The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,127: Developing Christ-Like Character Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

Character is never built in a classroom. Character is built in the circumstances of life. God builds character in our lives by allowing us to experience situations where we are tempted to do the exact opposite of the character quality. Character development always involves a choice. When we make the right choice, our character grows more like Christ.

Main Points:

1. We don’t know why tragic circumstances happen in our lives. We don’t know why accidents happen. We don’t know why people receive bad news from the doctor. Life and its difficulties comes to us all. Live long enough and you will experience suffering.
2. God will use every circumstance of our lives to help us be more like Jesus. If you think back over your life you’ll realize that you have grown through the things you suffered.
3. Christ-like character is the goal of the Christian life. To settle for anything less is to miss the point of spiritual growth.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 43:2 - “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

Hebrews 5:8 - “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”

Romans 8:28 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:29 - “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

Ephesians 4:13 - We are to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

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#1,126: Praying for the Persecuted Church Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

For those of us in the West, suffering, and persecution for our faith are minimal. It might be easy to forget that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are suffering greatly as a result of the gospel. May we “remember their chains.” May we not forget them and may we pray for God’s strength, comfort, and help in their time of need.

Main Points:

1. There are thousands of suffering believers around the world who could say what Paul said, “Remember my chains.” Don’t forget about us. Remember us in prayer. Lift us up before the Lord.
2. We can pray that persecuted Christians will experience the peace of God in the midst of their suffering. We can only imagine the stress, fear, and anxiety that must accompany such distress.
3. We can pray that persecuted Christians remain strong in their faith in Jesus. Let’s ask the Lord to enable their faith to grow and that it won’t be weakened.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Colossians 4:18 - “ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

Ephesians 6:18-20 - “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

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#1,125: We are Motivated by the Love of God Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

When we recognize how great God’s love is for us, the only response is to love him in return. No one has done for us what God has done. No one has given to us what God has given. Jesus laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life. It is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen.

Main Points:

1. Loving God is our great motivation to serve. It is not a drudgery to serve God. It is not a burden or an obligation. It is not a problem to serve Him. If Jesus would go to the cross for us, we should willingly and lovingly serve Him in return.
2. Having been changed by the love of God, we love him in return. This love compels us to follow, surrender, serve, and obey.
3. Join me in asking God to help us to love Him more. I believe this prayer honors the Lord. He will give us a greater capacity to love and it will become the motivation for all we do.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 5:8 - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 14:15 - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:14 - “For the love of Christ compels us…”

Matthew 22:37 - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

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#1,124: Waiting for Jesus to Come Back Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes we find ourselves impatient with God, especially about His return. We wonder, What can He be waiting on? The tragedies around us, the suffering of people we love, and even the stresses of daily life all seem bigger as time goes on. When will Jesus come back?

Main Points:

1. As believers, we are to wait. We don’t like waiting, but as we wait we trust God’s timing. God alone knows when the right time is for the return of Jesus. So, we ask God for the patience to wait.
2. It’s important to see that this “waiting” God asks us to do is not passive. Our waiting on the return of Christ is not the same as waiting in a waiting room. We do not sit idly by, wasting time, waiting for Jesus to come back.
3. As we wait, we focus on the mission of Jesus in our world. We have been given a commission by our Savior. We are to share the good news of the gospel and this must be a priority in our lives. The return of Christ is always presented in Scripture as a great motivation to action, not as a reason to cease from action.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 14:3 - “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Philippians 3:20 - “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Titus 2:13 - “…we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 3:11-12 - “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God.”

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#1,123: God Never Fails Nov 20, 2024

Show notes

In a world of mistrust, God can be trusted. He can be counted upon. He keeps his promises, he fulfills his word, and he does what he says he will do. God is worthy of your trust, your faith, and your confidence.

Main Points:

1. The Bible teaches us that God is faithful. This means God is always reliable, all of the time. He does not fail or forget. He always keeps his word. His character is consistent and He never changes.
2. Think about the implications of this wonderful truth. If God never changes, his love never changes. His grace never changes. His forgiveness never changes. His power and his presence never change. His ability never changes.
3. If you are struggling to trust God, be assured of his character. There is no one like God. He does not change. He will be faithful in your life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Psalm 119:89-90 - “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”
Malachi 3:6, "I the Lord do not change."
James 1:17 - “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

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#1,122: Trusting God's Timing Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever thought, “Why does God take so long?” If God is all-knowing, then he knows that I need my prayer answered right now. If God is all-powerful, he can do it right now. Why is there a delay?

Main Points:

1. If God makes you wait, there is a reason. God does nothing by accident. God never gets too busy. God never gets pre-occupied. God is always on time…according to his time.
2. God knows what he is doing. His delays are always purposeful. When we dare to live by God’s timing, great things happen.
3. Just because it’s not happening now, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Just because God hasn’t answered the prayer or met the need, doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. It may just be a matter of God’s timing.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Exodus 2:11-15 - "One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian.”

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#1,121: Don't Stop Praying Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

I believe God uses persistence in prayer to purge our desires. God also uses persistence in prayer to mold, and transform our desires, to change how we pray and even what we are praying for so that we gradually come to pray closer to the heart of God’s will.

Main Points:

1. In the story, Jesus is teaching his followers about the importance of persistent prayer. He says two things. First, we should always pray. Second, we should not give up.
2. It's important to know that the point of the parable is not that if you pray and pray and pray, you’ll eventually wear God down, and he’ll give you what you want. The point of the story is that if an evil judge will respond to requests that are made, how much more would a loving Heavenly Father do? With this confidence in our hearts, we should always pray and not give up.
3. Let’s remember that persistence in prayer is for our benefit, not God’s. If we always got exactly what we wanted the first time we asked, it's likely we would begin to treat God as our genie, only summoned forth to give us more wishes. But that is precisely what prayer calls into question: What do you really want?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Luke 18:1 - “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - “Pray continually.”

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#1,120: Sanctification Nov 14, 2024

Show notes

Know this: God always has a next step for us. Until we see Jesus in glory, God is not finished with us. This work of ongoing spiritual growth and development is called sanctification.

Main Points:

1. The basic meaning of "sanctify" is to set apart to God, for His use. This work of “setting us apart” is the ongoing spiritual growth makes you and me more like Jesus.
2. Sanctification is the work of God in our lives to call us away from sin, ungodliness, and wordiness, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, enable us to live holy and righteous lives that reflect Christ.
3. Salvation is a momentary act, bringing us from spiritual death to life. It is exclusively God's work. Sanctification is an ongoing process, it is dependent on God's ongoing work in our lives, but it also requires our continuous fight against sin.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.”
Romans 8:29 - (God is) “conforming us to the image of His Son.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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#1,119: Faith or Fear? You Decide Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

In my life, I have discovered that when it comes to the choices of fear and faith, it’s not always one or the other. Life produces fear, it’s an emotion we feel, but with God’s help, I can choose faith anyway. Though I may feel fear, I choose to trust God.

Main Points:

1. As Christians, we acknowledge that fear is a choice. We can also make another choice. It’s the decision to live by faith.
2. Having faith doesn’t diminish the reality of what we are facing, it doesn’t deny it or sweep it under the rug. Faith is not pretending the hard times aren’t there. Faith is choosing to believe that God is with us in our battle and that the ultimate outcome is in His hands. He is involved in every detail of our lives.
3. Faith brings God into the equation. As I face my fears, I remember what the Bible says about God’s character and his power. God is both loving and strong. He is compassionate and powerful.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Psalm 86:15 - “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Ephesians 3:20 - “God…is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

Psalm 56:3 - “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

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#1,118: We Have an Unfinished Assignment Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

According to the Joshua Project, there are still 7,415 unreached people groups around the world. An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance.

Main Points:

1. Why should we care? Why should this be a priority for the church? Because we are compelled by our Savior to reach them. We have been given this mission. This is what matters to God.
2. There must be within the body of Christ an urgency to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The gospel must be urgent to us because it is urgent to God. Can I ask you, “Is the work of missions and evangelism urgent for you?”
3. What if every Christian took the Great Commission seriously? What if every Christian prayed for the lost, for our missionaries, and the unreached? What if every Christian gave financially each month to ensure that everyone around the world had access to the gospel message? What if every Christian took steps of faith to witness for Christ?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 28:19-20 - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2 Peter 3:9 - (God does not want) “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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