The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#1,217: God Wants to Use Your Testimony Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

In fact, your story is one of your greatest ministry tools. I meet people who feel they have nothing to offer the Lord. In their minds, they feel incapable of serving in some ministry. Yet, every one of us has a story. It’s a God story. It’s a story of how we met Jesus, the circumstances of your salvation, and how Jesus has changed your life.

Main Points:
1. If you have never sat down and written out your spiritual testimony in chronological order when you do, you’ll be amazed at how God has been working in your life. No testimony is boring. Your story is unique and fascinating, and whenever you tell it, it will be relevant, and potentially life-changing for the listener.

2. Your story is simply an account of how God has changed your life. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then surely He has done miraculous things for you. People are looking for evidence that God exists and that He is personally involved in people’s lives. You can’t make God appear on the spot to prove His existence, but you can certainly point straight to Him by talking about how He has worked in your life.

3. It’s true the Holy Spirit moves us and leads us in our conversations about Christ. But it’s our responsibility to use what the Lord gives us in the best possible way. We prepare for important meetings – we need to prepare to give an account of our faith as well.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

“And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33 ESV)

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#1,216: Jesus is Building His Church Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

What is Jesus doing today? He is building His church. We hear stories about churches closing and increasing statistics of people who won’t belong to a church community, yet you and I need to be assured of one great truth: Jesus will build His church.

Main Points:
1. Recently, I’ve been hearing this phrase more and more. “I love Jesus, but I don’t love the church.” I’m also hearing a lot of people say, “You know, you don’t have to go to church to go to Heaven, you just have to believe in Jesus. If this is your sentiment, let me give you something to consider. 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.

2. Let me ask an important question. How can we love Jesus, and not love what He loves? If we have placed our faith in Jesus, how can we not be a part of what He is doing on the earth? How can we not join together with other Christ-followers to fulfill Jesus’s mission?

3. If you are a believer in Jesus, recommit to being a part of His church. Let’s love what Jesus loves and let’s be a part of the church He is building.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 16:18 - “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Ephesians 5:25 - “…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Acts 20:28 Jesus “bought the church with His own blood,”

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#1,215: Experiencing God in the Silence Apr 10, 2025

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Perhaps the lack of silence is due to our inability to find stillness and solitude. Yet, in my experience, it’s in the silence that we can hear the voice of God. Sometimes we expect God to show up and speak up in loud and dramatic ways. He certainly can do that, but in my life, I’ve heard God speak mostly in the quiet times.

Main Points:
1. Isn’t life loud? It seems everywhere we go there is noise. Every store and restaurant has music playing. Throughout the day, we have the sound of people and traffic. Our phones constantly alert us of text messages, emails, and notifications. We don’t have much silence in our lives.

2. Have you heard the whisper of God? Are you enjoying God in the silence? If life has become loud and noisy, and if you are overwhelmed and distracted, you might not be hearing the voice of God.

3. In today’s culture there is always somewhere to go and something to do. I encourage you today to make time to get quiet with God and listen for His whisper. This whisper is a reminder of God's constant presence, calling us to listen and be attuned to His guidance.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Kings 19:11-12 - “The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

Psalm 46:10 - “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Psalm 37:7 - “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

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#1,214: A Fresh Hunger for God Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Physical hunger is not your only craving. You also possess a spiritual hunger. This appetite also cries out to be fed. Both types of hunger were created by God. Physical hunger can only be satisfied by food. Spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by God.

Main Points:
1. You have a longing in your soul for God. Many feel the yearning but do not recognize that it is spiritual in nature. They feel a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction with life. So many people are thinking, “There must be something more to life. What am I missing?”

2. In an attempt to satisfy their hunger, they go on a search. Attempts are made to gratify this spiritual emptiness with temporary, earthly things, only to be left with greater hunger.

3. So, let me give you the good news. Only Jesus can satisfy our spiritual hunger. Why? Because God designed us in such a way. Only God can fill the void in our souls. A relationship with Jesus is so nourishing and so satisfying that we will wonder why we neglected Him for so long. We will wonder why we bought into the deception of this world it could offer what we needed.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 107:9 - “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

Matthew 5:6 - “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.”

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#1213: God Will Provide the Power We Need Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

That sense of powerlessness is something we all experience. The truth is, apart from Christ, we are powerless. In and of ourselves, we cannot be who God wants us to be? Apart from Christ, we are weak, without strength, and unable to move forward.

Main Points:
1. Have you ever felt powerless? Like your batteries were on empty? Like you couldn’t go on? Did you feel as if you didn’t have the strength you needed or the ability to face a challenge? Maybe you felt you had reached your limit and that you simply couldn’t take the stress anymore. Perhaps you felt powerless to change, to stop, to grow, to adapt, or to become what God desires of your life.

2. Oh, how we need the Lord in our lives. Oh, how you and I need Jesus. It’s in Him we find our strength. It’s in Him we become strong. It’s only through His power that you and I can be an overcomer.

3. Every relationship we have exists because we intentionally invested in the other person. The same is true with Christ. Commit to daily investing time with Jesus. It’s through our knowledge of Him that we gain the power we need.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Peter 1:3 - “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

Romans 8:11 - “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

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#1,212: Are you Investing in Spiritual Growth? Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Our financial health is not the only thing that requires an investment, our spiritual growth requires one too. No, not a financial investment, though God may ask that of us, an investment of time, effort, passion, and heart. God will ask for an investment of sacrifice, faithfulness, and commitment. He will ask us to invest in the lives of others with love, support, and encouragement. God will speak to us about investing deeper into our own discipleship with Christ.

Main Points:
1. Let me ask you, “What investment are you making in your own spiritual growth?” Don’t rush past this question. Take a minute and think about it. What investment are you making in your own spiritual growth? To get a return, you have to make an investment.

2. Growth does not happen automatically. In fact, when something is not healthy we often say it has “stunted growth,” meaning something is hindering and prohibiting healthy growth.

3. What can you do today to begin investing in your spiritual growth? How can you begin pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus? What steps of faith can you take? Where do you need more investment?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Mark 10:28-31 - “Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 - “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

James 4:8 - “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

Psalm 37:4 - “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

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#1,211: An Adventure of Faith and Prayer Apr 03, 2025

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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#1,210: Helping a Christian who has Fallen Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

As Christians, the Bible describes us as children of God. As children, we are learning how to walk in Christ. We sometimes stumble and fall. God, with his grace and mercy, is patient and helps us get up and get going again. Yet, sometimes other believers aren’t as gracious.

Main Points:

1. Sadly, sometimes the fallen are shunned, excluded, and look down upon. Sometimes the fallen Christian is gossiped about and criticized.

2 The fallen one needs restoration. The goal is always to restore the believer who has been overcome by sin. They are not to be ignored. They are not to be excused. They are not to be destroyed. The goal is always restoration.

3. If you know a fellow believer who is struggling or who has fallen. With gentleness and humility reach out to them in an effort to restore them to the faith and the path of righteousness. While you are doing so, remember that any of us are capable of falling.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Galatians 6:1 - “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

John 13-34-45 - “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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#1,209: Everything for the Glory of God Apr 01, 2025

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That is what we live for: to experience the glory of God, to reflect it, to bring it to the world around us, not for our own sake but for the praise of His glory and honor.

Main Points:

1. The glory of God refers to his beauty, majesty, purity, and power. It speaks of the greatness and wonder of God.

2. In His love for us, God created us to experience himself. He created us to experience his glory. We get to experience God’s beauty, power, love, and mercy.

3. Not only do we experience His glory, but we were also created to reflect it. Like the moon reflects the light and radiance of the son, we are to reflect the glory of God to others around us. People should see and notice there is something different about our lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 43:7 - “Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 - “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Matthew 5:16 - “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

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#1,208: The Blood of Jesus is Powerful Mar 28, 2025

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Jesus left the glory of Heaven to come to earth and take on humanity. He came with one purpose which was to satisfy the justice of God. Jesus would come and die for us. He would become our substitute. We wouldn’t have to die for our sins because Jesus would die for us. He would shed his own lifeblood on the cross as payment for our sins.

Main Points:

1. Sin must be atoned for by death. Why? Because sin violates the righteous laws of God. God cannot wink at sin. He cannot overlook it. Sin must be accounted for and justice must be served.

2. In the Old Testament, God set up a system of animal sacrifices to atone for sin. It was a temporary solution until Jesus, the Messiah, would come.

3. The New Testament book of Hebrews teaches us that through the coming of Jesus, God put away the old system of animal sacrifices. Why? Because the final perfect lamb of God has come that takes away the sins of the world.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Hebrews 9:22 - “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”
John 1:29 - "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
1 John 1:7 - “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Ephesians 2:13 - “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

Revelation 1:5 - “…To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood.”

Romans 10:13 - “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

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