The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,237: God's Promise to Provide May 12, 2025

Show notes

Throughout Scripture, God promises He will be our provider. While in our minds the line between needs and wants is easily crossed, God truly knows our needs. In fact, the Bible says God knows our needs before we ask. We can rest in the assurance that with God as our shepherd, we will lack nothing.

Main Points:
1. Needs are something that you must have, in order to live or to do God’s will. On the contrary, wants are something that you wish to have, so as to add comfort or enjoyment to your life. Needs represent the necessities while wants indicate our desires.

2. Though he was king, David had come to the understanding that God was his shepherd. Like sheep, he needed God’s provision in his life. He believed God would graciously supply and that he would lack nothing.

3. Joy does not come from the accumulation of things, travel, or experiences. Joy comes from an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the one who supplies all of our needs.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 23:1 - “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Psalm 84:11 - “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”

Philippians 4:19 - “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

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#1,236: The Relevance of the Bible May 09, 2025

Show notes

Unless the author of the Bible is God, the scripture is simply the collection of ancient man’s thoughts and ideas, 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, 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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#1,235: When You Feel Far From God May 08, 2025

Show notes

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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#1,234: God Can Do More Than We Ask Or Imagine May 07, 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 the 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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#1,233: Will we Let the Lord Direct our Steps? May 06, 2025

Show notes

When we surrender our lives to the lordship and leadership of Jesus, in His sovereignty, he will open doors of opportunity. Sometimes He will close doors. Surely, you have seen both in your life. In both cases, the issue is the surrender of our will to God. Will we let the Lord direct our steps?

Main Points:
1. When it comes to allowing God to guide our lives, the struggle is often the surrender of our own will. When God opens a door will you, by faith, walk through it? When God closes a door, will you recognize it as one of the ways God protects and guides us?

2. We celebrate open doors. They are exciting. We praise God for making a way and leading us forward. While closed doors don’t seem quite as exciting, we should thank God for them because they are one of the ways he protects us and directs our steps.

3. Let’s allow the God who sees and knows all things to take us where we need to go. When a door needs to be opened, God can open it. When a door needs to be closed, He can certainly do that as well. Let’s trust His plan for our lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Revelation 3:7-8 - “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
1 Corinthians 16:9 - “For a wide door for effective work has opened to me…”
Colossians 4:3 - “Pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word…”

Acts 16:6-7 - “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”

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#1,232: Nothing is Hidden From God May 05, 2025

Show notes

One of the characteristics of God is that He is omniscient. This means God sees and knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Main Points:
1. The omniscience of God is not meant to cause us to fear. While the book of Hebrews lets us know that God knows even the thoughts and intents of our hearts, the omniscience of God is a good thing.

2. The knowledge of God assures us that God will meet our needs. The Bible tells us He knows our needs even before we ask Him. While God desires and delights in our prayer, His full knowledge of our lives provides him with the necessary information to meet our needs.

3. The knowledge of God provides us with confidence that our future is in God’s hands. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but God does. The God who protects us, sustains us, and guides us today, will be faithful tomorrow. I can sleep tonight in peace knowing He has tomorrow in his hands.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 15:3 - “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Isaiah 40:28 - “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”

Job 28:24 - “For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.”

Hebrews 55:8-9 - “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

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#1,231: Your Fire and Passion for God May 02, 2025

Show notes

When describing a Christian who is passionate about their faith in Jesus, we might say they are “on fire for God.” We are saying they are fervent and zealous about their relationship with Jesus. You would likely agree that this intense and passionate pursuit of Jesus has to be maintained. We have to intentionally stoke the fire to keep it burning hot. If not, the fire will eventually burn out. A fire left alone will burn out. It’s only a matter of time.

Main Points:
1. I want to challenge you today to not let your spiritual fire go out. Be intentional about keeping the flames of your faith burning. Pay attention to your spiritual life. If you ignore it, if you neglect it, the flames will go out.

2. If there was a time in your life when your fire for God burned hotter than it does today, there is still hope. Put another log on your fire. Your fire and passion for God can be reignited.

3. This is a good day for all of us to check our spiritual thermometer. What is the temperature of our relationship with God? Are we burning hot in our passion and zeal for the Lord?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Leviticus 6:12 - “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning…”

Romans 12:11 - “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
Matthew 22:37 - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Revelation 2:5 - “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

2 Timothy 1:6 - “I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you.”

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#1,230: God Knows What We Need May 01, 2025

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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#1,229: If You Are Weary, Come to Jesus Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Jesus doesn’t offer us a philosophy to cure our weariness. He doesn’t provide a path to enlightenment or ten steps to lessen our stress. No, He offers something incredibly better. Jesus offers himself.

Main Points:
1. We all experience weariness in different ways and for different reasons. Our pace of life seems so fast that we can’t keep up. Being busy is our badge of honor.

2. In the busyness of life that creates this weariness, there must be a break in the schedule to simply be with Jesus. It’s our daily time with God that provides the strength to do everything that is before us. Sometimes we are exhausted because we have neglected to go to our source of strength.

3. Spending time with Jesus is not a duty. It’s not a tradition or an empty religious ritual. It’s not a rule to passively follow. No, being with Jesus is an invitation. Jesus himself invites us to be with Him, to spend time with Him, to learn from Him, and to be refreshed by Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 11:28-29 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

1 Peter 5:7 - “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Psalm 16:11 - “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”

John 15:5 - “...apart from me, you can do nothing.”

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#1,228: Choose Your Words Carefully Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

You and I know a powerful truth very well. Words have power. Our words have the power to bless, encourage, inspire, uplift, and bring hope. Our words also have the power to wound, critique, discourage, and cause pain. Every day we get a choice of which kind of words we will use.

Main Points:
1. What are “reckless words?” How do we know if we are using them? Many types of speech can be considered reckless and potentially hurtful. I think of unnecessary criticism, sarcasm, insensitive comments, blame-shifting, offensive jokes, public humiliation, and personal attacks.

2. Given that our words are so important, how do we guard our hearts against reckless words? How can we make sure our words bless others and bring healing? We begin by recognizing the importance of our words and by asking God to give us wisdom in what we say.

3. When we slow down and when we truly listen to others, we are less likely to speak reckless words. Why? Because genuine listening requires that we care about others. What they say matters. It means something to us. It’s a demonstration of love.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 12:18 - “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Proverbs 15:4 - “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Matthew 12:36 - “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
James 1:19 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”

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

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