The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Greatness in the kingdom of God, is rooted in humility and sacrificial service. So, we see that greatness is achievable for all of us. It’s not dependent on your title, position, location, influence, or anything else. Greatness is achieved when we serve others. All of us can do this today. Main Points: 1. Our culture sees greatness as record-breaking achievements, success, influence, power, positi...

If there is anything constant about the world we live in, it is that things are going to change. We may not like it, we may not want to embrace the change, but nothing in this life is static. Except God. Main Points: 1. Think about it. God’s love never changes. His character will not change. His power, strength, and abilities never change. His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom cannot change. Hi...

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...

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 influenc...

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 experience...

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 doctrin...

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...

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 pris...

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....

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...

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...

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 u...

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...

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...

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. An...

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...

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 R...

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 auditoriu...

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...

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...

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 fai...

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. Th...

Joy is different than happiness. It’s not circumstantial. Joy in the Biblical context, is not an emotion.  Joy is an attitude of the heart.  It is not necessarily based on something positive happening.  Joy is something that lasts; happiness is something that is temporary.  When happiness fades away, joy remains.  Joy is something God deposits into us through the Holy Spirit.   Main Points: 1. Hav...

As Christians, we have a race to run. No, not a physical race, but a spiritual one. This Christian life will require commitment, dedication, and endurance. We cannot run it casually or aimlessly. We too, must give it all we have. We run for a crown that will last forever. Main Points: 1. Marathon runners tell us that somewhere around mile 20, it’s common to hit a wall. The wall refers to a point d...

A conviction is a deeply held truth. It’s having assurance that what you believe is true. It’s believing a truth so much that it changes the way you life. Main Points: 1. Let me ask you, “Do you have deep conviction about the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you thoroughly convinced the Word of God is true?  Are you letting the scripture not only inform your life, but also change your life?”  2. As we...