The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast Loren Hicks

Regardless of what our culture has come to believe, as a Christian, you have a mandate from Christ himself, to share the gospel with others. We cannot believe that evangelism is a calling for someone else. We cannot leave the responsibility to others. No, we are all called by Jesus to be His witnesses.


Main Points:

1. In my lifetime there has been a growing sentiment in our society that it’s wrong to talk about matters of faith. People have come to believe it’s improper to try to convert someone to become a follower of Jesus. Many now feel it’s insensitive, impolite, and even rude to witness to them about Christ.


2.  There is no doubt in my mind this cultural shift away from freely sharing our faith is a strategy of Satan. If he can convince us it’s wrong to talk about Jesus, we won’t do it. As a result, less people will hear the good news.



3.  Begin by telling people your story. Let them know what Jesus has done in your life and what He means to you. Remember, God has given you the Holy Spirit to empower you to be bold and courageous. You have everything you need to be an effective witness for Christ. 


Today’s Scripture Verses:


Acts 1:8 - “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


1 Peter 3:15 - “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”


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Many feel the yearning, but do not recognize that it is spiritual in nature. They feel a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction with life. So many people are thinking, “There must be something more to life. What am I missing?”


Main Points:

1. People try to assuage their spiritual hunger with pleasure, relationships, travel, shopping, sports, substances like alcohol and drugs. Satisfaction is pursued with attempts to make more money, buy more things, and to have more fun. None of these things will ever be enough.


2.  Only Jesus can satisfy our spiritual hunger. Why? Because God designed us in such a way. Only God can fill the void in our soul. A relationship with Jesus is so nourishing and so satisfying that we will wonder why we neglected Him for so long. We will wonder why we bought into the deception of this world it could offer what we needed.


3.  Jesus is makes  us  a promise. The only one who always keeps His word is giving you a guarantee. He says “you will be filled.” You will be satisfied, you hunger will be met, your deep longings will be gratified in Christ. 


Today’s Scripture Verses:


Psalm 107:9 - “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

Matthew 5:6 - “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
 For they shall be filled.”

Psalm 34:8 - “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”


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Have you ever had an encourager in your life, someone that whenever you were around them, you found your spirit lifted? This is the kind of person I want to be. I want to be an encourager. 


Main Points:

1. n the New Testament, there is a man named Barnabas. He was a leader in the early church and a partner with the Apostle Paul on some of his missionary journeys. His real name was Joseph, but he was given a nickname by the apostles. They called him Barnabas, which meant “son of encouragement.” He was affectionately given this nickname because he had the ministry of encouragement. 


2. You never know the impact of your kindness, your love, and your words of encouragement. I believe people around you today are desperate for encouragement. Everyone around you is fighting a battle you know nothing about. What a difference you could make in someone’s life by encouraging them to trust the Lord, to keep believing, and to not give up.


3. What a difference you could make by encouraging someone to obey God, to step out in faith, and to let God use their lives.


Today’s Scripture Verses:


Acts 4:36 - “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - “encourage one another and build each other up.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 - “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”


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We are all aware of the spiritual battle that rages. We do have an adversary. We do have opposition. We are in a fight, but find encouragement in these verses. Christ Jesus will place us on a firm foundation. He is our firm foundation. He is the rock we have built our lives upon, and He cannot be moved.


Main Points:

1. No matter how fierce the fight, no matter how difficult the battle, our firm foundation is not shaken. Yes, we have to stand firm. Yes, we must be strong in the faith. But all the while, we remember that our suffering is not forever. The promise from these verses is that we will share in God’s eternal glory. 


2. In this life we are constantly reminded of the spiritual battle that rages around us. Like a prowling lion, our adversary seeks to devour us, to tear down our faith, and to rob us of our hope. Yet, in the midst of this struggle, we find reassurance and strength in the unshakeable foundation of Christ.


3. Peter's words speak to us today, urging us to be alert and sober-minded. We cannot afford to be complacent or unaware of the dangers that surround us. The enemy's attacks may come in various forms – doubts, temptations, trials, and tribulations – but we are called to stand firm in the faith.


Today’s Scripture Verses:


1 Peter 5:8-11 - “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.  In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.”

Isaiah 33:6 - “In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.”


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We must have a desire for the Scripture. It’s through the pages of the Bible 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 today, you find yourself with little desire for the Word of God, there are some things you can do. Pray and admit to God what’s in your heart. Begin to ask God everyday to give you  a hunger and delight for Scripture.


2. 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. 


3. The Scripture, for all of us, is an acquired taste. Before we came to know Jesus we had no appetite for the Word of God. We had a spiritual appetite, but we attempted to satisfy this appetite with the things of the world.  But the more we partake of scripture, the more we learn from God, and the more we apply it to our lives, the more we desire the Word.


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.”


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In Scripture we see that he glory of God is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. His glory is the combined manifestation of His attributes. He is glorious because no one can compare.


Main Points:

1. The glory of God was visibly seen in the character of Jesus, his teaching, preaching, and miraculous power. Imagine walking and talking with God himself.


2. As we study the Bible we discover the glory of God revealed in the pages of Scripture. We learn of his holiness, his majesty, his goodness, his power, and his love. Only God is glorious. 


3. Take time today to worship God, not just for his blessings and for what He has done for you, but worship Him for who He is. He is glorious and is worthy of glory, honor, and praise.


Today’s Scripture Verses:


1 Chronicles 29:11 - “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor.”

John 1:14 - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Hebrews 1:3 - “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”



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