The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#486: Why Community Still Matters Dec 16, 2021

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The Big Idea:

The church community still matters because we need one another. We need encouragement, support, accountability, and fellowship. All of these ideas are biblical. Not only do we need to receive this support, but we are called to give it to others. We cannot do this if we fail to gather together.

Main Points:

1. With the technology of our day, you don’t have to physically go to church to receive content. You can hear sermons all day long on your phone, but the church is not just about content. It’s about community.
2. If you are not a part of a community of believers, who will pray with you and for you? Who will provide encouragement? Who will challenge you to grow? Who will hold you accountable?
3. Let me ask you, “Do you have a spiritual family? Are you attempting to follow Jesus in isolation?" If so, you are missing out on the blessing of the community, and the church is missing your gifts as well.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Hebrews 10:24-25 - “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Acts 2:44 - “All the believers were together.”

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#485: The Virtue of Humility Dec 15, 2021

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The Big Idea:

What is Humility? Humility is an accurate estimation of our self-importance in relation to God and others. Here’s another definition I like… “Having a right view of yourself because you have a right view of God.” Humility is not thinking too highly of yourself. It’s also not thinking too low of yourself.

Main Points:

1. To God, humility is a virtue. It’s a Christ-like character trait we are to emulate. It’s not popular in today’s culture. It’s not praised or valued, but it does honor the Lord.
2. Like all God’s character traits, humility is not easy to possess. Our pride and selfishness stand in the way.
3. Pride is dangerous because it prevents spiritual growth. When we think we have it all, know it all, and have seen it all, we don’t have any motivation to keep learning, to keep pursuing God, and to keep growing.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 3:11 - “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Romans 12:3 - “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
James 4:6 - “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

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#484: Recognizing the Power of Scripture Dec 14, 2021

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The Big Idea:

Recognize the power in Scripture. Don’t be afraid to share the Word of God with others. As you do, the Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to impact their heart and life..

Main Points:

1. When sharing your faith with others, I want to encourage you to ask this question: “Can I share with you some scriptures that have changed my life?”
2. Understand and believe that faith begins to take root in a person’s life when they hear God’s Word.
3. When you can get them to engage the scripture, it becomes personal.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Romans 10:17 – “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

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#483: The Gift of Peace Dec 13, 2021

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The Big Idea:

There is a connection between our trust in God and inner peace we experience. The more I trust God, his plan, and his purpose, the more I can rest in him. I can give God my fear, anxiety, worry, and frustration. I can find comfort in the deep knowledge that He is in control and that He is with me.

Main Points:

1. One of the primary messages of Christmas is peace. The truth the Jesus has come to bring us peace is embedded in every part of the biblical story.
2. I’m convinced the key to peace is daily abiding with Jesus. I’ve never been able to find peace with out it. As we spend time with Jesus, there is an intentional shift of our focus off of the pressures and cares of life and onto Jesus.
3. The only way to find true peace is to give your life to Jesus Christ. Emotional peace and peace with others is the result of having peace with God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 16:33 - ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Luke 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

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#482: The Crown of Thorns Dec 12, 2021

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The Big Idea:

The Roman soldiers meant the crown of thorns to be, not only painful, but also shameful, and that may have been how those watching would have observed it. But, Jesus on the cross was already a king. He was already majesty. His death of cross was his demonstration of love for the world.

Main Points:

1. The crown of thorns Jesus wore while being crucified on the cross reminds us that one day the whole world will bow to Jesus as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
2. What kind of king is this? What king would die for his subjects. What king would pay the penalty for those who have sinned against him?
3. The crown of thorns reminds us of his majesty, but also his humanity. He felt suffering as a man would. He endured sorrow as any of us would. He did this for you and for me.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Revelation 19:16 - “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.”
Hebrews 2:9 - “ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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#481: God's Love is Abundant Dec 11, 2021

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The Big Idea:

While we grasp the reality of loving someone for what they have done, we must understand God’s love for us is not in response to our goodness. No, God initiated his love for us because that is who He is. 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love.”

Main Points:

1. What a deep and profound truth. God loves us even when we don’t deserve his love. This kind of love is not natural. It is supernatural. It is divine.
2. One of the character traits of our God is that he is abounding in love towards us. If we could receive this truth it would change our lives.
3. But God’s love cannot be measured. It can’t be tallied. You cannot measure the depth of his love for you, but you can see the evidence. The greatest demonstration of his love for you is the death of his son on the cross.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 5:8 - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ephesians 3:18-19 - “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Psalm 86:5 says, “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

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#480: Believing the Prodigal will Come Home Dec 10, 2021

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The Big Idea:

There is a longing in the human heart for Christ. At first, it is often unrecognizable. We don’t perceive what we feel as a longing and desire for relationship with God. But we know it’s there. We might describe this feeling as an emptiness, a loneliness, a search, a journey, or an ambition. But there is an unmet need inside of us that only God can fill. We later learn that this deep yearning is the Holy Spirit that is drawing us to Christ.

Main Points:

1. There are many today, who are like the prodigal son. They thought they were missing out, they left the safety of family, church, and a relationship with God in search of the greater experience they thought they would find.
2. Many of you listening today have people in your life who have run away from faith in Jesus. They have left the faith in search of something else.
3. My encouragement to you is to keep believing. Don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. They can never get away from the presence of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 6:44 - “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”

Jeremiah 33:3 - “The LORD appeared to him from afar: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.”
2 Peter 3:9 - God is “not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

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#479: How to Free Yourself From Worry Dec 09, 2021

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The Big Idea:

If you are feeling the weight of worry today, know there is a peace God wants to give you. He wants to relieve the anxiety that has filled your life. The place of peace is prayer. You can cast your anxiety on God. Whatever you are facing invite Jesus into it and let him handle it.

Main Points:

1. Crisis comes to us all. No one is immune. It seems our natural response is to worry.
2. We must see that worry is unproductive. Whatever our circumstances, worry never helps us. There is an old quote that says, “Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.”
3. When we feel the anxiety, worry, and fear rise on our hearts, we immediately take them to God in prayer.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Psalm 139:23 - “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

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#478: Mornings and Evenings with God Dec 08, 2021

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The Big Idea:

Like the natural circadian rhythm of the sunflower, I believe God has placed the same rhythm inside you and me. Every morning and every evening we are to turn our face toward the Son of God. We are to recognize Him as the source of life. It is in the consistency of our turning to Jesus that we grow spiritually and become healthy.

Main Points:

1. If a flower can recognize the necessity of the warmth and radiance of the sun, how much more should you and I recognize our need to turn our hearts towards God each morning and evening?
2. Maybe some of the weariness we feel physically, emotionally, and certainly spiritually, is because we have let life crowd out our time with God. The strength we need, the peace we crave, and the wisdom we desire all come from being with Jesus.
3. But if you listen for it, you’ll hear his voice inviting you into a closer, more meaningful, and fuller relationship with himself.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 15:5 - “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Psalm 92:2 - “It is good to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.”

Isaiah 26:9 - “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.”

Psalm 1:2 - Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

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#477: Broken Promises Dec 07, 2021

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The Big Idea:

As Christ-followers, as disciples of Jesus, we are called to live our lives with integrity. Integrity is not just seen in the big things of life, it’s most often seen in the small things and in how we live daily. Would others around us say that we are people who keep our word and fulfill our promises? Would they say we are worthy of their trust?

Main Points:

1. When someone gives you their word, you give them your trust. When someone makes us a promise, we reward them with our belief that they will be true to their word.
2. All around us we see the suffering caused by promises left unkept.
3. None of us are perfect, but let’s determine in our hearts to people of our word. When we keep our promises, we are being like Jesus. Our Lord is faithful and always keeps his word.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Numbers 30:1-2 - “This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

1 John 2:5 - “But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.”

Ecclesiastes 5:5 - “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”

Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

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