The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#985: Yes, Jesus is Coming Back Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

As we read the Bible, it is very clear, Jesus is coming back. While many scoff and disbelieve, it doesn’t change the truth of what Jesus has said. We don’t know when He is coming, but we do know He is coming soon.

Main Points:
1. Knowledge of Christ’s return should not produce fear or anxiety in the heart of the believer. This truth should give us hope. It should cause us to be encouraged. What God has prepared for us is greater than anything this would could give us.

2. In an increasingly chaotic world, what a hopeful thought that this could be the year Jesus returns. More comforting still is the anticipation that all who trust Him for salvation will be gathered together, relieved from this world’s suffering, sorrow, and fear. Best of all, we’ll be with the Lord forever!

3. While you and I as Christians long for the return of Jesus, there are still many who do not know Him. Peter reminds us that God isn’t just being slow for no reason. He is being patient. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He desires that everyone would come to repentance and believe in Jesus.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 1:10-11 tells the story. “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Revelation 22:20 - “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

2 Peter 3:4 - “They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Matthew 24:44 - “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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#984: The Lord Will Fight For You Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Can I encourage you today with a powerful truth? The Lord fights for you.

Main Points:
1. As we face the many battles of this life, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, relational, and financial, we don’t face them alone. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

2. His Holy Spirit is in us and with us. He will give us strength when we are weary, peace when we are confused, joy when we are sad, and wisdom when we are confused.

3. There is no limit to his power, his creativity, his wisdom, and his love for you. Just as a loving earthy father would do everything in his power to protect his children, our Heavenly Father, loves and protects us as well.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Exodus 14:10-13 - “As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 20:4 - “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 - “ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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#983: Following God with your Whole Heart Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Let me ask you a question. Do you love God with your whole heart? It’s a powerful question, isn’t it? Perhaps you feel a bit convicted by the question. Our hearts are so easily divided among a lot of things we love and desire. We can be tempted to love God, but to do so without giving Him our whole heart.

Main Points:
1. As I think about our lives, I recognize that one of the primary obstacles to wholehearted devotion to God is simply distraction. In a world filled with noise and busyness, it's easy to allow our attention to be diverted from God. We become preoccupied with the cares of life, the pursuit of success, or the allure of entertainment.

2. Our hearts, meant to be wholly His, are divided among competing interests. As a result, our love for God can become diluted. Our love for God is downgraded to a corner of our lives, rather than occupying the central throne it deserves.

3. We also know that sin entangles us and obstructs our path to following God wholeheartedly. Whether it be overt sins or even subtle compromises, sin separates us from God and disrupts the intimacy of our relationship with Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 22:37-38 - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Numbers 13:30 - “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

Numbers 14:24 - "The Lord said, “Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.”

Joshua 14:14 - “because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.”

Hebrews 12:2 - “…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.”

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#982: Who is Jesus? Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Who is Jesus Christ? This is the most important question you will ever be asked. A good man? A great teacher? A revolutionary leader? Or is he the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Who was he? Who is he? Your eternal destiny hangs on your answer.

Main Points:
1. Jesus came as a savior and as a king, but not an earthly one. He came for a greater purpose. He came to save us from a greater oppression than a Roman army. He came to save us from our sins, that which would keep us from God for eternity. He came to be the King of our hearts.

2. This brings us to an important question. Who is this? “Who is Jesus?” Is he just a historical figure, a religious leader, a philosopher, and a teacher? Was he revolutionary and a political rebel? Is he an imaginary person and a myth? Or is Jesus the Messiah, the King of the Jews, a Savior, and God in the flesh?

3. Have the courage today to put your faith in him and trust him as the savior of your soul.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 21:10-11 - “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

John 1:1.2.14 - “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is our Savior - Matthew 1:21 - "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Jesus is our King - Philippians 2:9-11 - “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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#981: Christ's Sacrifice for our Sins Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

If God were not just, there would be no demand for his Son to suffer and die. And if God were not loving, there would be no willingness for his Son to suffer and die. But God is both just and loving. His love is willing to meet the demands of his justice.

Main Points:
1. There are no small sins. Here’s why: because God is not small. The seriousness of the insult rises with the dignity of the one insulted. The Creator of the universe is infinitely worthy of respect, admiration, and loyalty.

2. But here’s what is truly amazing…Jesus accepts God’s wrath on our behalf. Jesus doesn’t cancel God’s wrath, he absorbs it. He diverts it from us to himself.

3. Isn’t this amazing? Jesus absorbing God’s wrath on our behalf is so important to understand. We will never stand in awe of being loved by God until we recognize the seriousness of our sin and the justice of God’s his wrath against us. But when, by grace, we see our unworthiness, then we can begin to comprehend the suffering and death of Jesus.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 5:6-8 - “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

1 Peter 2:24 - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

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#980: The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

Not only does the Psalms tell us we can be full of joy. It tells how to obtain it. David said, this joy is found in the presence of God. This joy is God-given. It cannot be acquired from the things of this world. This is a sustaining joy. It is not a fleeting happiness that is dependent upon a good set of circumstances.

Main Points:
1. As I look around I see so many who are discouraged. They feel beaten down by the pressures of life. Some Christians have fallen into a place of negativity and criticism towards others. Their general disposition does not radiate with God’s joy.

2. This joy is received only received one way. We must be in God’s presence. Could this be the reason many Christians have no joy? Is it because they do not spend time in God’s presence? It is because they are not going to the source of joy, God himself?

3. As we are in God’s presence, what lingers is joy. In God’s presence, we have delight and pleasure. It’s in His presence we experience gladness, rejoicing, and enjoyment. Imagine sadness, sorry, and weariness being lifted off of your heart. Imagine stress and anxiety no longer being a heavy burden. All of this is possible in God’s presence.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 16:11 - “…In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Nehemiah 8:10 - “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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#979: Taking Responsibility for your Spiritual Growth Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

I learned that the growth of my spiritual life was my responsibility. My growth in Christ was not the responsibility of my pastor, my Sunday school teacher, or even my parents. God used each of them to play a role, but my spiritual growth depended on whether or not I accepted the responsibility to grow.

Main Points:
1. The scripture teaches us that our knowledge of God and our experience with Him is something we must pursue. His presence, power, wisdom, strength, peace, and joy can all be obtained as we grow in our relationship with Him.

2. Hear this truth today. You can have more of God in your life. There is more of His presence and power you can receive. You can have more love for others, more Godly wisdom, more discernment, and more knowledge of His Word.

3. God makes it all available, but He doesn’t automatically download it into our lives. You and I are personally responsible for our own spiritual growth. In fact, we could say that where you and I are spiritually is directly tied to the level of our pursuit of God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

James 4:8 - “ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Hebrews 10:22 - “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart…”
Isaiah 55:6 - “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

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

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#978: Responding to the Beauty and Majesty of God Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Looking at the night sky with the radiance of the moon and stars, King David understood what it all revealed. He said, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” The brightness and the brilliance of the skies tell us about the beauty and the majesty of God. Only someone so powerful and so creative could design what we see each night.

Main Points:
1. Regardless of where we live on earth, the voice of God speaks to us through nature, revealing His existence, power, and glory.

2. Because of this general revelation, we cannot say God has hidden himself from us. He reveals His existence every day.

3. With this revelation, we have a choice with what to do with it. Seeing the beauty, majesty, and power of God, how will we respond? Many respond with indifference, but I pray you’ll see the power of God and respond by acknowledging His greatness.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 40:26 - “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.”

Psalm 19:1-4 - “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 1:20 - “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Psalm 147:4 - “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

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#977: When We Don't Understand God's Plan Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Of all the questions in life that go unanswered, it’s often the question of why. Everyone listening to this podcast episode has asked this question. Why? Why did this happen? Why am I going through this? Since this is a universal question, it brings up another great question: As Christians, how do we respond when we don’t understand?

Main Points:
1. Who among us hasn’t had some kind of unexpected, disappointing experience that sends our minds into overdrive with questions of confusion? A family member cuts off communication without explanation; health gains are reversed; a company relocates unexpectedly; a life-altering accident happens. How do we respond, when we don’t understand?

2. May we not forget, that our sovereign God has a plan and a purpose that we don’t always see at the moment. Trust in His character that He is a good and loving Heavenly Father. His plan, His purpose, and His path for our lives are right.

3. Through the strength God provides us, let’s maintain our faith. Let’s hold onto His promises. May we have the courage to bless God on our difficult days. Let’s worship, not only in the good times but also in the bad. Regardless of our circumstances, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Job 1:20-22 - “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

Job 2:9 - His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Job 2:10 - “He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”

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#976: More Blessed to Give than to Receive Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

Remember this truth today: We have been blessed to be a blessing. What are we to do with our blessings? We are to bless others. Proverbs teaches that those who hoard their blessings will no longer be blessed. The blessing is found in the giving.

Main Points:
1. I’m convinced that most of us listening today would say we have been blessed by God. In fact, many would say that have been greatly blessed and blessed beyond what they deserve. God has been so good to us. So what do we do with our blessings?

2. Personally, I believe in the biblical command to tithe on our income. The first ten percent goes to support our local church. We give from the top, not from our leftovers. In this way, we are putting God first in our finances, recognizing it all comes from him anyway.

3. Have you been generous lately? Don’t hold back on generosity thinking you won’t have enough. What you have now came from the Lord. He is faithful to provide. Remember, the blessing is in the giving.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Acts 20:35 - “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Proverbs 11:25 - “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

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