The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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Listener Favorite: Why Can't There Be More Than One Way to God? Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

With our everyday lives being presented with so many options, it only makes sense that we would have spiritual options as well. Why narrow your beliefs down to one religion, one path, or even one God?

Main Points:

We like the idea of a path of our own choosing, but this is not something God allows.
To reject God’s path and to be insistent that you will find your own path is a decision that ends in destruction.
Accepting God’s invitation and offer of salvation through Jesus requires us to humble ourselves. We lay down our own designs and intentions and submit to God’s plan of salvation.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 7:13-14 - ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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Listener Favorite: How to Pray for your Unsaved Family Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

By faith, I believe that when we get to Heaven we will rejoice with our families for the salvation Jesus has given us. With this picture in your heart, pray with sincerity and never give up for the salvation of your family.

Main Points:

Maybe as you listen to this episode you have one family member in mind. At this point, you are not even sure how to pray anymore. Let me encourage you.
Pray for their hearts to be receptive to God. Until their hearts respond to the grace of God, there can be no salvation.
Pray for their spiritual eyes to be opened. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ.”
Let's commit to praying every day for those in our lives who are lost in their sins. Let’s never, never, never give up. Let’s pray as long as God gives us breath. May God give us faith to believe that our families will trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. No one is beyond God’s reach.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

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.”

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

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Listener Favorite: Going the Extra Mile Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

As we grow in the character of Christ, it’s his love that compels us to do more than expected. Anyone can do the minimum. Anyone can meet the lowest standard of expectation. Jesus is challenging us to serve others with love. He’s calling us to give of ourselves and to live with greater generosity.

Main Points:

It’s not natural for us to want to go the second mile. It requires the strength of the Holy Spirit. It is not our natural tendency. We need God’s strength. Second mile Christians are witnesses to the inward work of Jesus Christ. We let the world know about Jesus by the life we live.
Even your work ethic can be a testimony of your faith in Christ. Many employees tend to do as little as possible, but Jesus changes our character, which impacts the effort with which we approach our employment. It now becomes an integrity issue. When we go the second mile, people will notice and it gives testimony to Christ. Even if they don’t notice, God notices, and he keeps a record.
Listen today for the voice of the Holy Spirit. He may lead you to go the second mile. As you do, go with a sweet spirit and let your life be a testimony of God’s grace.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Matthew 5:41 - “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.”

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Listener Favorite: Enduring Hardship for Jesus Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

It’s in times like these that we go back to scripture. What does God ask of us in difficult times? We are called, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to endure. Yes, endure it. Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t throw in the towel. Don’t become bitter and angry. Simply endure.

Main Points:

We can endure because He gives us the power to endure. We can endure and still display the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We can endure hardship with the love of Christ in our hearts. We can endure difficulties while maintaining God’s peace and the joy of the Lord. As Christians, we don’t have to follow the pattern of the world around us that is angry and bitter. We have Jesus in our lives, and that makes all the difference.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

2 Timothy 2:3 - “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

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Listener Favorite: God Can Change Anyone Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

We hear it said all the time. People don’t change. Who they are….is who they are. It seems like a hopeless statement. But Christianity is about change. God is in the change business.

Main Points:

The Bible is full of stories about messed-up people who were changed by the power of God. Right now, listening to this podcast episode are many people whose lives have been changed by Jesus. You probably have a testimony of what God has done in your own life. God takes what people see as useless, worthless, ruined, and broken and makes them new.
The good news is that God doesn’t look at us the way the world does or even the way we see ourselves. God looks at us and sees what He can make of us. We see our failures, our mistakes, and our sin, but God looks at us and says: “I see what you can be.”
Don’t write anyone off. No matter where they are, what they have done, or how lost they may be, they are not beyond God’s ability to reach and change them. Let’s pray and believe God to restore.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Joshua 2 - “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt…..for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

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Listener Favorite: Only Jesus Satisfies Jun 26, 2022

Show notes

We all know what it feels like to be physically hungry. But our hunger in life is much deeper than our need for the next meal. Our greatest hunger is spiritual. This hunger is what drives all of life. It impacts our search, our ambition, our goals, and our direction in life. We will do just about anything in our search to satisfy this hunger, and it can get us into a lot of trouble.

Main Points:

Jesus is saying instead of putting all your focus and energy into the search for temporary fulfillment, and temporary satisfaction, we should focus on the food that endures.
In the NT we learn that crowds wildly pursued Jesus because he supplied them with material things. They like the idea of a Jesus who could give them fish and bread – someone who could give them the material things they wanted. But they failed to take a step farther and realize that a man who could miraculously supply bread was also the One who could meet the deep spiritual needs of their lives.
Jesus came to meet a need in our lives that we cannot meet ourselves. But oh how we try. There is not a person here today who hasn’t tried to fill this inner hunger and thirst that we all have. As you look back over your life perhaps you can see how futile your attempts were. You always came up empty.
Jesus doesn’t say, “I can give you the bread of life” or “I know where you can find the bread of life” or even “I have the recipe for the bread of life.” He says, “I AM the bread of life.” He is what we need.
Jesus said I am the bread of life and this bread satisfies our spiritual search, our spiritual hunger. What bread is to hunger, Jesus claims to be for the soul.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

John 6:27 - “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

John 6:35 - “Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

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Listener Favorite: Battling Unbelief Jun 25, 2022

Show notes

Most of us have had those moments when we struggled with our faith in Jesus. The moments of difficulty usually aren’t about our belief in God’s ability. They are about God’s willingness. In other words, we know he can help us, we are just not sure if he will.

Main Points:

I wish I could say I have never struggled with my faith, but that would not be true. Sometimes we are weary. We are tired. Sometimes it’s hard to hold on. Sometimes we don’t see God’s hand at work. Sometimes we hear the lie of the enemy telling us God is not there. He doesn’t care.
Many people think struggling with God means we lack faith, but that is not true. Struggling with God is a sure sign that we do have faith. If we never struggle, our faith will never grow stronger. Strong faith is tested faith. There is no other way to grow.=
My encouragement for you today is to not only believe that God can but believe that he will.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. (Mark 9:19-20)

“…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22) ““If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23). “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

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Listener Favorite: God's Voice in our Pain Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Isn’t it true that we grow the most in the hard times? When going through a struggle or a difficult season, I often ask myself, “What is God saying to me? What can I learn from this?” I don’t want to miss the lesson.

Main Points:

Sufferings can lead us to God, cause us to pay more attention to his Word, and lead us to open our ears to his voice. So many people have the testimony of finding God and surrendering their lives to God during times of adversity.
It’s here, if we are listening, we hear his voice of reassurance. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He speaks peace, comfort, strength, and even joy in the midst of our sorrow.
If you are in a season of pain, suffering, or adversity, be sure to listen for God’s voice because He is speaking. Press into Him, draw closer to him during this difficult time. You are about to experience God in a way you never have before.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Job 36:15 says “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity”.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

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Listener Favorite: The Question of Suffering Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

If we were to go out to a local street corner and ask people what their questions of God would be, there is no doubt the question of suffering is at the top of everyone’s list. You’ve struggled with this, haven’t you? I mean, why would a good God allow suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Main Points:

We have to start with the recognition that we there are some things we don’t know. We have finite minds. We can’t see what God sees, know what God knows, or understand what He understands. This is why we have faith. If we knew it all, we wouldn’t need faith. We would simply know it all. But with faith, we trust a God who sees and knows what we can’t.
The question of suffering is a huge question and one we can’t completely answer in only five minutes, but let me give you a few things to think about. First, suffering is universal. While it may seem like some people have it easier than others, the truth is everyone suffers in one way or another. It comes to all of us because of our fallen, sinful world.
While we all experience some kind of human suffering, we need to recognize that God is not immune to our suffering. Some people think of God is distant and immune to suffering. But the God of the Bible is not above suffering Himself.
So, God understands suffering from our perspective because he experienced it. When we suffer God has empathy. As a loving Heavenly Father, he cares when his children are suffering.
No matter what happens to us in this life, God will use it all to help us grow to be more like Jesus. Sometimes it’s true that we grow more in the hard times than the good times.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

Romans 5:12 - “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:29 says, (God) “predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son.”

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Listener Favorite: Until Christ Returns Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

As believers, we are waiting for Christ’s return, but our waiting is not passive. It is an active waiting. I believe there are three primary things we are to do as we wait for the return of Christ.

Main Points:

1. God gives each of us opportunities to represent him and to tell of his saving grace. As we wait for his appearance, we take advantage of these opportunities. We don’t ignore them. We don’t neglect them. We must be intentional about telling others about Jesus because time is short.
2. Christ is coming. That is a certainty. He will appear. It very well could be today. Are you ready for his return? Are you watching and waiting with anticipation? Are you staying busy doing his will so that when he returns he will find you being faithful?
3. In your prayer time today, ask God to give you a new awareness of his soon return. Ask him to help you to be busy doing his will and to give you opportunities to share his message with others.

Today’s Scripture Verses:

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

Titus 2:13 says, “we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
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.”

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