The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Episode 443 - Show Notes  We can become distracted from our faith by the cares of life. We can become preoccupied by our work, responsibilities, task, and duties. We can become inattentive to our relationship with Jesus because we’ve allowed other things to crowd out our faith. As a result, we aren’t paying attention to our relationship with God. You and I, as disciples of Jesus, cannot afford to...

Episode 442 - Show Notes When it comes to having assurance of our salvation, there are many who struggling believing they are saved. Many live without the assurance of an eternity with God. I’m so thankful we have the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. If you have placed your faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection on your behalf, and if you have confessed him as your savior an...

Episode 441 - Show Notes Today, I’m struck by the truth that you and I get to choose what kind of example we will be. We might not give much thought to our influence, but it would be wise to do so. Unless you are listening to this episode as you live in a cave as a hermit, you are an influence to others.  You are an example to your family, your friends, and your work colleagues. You are an example...

Episode 440 - Show Notes As we look back over our lives, we have all made decisions we regret, we are all human and we have a great potential to make mistakes. In fact – we all make mistakes. We wait too long. We pay too much. We say the wrong thing. We open our mouths and insert our foot. All of us do stupid things. But the wise man learns from the mistakes he makes. I hope and pray that we all l...

Episode 439 - Show Notes Mercy is a gift we do not deserve. Though the Bible mentions mercy hundreds of times and clearly is one of the attributes of God, but today, I rarely hear the word mentioned.  Could it be that we don’t understand mercy? Definition: The Greek word for mercy, ‘eleos’ means ‘compassion, pity, clemency. God is merciful in that He withholds the punishment we deserve and shows c...

Episode 438 - 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. I wish I could say I have never struggled with my faith, but that would not be true. Sometimes we are weary. We are...

Episode 437 - Show Notes For 2,000 years there has been a promise that believers like you and me have held on to. It’s a promise made to us by Jesus. It gives us comfort in our suffering. It gives us peace in our confusion. This promise gives us joy in the midst of sorrow. Which promise? The promise of Christ’s return. From the first century up to now, Christ followers have always believed that Je...

Episode 436 - Show Notes Paul makes the argument that every part of your physical body is important. You have many parts and you need them all. The eye is just as valuable as the ear. You need both of your hands, not just one. Each part contributes to the health and function of the whole body. The same is true in the church. There are many parts, many members, and each one is vitally important and...

Episode 435 - Show Notes Lately, in my own time with God in prayer, I’ve been asking God to help me live with a greater sense of gratitude. A thankful spirit makes such a difference in our lives. Being thankful enables us to see how truly blessed we are. It takes the focus off of us, what we have or what we don’t have, and puts the focus on God. I’m realizing that everything I need, I already have...

Episode 434 - Show Notes How could people like you and I who have failed so many times, messed up often, and have found ourselves as sinners, how could we ever be forgiven by God? There is only one answer: God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” We have a h...

Episode 433 - Show Notes One of the parables Jesus told was about a widow who was being oppressed and he needed a judge to come to her aid. She needed justice. The story is found Luke 18. Jesus had a clear purpose in telling this story. Verse one says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” I’ve heard people say that if you ask God for...

Episode 432 - Show Notes Some days, I feel God gives me one verse that I carry with me for the day. Throughout the day the verse continues to come back to my mind. Today the verse is found in 1 Peter 4:8 - “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” This verse convicts me deeply. God is not saying that sin doesn’t matter or that it can be swept under the rug....

Episode 431 - Show Notes I believe there are people who long for a personal prophecy but what they really need is a word from God that has already been given. There is an old quote that says, “Don’t say God is silent if your Bible is not open.” Primarily, the Bible speaks of two types of prophecy: forth-telling and foretelling. Forth telling is the prophetic proclamation of the Word of God. If you...

Episode 430 - Show Notes You and I have a God-given ability to express an attitude of our own choosing. Your attitude is not based on your health, your relationships, or your circumstances. We are not always in control of our environment or our circumstances. We all agree there are things that can happen to us that are out of our control. But you and I have this unique ability to choose how we wil...

Episode 429 - Show Notes In John chapter one we find the story of Jesus walking on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He finds four young men, four fishermen. They are two sets of brothers: Peter and Andrew and James and John. As the story unfolds we learn that Peter and Andrew are casting their nets into the sea from the shore. James and John were sitting in their boat mending and repairing their f...

Episode 428 - Show Notes When you have been hurt by others, it’s easy to build walls around you and keep people at a distance. After all, you don’t want to experience the pain again. You might think it’s just easier to not get too close to people because they can’t be trusted. It’s also possible to bring this same mistrust to God. You might wonder, “Can God be trusted? Does He keep His word? Does...

Episode 427 - Show Notes So, what do you do when you need wisdom? Where do you turn when you don’t know what to do? Do you reach out to family and friends? Do you turn to social media? Do you google your problems? Where do you turn? I want to encourage you today. If you are facing a situation in which you need wisdom, pray this prayer. “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you.” So, h...

Episode 426 - Show Notes What an interesting statement! He announces Jesus as the lamb of God, that in itself was strange, but he goes on to make this bold claim: he is the one who takes away the sin of the world.  John, of course, was prophesying Jesus’ death on our behalf that would come three years later. To understand John’s announcement of Jesus we have to go back to the Old Testament, in fac...

Episode 425 - Show Notes This week I read an article by a pastor who was getting ready to go to India to do missionary work.   He said that he had been praying what he called a “frightening” prayer: “Lord, do things I’m not used to.” That strikes me as an excellent prayer for all of us. It’s easy to pray for our own agenda to come to pass: “Lord, make all my dreams come true.” But you move into a...

Episode 424 - Show Notes Giants come in all shapes and sizes. I’ve never met a person who didn’t battle their own giants, and for most of us, this giant has a name. His name is fear. When we focus our attention on the obstacles rather than the objective, fear will overcome our faith. This can easily happen to us, can’t it? We focus our eyes on the problem, the difficulty, the obstacle, or the gian...

Episode 423 - Show Notes There is a God-given desire in the hearts of mankind to know God. Many are searching in all the wrong places seeking to fill a desire that can only be met by God. Jesus left the glory of heaven and stepped into our world and into our lives. Humanity longed for a real encounter with God, so he stepped out of the heavens, out of the realms of glory and became real.  God was...

Episode 422 - Show Notes You see, weakness is actually an advantage. I know this seems wrong and counter-cultural to most in our world, but as long as you think you are strong, independent, and can do it without God, you won’t have his strength. It’s when we run to God in our weakness that we gain his strength. Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak....

Episode 421 - 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? We have to start with the recognition that we there are some things we...

Episode 420 - Show Notes The Scripture teaches us that we were separated from God. There was brokenness in our relationship because of our sin. It would take a death to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father. God took the initiative. He made the first move. Jesus stepped into our world and gave his life as a sacrifice for us. The precious blood of Jesus reconciled us to God. You and I must see that t...

Episode 419 - Show Notes In my experience, we don’t typically think about this type of serving as a ministry, and especially a not a calling.  Doesn’t God call people to preach, teach, and lead? Does he really call people to mop floors and take out the trash? It’s so easy in our culture to desire a title, a position, influence, glory, and lime light. But this is not where real ministry happens. Yo...