The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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#935: Where is God When we Mourn? Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

As we study the Bible, we see there are examples of sorrow throughout the Bible. The Scripture doesn’t hide the reality and the pain of our loss, our struggle, or our difficulties. But all through the Scripture we see that our God is a God of comfort! The comfort of God that is available to us when we are experiencing different kinds of loss and grief.

Main Points:
1. I have found that God draws especially close to me in the tough times of life. When my heart is breaking, I find God’s presence near to me.

2. It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to mourn. God created us with the ability to express these emotions. I’ve ministered to Christians who felt they weren’t supposed to mourn our that if they were grieving they were failing God. It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to weep. God wants you to experience his comfort during your time of mourning.

3. If you are mourning, if you are grieving, lean into Jesus. Press into him through prayer and worship. Meditate on the Word of God. Reach out to a friend who can join you in your mourning. In this moment, I believe you’ll experience the blessing of God’s comfort.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 5:4 - “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 119:50 - “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

Psalm 34:18 - “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

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#934: God's Gift of Rest Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

While we know rest is practically important, is there a spiritual reason for rest? Is there a theological argument for rest? I believe so.

Main Points:
1. We need to see that rest is a gift from God. It’s a blessing to receive, yet it seems so few of us take it seriously.

2. Practicing the sabbath is a spiritual discipline with which many of us struggle. There is always something that needs to be done. Our to-do lists are never completed. Rest sounds nice, but we don’t have time for it.

3. Like all spiritual disciplines, they are only done when we are intentional. It’s God’s will for us to rest. As we do, we will find ourselves refreshed and renewed and more capable of doing what God has called us to do. You’ll do more with rest than you will without it.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 2:2 - “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”

Isaiah 40:28 - “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary.”
Psalm 121:4 - (God) “will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Psalm 127:2 - “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

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#933: Do You Believe in the Virgin Birth? Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

The most foundational doctrine of Christianity is that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the son of God and the son of man. He was virgin born, conceived by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean God came down and was sexually intimate with Mary. It means it is a miraculous conception.

Main Points:
1. The virgin birth reveals the deity of Jesus. If Jesus is not God, then he could not save us. And if Jesus did not save you, you are still lost in your sins.

2. Jesus was born as a man because he had to be a man to be our true representative on the cross. He had to be God because He is the only one capable of saving us.

3. Do not let anyone tell you the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ is not an essential belief. It is absolutely essential. The virgin birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy and promise of God and it reveals the deity of our Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 1:14 - “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.”

Isaiah 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

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#932: Pursuing a Closer Relationship with God Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Can I share with you an amazing truth? God invites us into intimacy. He calls for us to be close to Him. This is what differentiates Christianity from any other religion in the world. God is not cold and distant. He welcomes closeness with himself. He calls and invites us to seek Him and to pursue Him.

Main Points:
1. There are so many today who have lots of Bible knowledge. Maybe they were raised attending church. They know the Word of God and can quote many scriptures, but they are empty spiritually because they have no relationship with God.

2. God wants to be known. He makes himself available to us. He rewards our seeking with His presence. Your relationship with God can be rich and full. It can be powerful and inspiring, it just requires us to seek Him.

3. Are you seeking God’s presence? Are you seeking to know Him more intimately? Are you spending time in His Word and prayer? Are you making time to worship? I promise there is a more intimate relationship with God that is waiting.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 27:8 - “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”

James 4:8 - “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Psalm 119:37 - “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.”

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#931: Practice Gratitude Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

This morning I prayed, “God, help me to practice gratitude.” To become good at anything, practice is essential. It all starts with being intentional. Intentional gratitude. Perhaps you would like to join me today by asking God to give you a grateful heart. Throughout the day notice what you are thankful for. Be quick to convey your gratitude.

Main Points:
1. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans that one of the conditions of a sinful heart is a lack of gratitude.

2. But as believers, we are called to live a different way. Our hearts have been changed by Christ. Because of the great gift we have been given by God, we are thankful. We just need to practice expressing this gratitude.

3. Practice gratitude. Just as you would practice any other skill you want to learn, we must practice being thankful. We are not naturally good at gratitude. This character trait is developed as we become intentional.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 Chronicles 16:34 - “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Romans 1:21 - “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Colossians 3:15 - “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

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#930: Can Suffering Advance the Gospel Message? Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Our suffering can increase our testimony for Christ. Our hard times can elevate our witness. Our difficulties can give us a larger and more receptive audience to whom we can influence for Christ.

Main Points:
1. We acknowledge this is not the pulpit we would choose for ourselves. If we are to proclaim Christ, we would prefer to do so in freedom and without restriction. We would prefer an auditorium and a microphone. We would rather have a podcast, a YouTube video, or a blog post.

2. Suffering, as a tool for advancing the gospel? No, I think I’ll pass. Yet, over and over again in Scripture, we see God redeeming suffering for His kingdom purposes.

3. While none of us want to go through hard times, we ask that God would use them for His glory. We ask that He would make our witness clear and bold for Christ. We ask that others would see our love for Jesus and that our suffering will present opportunities for people to hear the gospel message.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Philippians 1:12 - “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”

Acts 28:30-31 - “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

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#929: Is God Really Good? Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

I’m convinced that one of Satan’s strategies is to cause us to get stuck in the “why” question. As humans, we want to understand. We want everything to be logical and rational. When life is hard we don’t want to lean on faith, we want to stand on reason.

Main Points:
1. The Christian life is a journey of faith. Our knowledge is limited. I can’t see and know everything about God and His ways. This present life won’t always make sense to me. Neither will God and His plans. But I get to choose whether I will trust Him or not.

2. But there is a better question than “why”. Instead of asking why, we must move on to the question of “what now?” I like asking, “God, what do you want me to learn from this experience? What do I need to do to experience a greater measure of your peace and comfort? How can my faith be stronger? In which ways can I grow in my faith? How can I use this experience to help others?

3. When you are going through a difficult season, it’s easy to experience a bit of spiritual amnesia. As we focus on the present difficulty, it’s common to forget all the things God has already done for us. But I’m confident that if you begin to reflect on your life, you’ll see evidence of the goodness of God. Make a list and write down the many ways God has blessed your life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Genesis 3:5 - “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Psalm 145:9 - “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Psalm 31:19 - “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.”

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#928: God is Pro-Life Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

As humans, we often mistakenly value a person’s life by what they give to the world, their gifts, talents, and abilities. But this is not how God values a person’s life. He does not attribute value based on perceived earthly contributions. No, with God, all life is precious. From conception to the grave, God values all life as important and valuable.

Main Points:
1. One of the most controversial issues of our lifetime has been that of abortion. The question at the heart of this debate is, “When does life begin?” Does it begin at conception or does it begin at birth? Does it begin at some other point during the pregnancy?

2. Because life originates with God. All life is precious to him. Every life has worth to God. The unborn child in the womb is valuable to God. The handicapped person is valuable to God. Those with mental illness are valuable to God. The elderly in a nursing home are valuable to God. All life is precious and because so, every life is worthy of dignity and respect.

3. If we will allow the Word of God to be authoritative in our lives, we’ll align with God’s view of human life. God is pro-life.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Jeremiah 1:5 - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…”

Psalm 139:13 - “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb…”

Job 31:15 - “Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

Genesis 1:27 - “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Psalm 127:3 - “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him…"

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#927: Living by Faith Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

It was your faith that brought you into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith was your response to the grace of God. The Bible says we are saved by our faith in Jesus. Yet, God is not just asking us for faith that leads to salvation. He’s asking for daily faith.

Main Points:
1. Everyday, you and I live by faith. Every day we must trust God. We trust him for our spiritual growth. We place our faith in him to lead and guide our steps and our future. We live by faith as we put our families, their health, and safety in His hands.

2. Our knowledge is limited. We don’t know what a day will bring. We certainly don’t know what tomorrow holds for us. So, we live by faith. Daily, we choose to trust our lives to the hands of God.

3. I know sometimes I’m like Peter. I take my eyes off of Jesus and I begin to look at the wind and the waves. I’ve noticed that what I focus on gets bigger in my life. If I focus on life’s circumstances and the uncertainties of tomorrow, they get larger in my mind. But if I intentionally focus on Jesus, He is magnified.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 14:29 - “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:30-31 - “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

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#926: Understanding the Love of God Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

The Bible clearly describes God love for us. If you want to focus on one aspect of God’s character today, remember this great truth: You are deeply loved by God. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t just express love. The Bible says He is love.

Main Points:
1. The love we have received from God is undeserved. It is unmerited. We are unworthy of such great love, yet it doesn’t stop God from loving us.

2. There are a lot of people who will love you if you show them love. But in the case of God, He is the initiator. He does not respond to our love for Him. He loved us before we ever cared about Him and before we ever knew Him.

3. One of the proofs of God’s love is that it is sacrificial. The scripture says God sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Today’s Scripture Verses:

1 John 4:7-8 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:9-10 – “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

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