The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,087: God Sees Everything Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Our relationship with God is like no other. In our relationships with people, there may be a thousand things they don’t know about you, especially as it is related to the heart. Your friend doesn’t know your thoughts, your desires, your motives, and your feelings, but God does.

Main Points:

1. Think about this truth: God knows absolutely everything about you and he loves you. You are fully and completely known, and yet you are loved.
2. Because God knows everything about us, he can guide and direct our steps. In life, we are often confused and disoriented. We don’t know the best way forward. We don’t know which steps to take, but since God already knows, he can carefully guide us to the right decisions.
3. The truth that God sees and knows everything reminds us to live in a way that honors the Lord. If we can be conscious of the reality that God is always watching, we will want to be careful with our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions because we know God has called us to be holy like our Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

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

Hebrews 4:13 - “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Jeremiah 23:24 - “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”

Matthew 6:8, Jesus said, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

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#1,086: The Prayer Jesus is Asking Your to Pray Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

As we read the four Gospels, we see Jesus modeling prayer and teaching His disciples to pray, but did you know that Jesus gave us only one prayer request? Yes, Jesus himself asks us to pray for something.

Main Points:

1. As Jesus speaks about the lost, those who have not put their faith in God, he uses the metaphor of a field of crops that are ripe and ready to be harvested. He said the harvest is plentiful. Many would come into the kingdom of God, yet there is one obstacle. The workers are few. Jesus warned us that opportunities to meet human needs and bring people into His kingdom may be wasted because of a shortage of laborers.
2. It’s here that Jesus gives us his prayer request. Since the harvest belongs to the Lord, we are to pray to Him and ask him to send more workers into his harvest field.
3. There is an urgency in the heart of Jesus. As he sees the need, he knows that time is of the essence. A harvest will not always be ready. Eventually, a missed harvest will spoil, and its fruit will rot. There is a need for laborers and the need is now.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 9:37-38 - “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

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#1,085: The Ministry of Encouragement Sep 26, 2024

Show notes

You never know the impact of your kindness, your love, and your words of encouragement. I believe people around you today are desperate for encouragement. Everyone around you is fighting a battle you know nothing about. What a difference you could make in someone’s life by encouraging them to trust the Lord, to keep believing, and to not give up.

Main Points:

1. Have you ever had an encourager in your life, someone that whenever you were around, you found your spirit lifted? This is the kind of person I want to be. I want to be an encourager.
2. What a difference you could make by encouraging someone to obey God, to step out in faith, and to let God use their lives.
3. I believe every believer has a ministry. Don’t overlook the importance of being an encourager. It costs you nothing but your love, your kindness, and your time.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 4:36 - “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “encourage one another and build each other up.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 - “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

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#1,084: God Cares About the Lonely Sep 25, 2024

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I want to assure you today that no matter what you are experiencing or what you feel, God’s face is turned towards you. He does know what you feel and He cares.

Main Points:

1. Perhaps you feel down today, thinking all your hope is gone, that even God has abandoned you. Yes, you may feel those things, but that doesn’t mean your feelings are true. The God of Heaven knows what you are feeling. He understands the pressure you are feeling. Most of all, He is there. He cares and He is with you.
2. In your loneliness, stand on this great truth from Scripture. God is with you. He has promised to always be with you.
3. What is it that lifts our spirits when we are lonely? What encourages our hearts? I believe the answer is found in worship. When we worship Jesus we experience a change in perspective. Our focus is no longer on our loneliness, the absence of friends and family, and what we do not have. Our focus now is solely upon Jesus, his comforting presence, his love for us, and his promise to always be with us.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 2:18 - “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”
Hebrews 13:5 - “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Psalm 27:10 - "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.”
Proverbs 18:24 - “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

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#1,083: When Jesus Says Hard Things Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

I love the words of Jesus. I’ve discovered that most people do, even non-believers. You can even purchase Bibles that only have the words of Jesus printed. It’s been said that no one speaks like Jesus and I would agree. His words have power and they have life. These truths are encouraging, uplifting, inspiring, and challenging. They changed people’s lives in the first century, and they are still changing lives today. But you would have to agree that as much as we love the words of Jesus, we also recognize that Jesus said some hard things, some very hard things.

Main Points:

1. Today, as Christians, we view the cross as a symbol of forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day, the cross represented nothing but torturous death. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their crosses to the place of crucifixion.
2. For the followers of Jesus, taking up our cross means “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender. It means choosing Jesus above all things. It means putting him first and dying to our desires, ambitions, and worldly pleasures. Jesus said if we “lose our life, we will find it.” The reward for choosing Christ over everything else is matchless.
3. We carry our cross and die to ourselves because Jesus alone is worthy.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Luke 9:23 - “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

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#1,082: God Loves a Cheerful Giver Sep 23, 2024

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God loves a cheerful giver. I believe this is because God himself is a giver. God loves to give. Every blessing we have is because God has given them to us. When we give with joy we are being like God.

Main Points:

1. God blesses those who give. He said if we give sparingly, meaning in a small amount, we will receive a small blessing, but if we give generously, the blessing will be generous.
2. Paul goes on to teach us that giving is personal. It is between each person and God. We should give what the Lord puts on our hearts to give. We should be obedient to the Lord in this area. We should not give reluctantly and feel that we are under compulsion or forced to do so.
3. Paul is not teaching us a so-called “prosperity doctrine.” This does not teach us we should give so we can get more for ourselves. We become cheerful givers when we realize that everything we are and everything we have is because of the grace of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8. He said, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

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#1,081: A Consistent Prayer Life Sep 20, 2024

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As Christians, prayer is always a whisper away. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing, conversation with God. You don’t need a special appointment to talk with God. You can do so, anywhere, and at any time.

Main Points:

1. There is significant value in making a specific time for prayer. I think that if we are not intentional about a time and a place for prayer, it’s likely we won’t be consistent in our prayer life.
2. When you think of God’s goodness and his blessings, you can have a spontaneous moment of praise and gratitude towards God. When you see a prayer request posted on Facebook, you can pause and bring that need to the Lord.
3. What a blessing it is for you and I to have such access to God. It’s truly amazing. The God of the universe, the God who has such power that He spoke and the world came into existence, this God gives you an audience. This God welcomes you into His presence. This God loves you and wants to hear from you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Romans 12:12- “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

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#1,080: The Christian Life is a Changed Life Sep 19, 2024

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The Big Idea:

We hear it said all the time. People don’t change. Who they are….is who they are. It’s seems like a hopeless statement. But Christianity is about change. The Bible is full of stories about messed up people who changed by the power of God. God takes what people see as useless, worthless, ruined, and broken and makes them new.

Main Points:

1. Jesus defeated the curse of sin by his sacrificial death on the cross. He did not die on the cross so we would stay bound to sin. He died on the cross to set us free.
2. Do you ever wonder why people can’t bring themselves to say yes to Jesus? It requires faith. It requires courage. It’s so hard for people to believe they can change.
3. True change always begins with faith in God. I know we make feeble attempts to change our lives, but until the heart is changed we are not truly changed. Behavior modification is nice, but God’s change goes much deeper.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 8:44 - “He has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Joshua 2:9-11 - “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt…..for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”

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#1,079: Do I Fear the Lord? Sep 18, 2024

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The Big Idea:

Fear of the Lord is deep respect, awe, and reverence for God. We give God the glory, honor, reverence, gratitude, and praise, he deserves. God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives. We regard his desires over and above our own.

Main Points:

1. We should fear or respect the Lord as one who has authority over us. It is a recognition that we are accountable to Him. He is so great, He is so holy, He is so righteous, how can I not humble myself before him? How could I ever think that I know better than God?
2. The fear of the Lord causes us to repent of our pride and our selfishness. It brings us to a place of humility before the Lord. It is a recognition of his holiness and greatness.
3. Without the fear of the Lord we make decisions based on our human understanding. But when we live with the fear of the Lord we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our lives. He sees, knows, and evaluates all of our choices, and we will one day stand before him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ephesians 2:4 - “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”

Proverbs 19:10 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 14:26 - “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge”

Proverbs 14:27 - “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death”

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#1,078: What Does Forgiveness Cost? Sep 17, 2024

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The Big Idea:

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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