Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

Sealed With a Kiss

Sealed with a KissJuly 12, 2020
For the past five and a half months we’ve been studying Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. When we began this study on February 2, we had no idea of the things that lay ahead of us in the months to come. Who could have imagined all that has transpired around the world, and here in our own nation? In a very real way, the foundation of our global civilization is being shaken, and the fabric of our nation continues to fray. Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers are practical and purposeful, filled with exhortation and encouragement about what it means to authentically live out a vibrant faith in a broken world; to fully embrace our freedom in Christ, acknowledging that we have not only been freed FROM something, but FOR something. In a season of confusion and division in their world and in ours, Paul has reminded us that our focus must be on the eternal, not the temporary. This intensely practical study has been incredibly timely for us. The unshakeable truth of God’s Word is our firm foundation, even and perhaps especially, in uncertain days.We are wrapping up our Messy Church series this weekend, with a look at Paul’s concluding words to the Corinthians in chapter 16, which he seals with a kiss. I hope you’ll join us – in person, or online – this Sunday!

God Bod

God BodJuly 5, 2020 
The global health club industry is a $94 billion market. Around the world 174 million people like me spend time every week trying to get in shape, or stay in shape, so they can live longer, healthier lives. From the moment I started working out, I decided that I wasn’t ever going to cross the line into obsession. I’m not after the perfect body. I just want to be healthy. But it’s no secret that cultures around the world are obsessed with the perfect human body. For centuries, artists have celebrated, even exalted the human form in their art. A quick search on Amazon reveals that this obsession with bodies continues to thrive in our own time and culture. There are more than 90,000 books about exercise, 80,000 books about diet, and over 90,000 search results for exercise equipment available through their website! That’s a lot of emphasis and focus on something that’s as temporary as the human body! Or…is it as temporary as we think?This Sunday we’re in the second half of chapter 15 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. Last week, Pastor Jon unpacked Paul’s teaching on one of the foundational beliefs of our faith: the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that that means for us. This week, we’re looking at the promise of our own resurrection and the implications that promise holds for us today, both in how we view our bodies and how we use them.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths & a LieJune 28, 2020 
I have never broken a bone.I love rollercoasters.I’ve traveled to Antarctica.Of those three statements, two are true and one is a lie.Two Truths and a Lie is a popular party or icebreaker game. The point of the game is to get to know the people playing a little better. In turn, each person makes three statements about themselves, two of them true, and one being a lie. The other players then try to guess which “fact” is false. Often, it can be challenging to discern which of the statements is true and which one isn’t!This week, in our study of 1st Corinthians, we’re in the first half of chapter 15. We’re getting close to the end of Paul’s letter to the young church at Corinth. After focusing much of his attention on encouraging the Corinthian believers to live out their faith more consistently, Paul now begins to emphasize and reinforce a foundational truth of their faith in Christ. Upon this truth, their faith stands firm or falls flat; and Paul wants to make sure that they are solid in their understanding of it! This truth is essential for us as well, as we navigate a world that is overflowing with half-truths and outright lies.
 
Oh…and just so you know…I really haven’t ever broken a bone, and rollercoasters are one of my absolute favorite things. And as much as I believe penguins need Jesus too, in all my traveling, I haven’t made it to Antarctica…yet.

Come Together

Come TogetherJune 21, 2020 
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last few weeks, you can’t help but be aware of the protests that have occurred - and continue to occur - in the streets of cities all across our country. From coast to coast, people of every background, ethnicity, and skin color are crying out for justice. There have been thoughtful and respectful conversations that are leading to greater understanding and producing much-needed change. But there have also been demonstrations filled with disorder, chaos, and destruction that have only created greater division.This Sunday, as we pick up our study of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, in chapter 14, Paul continues to emphasize the importance of order in public worship services. As followers of Jesus, we have become members of one body, each of us gifted with unique abilities intended for the edification of the Church. But the Corinthian church had lost sight of their purpose, and their gatherings had become self-serving exhibitions, rather than demonstrations of the self-sacrificing love that must characterize those who follow Christ. And just like we see in our culture today, the chaos resulted in disorder and division.

Say What?

Say What?June 14, 2020 
You don’t have to be around pre-schoolers very long before you’ll hear one of their very favorite words: MINE!  Sharing is a concept that has to be learned! And though parents, grandparents, and teachers patiently coax and coach the little humans in their lives to have a gracious and generous heart toward others, the me-first, it’s MINE mindset is wired deeply into our brains. It’s a default setting that we as humans constantly contend with.As we press on in our study of 1 Corinthians this week, Paul continues to address the chaos that has begun to characterize the young Corinthian church. Many of the believers there had become consumed with a me-first mentality that was creating division and disunity within the church. After emphasizing the supremacy of selfless love for one another, Paul now turns his attention to selfless service; the practical, Spirit-enabled, living out of our faith as followers of Jesus and members of His body. As believers we have been called and equipped for a faith life that is in many ways, counter-intuitive. But as Christians, it’s not about me, it’s about we.

Love Does

Love Does
Messy Church
June 7, 2020
Every year since I graduated from high school, I’ve been part of at least one wedding. Whether I was singing, playing piano, standing alongside a groom, or officiating, I’ve been in more than my fair share of ceremonies! More often than I can even tell you, 1 Corinthians 13 has been used as a sentimental reading to express what love looks like. But the apostle Paul never intended for his words to become fodder for the standard wedding ceremony. This chapter, as eloquent as it is, is full of hard truth. It calls us to a kind of love that is beyond sentimentality, to a selfless, sacrificial kind of love that’s much more than just a feeling. Scripture tells us that God is love. As we are filled with His love, and learn to love others as He does, we will find that love is life-giving, empowering, and fills us with purpose, as we employ our spiritual gifts to serve others. We’ll be unpacking what Paul has to teach us in this most famous chapter of 1 Corinthians as we continue in our series, Messy Church, this Sunday.
These are challenging times in our country. As the body of Christ we are called to love the way Jesus did; to be His hands and feet to a world that desperately needs Him. Love changes everything. Let’s get on it!

The Perfect Gift

The Perfect GiftMay 31, 2020
In each of the last few weeks, I’ve had the joy of giving a gift to one person (or family) who has filled out our online Communication Card. It’s been fun to delight people with a surprise they didn’t expect and to give them something that was chosen specifically for them. If you haven’t been completing the Communication Card, you might want to rethink that! You just might end up being our weekly recipient! I mean, who doesn’t want to get a gift?As we come to our study in 1 Corinthians this week, we’re in chapter 12. Paul continues to give instruction about how the body of Christ should function; and in this passage, he turns his attention to the topic of spiritual gifts. Unlike our weekly gift that goes to just one lucky “winner,” ALL who belong to the body of Christ, who choose to follow Jesus, have been given spiritual gifts. They’re gifts that have been carefully selected for each individual. They’re given for a purpose, and discovering what they are and then using them brings great joy and satisfaction!

Let Them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat CakeMay 24, 2020
Though legend has often attributed the phrase, “Let them eat cake,” to Marie Antoinette, it’s more likely those words were said about 100 years before her time by Marie-Therese, wife of Louis XIV. British author and biographer Antonia Fraser writes, “It was a callous and ignorant statement and she, Marie Antoinette, was neither.” The phrase references the plight of the poor during a time of famine in France when bread was in short supply and extraordinarily expensive, consuming up to 50% of a household’s income. It shows us just how disconnected she was from the challenges facing the poorest citizens in France at that time.As we continue in our study of 1 Corinthians this week, Paul has some words of correction for the believers in Corinth around their practice of communion. Originally, their remembrance of Jesus’ death on the cross was part of a larger feast, commonly called a “love feast,” meant to be a blessing to those in need in the congregation. But the practice within the Corinthian congregation had become significantly lacking in love. Their “let them eat cake” attitude was hurting the unity and strength that communion was meant to build. Paul, fed up with their drift from the purpose of the love feast, issues a strong rebuke, urging them to remember the price paid for their redemption and that they are now, one body. 

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees and ToesMother's DayMay 10, 2020
Happy Mother’s Day! Traditionally, on the second Sunday of May, we honor moms and all of the sacrifices they make (or have made) to love and care for their families well. Our celebrations or remembrances will most likely look a little different this year. But what a great opportunity to get creative as we affirm and bless the important women in our lives!  Moms, we appreciate you. Thank you for all that you are and all the ways you love and serve. You are a blessing, and we are grateful.Now, whether it’s the ongoing Covid crisis or the discovery that a new, invasive species of “Murder Hornets” has arrived in our part of the country, it seems the world is just moving from one crisis to the next, with no end in sight. In the swirl of “sky is falling” voices, it’s important to fix our eyes on the truth of God’s Word. This weekend, we’re looking forward to hearing from Pastor Michelle, as she brings a special message of encouragement…not just for moms, but for all of us!

The Freedom Trail

The Freedom TrailMessy Church - Loving Others Isn't EasyMay 3, 2020
Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1951, the Freedom Trail is a unique collection of locations and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution. A 2.5-mile red line, beginning at Boston Common, leads to 16 nationally significant historic sites and gives tourists the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of America’s founding fathers.Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve been walking with the apostle Paul down a “freedom trail” of our own. We’ve considered how our freedom in Christ calls us to balance truth and grace. We’ve looked at how our freedom challenges us to balance our rights with our responsibilities. This week, as we look at1 Corinthians 10, we’ll look at two more “freedom trail markers.”Life as followers of Jesus looked very different from what the Corinthians were used to before embracing faith in Jesus. As the founding father of their faith, Paul guided them in how to walk out their new freedom. The principles we find in Paul’s writing equip us to use our freedom as believers, wisely.Even in this season where everything feels wonky, we are still called to walk out our freedom with wisdom. So, what does that mean, and what should it look like?