The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#704: Everything We Need Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Our relationship with Jesus is the source of the strength, wisdom, patience, and power we need to serve God, help others, and meet the challenges of today. Through our relationship with Him, we can overcome our uncertainty and feelings of inadequacy.

Main Points:

1. In myself, I recognize my limitations. I am not talented enough, smart enough, creative enough, and I am certainly not strong enough to be what God wants me to be. But I have to recognize God is not asking me to be those all by myself. He promised that he would be my provider. He would give me everything I need.
2. In every situation, God has given us everything we need to serve and honor Him.
3. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that you can never be who God desires you to be. Hear this truth: the devil is a liar. Combat his lies with the truth of God’s Word. Remember, God’s divine power gives us everything we need for a godly life through our relationship with Him.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Peter 1:3 - “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

John 15:5 - “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Romans 8:37 - “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#703: How to Outlive Your Life Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

You can outlive your life. Today you are writing the chapters that will be told of you, long after you are gone. There will be a service for you one day, in which eulogies, memories, and stories will be told. The life you live today determines what story lives on.

Main Points:

1. Over the years I have met a lot of Christians who started well. You could say they’re on fire for God. They love God. They want to learn, they want to grow, and they want to be used by God. But somewhere along the line as years go by they get distracted or they get sidelined or they get tripped up by somebody else. Some people do not finish life well, the way God intended for them to.
2. I have one story I want told. If there is anything of my life that remains, I want it to be that Loren Hicks was faithful. He was faithful to his God, he was faithful to his family, he was faithful to his friends, and he was faithful to his calling. I started well, but I want to finish well.
3. I want to stand before Jesus Christ one day and hear him say, “You did it! You did a good job! Well done good and faithful servant.” I don’t want to just start well, and just to grow a little bit spiritually. I want you to hear God say, “Good job! Well done! You finished the race that I put you on earth to do.”

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Deuteronomy 34:10-12 - “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”
Hebrews 11:24-26 - “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#702: God's Love is Better Than Life Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

I imagine David, hiding in the back of a cave, writing by candlelight. He’s thinking about days gone by. He remembers times when he was worshipping with God’s people. He’s longing for the house of God. He’s remembering the blessing of experiencing the presence and power of God and he comes to a revelation: the love of God is better than life itself.

Main Points:

1. Today, people value a lot of different things. Some value pleasure and happiness. Others value experiences and possessions. Many value home, family, and comfort. For David, he had come to realize that what he valued more than anything else was the love of God.
2. How amazing it is to be loved by God. Let this truth fill your soul today. You are loved by God. Not just loved but loved deeply. You are on the heart and mind of God today.
3. You can reach out to a God who loves you very much. Turn your heart towards God in worship, regardless of your circumstances. Anyone can worship God when life is good, but can you worship Him when life is hard? As you worship, I believe His presence will fill your soul. Reflect on the love of God. Rest in His love for you.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 63:1-4 - “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live”

Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#701: The Blessing of Waiting on God Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

Every time we are asked by God to wait, it comes with a choice. Will we be impatient, frustrated, or irritable, or will we learn to wait with calm assurance that God is in control and the waiting is for my good?

Main Points:

1. The Bible repeatedly calls for us to wait on the Lord, and to do so patiently. But you might ask, “Why? Why wait? Why would God make us wait? Is there a benefit to waiting? Is there a promised blessing for waiting on God?
2. Waiting teaches us that God is in control. He is not bound to our time restraints. When we wait on God we are submitting to His leadership and His lordship. Waiting reminds us that He is God, and we are not.
3. Waiting enables us to develop the Christ-like characteristics of patience and perseverance. God often calls for us to slow down so we can listen and learn.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Lamentations 3:25 - “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Psalm 27:14 - “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Isaiah 40:31 - “those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#700: Times of Refreshing from the Lord Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

The Bible teaches us that repentance brings the refreshing of the Lord into our lives. Do you need to be refreshed and revitalized? Is it because you are carrying the weight of sin and need to come to the Lord with repentance?

Main Points:

1. Sin is a burden to carry. It’s a heavy weight. We’ve all felt the load of grief and weariness that sin makes us carry.
2. A critical part of our salvation is God’s call for us to repent of our sins. We hear a lot today about putting our faith in Jesus, but we must see that the Bible also calls us to repent of our sins. The full biblical definition of repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action.
3. There is no peace, like the peace of knowing that your sins are forgiven and that you are in right relationship with God. You can find the serenity and tranquility of God’s presence when you know there is nothing between you and God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 38:3-4 - “…there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”

Acts 3:19 - “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”

1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#699: When Faith is a Struggle Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Use the measure of faith God has given you. Cry out to Him… “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” Once again trust our great God to meet you in your time of difficulty and to give you the faith you need.

Main Points:

1. We want to believe, but sometimes faith is a struggle. When you have been through so much, when you are weary, and when it seems like options are few, it can be hard to believe.
2. When our faith is weak, it’s in those moments that I have to go back to God’s Word. This is where my faith is strengthened. I have to be reminded often of who God is, what he has already done, and what he has promised to do.
3. Maybe today it’s only a whisper, but let it out…. “Jesus, I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 10:17 - “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Mark 9:22-27 - “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#698: Crucified with Christ Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

In the book of Galatians, Paul is correcting some erroneous teaching and practices among the believers there. These Christians had been deceived and had come to believe they had to keep and obey the Law of Moses in order to be saved and in right relationship with Christ.

Main Points:

1. Christ was the fulfillment of the law when he died for us on the cross. Our salvation is not based on law-keeping, it’s based on faith in the Son of God who died for us.
2. It’s here that we recognized that we are not saved by doing good things. We do good things because we are saved. We live in obedience because God calls us to obedience. We serve and do good works because God asks us to do so. We are motivated by the great love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.
3. Hear the call of our savior to lay down your flesh, your carnal desires, and your worldly passions. Let them be crucified with Christ. Embrace the life that comes through faith in the resurrected Savior.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

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.”

2 Corinthians 5:15 - “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Galatians 5:24 - “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#697: Are you Ready for a Change? Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

As I prayed about today podcast episode, I sensed God saying to me that there would be people listening today that are ready for their lives to change. In fact they would be desperate to change.

Main Points:

1. Some of you here today need to hear a word from God. And what he wants to tell you is that he wants to change you. The Christian life is fundamentally a changed life. His change is not something that you can simply do by yourself. It’s going to take the power of God in your life and it’s going to require you to cooperate with God.
2. Change begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. In that moment we are changed, but we continue to change.
3. How does change happen? When we are in Christ! We struggle because we focus on externals instead of the internals. We are looking at changing our behavior. God wants to change our hearts. Real and lasting change begins on the inside! Once we place our faith in Christ, he begins to work on the inside. We began a process of inner renewal. It can only occur through the surrender of our lives to God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

1 Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

#696: Our Search for Satisfaction Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

Satisfaction apart from Christ is an elusive search. Our flesh craves more and more. More everything. More anything. No matter what we have, whether it’s money, possessions, recognition, sex, accomplishment, experiences, we still want more. Yet, like Rockefeller, we have discovered that more doesn’t satisfy.

Main Points:

1. What is satisfaction anyway? The dictionary defines satisfaction this way. It is the fulfillment of our wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this. From this definition alone we begin to understand why satisfaction from this life is so difficult to find.
2. Hear this truth today. Only Jesus satisfies. He is the only one who can fill the longing of your soul. Only Jesus can meet our inmost needs.
3. Apart from Christ, our souls are thirsty. They are parched. We need living water that only comes from one source. This living water is a relationship with Jesus Christ. We take this drink, we experience this satisfaction as we place our faith in Him and begin a relationship with the living God.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Isaiah 55:1-3 - ““Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.”

John 4:13-14 - “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

Psalm 107:9 - “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

Jesus told his followers in John 6:35 - ““I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

#695: The Impact of our Words Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Our words have the power to build up and the power to tear down. You and I have likely been on the receiving and giving end of both. You can remember words spoken years ago that encouraged and inspired you. You can probably also remember words that brought deep pain and suffering.

Main Points:

1. Throughout the day, I’ll have the opportunity to speak to a lot of people. I’ll speak with my family, church members and staff, people in the marketplace, and even complete strangers. I’ll also have the opportunity to use my words in emails, text messages, and on social media. I want to remember that my words have power. I want to use the voice God has given me to bless, encourage, and uplift others.
2. If our vocabulary, our conversations, and our reactions to others are unwholesome, our hearts are not right with God. Our words can definitely reveal our spiritual condition.
3. We are to ask the question: “Will what I am about to say benefit those who listen?” In other words, is it necessary? Do they need to hear it? Does it concern them? Will they benefit from hearing these words? If not, I should keep silent.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Psalm 19:14 - “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Ephesians 4:29 - “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Luke 6:45 - “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

James 3:9-10 - “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”

Quick Links:

Connect on Social

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected