The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#945: The Way of the Fool Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever encountered someone who simply wouldn’t listen to wise advice? Or what about you? Have you ever refused to listen to words of wisdom?

Main Points:
1. Recently, while reading in the book of Proverbs, I noticed that Solomon repeatedly used the words “fool” or “foolish.” I decided to count and learned Solomon uses the word “fool” 72 times.

2. The Bible teaches us that a foolish person is the one who leaves God out. According to the Scripture, the fool either doesn’t believe in God or they don’t consider God and his ways. They leave God out. The fool doesn’t follow Godly wisdom or advice. The fool leaves God out of their planning and go their own way.

3. To be wise we have to choose to pursue God’s wisdom. So, let me ask you, Who are you listening to? Your own wisdom? The wisdom of your friends? The wisdom of our culture? The wisdom of God?

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Proverbs 12:15 - “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

Proverbs 28:26 - “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Psalm 14:1 - “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God.”
Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.”

1 Corinthians 3:19 - “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”

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#944: Spiritual Protection Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

With all the evil in our world, we live with a certain amount of fear and we call out to God for his safe keeping. While we all pray for protection from physical harm, I wonder if we pray at all for spiritual protection.

Main Points:
1. Temptation is a battle because sin is more than just a choice – it is a power, an intimidating force in our lives. We live in this world surrounded by influences that pull at our souls, lure our affections, and seduce our wills.

2. So, what is the Lord telling us to pray? This prayer recognizes our spiritual weakness. Our tendency to yield to temptation. This prayer is saying, “God I’m too weak on my own. I need your help when I face the trials of life. Protect me from temptations that I encounter because of my sinful desires. Give me strength. Help me to respond in a way that honors you.

3. This simple prayer - “lead us not into temptation” gives us hope that we do not have to fight this battle alone. It is a prayer for spiritual protection.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Luke 11:4, Jesus instructed us to pray these words: “Lead us not into temptation.”

Psalm 37:23-24 – “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

Psalm 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD.”

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#943: Rebuild the Altar Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

The good news is that God specializes in restoring and rebuilding lives. Millions of people have experienced His grace and power. They have seen God pick them up out of the ruins and turn their lives around.

Main Points:
1. Today there are many whose lives are falling apart. Their marriages have been destroyed. There is conflict and difficulty within the family relationships. Many have experienced collapse due to sin and rebellion against God. They have left behind a trail of mistakes, failures, and poor decisions. Others battle addictions and brokenness. Where there was once health and vitality, there is now rubble and debris.

2. Maybe you need God’s restoration power in your life and you wonder where to start? How do you begin to pick up the pieces of a life that has been broken apart? The answer is to follow the example of Ezra. Rebuild the altar.

3. With humility, rebuild the altar in your life. No, not a physical altar or a piece of furniture where you would kneel to pray. Building an altar means you are turning to God for help. You are establishing a relationship with God. You are reaching out in prayer to a God of grace. He’s a God who wants to restore.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Kings 25:1,9 - “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. The whole Babylonian army under the commander of the imperial guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.”

Ezra 3:3 - “Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.”

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#942: Returning to Your First Love Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

The call to the Ephesians in Revelation chapter two is a call to us today. It’s a call to remember, repent, and return to our first love. It's an invitation to rediscover the joy of an intimate relationship with Christ.

Main Points:
1. The danger lies not in direct rebellion or rejection of Jesus, but in the slow fade of affection. The Ephesians were doing everything right in terms of doctrine and duty, but their hearts were no longer ablaze with love for Jesus.

2. When I read Revelation chapter two, it serves as a caution and a warning. These words from Jesus make me search my heart. Have I lost my first love? Have I let my passion and fervency for Jesus fade? Am I going through the motions of worship, serving, giving, and volunteering, simply as a Christian duty? Have I forgotten why I’m doing what I am doing? Are we, like the Ephesians, faithful in our religious duties but lacking the fervent love we once had for Christ? Have the routines of life dimmed the flame of our passion for the One who first loved us?

3. Ask God to search your heart. If your love for Jesus has decreased, do what Jesus asks you to do. Remember, repent, and return.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Revelation 2:5 - “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

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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#941: Don't Lose Faith in the Power of Prayer Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Persistence brings us to the true center of prayer, which is not something but someone. Persistence deepens our relationship with God and compels the heart to examine what it wants most. When I pray do I really want God’s will?

Main Points:
1. 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.

2. Do I want God even more than I want what I am asking for? If not, then for God to grant what me are asking for, even if it is a good thing, might be the most unloving thing God could ever do.

3. Put into practice these words from Jesus: Always pray and never give up.

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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#940: How to Forgive your Brother Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Is there a hurt you have been holding onto? Is there an offense you haven’t released? Let today be your day of freedom. Choose to forgive because Christ has forgiven you.

Main Points:
1. When we choose to forgive someone, it doesn’t condone sin, excuse the wrongs done to us, or minimize our hurts. When we give forgiveness it sets our hearts free from the offense. I think of unforgiveness as a prison that we lock ourselves into. But Jesus has unlocked the door and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can walk out of the cell into freedom.

2. When we have been hurt, forgiveness is not something we do once. It is something we will have to do repeatedly. Based on the level of the hurt and the seriousness of the offense, we may have to forgive again and again.

3. The question today is: How can I forgive my brother who has sinned against me? I believe forgiveness begins when we bring the person and the offense to God in prayer. We ask God to change our hearts, to help us release the wrongdoing, and to enable us to forgive. We then, with the power of the Holy Spirit choose to no longer be held under the pain of the offense. We decide to no longer see the person through the lens of negativity and criticism. When we sincerely pray for God to bless the person who hurt us, God begins to change our hearts.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Colossians 3:13 - “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Matthew 18:21-22 - “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

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#939: Thinking About Heaven Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

It doesn’t appear that most Christians think about Heaven very much. If we do, we don’t seem to talk about it. This is strange, because we all want to go there, and this life is going by so very fast.

Main Points:
1. Living in this present world, it’s natural for our minds to be focused on earthly things. We live here, we work here, and our families and friends are here. This life is what we know.

2. I’m struck by the words of Paul, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” This instruction requires intention. God is not going to do this for us. We must set our hearts and minds on eternity. We are to look forward to what God has planned for us. We are to be excited and passionate about our future with the Lord. We should want to take others with us.

3. Hear this truth today: God saved us because He wanted us to be with Him. He has planned and prepared Heaven for our arrival. God is excited about our home-going.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Colossians 3:2 - “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

1 John 2:15-17 - “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father d 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.”

Hebrews 12:1 - “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

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#938: Letting God's Word Direct our Footsteps Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

The Word of God is our trail marker. Without the Word of God, we don’t know where to walk, or even how to walk, in a spiritual sense. Left to ourselves we will get lost.

Main Points:
1. A hiker that ignores the trail markers, and wanders off the well-worn path, thinking they know a better way, is foolish. To think you know better than those who have walked this journey before you would be unwise. Yet, as it relates to our Christian faith, it happens all the time.

2. We must see there is safety in staying on the path God has marked out for us. He has marked the way home. If we’ll let God’s Word be our guide and if we will let the Scripture identify every step, we’ll make it safely to our eternal destination.

3. We can’t afford to be careless on our spiritual journey. We must daily be in the Word of God. We must read the truth of the Bible and apply it to our lives. This will ensure that God’s Word is directing our footsteps.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 119:133 - “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”

Psalm 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

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#937: Freedom from the Fear of People Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

There is a very common type of fear identified in the Bible that is not talked about much. It is the fear of man. It’s a fear of people and it can include intimidation, peer pressure, social anxiety, isolation, and insecurity. The fear of man can lead us to make choices that aren’t right for us or avoid making decisions at all.

Main Points:
1. When we are filled with the fear of man we are no longer focused on God, his presence, and his power in our lives. The fear of man leads us to a place of bondage and enslavement. We become slaves to our fears and unable to move forward.

2. The fear of man asks: What do people think of me? Will they accept me? What if I’m rejected? What if they don’t like what I’m doing? How can I face something like that?

3. Hear this word today. It is not God’s will for you to be insecure and afraid of the opinions of others. You are deeply loved and accepted by God. Let this truth fill your soul. You are valuable to God, so much so that Jesus went to the cross so that you could have a relationship with him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 29:25 - “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”

Hebrews 13:6 - “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Galatians 1:10 - “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Psalm 27:1 - “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

Proverbs 14:27 - “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

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#936: Never Be Lacking in Spiritual Zeal Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

What is zeal? Zeal is defined as “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.” Wow! Does this describe your relationship with God? Can you say you are pushing Jesus with great energy and enthusiasm?

Main Points:
1. “Zeal” is not a word used much in our English vocabulary. We hear another word used much more frequently, the word “passion.” But the word “zeal” or “zealous” is used 36 times in scripture.

2. As we look at scripture, we discover that having zeal for the Lord is a heart issue. It’s not so much about personality or family background as it is the focus and priority of our hearts.

3. If your spiritual tank is leaning towards empty, know there is a gracious God who desires a close relationship with you. He’s waiting. Take a step towards him today and regain your zeal for Jesus.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 12:11 - “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

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

Matthew 6:33 - “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”

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