The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Episode 293 -  Show Notes: “You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” - John Maxwell If we truly want to be like Jesus, if we want to grow spiritually, we need to change what we do everyday. Discipleship is a daily pursuit. It’s not something we seek out weekly, monthly, or annually. It’s about what we do...

Episode 292 -  Show Notes: Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to commit to sharing life with a group of fellow believers so we can support and encourage one another to follow Christ. There is another major part that we might fail to see.  Jesus has called us, as his church, to be on mission together by sharing the gospel with our community. Each of us plays a vital role in the accomp...

Episode 291 -  Show Notes: Small things matter in the kingdom of God. Consistently serving in small ways over a long period of time equals great impact and great influence. Consistently serving in small ways over a long period of time equals great impact and great influence. Where is God asking you to make a difference? Step out and be consistent, even if it’s something small. This is the beginnin...

Episode 290 -  Show Notes: All of us have a past, and our past experiences will influence our lives either in a positive way or a negative way. We get to choose. Through the power of God we put the past behind us and walk forward in God’s freedom. Our biggest sins are not too big for God’s grace. With God’s strength, you and I can put the past behind us.  What God has forgiven should never be take...

Episode 289 -  Show Notes: I have come to believe that insecurity is a struggle for everyone. In some people’s lives, insecurity is easily identified by their behavior, for others it’s a hidden battle. Insecurity is uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence Insecurity is a form of fear, and it’s not God’s will for us live in fear and insecurity.  Repeatedly in scripture we are chall...

Episode 288 -  Show Notes: As we look back over the course of our lives, we often feel a sense of regret. We have regret for the poor decisions we have made. We regret our sins and failures. We regret inaction and failure to move forward.  Never have I heard anyone express regret over placing their faith in the saving grace of Jesus. While you may have a list of regrets concerning the life you liv...

Episode 287 -  Show Notes: If you practice enough, you can become very good at doing something the wrong way. God has given us the Holy Spirit, who is present everyday in our lives. His purpose is to help us become more like Jesus. Before we put our faith in Christ, we spent our time practicing a life that was all about self. We practiced whatever we felt would make us happy. But now as believers,...

Episode 286 -  Show Notes: If you put your trust in happiness, then you’re going to be a victim of circumstances, because your happenstance will change. 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 given by God.  It is a gift.  A benefit of our salvation.  A fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Evidence...

Episode 285 -  Show Notes: I don’t have to let the storm around me become a storm inside me.  The God who has the power to calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee has the power to calm the storm in your life, but even if he doesn’t, he can give you a peace that’s so calming that you’ll be able to sleep right through it. Anxiety is a natural response when I feel out of control. But the truth is, I’m n...

Episode 284 -  Show Notes: Life’s transitions are inevitable. It’s not a question of if you will face life’s changes and transitions, it’s a question of when. In life, we rarely see the big picture in advance. When God calls, he doesn’t always explain himself. He always tells you just enough to get you moving in the right direction.  During our times of transition, we should expect to hear the voi...

Episode 283 Show Notes: What you have to offer God matters God is not looking for ability, He's looking for availability. If God only used perfect people, nothing would ever get done. God is not limited by your limitations. We make a difference by being faithful in the small things. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in...

Episode 282 Show Notes: God has unlimited power God has creative power God's power is purposeful “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28) “God calls into being that which does not exist.” (Romans 4:17) “My counsel shall stand, and I wi...

A friend of mine recently asked me: Is God a jealous God? Isn’t jealousy a sin? If we are not supposed to be jealous of one another, what does the Bible mean when it says God is jealous? I thought, “Wow! This is a challenging question, isn’t it? But it is a very good question. Several times in the Old Testament the Bible says God is a jealous God. Consider these verses. Deuteronomy 4:24 - “For the...

When I was a senior in High School, in 1988, a retired NASA engineer Edgar C. Whisenant wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. The book, which he self-published, placed the expected date of the Rapture between September 11 and September 13 of 1988, and became a massive bestseller. By the time the end of the year was reached, more than 4.5 million copies had been sold. Whis...

I read about a village in Africa where the Christians were very diligent about praying. In fact, the believers each had their own special places of prayer outside the village where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached their own prayer spot by using their own private footpaths through the bush. Because they walked everyday to their place of prayer, eventually a path was worn down th...

On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom."  Today there are no literal ph...

Some months ago, after having a routine blood test, my doctor contacted me with concerns about my cholesterol levels. We had an important conversation about lifestyle and he recommended some dietary and exercise changes in order to protect my heart.  My follow up test is coming up soon and we’ll be able to see if the changes I have made improve my results. All of us listening today know the import...

Scripture teaches us two kinds of confession. 1. Confession to God. 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.” 2. Confession to one another. James 5:16 - “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

  So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. - Colossians 2:6-7

On a church sign in a midwest farming town was these word: “Pray for the harvest, but keep on working.” This reminds me of the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter nine. Jesus is concerned about those who are lost in their sins. What was needed was more laborers; more people to share the good news. But before asking his disciples to pray for more workers, he reminded them of a powerful truth: “The ha...

Do you ever wish there was someone you could talk to? Someone who would understand the challenges you face at any given moment? But maybe, as you think of all your friends and family, and perhaps even your church pastor, sometimes it seems that there is no such person.  I was reading in the New Testament book of Hebrews and came across this fascinating verse of scripture. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Jesus…...

Victor Frankl, the famous psychiatrist, went through Auchwitz, the Nazi concentration camp in WWII.  He said, “They took my clothes, my wife, my kids, and even my wedding ring.  I stood naked before the SS and I realized they can take everything in my life but they cannot take my freedom to choose how I will respond to them.” This is a freedom you will always have.  How do I react?  How do I choos...

There is a fascinating story in the New Testament about a man with misplaced priorities. It’s found in Matthew 19:16-22. Here’s what the Bible says…. “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Wh...

We believe God answers every prayer.  Scripture teaches us to call on Him and He will answer.  But sometimes in His wisdom and purpose, His answer to us is “No.”  We never want to hear this answer, but we should see God’s denial as an opportunity to trust Him more.  Our Heavenly Father loves us deeply, and wants what is best for our lives. What do you do when you’ve asked for a good thing, when yo...

All of my life, I’ve heard people say we should not pray for patience, because God will make you go through difficult situations to obtain patience. But let’s remember that the fruit of the Spirit is about a life that is changed and transformed by the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the outer evidence of a changed inner life.  Each one of the fruit of the Spirit reflects the character of J...