The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#526: A Return to Gentleness Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

Gentleness isn’t weakness; it’s strength under control. Gentleness means you don’t use strength to hurt those who are weaker. It’s true physically, and it’s true emotionally. If you’re ever in a confrontation where you could verbally or intellectually destroy the person who disagrees with you, gentleness prevents you from hurting them.

Main Points:

1. One of the character traits of Christ that I have been praying about is the characteristic of gentleness. Did you know the Word of God calls for you to be a gentle person?
2. Here’s a powerful question: Would our families, our neighbors, and our work colleagues consider us to be someone who is gentle with our words, actions, and reactions?
3. One of the greatest needs in our world today is for us to speak with gentleness to one another. There is so much hatred and animosity. There is so much negativity and criticism in our culture. Even profanity has become the norm.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

James 3:6 - “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

Ephesians 4:2 - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Philippians 4:5 - “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”

Colossians 3:12 - “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#525: Making Time for Prayer Jan 30, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

Like the disciples of Jesus, we must learn how essential prayer is to our lives. If we see the value of communication with God, prayer won’t be something we do only in times of emergency. It will be a vital part of our growing relationship with our savior.

Main Points:

1. For Christ-followers like you and me, prayer is one of the things we want to do, need to do, but often feel guilty about not doing more. When we look at our busy schedules, finding time to set aside for prayer can be our challenge.
2. Nothing is too great or too important to give up if it’s keeping you from prayer. Let’s recognize prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God and important for our spiritual growth.
3. We don’t find time for things that are important to us. We make time. Prayer is not only a responsibility, it is a wonderful privilege.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Luke 11:1 – “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#524: There Is No One Like Jesus Jan 28, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:
Jesus is not just another god. He is set apart in a category all his own. There is no one like Him. According to the scriptures, Jesus is God. God himself leaves the glory of Heaven to come to earth to take on human flesh, to be one of us. He lived a sinless life and taught about the kingdom of God.
Main Points:
1. Who is Jesus? This is a question you will have to answer.
2. Jesus came to demonstrate the great mercy and grace of God. He would offer us forgiveness of our sins, which would introduce us to a relationship with the living God.
3. Decide today what you believe about Jesus. There is no one like Him and He is worthy of your faith and trust.
Today's Scripture Reading:
Matthew 16:13-16 - "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

#523: Reaching the Lost Jan 27, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

The great passion of God’s heart is lost people. It’s the reason He sent his son into the world. In Luke 19:10, Jesus said he came “to seek and save those who are lost.” Every person that does not have a relationship with Jesus is lost and headed towards an eternity separated from God. This makes our message urgent.

Main Points:

1. While the term “lost” may be offensive to some, it is the word Jesus uses to describe someone who has not yet come to a point of faith and trust in Christ. In Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells three stories that illustrate that people away from God are lost.
2. A person who is spiritually lost is one who is unsaved, still in their sins, and headed for an eternity separated from God. Nothing is more urgent than the spiritually lost person being found.
3. God doesn’t expect lost people to find us; he expects us to find them. He expects us to look for them. It’s our responsibility.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Romans 10:14-15 - “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”

2 Peter 3:9 - God is “…not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#522: Forward Motion Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

Inertia is not God’s plan for our lives. The Christian life must not be inactive, apathetic, or stagnant. If your relationship with God was stronger in the past than it is right now, that is a problem. We must see that it is the will of our Father that we move forward in our faith.

Main Points:

1. In your past you may have pain, struggles, old relationships, addictions, hangups, and more. The past is the past and that’s where we need to leave it. God’s will is for you to move forward. He has saved you, set you free, and given you purpose.
2. Are you growing in your faith? Are you spending time in His Word? Do you join together regularly with other believers? Are you moving forward? Are you advancing in your knowledge of God? Are you letting God use your life?
3. Even if it’s just one small step, don’t allow another day to pass without moving forward in your faith and relationship with God.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Philippians 3:13-14 - “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Luke 9:62 - “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
Proverbs 4:25 - “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#521: The Cross Was The Only Way Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

God decided to devise a plan of salvation where he would remain holy and just, and still provide a way of forgiveness for guilty sinners. It must be a place where grace and wrath could meet. That place is called the cross of Christ.

Main Points:

1. For the believer, the cross is everything. Our salvation and eternity is based on the work of Jesus at the cross.
2. There are many reasons Jesus died on the cross for us, but Jesus died in obedience to the will of the Father. The salvation of mankind was the plan of God. The plan for our salvation originated in the mind of God. No one informed God. No one gave God this plan. No one advised God in this plan. It was all him.
3. For Jesus, the cross was about obedience to the Father.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Acts 2:23 says, Jesus was “handed over by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge.”
Isaiah 53:10-11 - “It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a sin offering…after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life.”

John 10:17-18 – “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Philippians 2:8 - “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#520: When We Cannot See What God Is Doing Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

For all of us, trusting the unseen hand of God is a part of our faith journey. There’s not a person listening today that hasn’t struggled with this. We wonder and we question. “Where is God?” What is He doing?” It’s in these moments we have the opportunity to grow in our faith. We believe when it’s hard to believe. We trust when we feel like giving up. But through it all, we are actually developing a stronger faith in God. Our confidence in his goodness and faithfulness is growing.

Main Points:

1. There are times when his ways are hidden from us, and times when we cannot see what He is doing. It’s in these times that we must trust. We believe, even though we cannot see.
2. As Christians, we have not seen Jesus with our physical eyes, yet we have sufficient evidence to put our faith in him for salvation. Let’s choose to continue believing he is faithful and good, even when we don’t see him at work in our lives.
3. Have you been praying for God to meet a need, yet you don’t see any visible signs of him at work? Today, choose to trust Him anyway and confess to God your faith that He is at work.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

2 Corinthians 5:7 - “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

John 20:29 - “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

1 Peter 1:8 - “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#519: The Temptation to Compromise Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

What is compromise? Compromise is to act a certain way that contradicts your own ethics, morals, and beliefs. I believe the temptation to compromise our beliefs, morals, and convictions will come to us all. We will feel this pressure to give in, to let down, and to hide our faith.

Main Points:

1. I’m confident you and I will experience our own temptations to compromise. The temptation may occur as the result of pressure from family, friends, work colleagues, or like Daniel, maybe even from leaders.
2. Wherever it comes from, remember the same God that enabled Daniel to remain strong in his faith, is the same God you serve. With his power, you can resist the temptation to compromise.
3. We cannot wait until we are tempted to settle our convictions. We must decide today what we believe so when the temptation comes, our decision has already been made.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Daniel 6:10 - “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#518: Are you Still Confident in God? Jan 22, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

This abiding faith cannot be taken away from us, neither by the world, nor the devil, but as the scripture says, “it can be thrown away.” It can be discarded. It can be given up. It can be left behind.

Main Points:

1. We don’t always live with strong faith and confidence in God. Sometimes life beats us down. Sometimes we don’t see God working. Sometimes we don’t understand his ways. It’s in these times that we might be tempted to give up our faith and stop believing. Thankfully, the Bible speaks to this very issue we face.
2. I’m struck by this biblical instruction: “do not throw away your confidence in God.” What is this confidence? It is deep faith. When you are confident you are assured of something. The matter is settled in your heart and mind.
3. What would cause a person to give up their confidence in God? Usually, it is discouragement. When we go through hard times, when the answers we need are difficult to find, when God seems far away, discouragement can settle in. The writer of the Book of Hebrews then tells us, “we need to persevere.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Hebrews 10:35-36 - “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Jeremiah 17:7 - “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

#517: The Signs of God's Existence Jan 21, 2022

Show notes

The Big Idea:

Far too many people are waiting on some supernatural event to prove the existence of God. The fact is, God has already proven that He exists! While the world is looking for a sign, God tells us that He’s visible in the ordinary things of this world.

Main Points:

1. When it comes to the proof of God’s existence and the reality of his presence and power, God has given us many signs. Sadly, many people are caught up in life and distracted so they miss the signs God has given us.
2. Personally, I’m confident that God has given us sufficient signs of his existence. In fact, the signs are everywhere. Yet distracted people miss God’s signs, and others determined not to believe, keep asking for more signs.
3. Ask God for eyes to see the signs and evidence of his existence and his presence.

Today’s Scripture Verse:

Mark 8:11-12 - “The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?”

Romans 1:20 - “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Psalm 139:13-14 says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Recent Episodes:

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected