The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#20: Developing a Passion for Prayer Aug 30, 2020

Show notes

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.”
David Wilkerson
Teen Challenge
Jesus was a source of constant amazement to his disciples. Imagine hearing him teach. Imagine seeing him perform the miracles. Imagine watching Jesus deal with the Jewish Religious leaders who were constantly trying to trap him and his words. The disciples were always watching Jesus. When he was eating, sleeping, teaching, and traveling, they were always watching.
And here in our text, Luke says, Jesus was praying, and when he had stopped, one of them spoke to him The disciples were watching him in prayer and as they watched it became clear to one of the disciples that somehow the amazing power of Jesus was connected with his prayer life. When he had finished, one of them, speaking for all the disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
For the follower of Jesus, prayer is our lifeline. James says you have not because you ask not. If you don’t pray you will experience a very limited working of God in your life.
The disciples request tells us something about the importance of prayer in the life of Jesus. They watched. They noticed.
They could have said, Lord teach us to heal, teach us to how to do miracles, teach us how to draw a crowd. Teach us how to give inspiring sermons, but no…they said teach us to prayer. They knew that everything he did was a result of his prayer time.
So, let’s talk about a passion for prayer…
1. A passion for prayer comes from a belief that prayer changes things.
2. A passion for prayer comes from a hunger to know God more intimately.
Today’s challenge: Ask God to give you a passion for prayer. Begin to intentionally set aside a small amount of time to pray. As you do, your hunger to know God will grow.
Discussion Questions:

What was it about Jesus' prayer life that caused the disciples to ask him to teach them to pray?
What hinders our consistency in prayer?
What would our lives look like if we had a passion for prayer?

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#19: Is Jesus The Only Way to God? Aug 29, 2020

Show notes

We live in a time where the prevailing message is that “All religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing.” This way of thinking has swept our culture like a storm.
Americans love options. We live in a culture where there are endless options in just about every area of life. 800 channels of TV. The average supermarket stocks nearly 40,000 different items. Malls with dozens of stores. We love options! It just seems natural that there would be options in the spiritual arena as well. Many people think of Christianity as just one more option on the spiritual buffet table of life.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Why can’t people just believe whatever they want to believe, as long as they are sincere? I’ve heard parents say, “It doesn’t matter to me what my kids believe, as long as they believe something.” Sincerity is great. No one questions sincerity. But sincerity, or the lack of it, has nothing to do with determining truth. In other words, we can be sincerely right or be sincerely wrong.
In John 14:6 Jesus said,..
I am the way - Jesus doesn’t say he is A way, he says he is THE way. Jesus didn’t say he knew the way. Jesus does not create a path for us to hike. He is not clearing the brush and making a path visible. He is saying…He is the way! We are not saved by a principle or a force, but by a person.
2. I am the truth - Truth is the scarcest commodity in the world. We hear people say, “That might be true for you, but it’s not for me.” People today don’t seem to be all that interested in truth. But without the clarity and consistency of moral absolute truth, we are reduced to doing what seems right, what feels good, what produces the least resistance, and what provides the greatest personal fulfillment.
Jesus rises up above our cultural confusion and shouts out, “I am the truth!” 78 times in the Gospels it is record that Jesus said, “I tell you the truth…”
3. I am the life - All throughout the Gospel of John the principle of spiritual vitality is described for us. Without Jesus all we have is death – separation from God. Because Jesus died for us, and rose again to new life – we too can live. We now can have a relationship with God.
In the end, it doesn’t matter how nice or moral a person is because there is not enough niceness or morality to pay for our rejection of God. Either we must be rejected or we turn to Jesus who was rejected for us. This is the heart of the gospel. Jesus lays down his very own life for those who reject him, for his enemies, for those who don’t believe in him, and he offers them forgiveness. Amazing!
Yes, Jesus is the only way to God. He is the way, the truth and the life.
Today’s challenge: In prayer, reaffirm your faith in Jesus as the only door to a relationship with God.
Discussion Questions:

Why do people struggle with the belief that Jesus is the only way to God?
What does it mean that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?
Why is this topic so important?

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#18: Five Misconceptions About Worship Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

Possum Kingdom Lake
“What is worship?” “Worship is the response of all that we are to all that God is.” “Worship is to declare God’s worth”
John 4:23-24 – “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Misconceptions about worship:

1.Corporate worship is optional.
“Worship is the most important of all the churches’ purposes because we cannot actively love the world around us unless we corporately love and adore God through worship.” (Richard Foster - Celebration of Discipline)
2.Worship is only an OUTWARD expression.
“True worship is not about the songs, the vocals, the band or the choir. All of those things contribute toward a great expression of worship but the essence of worship is when your heart and soul, the core of your being, connects with the Spirit of God.”
3.Worship is only an INWARD expression.
If you go through the Bible to see examples and instruction for worship you’ll see things like: singing, clapping, praising, shouting, weeping, laughing, kneeling, lifting hands, trumpets, cymbals, and even dancing.
4.Worship is for us.
The word “worship” literally means “worth-ship” which means that we worship that which is worthy. Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
5.Worship only takes place in a church.
Today's Challenge: Make time to worship God. Sing him a song. Listen to a song and sing along. At least lift your voice and give Him thanks and praise. He gets the glory. We get the joy.
Discussion Questions:

What is worship?
Why do some people think worship is optional?
Why is worship more than an outward expression?

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#17: Are We Dating the Church? Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Book: "Stop Dating the Church: Fall in Love with the Family of God" by Sam Harris
The church has a divine creation. Some say, “The church was man’s idea.” No, that’s not biblical. The church was God’s idea.
Scripture - Jesus said in “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
The NT describes the church as:
•The Bride of Christ (loves his bride, gave his life for his bride, is coming back for his bride)
•The Body of Christ (an image we all understand – each part is important)
•Family of God (we belong to each other)
Still with all the teaching we have in the NT concerning the church, there are still many people today who have become disillusioned with the church. For many different reasons, they have given up. They still believe in Jesus and perhaps they are still trying to have a relationship with God, but they have been unable to commit to a local church.
God never intended the church to be an event. Yes we gather for worship, teaching, encouragement, equipping, to serve, etc. But the church is the people of God. You are the church. We don’t go to church, we are the church.
The gathering to worship with other believers is irreplaceable. It cannot be substituted with a great devotional time, a lively bible study with friends, a meditative nature hike, or a live TV church service.
When the church is together for worship and hears God’s Word preached, nourishment and encouragement occur that can’t happen anywhere else. Our corporate worship edifies and strengthens us and glorifies God in ways that nothing else can.
We can’t love Jesus, and not love what he loves. He loves His church.
Today’s challenge: Embrace the local church. Be a part. Be a supporter. Be a champion for it. It’s not perfect, but it is God’s idea.
Discussion Questions:

Why is being a part of a local church so important?
Is it okay to date the church, or is it vital to make a commitment?
Why do many people struggle to make the church an important part of their life?

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#16: Growing to Spiritual Maturity Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

1 Peter 2:2 - “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
“crave” – desire- very strong word in the Greek. It represents our deepest longing.
The failure to either desire or to receive this pure milk of the word is the reason for stunted or stagnant spiritual growth.
Spiritual maturity is achieved through becoming more like Jesus Christ. After salvation, every Christian begins the process of spiritual growth, with the intent to become spiritually mature. It’s an ongoing process will never end in this life.
Spiritual maturity, then, is the process of recognizing our complete dependence on God and learning to rely on Him rather than ourselves. As we grow and mature in our relationship with Him, we realize how much we need Him.
We are called to walk in the Spirit. As led by God, we walk, one step at a time by the Spirit’s direction. As we continue to say yes to God, as we yield to his will, as we apply the word of God to our lives…we grow. We mature.
There is no growth without obedience. As children are dependent upon their parents to help them grow (nutrition, environment, protection, teaching) we too are dependent on our heavenly father. He guides. He directs. We follow. We obey. As a result we mature.
Today’s challenge: Find consistency with the milk or meat of God’s Word. Not because you have to, but because you want to. And if the desire is simply not there…ask God to give it to you. It’s a prayer he loves to answer.
Discussion Questions:

What is the difference between the "milk" of the Word and the "meat of the word?
What are the steps to growing in spiritual maturity?
What role does our obedience play in growing to become spiritually mature?
Will we ever arrive at complete spiritual maturity?

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#15: Guard Your Heart Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

The most important organ in your body is your heart. It is truly amazing. Your heart is designed to beat constantly without ever getting tire. It runs on its own, regulating the rate at which it pumps without needing instructions. Every other part of your body is dependent on the heart. When you have a problem with your heart, every other part of your body will have problems as well.
Doctors and nutritionists are constantly telling us to take good care of our hearts. Eat right and exercise regularly. Whether you follow those instructions or not, you understand what is at stake – without a healthy heart, nothing in your body can really be healthy.
But this today I want to talk about our “other” heart. Not the physical, but the spiritual side of us, and how important it is to pay very close attention to our spiritual heart.
King Solomon writes to us in Proverbs chapter 4 and instructs us to guard our hearts. He was not talking about the organ that resides in our chest; he uses the word “heart” to describe the core of our being.
Scripture - Proverbs 4:20-23 - “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
You must guard your heart because:

It is extremely valuable.

The condition of your spiritual heart impacts every part of your life (walk with God, faith, emotional life, relationships, ministry, career, education).

Your heart is constantly under attack.

Think about this: Solomon’s word are a warning. “Guard.” He implies you are living in a combat zone. You don’t have to guard something, unless it is under attack.
I believe in spiritual warfare. We have an enemy who is determined to destroy us (faith, walk with God, influence, marriage, family, potential, and your future) He not only opposes God, but he opposed everything aligned to God – including us.
How do we guard our hearts?

Daily exposure to the truth of God’s Word
We must be cautious about who and what we allow to influence us
Keep your heart in tune with the Holy Spirit

Discussion Questions:

What kinds of things attack our hearts?
How do we guard our hearts?
Why would Solomon say we should guard our hearts "above all else?"

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#14: Take Up Your Cross Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

The story of Polycarp
Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Without a doubt, we would include this verse in our collection of “hard sayings of Christ.” But we can’t ignore the truth that Jesus is calling us to a denial of our fleshly desire, a death to our old life, and a commitment to follow.
Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day, the cross represented nothing but torturous death. Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death.
When Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow Me” he means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender.
To deny yourself is not the giving up of things but the giving up of yourself wholly and completely to the Lord Jesus.
What do we gain for all of this denial and surrender? What does Christ offer us? He offers us himself. We must see that while forgiveness, grace, and mercy are tremendous blessings, the greatest prize we gain is Jesus himself.
There is nothing this world offers that compares with knowing Christ.
Polycarp was willing to give his all…and he did. Our surrender to Christ may not require the actual laying down of our physical life, but Jesus will call us to make a complete commitment of our life to follow him.
Discussion Questions:

Why does Jesus call us to a "death to self?"
In what areas of life are we to deny ourselves?
What does it mean to follow Jesus?

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#13: Recognizing God's Provision Aug 23, 2020

Show notes

2 Peter 1:3 - “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself…”
God has given us everything we need. Yes, that’s what the Bible says. And yet, we often live as though we are without. We live without joy, we live without peace, we can live without wisdom, we can live without strength, we can live without hope…and on and on.
Yes, we know that God provides all of these things for us. We run around searching in all the wrong places, hoping to find what we need instead of turning to the Lord who has already provided these resources. They are available. They are at our disposal. Any time and anywhere.
Notice the past tense: “has given us everything we need…” You have all that you need right now to be all God wants you to be. Romans 8:32 says something similar: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” While you might not have everything you want you already have everything you need.
Peter is writing to encourage a church that was facing persecution. They needed to be reminded of the sufficiency of Christ. Their relationship with God through faith in Jesus opened the door to everything they need. There was no lack, they were simply looking in the wrong direction.
Peter is reminding us to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ. It’s there that we find the riches of God. As we come to know him more we experience all the resources God provides us.
Notice Peter’s words… “by his divine power.” Peter is not talking about resources we can find through human efforts. What’s being offered to us requires divine power. We are so blessed as believers to have the resources of God at our disposal.
Whatever you need today is found in Christ.
Discussion Questions:

What resources do you often feel you are lacking?
Why is it we often look everywhere else, but to Christ?
How does it make you feel to know what we need is provided "by his divine power?"

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#12: Becoming People of Conviction Aug 22, 2020

Show notes

This principle runs throughout scripture: If you honor God, God will honor you. We often want to negotiate with God and say, “God if you’ll do this for me, I’ll do this for you, but it simply doesn’t work that way.
Daniel 1:8 - ““But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
Convictions guide our decisions and determine our character. To live a life that pleases God, we need strong biblical values. If you and I have a firm foundation on God’s Word then we will be ready to face whatever challenges come your way.
The temptation to compromise our biblical values is all around us. If you haven’t faced it, you will. It often comes when we least expect it, so it’s necessary for us to establish our convictions before the temptation arrives.
Changing Daniel’s name was insulting. Putting him through the Babylonian educational system was something that required Daniel to think clearly and to remember his convictions. However, changing the diet would actually defile Daniel. It would cause him to disobey God’s Word. It was time to take a stand.
I believe there is a battle going on for the minds and hearts of each one of us. There is a gradual conditioning that is taking place. We have to stand against this and the only way to do that is with God’s Word.
“Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself.”
Verse 8 is the hinge point for the entire book of Daniel. It’s a decision that impacted the rest of his life.
The Babylonians were attempting to determine everything in his life. His name, his training, his culture, his identity, his food, and his occupation. But Daniel determined to honor God. Likewise, we live in a world that attempts to tell us what to believe, how to live, what is acceptable. We must gather the courage to decide to follow God’s Word.
Like Daniel we live in a perverse culture. We can follow his example. We do not have to compromise. We do not have to go with the flow.
Challenge: Identify small compromises and surrender them to Jesus. Develop your own personal convictions based on the truth of God’s Word
Discussion Questions:

What is a biblical conviction?
Why is it important to identify your convictions before you are tempted?
Do small things really matter to God?

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#11: Radical Generosity Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

Scripture - Matthew 6:21 - “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus is saying the that you can only have your treasure (and your heart) in one place; we can’t store up treasure on earth and on heaven at the same time.
The way we keep our heart focused on eternity and the things that truly matter is to make an investment.
How do we break this stronghold. We do so through radical generosity. Why call it radical? Because this kind of generosity is not normal. It flows out of a heart that is sold out to God.
Here are some things to consider.

Radical generosity is about an attitude, not just an amount.

God cares about the heart. He’s concerned about our motivations. We can’t impress God by a dollar amount. After all, he’s God and he doesn’t need our money. Generosity is for our benefit and for what it does in our heart.

Radical generosity gives us joy.

It is enjoyable. We give out of joy. We don’t give out of duty. We don’t give out of guilt. We don’t give out of pressure. We don’t give out of compulsion. We don’t give out of obligation. We give out of joy.

Radical generosity is radical generosity is supernatural.

Sometimes God will call us to do something crazy and give beyond your ability? That’s supernatural giving. Natural giving is to give what you’re able. Supernatural giving is to give beyond your ability.

Radical generosity makes us more like Jesus.

If God has been anything to us, He has been generous. He is generous with love, generous with grace, generous, with mercy, and even generous with blessings.
Today’s Challenge: Consider how you can take steps to be radically generous.
Discussion Questions:

Can you tell me about a time you were radically generous?
How did it make you feel?
What keeps people from being radically generous?

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