The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,427: You Can Choose to Forgive Others Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

One of the greatest challenges we face emotionally is how we respond when we are hurt. With the offense, we have a choice. Will we respond with grace and forgiveness, or will we respond with harshness and cynicism? Will we be quick to overlook an offense, or will we respond with the same hurt we experienced?

Main Points:
1. I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s not always easy to respond in a Christ-honoring way. We feel pain, and it seems human to respond in the same way. We tend to match emotion with emotion, anger with anger, and insult with insult.

2. You and I can refuse to allow ourselves to become bitter. I wish I could offer you an offense-free life and promise you that from now on, you will no longer be hurt by others, but such promises cannot be made. I can promise you that the Holy Spirit will give you the power to forgive and move on.

3. Unforgiveness is a burden. I think we all know what it feels like. But forgiveness is freedom. Where there was once sorrow, heaviness, and bitterness, is now comfort and peace. When we forgive, we are released from bondage. Forgiveness is like God opening the prison door and allowing us to walk away and leave it all behind.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 19:11 - “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”

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#1,426: Do You Need More Joy? Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

Through our relationship with Jesus, we possess the ability to live with joy, regardless of our circumstances. While the world around us may be falling apart, feeling defeated, and living in despair, Christians have the blessing of choosing to live with joy.

Main Points:
1. How does this happen? How can you be joyful when life isn’t going well? It’s here we often confuse joy with happiness. They are not the same thing. Happiness is the result of having a good set of circumstances. Joy is different. Joy is God-given. It’s not natural, it’s supernatural. In Galatians chapter five, we learn that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

2. We experience joy as we abide daily with Jesus. Remember, He is the source of our joy! If you want joy, spend time with him. Joy is the result of being with Jesus. As you experience the fulfillment of His presence, joy remains.

3. We experience joy when we choose to trust God. Psalm 40:4 - “Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord…” When we choose to trust the Lord, we are choosing not to worry, fret, and be anxious. As we choose to trust God, we remember He is trustworthy.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Nehemiah 8:10 - “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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.”

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#1,425: God Knows What We Need Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

We have a Father who is always there. Night or day, whenever the going gets tough, we can trust that He will never abandon us. He has promised to care for us, and He knows better than we do what we need.

Main Points:
1. God knows. He knows what I need. He knows what I am going through. He knows what I am facing right now. My heavenly Father knows. How comforting this is to an anxious heart.

2. We don’t pray to tell God things that He didn’t know before we told Him. We pray to spend time with and bring our requests to a loving God who wants us to bring every need and worry before His throne.

3. Like a good earthly Father, our Heavenly Father loves to spend time with His children. He is not annoyed by our presence. We are not a bother to Him. He gives us access to ask anything of Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 6:25-31 - ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Matthew 6:8 - “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

1 John 5:14-15 - “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

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#1,424: God Does Not Want Us To Be Afraid Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

God has given us to power to overcome our fears. We don’t have a spirit of fear, we possess the Holy Spirit, which enables us to face life with the confidence that the Lord is with us in every situation.

Main Points:
1. Fear goes by many names. Perhaps in your life fear manifests itself as worry, anxiety, dread, concern, apprehension, nervousness, panic, or timidity. Regardless of the label we give the emotion, its root is deep in fear.

2. The first step in overcoming fear is to recognize that it is not from God. God does not want us to be afraid. Rather, God has given us three gifts: power, love, and a sound mind.

3. Bible scholars tell us that over 300 times the Word of God commands us to not be afraid. It’s the most repeated command in scripture. I think the frequency of this command is telling us something. God knows our predominant negative emotion would be fear and this fear would keep us from being who He created us to be.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Isaiah 41:10 - “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

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#1,423: How Your Mind Can Be Renewed Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Our minds are not renewed automatically when we come to Christ. There are still old patterns of thinking that do not please God. But every day we have the choice to set our minds on things above. Will we allow the world to conform our minds, or will we invite God to transform our minds?

Main Points:
1. How do we do that? How do we set our minds on things above? Does that mean we go outside and look up at the sky? No, we must deliberately fill our minds with the things of God. We do this primarily by reading, listening, and meditating on the Word of God.

2. As we read, hear, and think about the Scripture, our way of thinking is being transformed. We are being changed inwardly. This inner transformation leads to a change in our exterior behavior.

3. The Holy Spirit is actively working in your life to make you more like Jesus. Be intentional about renewing your mind with the Word of God and your actions will be renewed as well.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Ephesians 4:21-23 - “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”

Colossians 3:2 - “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

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#1,422: Isolation is Spiritually Dangerous Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

It is not the will of God that we be alone or that we go through life isolated from others. He has created the church to be our spiritual family. It’s here that we find fellowship, encouragement, support, and accountability. It’s also here that we are able to offer these same gifts to others.

Main Points:
1. Sometimes the reason for such isolation is the pain we have experienced in the church. Maybe we felt ignored, neglected, or forgotten. Perhaps someone made a mistake and said something that was hurtful. Rather than experience this pain again, we put up barriers and choose to not engage with others.

2. But I want you to see this is exactly what Satan wants. He wants you to be isolated from others because if you do, you’ll also miss the blessings that come from being in community with others. You’ll miss the encouragement and the support. You’ll miss the fulfillment that comes with deep friendships. Others will miss the investment you could have made in their lives.

3. If you want to be blessed you have to step out of your comfort zone. To experience the richness of friendship and support, you have to show up. To be a blessing to others you have to engage, take initiative, and be committed.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 2:18 - “The Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone…”

John 8:44 - “…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Philippians 2:4 - “Look out for one another’s interests not just your own.”

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#1,421: Learning to Trust God in Prayer Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Prayer is an adventure in trust. We put our needs into the hands of an almighty God, who has the power to meet our needs according to His will. What will God do? We don’t know, but we do know that what God does is right. His answer and His actions may not make sense to our finite minds and limited understanding, but the will and purpose of God are always correct.

Main Points:

1. When we have a need, it’s normal to be anxious, to worry, and to wonder what will happen. This is our human response to uncertainty. Yet, when we pray we choose to trust. When we pray we choose to believe God.

2. What an adventure it is to wait on God and see what He will do. The waiting is not always pleasant, but the longer we serve Jesus, the more confidence we have in the waiting. We know God is up to something. We don’t see it yet, but we are confident testimony of His faithfulness is coming soon.

3. Faith in God is a choice. It’s a decision to believe and to trust that He is working all things for your good, according to His purpose.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Corinthians 4:18 - “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Mark 9:21-24 - “Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Proverbs 3:5 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

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#1,420: Living as Citizens of Heaven Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

Citizens not only have rights and privileges, but they also have responsibilities. The same is true for us as citizens of Heaven. Let’s not only experience the blessings of our new citizenship but let’s conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Main Points:

1. You may not have thought about this, Heaven is not just a place you are waiting to see, but it’s a place of which you are already a citizen. You have a legal right to belong in Heaven because the blood of Jesus has paid for your entry.

2. As citizens of Heaven, the Word of God calls for us to live as citizens of Heaven. We are not yet in Heaven, but we are to live with the values of our new home.

3. Paul says we can live as citizens of Heaven by conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. In other words, if you are saved, live as someone who is saved. If Christ has come into your life, it should be noticeable in how you live. We are not worthy of what Christ has done for us, but we should do our best to live as though we were.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 2:19 - “You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”

Philippians 1:27 - “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”

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#1,419: Good Enough to Go to Heaven? Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

“How good is good enough?” Here’s the short answer. We could never be good enough to go to Heaven. It’s simply not possible for humans to satisfy the justice of God with our efforts at being good. The Bible teaches us that being a good person could never save us. Instead, salvation is based on the goodness of Jesus, on our behalf.

Main Points:

1. Jesus, in kindness and love, took our sins upon himself and once and for all died in our place. This is the definition of goodness. God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, satisfying the justice of a righteous and holy God.

2. Forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life is received as a gift from God. We receive this gift as we confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We place our faith in his death and resurrection for our sins, instead of placing our faith in our good works.

3. Refuse to buy into the deception that you could be good enough to go to Heaven. Put your faith in Jesus, who was good on our behalf.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Judges 21:25 - “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

Isaiah 64:6 - “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.”

Titus 3:4-5 - “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

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#1,418: The Gospel is for the Nations Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

We stand on Jesus’ promise that the gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. As we see this being fulfilled, we know the end is near and Jesus’ return is soon.

Main Points:

1. There are still locations in our world where the gospel message is not being preached. There are places where there are no churches, no missionaries, no translations of the Bible in local languages, and no access to the salvation message.

2. With the use of the ever-increasing tools of technology the message of Christ is spreading faster than ever before. My prayer is that a new generation of missionaries will hear the call of God and will take the gospel to people still waiting to hear.

3. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. We cannot be silent. We cannot keep such good news to ourselves. We must tell others. We must let people know that Jesus saves. Let’s determine that we will be a part of preaching the gospel locally and globally as a testimony to all.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 24:14 - “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

1 Thessalonians 1:8 - “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

Matthew 28:19 - “Go and make disciples of all nations…”

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