The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,287: All Life is Precious to God Jul 22, 2025

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As humans, we often mistakenly value a person’s life by what they give to the world, their gifts, talents, and abilities. But this is not how God values a person’s life. He does not attribute value based on perceived earthly contributions. No, with God, all life is precious. From conception to the grave, God values all life as important and valuable.

Main Points:
1. One of the most controversial issues of our lifetime has been that of abortion. The question at the heart of this debate is, “When does life begin?” Does it begin at conception or does it begin at birth? Does it begin at some other point during the pregnancy?

2. Because life originates with God. All life is precious to him. Every life has worth to God. The unborn child in the womb is valuable to God. The handicapped person is valuable to God. Those with mental illness are valuable to God. The elderly in a nursing home are valuable to God. All life is precious, and because of so, every life is worthy of dignity and respect.

3. If we allow the Word of God to be authoritative in our lives, we’ll align with God’s view of human life. God is pro-life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Jeremiah 1:5 - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

Psalm 139:13 - “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb…”

Job 31:15 - “Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

Genesis 1:27 - “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Psalm 127:3 - “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him…"

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#1,286: Why We Memorize Bible Verses Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

It seems that memorizing scripture is a lost discipline in today’s church culture. I rarely hear anyone talking about the verse they are memorizing, nor do I hear people reciting the verses they have learned by heart.

Main Points:
1. A generation ago, scripture memorization was practiced more regularly. It was talked about in the church. At home, families memorized Bible verses together and practiced quoting them to one another. I remember as a child, my family memorizing Romans chapters six and eight. We also memorized several of the Psalms. Amazingly, many years later, I can still recite many of these Bible verses by heart.

2. When we memorize Bible verses, it allows us to internalize the Word of God. This deepens our spiritual understanding and helps us apply the scriptures to our daily lives.

3. Putting the Word of God in our hearts and developing the ability to recite verses at any time gives us the strength to fight temptation.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 - “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Colossians 3:16 - “Let the Word of God dwell in you richly…”
Psalm 1:1-2 - “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

Psalm 119:11 - “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 37:31 - “The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”

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#1,285: Using Wisdom With Our Words Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Today, you and I will say a lot of words. We have more ways to communicate than any previous generation. We speak, write, text, email, and use social media, all of which require a choice of words. Let’s slow down, think before speaking, allow the Lord to give us wisdom, and choose our words carefully.

Main Points:
1. We might be tempted to think our words don’t matter, but according to God, they do. Jesus spoke about how our words reveal what is in our hearts.

2. Our words are like a bucket of water dipped into a well. If there is fresh water down deep, that’s what comes out. If what is below is stagnant, polluted, and diseased, that is what will come out. In other words, “If the heart is clean, the words are clean.” If the heart is contaminated, our words will expose it.

3. Because our words have such an impact on others, we must ask God to give us wisdom in our daily interactions. Through our words we have the potential to bless, encourage, and inspire. We also have the potential to injure, discourage, and inflict emotional pain.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 4:29 - “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Luke 6:45 – “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Ecclesiastes 10:12 - “Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.”
Proverbs 15:7 - “The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.”

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#1,284: Stepping Out Into Faith Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

What’s next? Isn’t that the question many of us are asking? As humans, we are forward-looking. What does tomorrow hold? Many feel that God has a next season for their lives. We acknowledge that as long as we are living, God has a next step for our spiritual growth and purpose.

Main Points:
1. It’s vital that we learn a great truth: God’s next season for your life will require you to step out in faith. It always does. Your next opportunity, your next ministry, and your next season will necessitate that you take a step of faith to trust God. Why? God loves it when we trust Him. He wants His children to place their full faith in confidence in Him, believing that He is leading their lives.

2. I’ve seen a lot of Christians get stuck and become stagnant. The thing holding them back is the fear of taking a step of faith. So, in a spiritual sense, they plateau. They are not moving forward. They are not experiencing the joy and excitement of living a journey of faith.

3. God is not asking us to step into a future without Him. God is not giving us a pep talk to say, “go ahead, you’ll be alright.” No, God is walking ahead of us. He is leading the way. God goes before us. We follow.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Deuteronomy 31:8 - “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Isaiah 52:12 - “For the LORD will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.”

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#1,283: Here Am I. Send Me. Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

The Holy Spirit is speaking to every believer in Jesus, and He’s asking the question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” God wants to send every one of us into His Kingdom work. When we say, “Here am I, send me,” God will use our lives for His glory.

Main Points:
1. I’ve noticed over the years that the thing that keeps many Christians from stepping out in faith and allowing God to use their lives is that they disqualify themselves. Some feel unusable because of their past, their failures, and their mistakes. Others think God is looking for people who are more spiritual or more gifted.

2. Notice in the verse with Isaiah, there are no qualifications listed. God was looking for one thing: availability. The old saying is still true: God is not looking for ability. He is looking for availability.

3. God is still searching for men and women who will say yes. He’s looking for individuals who are willing to be sent and to be used by the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 6:8 - “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

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#1,282: The Prayer of a Righteous Person Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Does God hear and answer every prayer? What is the connection between "righteousness" and answered prayer?

Main Points:
1. The word “righteous” – being in a right relationship with God. We are intimidated by this. The word “righteous” scares us because we know our own tendency to sin, but we need to understand that we receive our “righteousness” from Christ. Romans says, “our own righteousness is like filthy rags.”

2. While we cannot earn our righteous standing, we seek after a righteous lifestyle practically. We pursue righteousness when we pursue the character of Christ and desire holiness more than fleshly indulgence. We avoid the temptation to become self-righteous when we understand that true righteousness begins with godly humility.

3. Remember, righteousness cannot be achieved apart from receiving the grace of God, but once we are saved, we are called to live a righteous life. As we do, God will honor our prayers with His response.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

“If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18 NLT)

“If a man shut his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13)

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7)

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

”The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

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#1,281: What is Greatness? Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

Greatness in the kingdom of God is rooted in humility and sacrificial service. So, we see that greatness is achievable for all of us. It’s not dependent on your title, position, location, influence, or anything else. Greatness is achieved when we serve others. All of us can do this today.

Main Points:
1. Our culture sees greatness as record-breaking achievements, success, influence, power, position, fame, and notoriety. But God sees it differently.

2. Consider this: Jesus, the Son of God, the King of Kings, chose to serve rather than be served. In a culture that revered positions of authority, Jesus shattered expectations by washing the disciples' feet and living a life marked by humility and selflessness.

3. Whether in the workplace, our families, or communities, let us remember the example set by the ultimate servant-leader, Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect His humility, compassion, and commitment to serving others.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Mark 10:35-37 - “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

Mark 10:42-25 - “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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#1,280: Is the Bible Still Valid for Today? Jul 11, 2025

Show notes

Unless the author of the Bible is God, the scripture is simply the collection of ancient man’s thoughts and idea, it might be uplighting and even inspiring, but we wouldn’t consider it authoritative. Yet, if the author is truly God Almighty, then His words are as eternal as He is. His words are relevant for every generation. His words and life-changing are transformative.

Main Points:
1. There is a question today in our culture about the continued validity and relevance of the Bible. Many no longer consider the Scripture to be inspired by God and they certainly do not regard it to hold any kind of authority over their beliefs or actions.

2. The relevance and authority of the Bible are still in place, in fact they are eternal, because of its source, the very mouth of God.

3. The Bible is the eternal, unchanging, always-relevant, Word of God. Through its pages we are introduced to the author. We come to know Him in a personal way and we are transformed.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:21 - “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

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#1,279: The Far Side of the Wilderness Jul 10, 2025

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Maybe today you feel alone. Perhaps due to your mistakes and failures you have isolated yourself from others. Maybe you are struggling and you wonder where God is. Possibly, you feel as if you are on the far side of the wilderness. Stand on this truth from God’s Word: He will never leave you or forsake you.

Main Points:
1. This morning as I was reading my Bible, I found myself in Exodus chapter three. It’s the story where Moses meets God at the burning bush. Six words leaped off the page as I read the familiar story. It says Moses was on “the far side of the wilderness.” Moses wasn’t just in the wilderness, he was on the far side of the wilderness. What is the wilderness? The dictionary defines it as “an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.” In other words, Moses was as isolated as a person could get.

2. Yet, on the far side of the wilderness, with not another person in sight, Moses was not alone. It’s here Moses has a life-changing encounter with God. He is reminded he is not alone, he is not forgotten, and God’s purpose for his life has not changed.

3. Moses never forgot about the day he encountered God at the burning bush. It was a revelation of God’s continued purpose and plan for his life, but the greater lesson for Moses was the necessity of God’s presence.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Exodus 3:1 - "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness..."
Psalm 139:7-10 - “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Exodus 33:15-16 - “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

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#1,278: God's Power is Without Limit Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

God’s power is immeasurable. You can’t calculate or quantify the power of God. It is beyond what we can see, know, and understand. God’s power is without limit. When we pray, God can do more than we ask or imagine.

Main Points:
1. Most of us, in our moments of despair, have cried out to Lord and asked, “God, can you meet my needs? Are you able to provide what I need?” Theologically, we know God can do anything. We know He has all power. We understand He is the creator of all things, yet, when our back is up against the wall, we question whether God can and will meet our needs. But as we read His Word, we learn of His power, His might, and His ability. In reality, the question is not “What can God do? But what can God not do?”

2. There is no lack with God. God never runs out of resources. He is never in short supply of whatever we need. He is a God of abundance.

3. Speak truth to your own soul. Stand upon the never-changing Word of God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 3:20 - “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”

Jeremiah 32:17 - “Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

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