The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

I want you to acknowledge an important truth today. God's purpose for your life is greater than your ability to accomplish it. You need a power greater than your own. You can't fulfill God's purpose without God. You don't have enough strength, wisdom, creativity, or resources to do God's will all by yourself.Main Points:1. If you are a Christ-follower, it's likely you already know God wants to use your life. As you serve him, he has tasks for you to accomplish. Your life has a purpose. As you use the gifts, talents, abilities, time, and resources God has given you, your life is on mission for God.2. The God who calls us is the God who equips us. The God who gives us purpose also gives us power.3. We gain access to this power by praying and asking God to fill us with His Holy Spirit and then stepping out in faith and trusting God to use us with his power. God's power is activated when we are using the gifts God has given us.  Today's Scripture Verses:Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Ephesians 3:20 - “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”2 Peter 1:3 - “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

We are not God. We are not little gods, but we were created to be like God in character and lifestyle. Our lives should reflect the glory of God to others. When we do this, we are healthy and whole. The Bible describes this as holiness.Main Points:1. Our sin has distorted the image of God within us, and now we can't see ourselves as God sees us. We ascribe to labels the world places on us. We struggle with discovering our true identity.2. It is essential that you hear this message way down deep in your soul. Regardless of the circumstances of your conception, you were created by God. You were created for a purpose. Your life has meaning and value.3. To live the life God created and designed you to live, you must embrace the truth that you were created in the image of God. Your life is not an accident, a mistake, or an afterthought. Your life is important, and you are here today because of the will of God. Today's Scripture Verses:Genesis 1:26-27 - “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”Psalm 139:13-14 - “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

As Christians, prayer is always a whisper away. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing conversation with God. You don't need a special appointment to talk with God. You can do so, anywhere, and at any time. Main Points:1. There is significant value in making a specific time for prayer. In fact, I think that if we are not intentional about a time and a place for prayer, it's likely we won't be consistent in our prayer life.2. When you think of God's goodness and his blessings, you can have a spontaneous moment of praise and gratitude towards God. When you see a prayer request posted on Facebook, you can pause and bring that need to the Lord.3. What a blessing it is for you and me to have such access to God. It's truly amazing. The God of the universe, the God who has such power that He spoke and the world came into existence, this God gives you an audience. This God welcomes you into His presence. This God loves you and wants to hear from you. Today's Scripture Verses:1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”Romans 12:12- “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

You and I are going to struggle with our humanity.  Surrender doesn't seem like a good idea to any of us. It feels like we are giving up and losing control, but when we surrender to God, we lose things we don't need to gain the things we really do.Main Points:1. Everything you need is on the other side of surrendering your life to God.2. Everything you need God can provide. Yet, often the provision doesn't come until we surrender to God. 3. God's plan is not about depriving us of good things. He delights to give His children good gifts. He also desires, above all else, for us to follow him and delight in him.  Sometimes God will make us sacrifice something we want to secure our hearts for the greatest good: Himself. Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 26:39 - “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

When we have a proper heart for worship, we'll see that worship is not for us. Worship is for God. We worship for an audience of ONE!  He is the audience; we are not. As our hearts are directed in praise, adoration, gratitude, and love for God, in return, we experience joy.Main Points:1. Worship is the response of all that we are to all that God is.  To worship is to declare God's worth.2. While worshipping together with a group of believers is both biblical and important, we should recognize that worship is not something only to be done on Sundays in a church building. Worship is a lifestyle. As recipients of God's grace and mercy, we want to give him worship and praise every day and throughout the day.3. Do you have a heart for worship? Let me encourage you to include worship in your daily spiritual disciplines. Let it be a part of your daily time with the Lord. As you worship and honor the Lord, he is glorified, and you will be blessed.Today's Scripture Verses:Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”Psalm 95:6 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

I believe God wants us to catch a vision of the importance of the church in our lives and community, and the church's role in fulfilling the mission of Jesus in our world.  God is at work in this world, and he has chosen to use the church as his agent.Main Points:1. The church, as a collection of people with hurts, hang-ups, hiccups, and habits, provides us an opportunity to learn and to grow. We learn to love those who are difficult to love. We learn to bear with one another. We learn to pray, to serve, to encourage, to develop patience, and yes, to forgive.2. The church provides a community for us so that we do not practice our faith alone. It's very difficult to grow spiritually all by yourself. You need other believers in your life, and they need you. Remember this: Friction is what sharpens an axe.3. The church provides my family the opportunity to worship with others, to hear God's Word taught and explained, to be encouraged, and to make a difference. While far from perfect, we are better together.Today's Scripture Verses:Genesis 2:18 - “It is not good for man to be alone.”Matthew 16:18 - “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

We'll spend the rest of our lives trying to understand God's love, but the best way to get started is to experience it. His love will change your life.Main Points:1. The world tells us that love is a feeling, something that comes and goes. Many marriages have ended because couples claim that they have “fallen out of love.” Some people say they don't feel God's love. Our feelings are fickle; they come and they go, but the truth remains: We are deeply loved by God, and that will never change.2. God's love is holy. His love is built upon his holiness and could not exist apart from it.3.  Here's what we know is true: God cannot overlook sin.  He will never contradict his own nature.  In his love, he doesn't overlook our sin; his love compelled him to provide for us a solution to our sin problem.Today's Scripture Verses:1 John 4:7-8 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

I think you and I know intuitively that rest is important for us. Not only is it important, but rest is also vital. Without rest, we are not at our best. Rest sharpens our soul, our mind, our body, and our spirit.Main Points:1. So, if God doesn't get tired, and he never needs to sleep, why did He rest? I believe God rested to set an example for us. Rest would not only be a physical necessity for us, but also a spiritual one.2. 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. 3. Like all spiritual disciplines, they are only done when we are intentional. You and I can do this. It's God's will for us to rest. As we do, we will find ourselves refreshed and renewed and more capable of doing what God has called us to do. You'll do more with rest than you will without it.Today's Scripture Verses:Genesis 2:2 - “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”Isaiah 40:28 - “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.”  Psalm 121:4 - (God) “will neither slumber nor sleep.”Psalm 127:2 - “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Fear of the Lord is deep respect, awe, and reverence for God.  We give God the glory, honor, reverence, gratitude, and praise, he deserves.  God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives.  We regard his desires over and above our own.Main Points:1. We should fear or respect the Lord as one who has authority over us. It is a recognition that we are accountable to Him.  He is so great, He is so holy, He is so righteous, how can I not humble myself before him? How could I ever think that I know better than God? 2. The fear of the Lord causes us to repent of our pride and our selfishness. It brings us to a place of humility before the Lord.  It is a recognition of his holiness and greatness.3. Without the fear of the Lord, we make decisions based on our human understanding. But when we live with the fear of the Lord, we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our lives. He sees, knows, and evaluates all of our choices, and we will one day stand before him.Today's Scripture Verses:Ephesians 2:4 - “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.”Proverbs 19:10 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 14:26 - “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge” Proverbs 14:27 - “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

An interruption can be God's tool to help us become more patient, more loving, and more understanding. It can be God's way of guiding our steps and pointing us in the right direction. Divine interruptions can be God's hand of protection in our lives when we are starting to move in the wrong direction. God's interruptions are always for a reason.Main Points:1. As you read the Gospels, you can't help but notice that Jesus was interrupted just about every day. There was always someone reaching out to him for healing, deliverance, provision, or simply a question. But then we see Jesus embracing the interruptions and serving those he came in contact with. For Jesus, the interruptions did not stop his ministry; the interruptions were his ministry.2. Divine interruptions remind us that our knowledge and perspective are very limited. We cannot see and know as much as God. So, we surrender to his plan, recognizing we serve a God who has all knowledge, and he knows what is best for us. So, if interruptions are God's plan for us, we must embrace them.3. Have you been interrupted lately? Has God closed a door that you were prepared to walk through? Trust that it is no accident. God has promised to direct your steps. His plans are always the best.Today's Scripture Verses:Proverbs 19:21 - “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”Proverbs 16:9 - “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

As Christians, our convictions are shaped by biblical principles. Since we believe the Bible is God's Word and that its truth lasts forever, our beliefs and convictions cannot change regardless of the changes in our society.Main Points:1. What are your core convictions? Have you ever made a list? A conviction is a firmly held belief. It is part of who you are as a person. It shapes your choices and decisions. A conviction does change with the winds of time. It is part of your character.2. The first category is biblical convictions. These convictions are the clear teachings of Scripture for doctrine and lifestyle. They are clearly outlined in scripture for us, and they are the will of God for our faith and practice. These biblical convictions never change. They are the same in every generation because the Word of God never changes.3. The second category is personal convictions. A personal conviction is a specific boundary of behavior that God has set for a person individually; however, it is not necessarily a commandment defined in the Bible, nor is it a behavior meant for others to follow.Today's Scripture Verses:James 4:17  - “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”1 Timothy 4:12 - “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” This means, no matter your age, you should let God's Word inform how you live your life. As you do so, you are an example to others.1 Corinthians 16:13 - “Stand firm in the faith.” Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Let this truth fill your soul today. You are loved by God. No matter who you are, where you have been, or what you have done, God loves you. And his love is as high as the heavens.Main Points:1. Have you ever questioned the love of God? Have you ever thought, “How could God love someone like me?” May you wonder if there was a limit to God's love.2. When we understand the depth of his love for us, it creates security. We will believe His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. We are confident in his grace and mercy. We will trust that His Word is true and that He can be counted on.3. In this life, love can sometimes be conditional. If expectations are not met, if trust is violated, if mistakes are made, sometimes people will withdraw their love. But God's love for us is unconditional. Even though we have failed God many times, his love for us remains. Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 103:11 - “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.”Ephesians 3:17-19 - “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”1 John 3:1 - “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God, and that is what we are!”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Any attempts at finding joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment apart from God always leave us empty. Yes, there may be temporary moments of happiness and perceived satisfaction, but it is never lasting. Millions of people can testify that they never knew real joy until they knew Jesus as Savior and Lord.Main Points:1. As real as our physical hunger is, we have another type of hunger that is just as real. It's spiritual hunger. There is an emptiness that we will attempt to satisfy. Often, we will not recognize that this hunger is spiritual in nature.2. There is satisfaction found in Christ that cannot be found elsewhere. The sweetness of God's presence, the richness of His grace, and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit bring us to a place of being complete in God. There is no lack. Our needs are being met. Our hearts are full of joy, and our lives are at peace with God.3. Jesus did not simply die and rise again so we could gain Heaven. He gave His all so that we could know him and live in a relationship with the living God. It is in this pursuit of knowing and serving God that we find fulfillment.Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 37:4 - “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”John 6:35 - “Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”Psalm 63:1-5 - “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

The church of Jesus Christ is not a building and it's not an event. Sometimes we'll say we are “going to church” or we “went to church.” But it's not a building, it's not an event, and it's not a worship service. The church is a community of people. Together, you and I are the church.Main Points:1. The word “church” is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of church is not that of a building, but of people.2. What makes the church a beautiful thing is that God allows us to serve Him together. We share our lives with one another. God has created the church so that we would not be alone. In fact, it's difficult to grow spiritually unless we are in context with other followers of Jesus.3. Embrace the church, with all the positive and the negative. Be a part of a local group of believers. Join in worship, find ways to use your gifts, and serve. Be a blessing. I'm confident you'll be blessed too.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 16:18 - “I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”Romans 12:5 - “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

If you fully understand the gospel and what Jesus has done for us, you comprehend that it was not just executed 2,000 years ago by the Romans. You recognize that He willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus died for us. He took our place. With his death on the cross, He paid the penalty for our sins, so we would not have to.Main Points:1. Since God is just, he does not sweep our sins under the rug of the universe. He feels holy wrath against them. They deserve to be punished, and he has made this clear: “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). To not punish us would be unjust. 2. Imagine someone has committed a crime against you or your loved ones. You would be at the court demanding justice.3. But here's what is truly amazing…Jesus accepts God's wrath on our behalf. Jesus doesn't cancel God's wrath; he absorbs it. He diverts it from us to himself.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 5:6-8 - “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”2 Corinthians 5:21 - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”1 Peter 2:24 - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

When we come to God in prayer, our confidence is not found in ourselves, our ability to pray good prayers, or even the amount of our faith. Our confidence rests solely in God. We are confident in His love, His character, and his power. We are confident in His promises and that He always fulfills His Word.Main Points:1. It's possible to bring a lack of confidence into our prayer lives. We pray without certainty and assurance. We pray lackluster prayers, not really sure that God hears us or that He will answer.2. I want you to see that our Heavenly Father wants us to come to him with confidence. God wants us to believe in Him, to trust Him, to recognize that He is a good Father who cares about His children. He wants us to feel confident that we can bring any need, whether small or big, to God.3. When you think about those in your life that you have confidence in, the reason you have such assurance in them is because of your relationship with them. You know them. You know their life and their character. Over time, they have proven they are reliable and trustworthy.Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”1 John 5:13-15 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”Psalm 34:15 - “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Character matters. Your integrity matters. Living by biblical values matters. Our integrity will be tested. It will be tried. But if you remain resilient and determined, you can honor God and yourself by refusing to compromise your values.Main Points:1. Integrity is the personal choice to hold yourself consistent with your beliefs and moral principles. It is who you are when no one else is looking. In our culture of shifting values, your integrity will come under attack. It is important to pre-determine your values before you face the temptation to compromise.2. The test of your integrity never starts with the big decisions. It always starts with the small ones. It's tempting to think that small decisions don't matter. They seem insignificant. We'll tell ourselves, “no one knows, and it won't hurt anyone.” Yet, small decisions matter because they never stay small. A small acorn eventually becomes a mighty oak tree.3. It's always easier to resist the winds of change if your roots run deep in God's truth. God wants to use your life to make a difference, but to do so, you must start with integrityToday's Scripture Verses:Luke 16:10 - “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”Proverbs 4:23 - “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Trust today that your steps are being established by the Lord. When it's time to take the next step, God will make it clear. As you wait, believe that even though the waiting may not make sense, God's will is being performed in your life. His will, His plan, and His timing are perfect.Main Points:1. God is never early, never late, but he's always on time. Our timing isn't God's timing. For us, God's timing often feels like a long, desperate delay.2. I'm struck by how many verses there are in the Bible that talk about waiting on God. One Bible scholar has found that the word “wait” is in the Bible 154 times. That is a lot of waiting. I don't know about you, but I don't particularly enjoy waiting. Yet, if God makes us wait, there is a reason. There is something to be learned in the waiting, and I don't want to miss the lesson.3. The Holy Spirit is alive and active in the life of the believer. One of his purposes is to bring guidance and direction to our lives. He is faithful to lead us to God's plan, but He can also be trusted to guide us to God's timing.Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 31:15 -  "My times are in Your hands ..."Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time.”Proverbs 16:9  - “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

I've found that often times worry has to do with the fear of what could happen. They haven't happened. We don't know if they will happen, but we fear they could happen. This internal stress causes anxiety, fear, and apprehension. Not only can it make us emotionally and mentally unwell, but it can also cause physical illness too.  Is there a cure?Main Points:1. The dictionary defines worry as giving way to anxiety or unease: to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulties or trouble, whether actual or potential.2. So, is there an answer? Is there a cure for worry? Is Jesus' command to not worry about our lives possible? What can we do? 3. I believe the answer is found in worship. In fact, it's very hard to worry and worship at the same time. Worship reorients our focus. A shift is made. A transition happens in our thoughts and in our spirit. As we worship our savior, we focus on his greatness, his goodness, and his faithfulness. We begin to remember that he is in control and there is nothing he cannot do. Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:25 - “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life."Matthew 6:25-26 - ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”Matthew 6:27 - “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Quick Links:Subscribe to The 5 Minute Discipleship NewsletterDonate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

If you read the Bible from cover to cover, you will come away with the knowledge that God is great. There is no limit to His power. There is no end to His creativity. He is a miracle-working God.Main Points:1. As much as we would like to, we cannot fully understand the greatness of God. We are finite, but He is infinite. 2. Over the centuries, Bible scholars have done their best to describe and articulate the greatness of God, but when it comes to God, words will always fail us. The language of humans is incapable of accurately describing the greatness of God. 3. He is the one true God. He has no beginning and no end. He created all things, and all things exist by his divine power. He has no peers. No one gives God advice. No one can fully understand him.  God is perfectly holy. He is pure and righteous in every way. Today's Scripture Verses:Psalm 145:3-7 - “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;     his greatness no one can fathom.One generation commends your works to another;     they tell of your mighty acts.They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—     and I will meditate on your wonderful works.They tell of the power of your awesome works—     and I will proclaim your great deeds.They celebrate your abundant goodness     and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”Job 23:13 - “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases”Isaiah 55:9 - “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Where do we find absolute truth? We find truth in the Bible.  What God says is true, and it is true absolutely.  There is no wavering in God's truth.  Truth does not change according to polling data or by decisions handed down by Congress or the Supreme Court.  Why?  It is God's truth.  Truth is what God says.Main Points:1. We don't usually think of a belt as a piece of armor, but the belt was important because the breastplate was tied into it.  The belt even held the sword and the helmet when they were not in use.  It was the first piece of armor that was installed.2. The Apostle Paul gives us this image:  we should tie up all the loose things in our lives with the belt of God's truth.  If we are going to stand when attacked, we must have a firm grip on spiritual truth.3. Studies conducted by the Barna organization showed that only 22% of Americans believe in absolute truth.  It is no wonder so many people lose more spiritual battles than they win.  It's no wonder they get tripped up in Satan's schemes.Today's Scripture Verses:Ephesians 6:14 - “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.”John 18:37b-38 - "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. John 8:32 - “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

We live in a very loud culture. The sound of our day is filled with the voices of media, news, politics, music, movies, sports, social media, friends, teachers, spouses, and much more. We hear it all, but have we heard the voice of God? God doesn't have a speaking problem. We have a listening problem. He is speaking, and it's critical to hear what He is saying.Main Points:1. I believe God is a speaking God. In fact, I know He is a speaking God. On many occasions, I have heard the voice of God. No, not in an audible voice, but in the quiet of my spirit. God has confirmed his voice many times. You can't convince me that God does not speak today.2. The struggle is not God speaking; I believe He is always speaking. The challenge is in listening. We struggle to get quiet before the Lord. We don't always make time for Him, and sometimes we haven't been in the practice of listening for his voice.3. When someone speaks in a whisper, you have to get very close to hear. In fact, you have to put your ear near the person's mouth. We lean toward a whisper, and that's what God wants. The goal of hearing your heavenly Father's voice isn't just hearing his voice; it's intimacy with Him.Today's Scripture Verses:Revelation 2:7 - “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says…”John 10:27 - “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

God has ordained that His Word would last forever. No man can destroy the Word of God. It remains throughout every season and every generation. Main Points:1. Scripture has never been more available than it is today. As of September 2020, the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, and the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages. Now, through the means of technology, Scripture is even more available to us than it ever has been before.2. Since the enemy's attempt to destroy the Word of God has failed, he has changed his strategy. Today, his work is to discredit the Bible. We are told that any thinking person couldn't possibly take the Bible seriously.3. Since the devil cannot keep this book out of our hands, he now attempts to keep the book out of our hearts. As we read Scripture, we come to know the author of the book. These words are life to us. Satan knows that if you read the Word of God, it will change your life.Today's Scripture Verses:Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”1 Peter 1:25 - “But the Word of the Lord remains forever.”Matthew 24:35 - “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”Psalm 119:89 - “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Your spiritual gifts determine how God wants to use your life.  Are you willing to allow God to use your life, for His glory, to build the kingdom of God?  Are you willing to say “yes” to God?Main Points:1. The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual gifts.  There are at least 20 of them listed in the Bible.  We don't have time to define them all today, but you can read about them in these passages of Scripture:  Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.  2. Peter contends that each of us has received at least one spiritual gift when he states, “As each one has received a gift.” These gifts of grace are to be distinguished from natural talents, skills, and abilities.3. What this tells us is that God wants to use our lives uniquely. He has gifted and enabled us to serve Him and others. God intends for your life to be a blessing to others. You have a particular role in the work of God, and by the Holy Spirit, God has given you a gift to make this happen.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Peter 4:10-11 - “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”1 Corinthians 7:7 – “But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Every believer needs a secret place. Where is your quiet place? Where can you regularly get alone with God in prayer? I believe the impact of our public testimony and ministry is a direct result of the time spent with God in secret.Main Points:1. If all we see is the public ministry of Jesus, we miss something very important. It's not talked about much, but Jesus had a private, personal relationship with His Father. There was a vital connection to his private times of prayer and his public ministry.2. It's in the secret place that we can be alone with God. We remove ourselves from the distractions of daily life. There are no interruptions of family, work, school, smartphones, or social media. It's in the quiet we draw closer to God and a new intimacy is gained. It's here that we quiet the noise around us and within us. We open our spiritual ears to hear the voice of our Heavenly Father. 3. May you and I see the value of finding a secret place to spend time with God in prayer. In our busy, noisy world, we need this quiet place with God.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:1 - “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”Matthew 6:5-6 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know that I am God.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Out of all the prayers we pray, there is one prayer that is more difficult than all the others. It is the prayer of surrender. The prayer of submission to God is harder than all other prayers. It requires great trust in God. It demands a letting go of our control. It's releasing the situation in God's hands and trusting Him to meet the need as He sees best.Main Points:1. The reason this prayer is more difficult is because we like control, or at least the illusion of control. If I sincerely pray for God's will to be done, I have to allow for God's will to be done. 2. While the prayer of surrender is often the hardest prayer we pray, it is the most rewarding. God rewards those who submit to his will.3. Let us pray along with our Savior, “Father, not my will, but your will be done.” Let's be willing to pray this most difficult prayer of surrender, acknowledging that God knows what Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:10 - “…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”Matthew 26:39 - “not my will but your will be done.”Hebrews 5:7 - “During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Here's the good news. Jesus is our righteousness. By placing our faith in Jesus, and believing he is the perfect, sinless son of God who died and rose again as payment for our sins, we receive His righteousness.Main Points:1. No matter how many good things we do, no matter how consistent our moral behavior, we all come up short of God's righteous standard. It's important to see that our good works will never enable us to be righteous, as God defines it.2. When Jesus died on the cross he carried all the sins of humanity. He became sin for us. As a result, everyone who believes in Him is made righteous with God. 3. Now, having become righteous in God's eyes by placing our faith in Jesus, we pursue righteous living. This righteous lifestyle is not an attempt to earn salvation. It is the result of our salvation. Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 3:23 - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”Isaiah 64:6 - “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…”Philippians 3:9 - “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”2 Corinthians 5:21 - “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Where is our confidence? It is not in ourselves, and it is not in our prayers. Our confidence is in God. This is where we place our faith. Our faith is not in ourselves, in our prayers, or even in our faith. Our faith and confidence is in God. Main Points:1. I want to encourage you today to pray with boldness. Not a brash boldness that orders God around. After all, we must remember that prayer is asking, it's not telling God what to do.2. The Scriptures teach us to pray with confidence and believe that God will, not only hear our prayers but also answer them.3. As we study God's Word, as we grow in our faith, we begin to discover the will of God for our lives. The more we pray in alignment with His will, the more we can pray with confidence.Today's Scripture Verses:1 John 5:14-15 - “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.”Hebrews 4:16 - “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”Hebrews 10:35 - “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

After his departure, Jesus would send his followers a Helper. This helper is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives within us and though we cannot see Him, we can feel him and we sense he is working in our lives to make us more like Jesus.Main Points:1. Although we cannot see the Holy Spirit, we should be able to sense His work in our lives changing us to be more like Jesus.2. Truth has never been more scarce than it is today. You and I live in a time where it is culturally appropriate to not believe in absolute truth. Rather, we are told that truth is personal. It is said that something may be true for one, but not true for another. Truth is what we want it to be. 3. In the last days many will be deceived by false teaching and false doctrine. None of us listening today believes we will be deceived, but there are many New Testament verses that speak of the deception of believers in the end times.  So, we pay careful attention the Scriptures. We listen for the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit so that we will stay focused on truth.Today's Scripture Verses:John 16:5-7 - “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”John 16;13 - “…when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”1 Timothy 4:1 - “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow dQuick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Today, you and I can work on our foundation. In fact, we never stop working. We are to keep growing in God's grace. We continue to pursue a closer relationship with God. We go deeper in His Word. We grow in our faith. We use our gifts to serve God. We obey His Word. All of this contributes to a strong foundation for our lives.Main Points:1. We are all building a spiritual house. What foundation are you building on? Are you taking time to build on a solid foundation? The storms of life are sure to come. The rain will fall and the winds of adversity will beat against your spiritual house. Will you endure the storm?2. How foolish it would be to know the Word of God and to know how to be a strong Christian, and yet fail to take action to put it into practice.3. Today, you and I can work on our foundation. In fact, we never stop working. We are to keep growing in God's grace. We continue to pursue a closer relationship with God. We go deeper in His Word. We grow in our faith. We use our gifts to serve God. We obey His Word. All of this contributes to a strong foundation for our lives.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 7:24 - “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”James 1:22 - “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says we are to seek God, but he goes on to say that we are to seek him “first.” This is a matter of priority. We all seek something. We might seek opportunity, position, resources, and open doors. We could seek pleasure, enjoyment, comfort, success, and fulfillment. We might seek friendship, family, and connection. We all seek something, but Jesus said that for those who would follow him, we must seek God and his kingdom first.Main Points:1. To seek is to pursue, to look for, to desire to obtain, and to discover. 2. Today is a good day to ask ourselves some important questions: Is Jesus in first place in our lives? In all of our seeking, are we seeking God first? Is there practical, everyday evidence that we are putting God first in our lives?3. Your life and mine are filled with worry. We live with a certain amount of anxiety about our needs being met. Let's focus on this powerful promise from Jesus. If we begin to seek God first in our lives, God is faithful to meet all of our needs.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:33 - “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”1 Chronicles 22:19 - “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.”Colossians 3:1-2 - “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”Psalm 34:10 - “…those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Your story is one of your greatest ministry tools. I meet people who feel they have nothing to offer the Lord. In their minds, they feel incapable of serving in some ministry. Yet, every one of us has a story. It's a God story. It's a story of how we met Jesus, the circumstances of your salvation, and how Jesus has changed your life.Main Points:1. When I think of the explosive growth of the New Testament church in the Book of Acts, we see two things at work. People were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and second, they shared their testimony with others.  Sadly, it seems as if today we have stopped telling our story.  But you have a story to tell. It is a story of God's grace. 2. A personal testimony is the most non-threatening way to tell an unbeliever why Jesus is important to you.  It allows you to be open about your life while giving God the glory.  You can rave about the power of Jesus to transform a life, and even someone hostile to the gospel will listen because you are not asking anything of them.  3. Your story is simply an account of how God has changed your life.  If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then surely He has done miraculous things for you.  People are looking for evidence that God exists and that He is personally involved in people's lives.  You can't make God appear on the spot to prove His existence, but you can certainly point straight to Him by talking about how He has worked in your life.Today's Scripture Verses:John 7:46 - “No one ever spoke the way this man does.”Acts 4:33 - “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

The author of the Book of Hebrews makes the case that we simply can't stay with the basic, elementary teachings about faith and spiritual growth. We must move forward to a deeper and more mature understanding of our life in Christ. This makes sense, doesn't it?Main Points:1. Here's an important truth: God wants you to grow spiritually. He wants you to mature and develop a strong faith. He wants your understanding of his Word to grow so that you can move past the elementary stages and move on to deeper doctrines.2. We grow by being diligent in our pursuit of knowing God. We read and study His Word. We develop a consistent prayer life. We grow as we regularly gather with other believers and we share our faith together.3. If you want to grow in your faith, begin to take small steps of obedience to Jesus. With every step, you move away from the basic, elementary teaching and advance to maturity.Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 6:1 New Living Translation - “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”2 Timothy 2:15 - “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”James 1:22 - “But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Jesus paid our debt on the cross. He bore our sins upon his body. He suffered and died in our place, as our substitute. Jesus took the shame, condemnation, and pain we were to bear. He carried our cross and paid the ultimate price. It was a very high price to pay for our forgiveness.Main Points:1. Forgiveness comes at a cost. If you forgive someone, you bear the cost rather than insisting that the wrongdoer does. And that is what Jesus, the Mighty God, was doing when he came to earth and lived as a man and died a criminal's death on a wooden cross.2. Here is an important understanding about our forgiveness: Jesus didn't have to do it. He was not obligated to take our penalty. He was not forced to do so. He did not have to love us. We are not worthy of his love. Yet, Christ chose to love us. He chose to take our place. He chose to lay down his life for us.3. What a great and awful price was paid for our freedom. Let us never forget there was a high cost to our forgiveness, but it was a cost Jesus was willing to pay.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Peter 1:18-19 - “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”John 10:18 -  "No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord.”Galatians 2:20 - “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

There is a struggle that all of us face, and it is the struggle of submitting to God's will. Why is this so difficult for us? Because we really want to do our will. We have our own desires, dreams, goals, and ambitions, and often these desires conflict with God's will for our lives.Main Points:1. But I have discovered that the more we know Jesus and the closer we are to Him in relationship, the more our desires align with God's desires. The more our will lines up with God's will.2. We should first focus on the will of God that is clearly revealed to us in Scripture. Sometimes we are focused on knowing God's will for our future, but we are not paying attention to what He has already revealed. 3. Trust that God wants to lead you every day in his perfect will.Today's Scripture Verses:1 John 2:17 - “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”Matthew 26:39 - “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”Romans 12:1-2 - “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

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 temporary.  When happiness fades away, joy remains.  Joy is something God deposits into us through the Holy Spirit.  Main Points:1. In these verses, Jesus actually gives us the key to living our lives with joy. We also see that God intends that His joy would remain in us and that our joy may be full. Imagine being full of joy! How would that change your life? Your outlook? Your attitude and your words? Being full of joy would change a lot of things in our lives.2. But here is the key. It's found in “abiding with Jesus.” What does that mean? It means living your life in a close relationship with Christ. It's daily spending time with him. Pursuing a close and intimate relationship with God daily. The result of this relationship with God is a joy that only He can give.3. If you find yourself living a joyless life, recognize that it can change today. Begin pursuing more of God. Press into God. Seek Him. Abide in Him. His joy will be yours.Today's Scripture Verses:John 15:9-11 - “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

There is one key that is absolutely necessary for a relationship to be restored. It requires forgiveness. I've never seen a broken relationship restored without forgiveness. Main Points:1. A relationship can break down from neglect.  A relationship can break down from conflict.  A relationship can break down from misunderstanding.  The world is literally filled with broken relationships.  We see it all around us.  It's possible you have some broken relationships in your life.2. I know God can heal the pain in our hearts and enable us to offer forgiveness to others.3. Let's put our faith in the God who can do the impossible. Let's ask him to do miracles and to restore our relationships, and let's be willing to do the hard work of forgiveness and reconciliation.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 5:10-11 – “For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group5 Minute Discipleship on Instagram

Loving our neighbor is not simply a good idea or an admirable ethic; Jesus called it the second greatest commandment. We first love God, and second, we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.Main Points:1. The idea of loving our neighbor is beautiful to think about, so long as it remains an idea. But the concrete reality of loving our neighbor, the difficulties and the challenges, strips the beauty away.2. If God is not the love of our lives, there is no way that we will truly love our neighbor as ourselves. Something happens when you experience the love of God and then begin to love God in return.  3. God desires you and me to love our neighbors. Let's let his love shine through our lives to those we meet. Let's make it more than a theory; let's get practical and put love into action.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 13:10 - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Galatians 5:14 - “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”John 13:34 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”1 John 4:20 - “…For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

What a tragedy it is when there is a loss of spiritual identity.  I believe you can lose your true identity, give it away, forget it, waste it, or change it for better or worse.  It's also possible that some individuals go through life searching for their true identity and never find it.Main Points:1. If you don't know who you are, then you are vulnerable to other people telling you who you are.  But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that as a follower of Jesus, you are who God says you are, and no one else has a vote in the matter.2. The phrase “in Christ” is used about 140 times in the Bible.  We are said to be “in Christ.”  It is the most used term to describe a follower of Jesus.  God's Word is saying to us that if you are trusting Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, “You are in Christ.”  This is your new identity!  This is who God made you to be.  This is the real you!3. Reject any label the world tries to give you. As a believer in Jesus, your Heavenly Father has given you your true identity as a child of God.Today's Scripture Verses:John 1:12 - “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

Can I ask you an important question? What do you do when you become discouraged? You need an answer to this question. You need a plan, and you need it now. Discouragement comes to us all. Everyone will face it. Everyone will battle it.Main Points:1. Discouragement will make you want to quit. Maybe even right now, as you listen to this podcast episode, you have been fighting the feelings of wanting to quit.2. There are going to be times when you have to encourage yourself in the Lord.  No one else is around.  The pastor is not there.  No friends are around to help you.   Your family is not there.  Do you know how to encourage yourself in the Lord?  Have you done this?  Can you grab God's Word and feed your soul? Can you find a place of prayer and pour out your soul before the Lord?  Can you worship in times of trouble?3. If you are discouraged right now, remember God's past faithfulness and begin to thank Him for what He has already done. As you worship, watch the discouragement disappear.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Samuel 30:6 - "David encouraged himself in the Lord.”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.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

From scripture, we come to see that love is more than words, feelings, and emotions. Love is action. True love calls for us to do something, and also to refrain from some things. Main Points:1. Love, when truly demonstrated, is not just an emotion expressed to family and close friends. Love is seen the clearest when it is given to those we think don't deserve it and those who don't expect it. 2. When God's love changes us, we begin to notice others. We begin to see what God sees. We'll notice the lonely, the hurting, the broken, and the discouraged. We see those who desperately need to be loved.3. So, let's ask, how can I show love today? To whom can I show love? What loving words can I share with someone? What loving acts can I do to show God's love? Who can I serve? Who can I bless with the love of God?  Your loving actions might just change their lives.Today's Scripture Verses:John 13:34, Jesus says to his disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”1 John 4:19-21 - “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

The Bible has a lot to say about time. The most important thing it says is something we know already—that our time is limited. Time can be used or wasted, it can be invested or squandered, but either way, once used, it can never be regained. Time matters because we have such a limited supply. Main Points:1. We always have plenty of time to do everything we need to do. This means that all of my time belongs to God, and therefore, how I spend my days is a sacred issue. Someday you and I will answer for what I did today.2. The truth is, most people know the right thing to do.  You know the right thing to do.  It's just that we put it off.  We delay.  We don't do it.  We say tomorrow.  Later.  Someday I'll…  “One of these days I'll get around to it.”  We keep putting things off.3. I encourage you to count the cost.  Count the cost of your delay.  There's always a cost in delay.  There's always a price tag that goes along with procrastination.  You have one life to live for God.  Don't waste the opportunities God is giving you.Today's Scripture Verses:Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:"There is a time for everything, And a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance."Ephesians 5:15-16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

I'm convinced that most of us listening today would say we have been blessed by God. In fact, many would say that we have been greatly blessed and blessed beyond what they deserve. God has been so good to us. So what do we do with our blessings?Main Points:1. Jesus teaches us that the blessing is found in the giving. The blessing is found in the serving. The blessing is found in ministering to the needs of others. 2. Continually, the scripture speaks to the heart and motive behind our actions. The Bible teaches us that if we give to be seen by others, well, then we have our reward. If our motive in giving is to receive something back, we give with the wrong motive.3. Remember this truth today: We have been blessed to be a blessing. What are we to do with our blessings? We are to bless others. Proverbs teaches that those who hoard their blessings will no longer be blessed. The blessing is found in the giving.Today's Scripture Verses:Acts 20:35 - “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”Proverbs 11:25 - “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

There is no truth more fundamental in all of God's Word than this truth. God is for us. God is not against us. God is not neutral towards us. Because of Jesus Christ, once and for all, the question is settled. God is for us.Main Points:1. Paul's question is, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In other words, who can really fight against us, who can defeat us, if God is on our side?2. Name the enemies of the people of God. Can the devil stand against us? No, because he has been defeated. Can the world stand against us? No, because Jesus has overcome the world. Can the flesh destroy us? No, because in Jesus Christ we overcome the temptations of the flesh. So, today, let's be secure in our victory! Who dares to stand against us if God is for us?3. No matter what Satan, our accuser, says, no matter the circumstances we face, nothing can come against the love God has for us and win. We may be mocked, beaten, bruised, or even killed for our faith in Jesus. Even if we face the worst of circumstances, we are loved and accepted by our Heavenly Father because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 8:31 - “If God is for us, who can be against us?”Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Matthew 28:20 - “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

We should desire to be like Jesus in our values, beliefs, character, and behavior. The only way we can be imitators of God is that we would follow him. We must come to know Him. We must learn from Him, and it's only then that we will know what to imitate.Main Points:1. In some ways, we cannot be like God. You and I will never be all-knowing or all-powerful. We will never be omnipresent. We cannot be unchangeable like God. But there are characteristics of God that we can emulate. 2. We can imitate His characteristics like love, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, patience, grace, and mercy. We can be like God by living in purity, righteousness, and holiness. 3. To imitate God means that we follow his example, and we should follow it closely. When we were born again, we entered into his family. We belong to God, and we bear his name.Today's Scripture Verses:Ephesians 5:1 - “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”Romans 12:2 NLT - "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Ephesians 4:13 - "...“become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

When we come to Jesus and make Him our Savior and Lord, he begins to work in our lives and strips away old ways of living that conflict with scripture and dishonor the Lord. Through the Word of God, He teaches us a new way of living. As we break with the old sinful patterns and habits, we form new ones that please God, but also give joy.Main Points:1. It's through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can break the patterns of the world that we have lived by for so long. Now, through Jesus, we can be transformed, and this transformation takes place by a renewal in our minds.2. In today's culture, we sometimes talk about habits in their negative connotation. We'll say, I'm struggling to break some bad habits.” But what if you could form some new habits? What if you and I developed some holy habits? What if we created some habits that helped us grow spiritually?3. Remember, there is a difference between behaviors and habits. Anyone is capable of a particular behavior from time to time, but a habit is done instinctively and consistently. How do we develop a habit? Through regular repetition. As we do so consistently, the behavior becomes a regular and almost involuntary part of our lives.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 12:2  - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

It's so important to remember the Lord's faithfulness. In our times of anxiety, fear, and discouragement, the remembrance of what God has done brings peace to our souls.Main Points:1. When it comes to what the Lord has done for us, we cannot forget. Repeatedly throughout scripture, we are called to remember what the Lord has done.2. Decides to remember God. A strategy for fighting discouragement and doubt, and darkness is remembering, pondering, and meditating on the deeds, wonders, and works of God.3. If you are struggling with discouragement, grab a sheet of paper and a pen and begin to write down what God has done for you. Remember his blessings. Remember his faithfulness. Remembering will bring hope into your soul.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Chronicles 16:11-12 - “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.”Psalm 77:7-9 - “Will the Lord reject forever?    Will he never show his favor again?Has his unfailing love vanished forever?    Has his promise failed for all time?Has God forgotten to be merciful?    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”Psalm 77:10-12 - "Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.I will remember the deeds of the Lord;    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.I will consider all your works    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

We must have a desire for the Scripture. It's through the pages of the Bible that we come to know the author. My prayer is that we would develop a hunger for the Word of God, because we have a hunger to know God personally.Main Points:1. If it's true that the majority of Christians are not reading and learning from the Word of God regularly, there must be a deficiency in our discipleship. Our spiritual growth is stunted. We are not being changed into Christ-likeness. We are not growing as God would intend.2. If today, you find yourself with little desire for the Word of God, there are some things you can do. First, you can pray. Admit to God what's in your heart. Begin to ask God every day to give you a hunger and delight for Scripture.3. I believe God will develop in us a hunger for His Word. We'll begin to experience a taste and a craving for the Scripture because our time with God is satisfying and nourishing. Today's Scripture Verses:2 Peter 2:1-3 - “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.Psalm 119:97 - “Oh, how I love your law!  I meditate on it all day long.”Psalm 119:18 - “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

What a powerful promise! The blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sin. It's not a partial cleaning, no, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Isn't this amazing? We can be fully forgiven and completely cleansed of our sin, because of Jesus' death and his blood shed for us. The blood of Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all our sins – past, present, and future.Main Points:1. It might seem strange to someone who is not a Christian that we as believers talk about, and even sing about, the blood of Jesus. After all, blood is often considered an uncomfortable subject.2. But the reason we are grateful for the blood of Jesus is because of its power. Yes, there is power in the blood of Jesus. It has the power to cleanse us from our sins.3. God wouldn't be just if he winked at our sin, or swept it under the rug. No, justice had to be met. Compelled by his great love for us, Jesus steps in and pays the awful penalty for us. He gave his life for us. He shed his blood for us.Today's Scripture Verses:Ephesians 1:7 - “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.”1 John 1:7 - “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”John 1:29 - “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

Have you ever felt like you were on an emotional treadmill?  Our lives are going faster and faster, and we don't know how to slow them down.  I meet people who say to me, “Pastor Loren, I am running on fumes.  I'm on empty.  I can't go much further.”  Life has a way of draining us.  If you don't stay closely connected to Jesus, our source of life, you will eventually find yourself empty.  Main Points:1. If today your tank is on empty, if you find yourself depleted, just like Elijah, the Lord wants you to rest. Physical rest is essential, but so is spiritual and emotional rest. 2. There is a refreshing that can come from the Lord. Make time to worship, to listen for His still, small voice, and be encouraged by his faithful presence. 3. If you are spiritually and emotionally in a wilderness place, remember you are not alone. God is right there with you. Ask him to restore you, refill you, and replenish your soul. He is not done with you yet.Today's Scripture Verses:1 Kings 19:4 - “He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook GroupLoren Hicks on Instagram

Whether it's your coffee pot, your phone, your computer, or your car, power is necessary for each of these essentials to operate. It's the same in the Christian life. You need power. God does not intend for us to live powerless Christian lives. In fact, He promised to provide the power we need to live victorious over sin and to be effective in our calling and purpose.Main Points:1. After Jesus' resurrection, He spent 40 days with His disciples. It was during these conversations that he gave them their marching orders. It was His instructions for their lives, after He would ascend back to the Father. These instructions are found in Matthew 28:19-20, and we call them “The Great Commission.”But before getting started, these Christ-followers would need power. The task God had for their lives was too large. In and of themselves, they would be incapable of obeying the command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations.2. As much as they had already been prepared for their mission, there was still something missing. They needed God's power. So do I. So do you.3. Thankfully, God has promised to give us the Holy Spirit. This power of the Holy Spirit is not just for some Christians. It's for every Christian, and it's been promised. Our God is a promise-keeper. Today's Scripture Verses:Acts 1:8 - “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”Luke 24:49 - “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”Acts 1:4-5 - “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group