinating to me is how different cultures relate to time. The first time I traveled to Honduras, it quickly became a joke among our team that we were on “Honduran” time because the local Honduran leader we were working with was always running about an hour later than he told us to be ready! In Lima, Peru, for our first international worship conference, we set the start time for 9 AM. We were ready and waiting, but people in Lima don’t do mornings! At least not that early. Their approach to time is different than what we expected and planned for. In many cultures around the world, the pace is slower, meals take longer, rest is part of the daily rhythm. Americans, on the other hand, are notoriously impatient. We have instant oatmeal for breakfast, communicate by instant messaging, grab fast food for lunch, download documents or directions instantly to our devices, make dinner in our Instant-pot or air fryer, then entertain ourselves with video on-demand before swallowing something to help us instantly fall asleep. Our pace is fast - we want everything now; there is no time to waste or to wait.  In Lamentations 3:25-26 we read: “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Did you catch that? Let me say it again: The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. We are at the mid-way point in our sermon series through the Gospel of John. This week we’ll be taking a look at a story that reveals the difference between God’s timing and our own. No matter what culture you live in, hoping, seeking, waiting for something that you desperately want or need can be incredibly challenging. Can we really trust God’s timing? Even when it looks like hope is lost and He has let us down? I encourage you to join us this Sunday as we consider the truth that we can trust God’s plans and timing, even - or perhaps especially - when it seems out of sync with our own.

Gospel of John | Part 5 | A Blind Man & the Shepherd | Michelle Snook

A Blind Man and the ShepherdGospel of John: That You May BelieveMarch 20, 2022
Joanna Sullivan was born near Springfield, Massachusetts in April of 1866. She was the oldest of three children born to Irish immigrants. Annie was only 8 years old when her mother died of tuberculosis. Two years later, fearing the responsibility of raising three children alone, Annie, her brother and sister were deserted by their father. A childhood illness had left Annie almost completely blind. After enduring several unsuccessful surgeries to correct her eyesight, Annie entered the Perkins Institution for the Blind at the age of 14. A year later, surgery partially restored her vision. It was at Perkins where she learned to use a manual alphabet...a way of using hand signals pressed into the palm of another to spell words. In 1886, at the age of 20, Annie graduated as the valedictorian of her class. Annie is best known as the teacher and life-long companion of Helen Keller. Just a few short months after graduation, Annie accepted a call to work with the then 7year-old Helen. Like Annie, a childhood illness had left Helen with physical impairments. She was blind, deaf, and had a limited ability to speak. Annie began teaching Helen the same manual alphabet she had learned at Perkins Institute; teaching her that things had names. Within 6 months, Helen had learned 575 words, some multiplication tables, and the Braille system. Orphaned, abandoned, and robbed of her sight, it would have been understandable if Annie had become bitter, defensive, arrogant and isolated. But instead, she chose to listen, learn, and discover new ways of seeing. And not only was her life radically changed, she dramatically impacted the life of Helen, and through her, thousands of others as well. We are working our way through a study of the gospel of John. This week, we’re looking at the account of Jesus’ healing of the blind man. Certainly, the restoration of physical sight was amazing, but there are deeper implications about spiritual blindness that we’ll unpack together.

Gospel of John | Part 4 | Feast & Conflict | Chris Voigt

Feast & ConflictGospel of John: That You May BelieveMarch 13, 2022
Legendary ad-man Rosser Reeves was an American executive and pioneer of television advertising. He was the genius behind some of the most effective ads of the 40’s & 50’s, including the “Melt in your mouth, not in your hands” M&Ms line, as well as slogans for Bic pens, Colgate toothpaste and Minute Maid orange juice. Peter Michaels, in an online article called, The Power of the Contrast Principle, relates this story: Reeves and his friend were walking through Central Park one lunchtime when they came across a blind person begging for money. He had a cup for donations in front of him with a sign “I am blind” handwritten on it.  After explaining to the man that he knows a bit about motivating people and he might be able to help the man get more donations, Reeves asked if he would be willing to let his sign be changed.  “Sure,” the man answers and Rosser takes out his pen. He adds four words to the “I am blind” sign, then steps back to see what happens. Soon, passers-by are dropping money into the cup and within 5 minutes, his donations have doubled. As more people drop more change, even dollar bills, the blind man begins to look a little happier.Rosser soon heads back to his office, having effectively demonstrated The Principle of Contrast. What four words had he written on the sign? “It is springtime and...” The sign now read: “It is springtime and I am blind.” Michaels goes on to say, “Rosser Reeves – advertising genius and celebrated ‘wordsmith’ – didn’t add anything fancy.... He simply added contrast, which framed the man’s plight in a way that people responded to. Where they previously passed by, unmoved by ‘just another blind man’ begging for change, now they saw a person in need of help who wasn’t able to see the beautiful New York spring day they all took for granted.” The people were moved by the contrast they saw between their own “fortune” and the lack of the blind man. And being moved, they made a decision to respond. People respond to contrast. Contrast speeds up the connection to our brains, so we understand quickly and clearly where to focus our attention. Contrast allows us to see differences readily and thus helps us make better decisions. This Sunday in our series on the Gospel of John, we’re looking at five contrasts that Jesus gave to help His hearers understand the differences between His message and that of the Pharisees and religious leaders. These contrasts were designed to help people see Jesus more clearly and to move their hearts toward making a decision about who He was and what it meant to follow Him.

Gospel of John | Part 3 | Man of Miracles | Chris Voigt

Man of MiraclesGospel of John: That You May BelieveMarch 6, 2022
For 17 years, Kim Jong Il, ruthlessly oppressed the people of North Korea before his death in 2011. A 2004 Human Rights Watch report, reports that the North Korean government under his leadership was among the world’s most repressive governments. With no freedom of the press or religion, no political opposition, or equal education, virtually every aspect of political, social, and economic life was controlled by the government, and led to more than 200,000 political prisoners. We in the West, rightfully call him a totalitarian dictator. You might not be surprised to hear that he felt differently about himself -- that he was actually quite gifted across a wide variety of disciplines…and had been from birth. In fact...the official records (of North Korea) reportedly claim that Kim learned to walk at three weeks old, and to talk at eight weeks old. He grew up to write 1,500 books in three years and six full operas which are (and I quote) “better than any in the history of music.” And, not only did he claim to be an artistic genius, he was great at sports, too. The FIRST TIME Kim picked up a golf club, he shot a 38 under par round on North Korea’s only golf course, including 11 holes-in-one. Each of his 17 bodyguards even verified this record-breaking feat. His belief in his own greatness didn’t stop here on Planet Earth. North Korean documents also claim that a glowing new star appeared in the heavens to herald his birth on North Korea’s Baekdu Mountain in 1942. Unfortunately, he was born a year earlier. But don’t tell him! Anyone can CLAIM anything. But that doesn’t mean it’s true.This week in our sermon series in the Gospel of John, we'll be looking at some of the outrageous claims that Jesus made about Himself. Imagine, someone claiming to be God in the flesh. If Jesus was a liar, then His claim is outrageous. If He was crazy, then His claim is pitiful. But...if Jesus' claim about Himself is true, then it is a game changer and we ought to pay close attention. The Good News is that Jesus brought witnesses to prove He wasn't lying or crazy.

Gospel of John | Part 2 | Life & Faith | Jon Sprouse

Life and FaithGospel of John: That You May BelieveFebruary 27, 2022
According to dictionary.com, credentials are evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form. Credentials can be permanent, like a high school diploma or college degree, or temporary, like a driver’s license or passport.
 Credentials indicate that you’ve met certain qualifications, have demonstrated an ability or capacity for something. Having the right credentials can give you access...like having a backstage pass for a concert or a staff badge on a school campus. You can go places that other people can’t. But your backstage pass won’t get you a seat at the table in the teacher’s lounge at school. And your passport won’t do you any good if an officer pulls you over for running a stop sign. It’s important to have the right credentials when you need them. Credentials also often involve some level of responsibility. If you’ve been credentialed as a lawyer or doctor or driver, there is an implication that you can fulfill the role you’ve been authorized to perform capably. Last week we began a new sermon series in the Gospel of John. This week, we’ll be looking at the credentials of two individuals we meet in the opening chapters of John’s gospel. Perhaps you’ve heard it said that God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. I hope you’ll join us as we unpack that idea and the implications for all of us this Sunday.

Gospel of John | Part 1 | God in the Flesh | Chris Voigt

God In the FleshGospel of John: That You May BelieveFebruary 20, 2022
You’d have to be living under a rock to not at least have heard of Queen Elizabeth II.And we all know that she is the Queen of England. But did you know that 16 different countries claim Elizabeth as their queen?And Queen Elizabeth II is kind of like a nickname. Her official title is:Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.The founders of the United States of America detested the British system of nobility that existed under King George III. To prevent the establishment of such a system in America, they included a prohibition against the granting of noble titles by our government in the Constitution.Titles, such as king, queen, prince, princess, duke, duchess, lord, lady, and a host of others are still commonly used in 38 countries around the world. And for the most part, these titles are less about function and more about status. Many of them are inherited; others can be granted or appointed. And, though some come with responsibilities attached, many do not.In American culture, titles are more about roles we have earned or chosen. Your title might be CEO, professor, doctor, or mom. This Sunday at Dayspring we’re beginning a new sermon series working our way through the Gospel of John. John was a disciple of Jesus; and toward the end of his life, after outliving all other eyewitnesses to the ministry of Jesus, John pens his last work... an account of the life of Jesus, the Son of God.In the opening chapter of John’s gospel, he records seven different titles of Jesus. We’ll take a look at each of them and unpack what they tell us about Him this week.