The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#1,037: How to Deal with Regret Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

What do we do with our regrets? If your faith is in Jesus, you must see that the gospel of Christ grants us freedom from the condemnation that still burdens us daily.

Main Points:

1. Everyone listening today to this episode has had the feeling of regret. You feel regret over a word spoken, a mistake made, a poor decision, or a missed opportunity. We all have things we’ve said or done that we wish we could do-over. What would you go back and change?
2. At times, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us opportunities we have to ask forgiveness, seek reconciliation and do our part to correct mistakes in the past. Other times, there is simply nothing that can be done accept submit them to the grace of God.
3. So if your regrets are weighing you down, examine them. What is giving them life? Once you know, lay them aside and turn your eyes to Jesus. Surrender your regrets to your Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 8:1-2 - “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 be your verses for this week. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

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#1,036: The Value of Memorizing Bible Verses Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Scripture memorization keeps our hearts and minds set on God. When we are daily memorizing and meditating on scripture, our thoughts are on God. God’s Word transforms our thought process and as a result, we make God-honoring decisions with our lives.

Main Points:

1. Scripture memorization gives us the tools we need to fight temptation. In Luke chapter four, Jesus quoted scripture three times as he resisted Satan’s temptations. You and I can do the same thing.
2. God will not ask us to do something that he will not also empower us to do. I believe the Holy Spirit will give us the strength and ability to memorize Bible verses, one at a time.
3. You can begin memorizing scripture right now. Select a verse that you find helpful and meaningful and begin to read it aloud, write it down, and quote it. Imagine memorizing a verse each week. In one year you would have 52 verses in your heart. I believe it would be life-changing.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 1: 2-3 - “but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

Joshua 1:8 - “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Colossians 3:16 - “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.”

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#1,035: How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

Can I ask you an important question? What do you do when you become discouraged? You need an answer to this question. You need a plan, and you need it now. Discouragement comes to us all. Everyone will face it. Everyone will battle it.

Main Points:

1. Discouragement will make you want to quit. Maybe even right now, as you listen to this podcast episode, you have been fighting the feelings of wanting to quit.
2. There are going to be times when you have to encourage yourself in the Lord.
No one else is around. The pastor is not there. No friends are around to help you. Your family is not there. Do you know how to encourage yourself in the Lord? Have you done this? Can you grab God’s Word and feed your soul, can you find a place of prayer and pour out your soul before the Lord. Can you worship in times of trouble?
3. If you are discouraged right now, remember God's past faithfulness and begin to thank Him for what He has already done. As you worship, watch the discouragement disappear.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Samuel 30:6 - "David encouraged himself in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:9 - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

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#1,034: Don't Waste Your Opportunities Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

The Bible has a lot to say about time. The most important thing it says is something we know already—that our time is limited. Time can be used or wasted, it can be invested or squandered, but either way, once used, it can never be regained. Time matters because we have such a limited supply.

Main Points:

1. We always have plenty of time to do everything we need to do. This means that all of my time belongs to God, and therefore how I spend my days is a sacred issue. Someday you and I will answer for what I did today.
2. The truth is most people know the right thing to do. You know the right thing to do. It’s just we put it off. We delay. We don’t do it. We say tomorrow. Later. Someday I’ll… “One of these days I’ll get around to it.” We keep putting things off.
3. I encourage you to count the cost. Count the cost of your delay. There’s always a cost in delay. There’s always a price tag that goes along with procrastination. You have one life to live for God. Don’t waste the opportunities God is giving you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:
"There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance."
Ephesians 5:15-16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

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#1,033: God is With the Brokenhearted Jul 05, 2024

Show notes

Everyone of us will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. No one is immune from grief and loss, but there is one thing that makes all the difference. He is with us! God is with us. We don’t walk this road alone. We don’t mourn alone. God’s presence can fill our soul and give strength when we need it the most.

Main Points:

1. God created us with emotions. We have the ability to feel joy, happiness, comfort, and peace. We also have the ability to feel stress, anxiety, fear, pain, and grief. No where in the Bible does it tell us to bury our feelings. It doesn’t tell us we are unspiritual if we feel our emotions.
2. I think that often we see more clearly as time goes by. When we look back, we realize that the only thing that sustained us during the dark days of grief was the presence of the Lord. We’ll often say, “If it wasn’t for Jesus, I don’t know how I would have made it through that difficult time.
3. Let’s find comfort in the promises of God. Yes, he is close to the brokenhearted. Yes, he does rescue those whose spirits are crushed.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 34:17-19 - “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”
Psalm 23:4 - “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.”

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#1,032: Holy Habits Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

When we come to Jesus and make Him our Savior and Lord, he begins to work in our lives and strips away old ways of living that conflict with scripture and dishonor the Lord. Through the Word of God, He teaches us a new way of living. As we break with the old sinful patterns and habits, we form new ones that please God, but also give joy.

Main Points:

1. It’s through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to break the patterns of the world that we have lived by for so long. Now, through Jesus, we can be transformed, and this transformation takes place by a renewal in our minds.
2. In today’s culture we sometimes talk about habits in their negative connotation. We’ll say, I’m struggling to break some bad habits.” But what if you could form some new habits. What if you and I developed some holy habits? What if we created some habits that helped us grow spiritually?
3. Remember, there is a difference between behaviors and habits. Anyone is capable of a particular behavior from time to time, but a habit is done instinctively and consistently. How do we develop a habit? Through regular repetition. As we do so consistently, the behavior becomes a regular and almost involuntary part of our lives.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

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#1,031: Are You Using Your Spiritual Gifts? Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Your spiritual gifts determine how God wants to use your life. Are you willing to allow God to use your life, for His glory, to build the kingdom of God? Are you willing to say “yes” to God?

Main Points:

1. The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual gifts. There are at least 20 of them listed in the Bible. We don’t have time to define them all today, but you can read about them in these passages of Scripture: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
2. Peter contends that each of us has received at least one spiritual gift when he states, “As each one has received a gift.” These gifts of grace are to be distinguished from natural talents, skills, and abilities.
3. What this tells us is that God wants to use our lives in a unique way. He has gifted and enabled us to serve Him and others. God intends for your life to be a blessing to others. You have a particular role in the work of God and by the Holy Spirit, God has given you a gift to make this happen.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Peter 4:10-11 - “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”

Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

1 Corinthians 7:7 – “But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”

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#1,030: An Increasing Appetite for the Word of God Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

We must have a desire for the Scripture. It’s through the pages of the Bible we come to know the author. My prayer is that we would develop a hunger for the Word of God, because we have a hunger to know God personally.
Main Points:

1. If it’s true that the majority of Christians are not reading and learning from the Word of God on a regular basis, there must be a deficiency in our discipleship. Our spiritual growth is stunted. We are not are being changed into Christ-likeness. We are not growing as God would intend.
2. If today, you find yourself with little desire for the Word of God, there are some things you can do. First, you can pray. Admit to God what’s in your heart. Begin to ask God every day to give you a hunger and delight for Scripture.
3. I believe God will develop in us a hunger for his Word. We’ll begin to experience a taste and a craving for the Scripture because our time with God is satisfying and nourishing.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Peter 2:1-3 - “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Psalm 119:97 - “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

Psalm 119:18 - “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

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#1,029: The Difference Jesus Makes Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

When you love Jesus it makes you different. You are not the same. There will be a noticeable difference in how you live and what you live for. In Christianity, some of the words we use to describe this new life are changed, transformed, converted, and born again.

Main Points:

1. We are still in the world, but we are not of the world. We live by different values. We have different ambitions. We have been given a new purpose in life. What we love has changed. We have exchanged old passions and desires for new ones.
2. Before placing our faith in Jesus, we loved the world. We loved what the world could offer us because it was all we knew. Now, we no longer love the world because we have discovered something superior. We have experienced the love of God that is satisfying and meets our inmost desires.
3. We are to bear the likeness or the imprint of God. People should recognize that we belong to Christ because we bear His image. The life we live is to be a reflection of the values, character, and lifestyle of Christ.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 John 2:15-17 - “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Ephesians 4:24 - “…to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

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#1,028: God has Promised to be our Guide Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Do you need a guide? Are you in need of guidance and direction? God has given you two sources, His Word and His Spirit.

Main Points:

1. Where does this guidance come from? How does God become our guide? He guides us in two ways. He guides us by His Word and by the Holy Spirit.
2. Psalm 119 says God’s Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path, meaning, it illuminates the steps we are to take. God’s Word makes it clear what the next step should be. As wonderful as this is, it is only half the answer. You’ll make many decisions in life that are not identified or prescribed in the Bible.
3. In the absence of clear guidance from the Word of God, we rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul said in Romans 8:14 - “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Not only do we need daily guidance from Scripture, but we also need daily direction from the Holy Spirit. The Word and the Spirit together are the leadership that we need.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 1:5 - "Whoever among you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go and I will counsel you and watch over you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

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