The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,327: The Great Price for our Forgiveness Sep 17, 2025

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Jesus paid our debt on the cross. He bore our sins upon his body. He suffered and died in our place, as our substitute. Jesus took the shame, condemnation, and pain we were to bear. He carried our cross and paid the ultimate price. It was a very high price to pay for our forgiveness.

Main Points:

1. Forgiveness comes at a cost. If you forgive someone, you bear the cost rather than insisting that the wrongdoer does. And that is what Jesus, the Mighty God, was doing when he came to earth and lived as a man and died a criminal's death on a wooden cross.

2. Here is an important understanding about our forgiveness: Jesus didn’t have to do it. He was not obligated to take our penalty. He was not forced to do so. He did not have to love us. We are not worthy of his love. Yet, Christ chose to love us. He chose to take our place. He chose to lay down his life for us.

3. What a great and awful price was paid for our freedom. Let us never forget there was a high cost to our forgiveness, but it was a cost Jesus was willing to pay.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Peter 1:18-19 - “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

John 10:18 - "No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord.”

Galatians 2:20 - “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”

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#1,326: We Must Do the Will of God Sep 16, 2025

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There is a struggle that all of us face, and it is the struggle of submitting to God’s will. Why is this so difficult for us? Because we really want to do our will. We have our own desires, dreams, goals, and ambitions, and often these desires conflict with God’s will for our lives.

Main Points:

1. But I have discovered that the more we know Jesus and the closer we are to Him in relationship, the more our desires align with God’s desires. The more our will lines up with God’s will.

2. We should first focus on the will of God that is clearly revealed to us in Scripture. Sometimes we are focused on knowing God’s will for our future, but we are not paying attention to what He has already revealed.

3. Trust that God wants to lead you every day in his perfect will.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 John 2:17 - “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Matthew 26:39 - “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Romans 12:1-2 - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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#1,325: Living with Fullness of Joy Sep 15, 2025

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Joy in the Biblical context is not an emotion. Joy is an attitude of the heart. It is not necessarily based on something positive happening. Joy is something that lasts; happiness is temporary. When happiness fades away, joy remains. Joy is something God deposits into us through the Holy Spirit.

Main Points:

1. In these verses, Jesus actually gives us the key to living our lives with joy. We also see that God intends that His joy would remain in us and that our joy may be full. Imagine being full of joy! How would that change your life? Your outlook? Your attitude and your words? Being full of joy would change a lot of things in our lives.

2. But here is the key. It’s found in “abiding with Jesus.” What does that mean? It means living your life in a close relationship with Christ. It’s daily spending time with him. Pursuing a close and intimate relationship with God daily. The result of this relationship with God is a joy that only He can give.

3. If you find yourself living a joyless life, recognize that it can change today. Begin pursuing more of God. Press into God. Seek Him. Abide in Him. His joy will be yours.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 15:9-11 - “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

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#1,324: Forgiveness is Required Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

There is one key that is absolutely necessary for a relationship to be restored. It requires forgiveness. I’ve never seen a broken relationship restored without forgiveness.

Main Points:

1. A relationship can break down from neglect. A relationship can break down from conflict. A relationship can break down from misunderstanding. The world is literally filled with broken relationships. We see it all around us. It’s possible you have some broken relationships in your life.

2. I know God can heal the pain in our hearts and enable us to offer forgiveness to others.

3. Let’s put our faith in the God who can do the impossible. Let’s ask him to do miracles and to restore our relationships, and let’s be willing to do the hard work of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 5:10-11 – “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

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#1,323: The Second Greatest Commandment Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

Loving our neighbor is not simply a good idea or an admirable ethic; Jesus called it the second greatest commandment. We first love God, and second, we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Main Points:

1. The idea of loving our neighbor is beautiful to think about, so long as it remains an idea. But the concrete reality of loving our neighbor, the difficulties and the challenges, strips the beauty away.

2. If God is not the love of our lives, there is no way that we will truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Something happens when you experience the love of God and then begin to love God in return.

3. God desires you and me to love our neighbors. Let’s let his love shine through our lives to those we meet. Let’s make it more than a theory; let's get practical and put love into action.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 13:10 - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Galatians 5:14 - “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

1 John 4:20 - “…For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

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#1,322: Your True Identity Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

What a tragedy it is when there is a loss of spiritual identity. I believe you can lose your true identity, give it away, forget it, waste it, or change it for better or worse. It’s also possible that some individuals go through life searching for their true identity and never find it.

Main Points:

1. If you don’t know who you are, then you are vulnerable to other people telling you who you are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that as a follower of Jesus, you are who God says you are, and no one else has a vote in the matter.

2. The phrase “in Christ” is used about 140 times in the Bible. We are said to be “in Christ.” It is the most used term to describe a follower of Jesus. God’s Word is saying to us that if you are trusting Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, “You are in Christ.” This is your new identity! This is who God made you to be. This is the real you!

3. Reject any label the world tries to give you. As a believer in Jesus, your Heavenly Father has given you your true identity as a child of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 1:12 - “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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#1,321: Discouragement Can Be Defeated Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Can I ask you an important question? What do you do when you become discouraged? You need an answer to this question. You need a plan, and you need it now. Discouragement comes to us all. Everyone will face it. Everyone will battle it.

Main Points:

1. Discouragement will make you want to quit. Maybe even right now, as you listen to this podcast episode, you have been fighting the feelings of wanting to quit.

2. There are going to be times when you have to encourage yourself in the Lord. No one else is around. The pastor is not there. No friends are around to help you. Your family is not there. Do you know how to encourage yourself in the Lord? Have you done this? Can you grab God’s Word and feed your soul? Can you find a place of prayer and pour out your soul before the Lord? Can you worship in times of trouble?

3. If you are discouraged right now, remember God's past faithfulness and begin to thank Him for what He has already done. As you worship, watch the discouragement disappear.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Samuel 30:6 - "David encouraged himself in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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#1,320: True Love Calls For Us to Do Something Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

From scripture, we come to see that love is more than words, feelings, and emotions. Love is action. True love calls for us to do something, and also to refrain from some things.

Main Points:

1. Love, when truly demonstrated, is not just an emotion expressed to family and close friends. Love is seen the clearest when it is given to those we think don’t deserve it and those who don’t expect it.

2. When God’s love changes us, we begin to notice others. We begin to see what God sees. We’ll notice the lonely, the hurting, the broken, and the discouraged. We see those who desperately need to be loved.

3. So, let’s ask, how can I show love today? To whom can I show love? What loving words can I share with someone? What loving acts can I do to show God’s love? Who can I serve? Who can I bless with the love of God? Your loving actions might just change their lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 13:34, Jesus says to his disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
1 John 4:19-21 - “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

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#1,319: Our Time is Limited Sep 05, 2025

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The Bible has a lot to say about time. The most important thing it says is something we know already—that our time is limited. Time can be used or wasted, it can be invested or squandered, but either way, once used, it can never be regained. Time matters because we have such a limited supply.

Main Points:

1. We always have plenty of time to do everything we need to do. This means that all of my time belongs to God, and therefore, how I spend my days is a sacred issue. Someday you and I will answer for what I did today.

2. The truth is, most people know the right thing to do. You know the right thing to do. It’s just that we put it off. We delay. We don’t do it. We say tomorrow. Later. Someday I’ll… “One of these days I’ll get around to it.” We keep putting things off.

3. I encourage you to count the cost. Count the cost of your delay. There’s always a cost in delay. There’s always a price tag that goes along with procrastination. You have one life to live for God. Don’t waste the opportunities God is giving you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:
"There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance."
Ephesians 5:15-16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

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#1,318: The Blessing is in the Giving Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

I’m convinced that most of us listening today would say we have been blessed by God. In fact, many would say that we have been greatly blessed and blessed beyond what they deserve. God has been so good to us. So what do we do with our blessings?

Main Points:

1. Jesus teaches us that the blessing is found in the giving. The blessing is found in the serving. The blessing is found in ministering to the needs of others.

2. Continually, the scripture speaks to the heart and motive behind our actions. The Bible teaches us that if we give to be seen by others, well, then we have our reward. If our motive in giving is to receive something back, we give with the wrong motive.

3. Remember this truth today: We have been blessed to be a blessing. What are we to do with our blessings? We are to bless others. Proverbs teaches that those who hoard their blessings will no longer be blessed. The blessing is found in the giving.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 20:35 - “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Proverbs 11:25 - “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

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