The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

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, or 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 w...

In the book of Galatians, Paul corrects some erroneous teachings 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 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...

God has given everyone a general revelation of himself by displaying the beauty and power of creation. Though some reject this truth, it is obvious in the heart and mind of man that there is a God. Main Points: 1. As we look around at our world, we see the clues God has left. When you stand at the Grand Canyon, you can’t help but be overwhelmed at the mighty power of God to create such magnificenc...

Let this truth encourage you today. God knows you. He sees you. On this planet of almost eight billion people, God knows you. He loves you. He has a purpose for you. Main Points: 1. While we often limit the extent of what we share with others, there is one who knows it all. God sees and knows all things. God has intimate knowledge about your life. 2. I suppose that for some this is a scary thought...

Divine healing is a gift of God’s grace for all.  Just as salvation comes to us by God’s grace, healing does as well. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it. In the NT people did not view healing as a right, but as an act of God’s grace. We are in no position to demand God to give us healing. Main Points: 1. In the church today there is a lot of false teaching about healing.   What the Bible teac...

God uses our weakness for his purpose. It’s in our weakness that the power of God shines through our lives. It’s in our deficits that we discover God’s strength and power. Main Points: 1. We sometimes disqualify ourselves from being used by God because we don’t think we are strong enough, smart enough, or capable enough. Yet, being used by God is not about any of those things. It’s more about lett...

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. We live in a world today that scoffs at the idea of Jesus returning. Their cynicism fulfills the prophecy scripture gave concerning the end times.  2. I believe in the i...

My heart does not naturally follow after God. It does not naturally seek after Him. With intentionality, I must get back in tune with God.  Main Points: 1. We can ask, “Are my words out of tune with the Spirit of God? Have my words been negative, critical, crass, or even vulgar? Have my words been filled with complaint, gossip, criticism, or profanity?" We can tune our hearts and our words ba...

Remember this: our hope in God isn't just a wish or a dream, but sure confidence that what God says will happen. Every other hope will disappoint. Every other hope will come up short. God is the one who never fails, he never leaves us, and he never forsakes us. Main Points: 1. Today, I ask you to let the Word of God penetrate the dark place in your soul. Let the light of God’s truth illuminat...

If storms are inevitable, unpredictable, and impartial, then the issue really becomes “what is my response going to be to the storms that are inevitably going to happen in my life?” Where will you turn? Where will you go? What will you do? Main Points: 1. We can turn to Jesus in the midst of our storm. He is there. He is available. He cares. Don’t ride out the rough seas without turning to the one...

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 lon...

In my years of serving as a pastor, I’ve discovered that often people have an incomplete understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we share the message of faith in Jesus, people are often ready to receive Jesus in their life. They certainly want forgiveness, they want God’s blessings, and they want the assurance of Heaven. But is that all there is to it? Why did Jesus come? Why did he have t...

Character is never built in a classroom. Character is built in the circumstances of life.  God builds character in our lives by allowing us to experience situations where we are tempted to do the exact opposite of the character quality. Character development always involves a choice. When we make the right choice, our character grows more like Christ.   Main Points: 1. We don’t know why tragic cir...

For those of us in the West, suffering, and persecution for our faith are minimal. It might be easy to forget that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are suffering greatly as a result of the gospel. May we “remember their chains.” May we not forget them and may we pray for God’s strength, comfort, and help in their time of need. Main Points: 1. There are thousands of suffe...

When we recognize how great God’s love is for us, the only response is to love him in return. No one has done for us what God has done. No one has given to us what God has given. Jesus laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins so that we could have forgiveness and eternal life. It is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen. Main Points: 1. Loving God is our great motivation...

Sometimes we find ourselves impatient with God, especially about His return. We wonder, What can He be waiting on? The tragedies around us, the suffering of people we love, and even the stresses of daily life all seem bigger as time goes on. When will Jesus come back? Main Points: 1. As believers, we are to wait. We don’t like waiting, but as we wait we trust God’s timing. God alone knows when the...

In a world of mistrust, God can be trusted. He can be counted upon. He keeps his promises, he fulfills his word, and he does what he says he will do. God is worthy of your trust, your faith, and your confidence. Main Points: 1. The Bible teaches us that God is faithful. This means God is always reliable, all of the time.  He does not fail or forget.  He always keeps his word.  His character is con...

Have you ever thought, “Why does God take so long?” If God is all-knowing, then he knows that I need my prayer answered right now. If God is all-powerful, he can do it right now. Why is there a delay? Main Points: 1. If God makes you wait, there is a reason. God does nothing by accident. God never gets too busy. God never gets pre-occupied. God is always on time…according to his time. 2. God knows...

I believe 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.  Main Points: 1. In the story, Jesus is teaching his followers about the importance of persistent prayer. He says two things. First, we shou...

Know this: God always has a next step for us. Until we see Jesus in glory, God is not finished with us. This work of ongoing spiritual growth and development is called sanctification. Main Points: 1. The basic meaning of "sanctify" is to set apart to God, for His use. This work of “setting us apart” is the ongoing spiritual growth makes you and me more like Jesus. 2. Sanctification is th...

In my life, I have discovered that when it comes to the choices of fear and faith, it’s not always one or the other. Life produces fear, it’s an emotion we feel, but with God’s help, I can choose faith anyway. Though I may feel fear, I choose to trust God.  Main Points: 1. As Christians, we acknowledge that fear is a choice. We can also make another choice. It’s the decision to live by faith.  2....

According to the Joshua Project, there are still 7,415 unreached people groups around the world. An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group without outside assistance. Main Points: 1. Why should we care? Why should this be a priority for the church? B...

According to Jesus, money is a spiritual issue.  Loving money is a root cause for many kinds of sin. Greed and materialism can consume our hearts.  The ambition and drive for more and more and more can turn into idolatry and can lead us away from the Lord. Jesus is not saying wealth is bad in and of itself.  There were many wealthy people in the Bible.  He is not pushing poverty as a way to godlin...

When we live out our faith in public, it naturally produces questions in the minds of unbelievers. We’ll likely hear questions such as: Why are you a Christian? What do you believe about God? Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God? Why did Jesus die on the cross? Where is God in this messed up world? Why do you go to church on Sundays? Main Points: 1. We need to reject the cultural pressure t...

Disciples of Jesus are students. They are students of the Word of God. We read God’s Word for encouragement, inspiration, peace, and strength, but we must also study the Scripture to know God, to know what we are to believe and to know how we are to live. Main Points: 1. The need for careful and diligent study of the Bible has never been more important than it is today. There is an all-out attack...