Dayspring Tempe Sermons

The world can feel physically and spiritually heavy, with the weight of rolled-back rights and systemic injustice making us wonder: Does the work even matter? In this moving reflection, Pastor Michael explores Isaiah 32 , reminding us that God’s righteousness isn't found in palaces of power, but in the "wilderness" with those on the margins. Through a personal lens as a Black queer m...

What happens when you’ve reached the end of your resources and the "system" has taken everything—your money, your dignity, and your hope? In this moving sermon, Pastor Michael dives into the story of the unnamed woman in first-century Galilee who lived with a chronic hemorrhage for 12 years. Ostracized by Levitical law and labeled "unclean," she was a woman invisible to her com...

What happens when the Holy Spirit breathes life into spaces that feel completely dried up? In this powerful Pentecost Sunday message, we explore the concept of "holy disruption"—the uninvited, unscheduled, and uncontainable movement of God that shakes us up before turning our lives around. Drawing powerful connections across history and scripture, this episode traces the journey of faith...

How do you maintain hope and joy when life feels confined or uncertain? In this powerful graduation Sunday message, we dive into the Book of Philippians to uncover the true context behind Paul’s letter of encouragement. While many assume Paul wrote from a place of comfort, he was actually under house arrest, chained to a guard, and paying for his own confinement. Yet, despite his chains, he truste...

What happens when religious gifts, status, and rules are used as weapons of control rather than tools for community? In this powerful and deeply personal message, we dive into the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth—a bustling, divided community that got its wires crossed when it came to the true meaning of love. Paul wasn’t talking about the "fuzzy," superficial love seen in Lifetime m...

In this moving message, Pastor Michael Long explores the intersection of faith, civil rights, and the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. . Drawing from the prophetic words of Micah 6:8 , the episode outlines a "moral blueprint" for navigating modern times where truth is often stretched and the vulnerable are treated as optional.

As we reach the final Sunday of the year, many of us find ourselves standing in a liminal space. It has been a year marked by incredible ups and downs—filled with the joy of answered prayers alongside the heavy exhaustion of waiting, grief, and uncertainty. We are grateful, yet we are tired. In this powerful message, Pastor Michael Long pulls back the curtain on their own vulnerable transitions—na...

In this moving reflection for the Advent season , Pastor Michael Long explores the intersection of ancient struggle and modern-day reality. Drawing on insights from Palestinian theologian Reverend Doctor Mitri Raheb , the episode highlights the weight of living under the longest occupation in modern history and how that context reshapes our understanding of the Christmas story. We dive deep into t...

In a world driven by economic scarcity, systemic hurdles, and political divides, what does it truly mean to follow Jesus? In this powerful episode, we confront a question that hits close to home: Why does it often take systemic failures to light a fire under us to do what we’ve been called to do all along? Drawing from a profound moment in Mark’s gospel, we dive into the story of Jesus feeding tho...

“Grief is love that has nowhere to go.” In a world that often tells us to bottle up our pain, stay strong, and keep moving forward, how do we actually learn to grieve well? In this episode, we dive deep into the ultimate expression of divine empathy: the shortest yet most profound verse in scripture— Jesus wept. Drawing from the story of Mary, Martha, and the death of Lazarus, we explore the beaut...

In a society where talking about death is deeply taboo, how do we move from a place of terrifying fear to one of absolute freedom? In this powerful and deeply personal message, Pastor Michael reflects on his childhood dream of entering the funeral industry—a calling sparked by a mother's lessons in love at the casket side—and how confronting death firsthand revealed it to be a true ministry of pea...

We often think of Jesus born into a quiet, sanitized nativity scene—but the truth is, he was born into a storm. In this powerful episode, we strip away the comfortable, polite version of religion to look at the real world Jesus entered: a world under the crushing military, economic, political, and ideological grip of the Roman Empire. From his very first breath, Jesus’s existence was an act of res...

In this moving exploration of the Easter story, we dive into the profound moment when grief meets glory at the empty tomb. This episode re-centers the narrative on Mary Magdalene , challenging historical misconceptions to highlight her true role as a faithful disciple, prophet, and the "apostle to the apostles". Through a powerful retelling of the events of the third day, we witness the transition...

Have you ever felt a tug on your heart to do something big, terrifying, and completely outside your comfort zone? You aren’t alone. In this powerful episode, we dive into the discomfort, the running away, and the ultimate surrender that comes with discovering your divine purpose. Drawing from the story of a young Prophet Jeremiah, Pastor Michael unpacks what it really means to be "called". From fe...

In this powerful and stir-ring episode, we dive deep into the mystery, wonder, and transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Often misunderstood, hidden, or even avoided, the Holy Spirit—our Advocate, Comforter, and Paraclete—is exactly who we need to navigate the world today. Drawing from the Gospel of John, we explore the anxious moments when the disciples feared being left alone, only for Jesus...

In this powerful and encouraging episode, we dive into the season that comes after the initial celebration. When you are standing in a period of transition, uncertainty, or deep suffering, it is easy to look toward heaven and ask: What's next? Drawing from personal experiences of facing homelessness, rejection, and months of silence while chasing a dream, our speaker connects our modern-day waitin...

In this episode, we explore the foundational moment of Jesus’s earthly ministry as recorded in Luke 4:18–19 . After facing temptation in the wilderness, Jesus returns to the synagogue with a clear sense of authority and a radical mandate that would change the world forever. As you listen, ask yourself: "Am I living into the mission of Christ?" . Whether you are just starting your journey or lookin...

Have you ever found yourself in a season of "exile"? A place where you’re stripped of the familiar, facing unexpected hardships, and wondering if God has forgotten you altogether? In this powerful message, we dive deep into the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 29. Often known as the "crying prophet," Jeremiah bore witness to a people forced into a 70-year Babylonian timeout because they simply refused to...

In this special episode, we welcome Pastor Michael on his very first Sunday! To help the congregation and our listeners get to know him on a deeper level, Pastor Jeff sits down with Michael for a fun, rapid-fire interview inspired by the classic Inside the Actor’s Studio questionnaire. From his unexpected journey into ministry to his favorite creative outlets, Pastor Michael shares an open, honest...

Message by- Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter B...

Message by- Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter B...

Message by- Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter B...

Message by- Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter B...

Message by- Rev. Michael Long Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggem...

Message by- Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is total revision of Living the Question’s popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. New contributors including Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers join Marcus Borg, Walter B...