Dayspring Fellowship Podcasts

We Can Forgive

May 2 & 3, 2015
The fourth in a series of messages on your deepest concerns
 
I often hear people struggle with forgiving others. It is tough
to let go of our bitterness. We know we should, but in some cases we don’t even
want to do so.
 
We've all been hurt. We've been let down and we’re disappointed.
Maybe you’ve been abandoned or betrayed. You might feel resentful about a
family member. You may have even plotted retaliation in some way.
     
While these feelings are common, they are not comfortable because we know that
the Bible commands us to forgive. It doesn’t come naturally, but we can forgive
when we turn to God for supernatural strength.
     
In this weekend’s message, we will begin by considering why we don’t
forgive. What hinders us from following through on this command? Then
we’ll look to the Scriptures to learn how to let go. Our service will culminate
in communion. Make plans to attend; I want to worship with you. 

Praying and Praying

April 25 & 26,
2015The third in a series of
messages on your deepest concerns 
We receive comment cards with prayer requests every week and we
receive additions to the email prayer list nearly everyday. We also compile the
concerns you express when you attend special events like the Good Friday
services. It is impossible not to notice that we are still praying for things
we've been praying about for some time. You've probably experienced this in
your own life. You keep praying and praying about your health or the condition
of a loved one and you’re not seeing the answers you seek. Apparently, prayer
does not work like a vending machine. How does it work, and how are we to view
the accumulating unanswered prayers? Come this week to worship, learn, and
experience fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Guidance for Grief

April 18 & 19,
2015The second in a series of
messages on your deepest concerns.
 
To mature in our faith, we must learn to handle grief.  We all face
losses; they come in many varieties.  Death is the big one. But we travel
through the valley of grief with the loss of a job, a billfold, a relationship,
or a move to another city.   Grief is normal & something we can’t
escape.  But we can
glean insights from Scripture on how to navigate loss in a way that glorifies
God and results in blessing to others.  This weekend we’ll deal with the
deep topic of handling loss—moving through the process of grief to the glory of
God.
 
Join us and invite a friend.
 
Pastor John

Real Joy

April 11 & 12,
2015The first in a series of
messages on your deepest concerns.
We all want to be happy but bad things happen to everyone. Suffering is a
normal part of our lives. Reality is a tough place to live, but denying reality
won’t do us any good. Sadness seems like a better fit for our circumstances
than happiness, but we’re all still striving to feel good, despite all the
difficulties inherent in being human.
What we need is something like
happiness, but something stronger than happiness, something less susceptible to
fading, something that won’t dissolve in the Oregon rain. What we need is joy
and this weekend we will look at what the Bible teaches about experiencing real
joy. We’ll especially focus on what Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at
Philippi. This message will kick off a new series on the top needs you have
expressed in the last few Good Friday prayer experiences. I hope to see you in
worship. 

Because He Lives

April 4 & 5, 20151 Corinthians 15:14-20
 
The word Easter is not particularly Christian at all. In fact,
its roots are in idolatry. For centuries, people celebrated fertility with
sensual festivals at this time of year. Some Christians respond to this by
saying we should have nothing to do with any springtime celebration. But for
us, this holiday is really holy! We redeem it and celebrate the fact of the
resurrection – Jesus rose and is alive today!     
This weekend we will take a look at a passage in 1 Cor. 15 in which the Apostle
Paul is writing about the importance of the resurrection by considering what
would be true if Jesus remained in the tomb. His approach is to basically say,
“You want to know about the meaning of the empty tomb? Think of where we’d be
if Jesus stayed in there and never rose!” The service will include several
significant ways in which we can join our hearts and worship. I hope you will
join us. 

Living a 3D Life in a 1D World

March 28 & 29,
2015
     
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But
do this with gentleness and respect.
1st Peter 3:15
 
When people find out that I spend my working days (and too often nights) at the
Oregon State Capitol navigating the politics of the legislative session as a
lobbyist, folks usually ask me the same two questions:
 
What do you actually do?
How can you stand it and, why aren’t you cynical?
 
It’s not surprising to me that our legislative process is both confusing and
troubling.  After all, walking into the Capitol building during a
legislative session can feel a bit like showing up to the movie “Mission
Impossible” about 20 minutes late.  In the midst of the commotion and
frantic pace, it’s hard to understand what is going on and why…and who are all
of these people and what are they doing here. Each Legislative Session, every
imaginable interest makes their way to the Capitol Building to engage the process
because they understand that the laws considered, passed by the House and
Senate and signed by the Governor can have a profound impact on their daily
lives and the causes they care about.  Unfortunately, when you mix a
legitimate debate over important issues with politics and special interests,
the public is understandably frustrated.  Some have compared the lawmaking
process to the making of sausages suggesting that it is “better not to see them
being made”.
 
When I consider the work I’m engaged in as a follower of Jesus Christ who is a
lobbyist, I’m challenged by the admonition in 1st Peter 3:15 to
“always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have.”  When I consider my testimony, I’m
convinced that the hope I have is deeply connected to the story of my decision
to follow Jesus when I was 16 years of age, but it is equally about the hope I
have because of the work of Jesus in my life today.  In a few words, the
hope I have is a “today hope” and my testimony is the ongoing story of my
adventure with Jesus. As I walk the halls of the Capitol and interact with
legislators and advocates, I’m very cognizant that I am an ambassador for
Christ and that I must live a 3D life in an increasingly 1D world. This
weekend, as I share the story of my personal spiritual journey, I look forward
to explaining what I mean by that statement.
 
I hope to see you this weekend.
Kevin Campbell

Testify: Kap Otten

March 21 & 22,
2015
Have you ever wanted to be someone else? I have. From an early
age, I wanted to be someone else. I wanted to be someone that people would
admire. Plagued by insecurity I would lie, and make up stories to create a
personality that I thought people would admire. I looked to characters like
Indiana Jones and the Marlboro Man as patterns for what I thought I should be
like. The harder I tried, the more I felt like a fake. Much of my life I worked
hard trying to be someone else. That is, until three events in one weekend
changed my life.
This weekend we return to our Testify sermon series and I
am excited to share with you how God has transformed me into the man he
designed me to be. The testimony of Christ’s work in my life is his work of
transformation. Romans 12:2 is a life verse for me when it says Do not conform any longer to the pattern
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
Join us this weekend as I share
God’s power of transformation in my life. Perhaps you will discover more of his
transformational power in your own life. Come as you are, but don’t stay as you
are. Be transformed into the person he designed you to be.
-Kap Otten

God Closes the Curtain

March 14 & 15,
2015Revelation 1:1
     
How and when the world will end has been a popular topic in philosophy, art and
music throughout human history. We seem innately aware that everything we see
around us is going to come to a climactic conclusion and we’re fascinated with
what we can expect in the afterlife.
     
Scientists from a variety of disciplines agree that the universe had a
beginning and it will also have an end. A sudden unpredictable culmination is
inevitable. The Bible calls it the “the day of the Lord.”
          
     
The book of Revelation’s place in the back of the Bible is perfect, for it
describes the coming conclusion. This weekend we’ll look at how the book begins
and glean some important lessons. I hope you will come worship with us. 

God's Way Works

March 7 & 8, 2015Psalm 1:1
I’m not sure if you
think of poetry as motivational, but the Book of Psalms opens with a very
motivating poem. Psalm 1 depicts two contrasting lifestyles and encourages the
reader to live God’s way. It looks into the future and explains the
consequences of the two ways to live. Verse 1 is memorable: “Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.” We need to make choices about what we expose
ourselves to in order to live successfully. If we are indiscriminant about what
we take in, we will sink into meaninglessness and live unfruitful lives. This
weekend we’ll focus on this great psalm and its message of encouragement. We’ll
also hear Anna share her touching testimony, which includes a very personal
story of loyal love. I anticipate worshipping with you as a joyful and fruitful
experience.
        
Mar. 14, 15 “God Is the
First and Last” - Rev 1:1    

God Came Here

February 28 &
March 1, 2015John 1:1
This weekend I’ll be talking about Jesus, starting out in John 1:1. The Lord is
my topic every week but this message is completely focused on him. I’ll lead
you through an overview of what the Bible says about Jesus Christ’s divinity.
The identity of Jesus has divided people. Jesus is unique and controversial. It
is hard to be neutral on such a significant figure. He made outlandish, radical
claims. We’ll look at some of those in our study as we consider who Jesus is
and why he came here.
While this message is basically a Bible study, it is also intensely personal
for me. If Jesus is really who he claimed to be then this reality affects every
facet of our lives. I’m praying that this message will be informative,
practical and challenging for you as well. 
        
Mar. 7, 8 “God’s Way
Works” - Psalm 1:1
        
Mar. 14, 15 “God Is the
First and Last” - Rev 1:1