Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

Give It Up

This Sunday, we’re looking at 1 Corinthians 9 in our series Messy Church. In this section of his letter, Paul challenges the Corinthian believers to stay focused, to keep the big picture in mind. Distraction and difficulty will threaten to pull them off course. But Paul reminds them to be disciplined and diligent, keeping the goal of the gospel as their target. His words to the Corinthian believers couldn’t be more appropriate for us.

"Meating" in the Middle

“Meating” in the MiddleApril 19, 2020
In case you’re not counting, it’s been 25 days since the governor of Oregon ordered the citizens of our state to stay home. Twenty-five days of disrupted schedules, disappearing toilet paper, and, for many, discontinued paychecks. It seems everything about our lives has been completely re-oriented around the Coronavirus. You don’t have to look very far to find advice on how to navigate this season or opinions on what our government should (or shouldn’t) do next. The clamor has created a swirl of confusion, frustration, and fear. How do we, as followers of Jesus, respond? We are in chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians as we continue our series called Messy Church. In this passage, the apostle Paul is again responding to a question sent to him by believers in Corinth. Relatively young in their faith, they were intent on figuring out how their faith in Jesus impacted their daily lives. And, shocker, it appears there was a difference of opinion about what that should look like!Whether it’s government policies or drinking alcohol or selecting a movie to watch – even among Christians today, there is a variety of opinions. We get to do life together, and every decision impacts someone else. So how do we choose wisely?

He Lives

He Lives!April 12, 2020
If you had told me a year ago that we would not be gathering together this Easter; that churches all around the world would be empty on the day we celebrate our Risen Savior, I’m not sure I would have believed you. And yet, right now, this is our reality. In the last three weeks, life as we know it has turned upside down. Nothing is as we expected. And in a way, it’s almost fitting. Hang in there with me for a moment... You see, 2000 years ago the disciples of Jesus had a vision. They knew Jesus was the Messiah; and in their minds, they had expectations of how things were going to play out and what that would look like. And then suddenly, in the midst of a Passover dinner, Jesus tells them it’s not going to work out at all like they expected. Faster than they could process, their world turned upside down and their hearts turned inside out. The Master they followed, the Messiah they loved, was betrayed, judged, sentenced, crucified, and buried. He was gone. And so was their vision, and their hope. But behind the scenes, working in ways that they could not fathom, God was preparing to unleash a hope bigger than they could imagine, a rescue more powerful than they could dream. We will celebrate the resurrection of our Savior this Sunday in ways we never have before. Gathered around computer monitors or television screens or cell phones is not what any of us imagined or hoped for. And yet, what if God is doing something bigger behind the scenes that we can’t see? What if He is preparing to do something more powerful in our world than we can even imagine? Jesus lives! Hope has come! In homes all across our city, state, nation, and around the world, followers of Jesus WILL CELEBRATE the risen Christ this Easter. Just imagine…worship rising in my home and your home, in homes from coast to coast and continent to continent, as Jesus is exalted! The Holy Spirit unites us in a powerful way, even and perhaps especially, when we can’t be together! I’m excited about what God is doing, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Life Lessons #2: Contentment

Life Lessons #2: ContentmentMessy Church – Loving Others Isn’t EasyApril 5, 2020
You know…months ago when we were planning and preparing to begin livestreaming our services, I was really excited about being able to use technology in this way to reach people. And don’t get me wrong, I’m still excited about it and incredibly grateful that God has given us the resources to make videos, stream services, and connect with one another through the internet. But having to do everything this way is hard. Really hard. We all miss the personal interaction, our community, our “people.” I know you feel the same way. When the circumstances of life are hard, it’s easy to become frustrated, anxious, and discontent.   The passage we’re looking at in 1 Corinthians this week is very timely. We’re in the second half of chapter 7, and the apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthian believers about this very subject…contentment. We don’t know for sure what crisis they were facing, but Paul refers to challenging circumstances in verse 26. Today, we face a global crisis; and Paul’s words of encouragement are just as important for us, in these times, as they were when he wrote them.

Life Lessons #1: Marriage & Divorce

Life Lessons #1: Marriage and Divorce
Messy Church – Loving Others Isn’t Easy
March 29, 2020
 
There is definitely a lot of uncertainty and confusion filling our world right now. Every morning it seems there are new questions, new statistics, and new information. If you aren’t careful, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! Daily, we are navigating our way through new territory; and it can be difficult to know what the next right thing to do might be. It can feel like there are a lot more questions than answers.
 
The believers of the church at Corinth were navigating new territory of their own. Most of these young Christians had been converted from a pagan lifestyle to a new life, following the Way of Jesus. But figuring out what that looked like, practically speaking, in their day to day life was a challenge! They had lots of questions! Fortunately for them, and for us, the Apostle Paul had answers. And the principles that Paul laid out for the practical application of faith to daily life are as valuable and important for us, today, as they were for the Corinthians.

Let's Talk About Sex

Let's Talk About Sex Messy Church – Loving Others Isn’t Easy March 22, 2020
As we continue this Sunday in our study of 1 Corinthians, you might find yourself feeling really glad that we’re not gathering in person! We’re in the second half of 1 Corinthians chapter 6, and Paul is going to have THE TALK with his Corinthian kids. It’s time. Maybe past time, and Paul speaks boldly and directly to the church at Corinth about S-E-X. That’s right, we’re gonna talk about sex. See…I told ya, you might be glad to be watching from home this week! If you’re uncomfortable or embarrassed…well, you can be that way in the privacy of your own home! But don’t let discomfort distract you. Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian believers because who we are and how we live out our faith matters in EVERY area of our lives, including this one. And, his principles apply to more than just sex as well.

So Sue Me

So Sue Me!Messy Church – Loving Others Isn’t EasyMarch 15, 2020
If you are like me, you’re probably tired of hearing about the COVID-19 (or Coronavirus) pandemic. Getting good information can sometimes seem a little like herding chickens. How do you sort through everything you see and hear throughout the day? Frankly, it seems as if a culture of fear is quickly overtaking common sense in most cases.By now, I’m sure you have heard that the Governor has canceled all large gatherings of more than 250 people for the next four weeks. And, I’m sure you are wondering what that means for church.Here at Dayspring, the attendance at each Sunday morning service is under the 250 number the Governor has stated. So, unless something changes in the next couple of days, we will be holding our services this coming Sunday, March 15.We are taking every recommended precaution to sanitize our building; and if you are here, you’ll probably see people wiping down counters and crash bars on the exit doors. Our Children’s Team already sanitizes their toys and spaces as part of their everyday precautions.If you are sick or in a high-risk category, we encourage you to stay home and catch our livestream at 11 am.With that said, we recognize that in our body we have people who have hunkered down at home, trying to avoid contamination; and we have people who aren’t worried at all. As Christians, I want to call all of us to respect each other, even in the face of disagreement about how they may (or may not) choose to live in these moments.In fact, that message will tie in well to this weekend’s message, the next in our series Messy Church. We’ll be looking at the next section of Paul’s letter as he addresses disagreements in the church.As Christians, we have two choices. We can respond in fear like we see so many people doing around us; or we can use wisdom as we respond in faith. And, He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind. Fear never comes from God.God is still sovereign, with everything under His control. He has a unique plan for your life and for the world at large. And He is still at work…even in the chaos…maybe especially in the chaos.This is a time for the Church to rise up and be light in the darkness. As people are looking for something to anchor them in this sea of chaos, we have the answer. Jesus. So let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.Our services are Sunday morning at 9 and 10:45. Our livestream begins on Sundays at 11. You can find more information about us on our website, or social media channels.

Discipline

DisciplineMessy Church – Loving Others Isn’t EasyMarch 8, 2020
 
What do you think of when you hear the word “discipline?” Most of us, I would guess, view that as a negative word. It carries the ideas of difficulty, confrontation, and punishment. And, there are times when those things ARE a part of what discipline means. But done correctly, discipline is about development, training, and correction. What appears negative is, in reality, a positive…a strategy to propel us toward health and holiness as we grow in Christ. In our sermon series, Messy Church, we will be looking at Paul’s words in chapter 5 of I Corinthians. The young church definitely had some serious issues and was in need of discipline…and Paul delivers with some strong words.This chapter is full of challenging, but important truths. As followers of Jesus, the Corinthian believers were to live a new kind of lifestyle, walking out their faith in counter-cultural ways, pursuing spiritual maturity and holiness. We have the same calling today! Paul’s words are incredibly relevant and important for us today, in our time and culture.

In This Together

The days are beginning to get a little longer and the sun is showing its face a little bit more! Have you noticed the daffodils blooming and the trees starting to blossom? It’s beginning to look like Spring in the Willamette Valley, and you know what that means…six inches of snow this weekend…or, summer isn’t too far behind, and I LOVE summer!
I’m also really loving our study in the book of 1 Corinthians. We are five weeks into our series, Messy Church, and we’re beginning to get a pretty good picture of the challenges the young church at Corinth was facing. Much like our current culture, their world was filled with a cacophony of loud voices - various philosophies, theologies, and worldly wisdom – all vying for their attention and allegiance. And though as believers they had been called to a new way of living, leaving behind the old patterns and habits was proving difficult. This week we are in chapter 4, and the Apostle Paul begins to unpack what it should look like for the local church to walk in faithfulness and function as a healthy spiritual family. There’s no room for pride, division, and arrogance. We are called to a new kind of living, and we’re in this together!

Picture This

Picture ThisMessy Church – Loving Others Isn’t EasyFebruary 23, 2020
Did you ever play with a kaleidoscope as a kid? Peering into a small hole with one eye, while the other was squeezed tightly shut…pointing the tube toward the sun, then slowly turning the opposite end, watching the geometric patterns and colors change before your eyes. They are fascinating! Most kaleidoscopes are mass produced from inexpensive materials and intended as children's toys. At the other extreme are handmade pieces that display fine craftsmanship. Looking through a kaleidoscope allows us to see the beauty of ordinary pieces of colored glass in a way that we might not otherwise even notice.As we continue our study of I Corinthians this week, Paul does much the same thing for the believers in the church at Corinth. Young in their faith, they had no framework for understanding the different facets of what the Church should look like or be like. In chapter 3 of I Corinthians, Paul provides us with three different pictures or lenses through which we can view and better understand God’s design for His Church.