Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

Marks of Maturity, Part 1

April 1 & 2, 2017Marks of Maturity, Part 1Rooted: Deep Roots. Strong Character.
The General Sherman Sequoia in Northern California is the largest tree on earth. At a height of nearly 300 feet, it would be the crowning jewel in any forest. But, as tall, strong, and beautiful as it is, it is only as strong as its root system. At maturity, the roots of a Sequoia sink 12 to 14 feet deep into the earth, and can spread out to more than one acre in breadth.  Just as no tree would last very long without a root system to sustain its life, no Christian will stand long without a healthy root system to sustain their life. As we celebrate Dayspring’s 25thBirthday as a church this weekend, we will take a look at the kind of roots that we need to be healthy, mature Christians who lead people to follow Jesus.

The Dinner Menu at the Lions' Club

The Dinner Menu at the Lions' Club
March 25 & 26, 2017Stand Against the Tide: Daniel 6 
      Remember the kid in school who could do no wrong? Remember what people thought about him? “What a goodie-goodie!” Remember what people would say about her? “Teacher’s pet!”  What did other teens hold against those good kids? “He thinks he’s so smart!”  It is sad, but doing right is a recipe for social disaster. “What is she trying to prove – that she is so much better than the rest of us?”  The consistency of the upright arouses jealous rivalry from those who don’t typically do the right thing. When we were teens, most of the average kids loved to hate the exceptional kids. Those who don’t measure up want to knock down anyone who stands out.      This is the syndrome that we encounter as we open our Bibles to the sixth chapter of Daniel. This week we read of how our hero was hated and ended up on the menu for dinner at the Lions’ Club. His consistent character got him into trouble, but in the end God got him out of trouble. Come worship with us as we explore the application of one of the most beloved chapters in the Bible.

When God Crashes the Party

When God Crashes the Party
March 18 & 19, 2017Stand Against the Tide: Daniel 5 
When I was preparing for a missions trip to Thailand a couple years ago, I sought to learn as many of their customs as I could. I wanted to build bridges, and not blow them up by causing unnecessary offence. Among many other things, I was told that it is very impolite to point. Thais gesture with the whole hand and never with just the index finger. At the time I wondered if it is polite to point in any culture. People generally don’t like having others point at them. We especially resent anyone pointing out our weaknesses and mistakes. Can you imagine someone coming into your house, crashing your party and pointing out what a loser you are! What an outrage! Who would be so bold, so outrageous and obnoxious?This weekend we will read an episode in Daniel 5 in which the hand of God pointed. He blew the whistle on an evil king’s reckless defiance. Just to be sure they got the message, his accusing finger left handwriting on the wall. As we study the text, we’ll learn what the message says to each of us. 

Pride Comes Before a Fall

Pride Comes Before a Fall
March 11 & 12, 2017Stand Against the Tide: Daniel 4 
Here in Oregon, visiting the coast in winter isn’t about playing on the beach and going in the water. People go to Lincoln City and other towns to simply watch the waves and see the storms blow in. When you look west over the vast ocean, you can’t help but to be impressed with its immense expanse. I’ve had this same experience when I’ve travelled. Looking out the window of a plane shows us how big the world is and puts our lives in perspective. When you look at something really big, you realize how really small you are.     Many years ago, King Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson. He thought he was big stuff until he met his Creator! He thought he ruled, but he came to realize that God rules. Looking at his experience may save us some trouble; we can learn from his mistake rather than learning the hard way.     Daniel 4 is autobiographical. We’ll hear King Nebuchadnezzar tell his own story, which we’ll see perfectly illustrates the words of Jesus, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). 

Fake ID: Does Your Work Define You?

Fake ID: Does Your Work Define You?
March 4 & 5, 2017 
What do you do for a living? Are you a Doctor, an Equipment Operator, a Garbage Collector, or Teacher? Maybe you’re an Administrative Assistant, an Accountant, or a Customer Service Representative. Did you answer that question by thinking or saying, “I am a(n)…insert your occupational title here…”? You have likely heard me (Kap) say “I’m an Engineer” to explain what I do for a living. It’s a funny thing when we apply our employment titles to our identity in this way. This is probably because we spend more time at work in our professional role than we spend most anywhere else. For many of us, our occupation is what defines who we are, giving us identity. Major portions of life are spent plying the skills of our trade and growing professionally. To describe ourselves or identify ourselves in other ways would seem to be inadequate. Work is such a central part of what we do with our life that we can’t help but put our identity in terms of our employment or career.  Still these titles are actually Fake ID’s in light of what God’s Word teaches. God’s Word has a great deal to say about who we are and what role work should play in our lives. This weekend we are considering our true identity in Christ and how his character informs and defines our work.

Taking a Stand Could Get You Fired

Taking a Stand Could Get You Fired
February 25 & 26, 2017Stand Against the Tide: Daniel 3 
Have you met people who somehow have the idea that coming to Jesus guarantees that life will be easy and pain-free? Maybe they imagine that God will always deliver Christians from every difficulty and spare us all from suffering. But that thinking doesn’t align with our lives or the life of Christ, whom we follow! Believing promises God never made will lead to disappointment.     I believe one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to place your faith in a particular outcome. Instead, our faith must remain in God himself. In prayer we submit our will to the will of God, and don’t always get what we want. But isn’t the point wanting what God wants for us?     This was the attitude of 3 young men who, years ago, were faced with a moral dilemma. We’ll read their story in Daniel 3. How they respond could get them fired, and I’m not just talking about them losing their jobs! I’ve always considered their words in verses 17 and 18 to be one of the most inspiring statements of faith in the entire Bible.     I find this lesson very meaningful. God has powerfully used this material in my life this week and my prayer is that he will use it in yours.

We Know the One Who Knows it All

We Know the One Who Knows it All
February 18 & 19, 2017Stand Against the Tide: Daniel 2 
Sometimes kids think their dads know everything, but then they hit the teen years and decide their dads know nothing at all. Most of the time, their respect returns once they grow up and begin to recognize their need for guidance.     But fathers don’t know everything. We’re limited. We’re still learners ourselves.      What would it be like to know someone who really did know it all? Imagine that. Actually, we don’t need to pretend this is the case; there is someone who knows everything. God does. God knows it all. What difference can this make in our lives? Today we study Daniel 2 and learn more about what God is like and what living with him can involve.

When We Stand For God, We Won't Stand For Compromise

When We Stand For God,We Won't Stand For Compromise
February 11 & 12, 2017Standing Against the Tide: Daniel 1 
There are many off-ramps leading us far from the Way. The exponential increase in life’s complexity, fueled by technological advancements, multiplies the ways we can compromise and divert away from the straight path. It’s easy to slip and succumb to the temptation to leave our convictions and commitment behind. What we need is a powerful lesson to challenge us. The Old Testament prophet Daniel provides just the motivational example we need!     This weekend we’ll begin a series of messages on the Book of Daniel. We’ll see that he stood for God and didn’t stand for compromise. In our study we’ll draw some very practical principles from the first chapter. Daniel takes us back in time 27 centuries, but we’ll read of a struggle so relevant we will find it easy to relate.

The Love You Had At First

The Love You Had At First
February 4 & 5, 2017 
Many of us live busy lives with incredibly full schedules. We know what it means to work hard. We work hard at our jobs, in our marriages, to make our kids happy, and even to serve at church. But is it possible that with all our efforts we can forget the love that gave us life from the very beginning? I believe so. We see it in the life of Peter at the end of the Gospel of John and we will see it once more this weekend as we explore the Lord’s letter to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7.               But thankfully, the Lord is so very faithful. He provides all that we need to remember in order that he may restore the love we had at first. Join us this weekend as we remember together and turn to the one who first loved us. Let us listen as Christ creates in us the good works that grow abundantly from His love and grace.Nathan

Living in "Holywood"

Living in Holywood
January 28 & 29, 2017 
How many times in the last week have you said to yourself, “I should do this or that”? I’ve done it myself at least two or three times already. In our world, especially in our Christian subculture, there are expectations. But I wonder how many of those expectations are instituted by God rather than our own understanding of what we think God wants. We desire to be righteous. We desire to honor God, but in our efforts to do so we may focus too much on our effort. Jesus came to this earth, lived, forgave, healed, died, and rose again to enable us to live free. And yet, as Paul says in Colossians, we go right back to following a list of rules in hopes of being able to prove, perhaps to ourselves, perhaps to God, that we are in fact righteous. We willingly slip on the handcuffs and chains that Jesus obliterated by His incredible work and nullify His grace.  
~Jared Hernandez
 
School bus puzzle: http://www.today.com/parents/can-you-crack-school-bus-puzzle-easy-brainteaser-kids-stumps-t71521 
"Evan" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8syQeFtBKc&sns=em