The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Loren Hicks
  • 4.9 (176)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Daily

Daily episodes are hosted by Pastor Loren Hicks. This podcast will challenge you to go deeper into your Christian faith. The goal is to inspire you to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Episodes have been downloaded over 700,000 times.

  1. 2d ago

    #1,549: God Wants You to be a Soul Winner

    The term “soul-winning” is a metaphor for witnessing about Jesus or evangelism. The task of sharing the good news about Jesus is given to every Christian. We must see this as a responsibility given to us by our Lord. Main Points: 1.  The word “gospel” means “good news.” But it’s only good news if it is shared with someone. Imagine never hearing the good news that Jesus wants to save us and forgive us of our sins. It’s easy, especially in the Western World, to assume everyone has heard the gospel, but the truth is, they haven’t. There are people in our own communities who have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. 2. You might be a beginner soul-winner, even though you have been a Christian for years. Here’s how to get started. Begin by praying that God would place someone on your heart. Pray and ask God to open their heart to the gospel and that he would give you openings to share your faith. The process of soul-winning usually occurs over many conversations, so don’t feel pressured to do it all in one meeting. 3. Ask your friend if you can share with them what God has done in your life. Tell your story. Be a witness of what your life was like before you met Jesus, tell of what led you to believe, and share what has happened since becoming a Christian. Today’s Scripture Verses: Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Proverbs 11:30 - “…he who wins souls is wise.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  2. 3d ago

    #1,548: Whose Voice Are You Following?

    Of all the things we can listen to, we must listen to God’s voice and what He is saying. We can’t afford to miss out on the voice of God. I want to live in such a way that God’s voice is the loudest voice in my life. Main Points: 1.  With so many voices calling out for our attention, we may find ourselves easily distracted and without focus. After all, which voice will you give your attention to? You can’t listen to them all. 2. Every day, you can hear the voice of God. We don’t just serve a silent deity. We have a relationship with a living God who is involved in the lives of his children. I believe daily we can hear God’s voice in our spirit. Every time we open our Bibles, we should expect to hear the voice of God. It is God’s Word to us. Are we listening? Are we paying attention? 3. Is God’s voice the loudest voice in your life? Let’s silence the noise around us to hear what God wants to say. Today’s Scripture Verses: Mark 4:32 - “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Hebrews 2:1 - “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  3. 4d ago

    #1,547: Have You Ever Felt Powerless?

    That sense of powerlessness is something we all experience. The truth is, apart from Christ, we are powerless. In and of ourselves, we cannot be who God wants us to be. Apart from Christ, we are weak, without strength, and unable to move forward. Main Points: 1.  Have you ever felt powerless? Like your batteries were on empty? Like you couldn’t go on? Did you feel as if you didn’t have the strength you needed or the ability to face a challenge? Maybe you felt you had reached your limit and that you simply couldn’t take the stress anymore. Perhaps you felt powerless to change, to stop, to grow, to adapt, or to become what God desires for your life. 2. Oh, how we need the Lord in our lives. Oh, how you and I need Jesus. It’s in Him we find our strength. It’s in Him we become strong. It’s only through His power that you and I can be overcomers. 3. Every relationship we have exists because we intentionally invested in the other person. The same is true with Christ. Commit to daily investing time with Jesus. It’s through our knowledge of Him that we gain the power we need. Today’s Scripture Verses: 2 Peter 1:3 - “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Romans 8:11 - “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  4. 5d ago

    #1,546: Obedience Before Understanding

    Is there an area of your life where you are struggling to obey God? Does what He is asking of you seem irrational? Does it feel confusing?  Choose to trust and obey. Be willing to obey whatever God asks of you, simply because He said so. Main Points: 1.  As children of God, we must recognize God’s sovereignty and authority over our lives. As believers, we have willingly made Jesus our savior, but also our lord. Maybe you prayed a prayer that said, “Jesus, I ask you to be the Lord of my life.” I think you would agree it’s much easier to pray that prayer than it is to live it out. 2. Sometimes obedience to God is not rational. It doesn’t make sense in our minds. As we look at the scenario and the circumstances through our lens, God’s way is not what we would have chosen. But this is where faith comes in. We remember God sees what we cannot see. He knows what we do not know. Our obedience to God is always connected to our faith in Him.  3. It doesn’t always make sense, but the blessings of God follow our obedience. If you want to live a life blessed by God, you must see that the key is our willing obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense. Today’s Scripture Verses: Luke 5:4-5 - “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:6-7 - “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  5. 6d ago

    #1,545: The Pursuit of Holiness

    What is holiness? To be holy is to be consecrated, set apart, and dedicated to God. For some, this seems daunting. We can be intimidated by the word holy or the knowledge that God wants us to be holy. After all, we know our failings and shortcomings all too well. Main Points: 1. But we must see that holiness is a good thing. Everything God calls us to pursue is for our own good. Holiness is not outward actions and behaviors achieved in our own strength. Becoming holy is a pursuit entered through the grace of God and developed with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. In other words, you cannot become holy apart from God’s help. He does not call us to become something without enabling us to do it. 2. How can we pursue holiness? To pursue holiness, we actively seek and strive for a life that is set apart for God. It’s a lifestyle characterized by moral purity, righteousness, and devotion to Him. It involves aligning our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and lifestyle with the principles and teachings of God's Word. 3. Pursuing holiness involves separating ourselves from sinful behaviors, attitudes, and influences. It means turning away from anything that contradicts God's character and choosing to live a life that honors Him.   Today’s Scripture Verses: Hebrews 12:14 - “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 - “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 1 Peter 1:14-15 - “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  6. Jul 17

    #1,544: A Beginner's Guide to Prayer

    Isn’t prayer an amazing thing? Just stop and think for a moment. The God of eternity, the God who spoke and the world came into existence, the all-powerful, all-knowing, and always-present God, listens to me! Main Points: 1. For a new Christian, prayer can be intimidating. We hear others pray, and they seem to do it so well. We think we don’t know the eloquent words necessary to talk to Almighty God.  We wonder, “Am I doing it right?” 2. Prayer can be spoken out loud. It can be a whisper. Prayer can be given silently in our hearts. In all of these ways we can be assured that God knows and that He hears. 3. Prayer is not about the right words. Prayer is about sharing what is on your heart with God. “Help me” is a prayer. “I need you” is a prayer. “Give me peace” is a prayer. “Guide my steps” is a prayer.   Today’s Scripture Verses: Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Exodus 33:11 - “Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Matthew 6:8 - “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” 1 Peter 3:12 - "The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers…” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  7. Jul 16

    #1,543: Directions to Heaven

    Being humans, we like to be independent. We want to go our own way. We’ll drive lost, trying to figure out how to get to a destination, refusing to stop and ask for directions. Sadly, many journey through life, never arriving at the destination they hoped to see. Our eternity is too important. We can’t hope to arrive there someday. We can’t rely on our own instincts to get us to Heaven. I’ve heard people say, “I’m trying to be a good person. I think I’ll be alright in the end.” Main Points: 1. Since Heaven is a city built by God, we must let Him inform us as to how we can get there. Thankfully, in His Word, He has made it clear. In the Bible, we are informed that there is only one road to Heaven, not many roads, and certainly not just any road of our choosing.  2. Where you want to go...there is only one way to get there. Salvation and forgiveness of our sins are only found in Jesus. It’s only through Jesus that we have access to the Father. It’s only through Jesus that we find the doorway to Heaven. 3. The Bible doesn’t leave us with vague, unclear directions. The path is marked out for us, and it's crystal clear. There is only one road to Heaven. It is found through faith in Jesus Christ, as we make Him our Savior and Lord.   Today’s Scripture Verses: Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 1 John 5:13 - “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.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

  8. Jul 15

    #1,542: We Desperately Need One Another

    Occasionally, I’ll hear someone say, “I don’t need anyone. I don’t need people in my life.” Sometimes this is a wall people put up to protect themselves. But you absolutely need people in your life. After creating the very first man, God said in Genesis…“it’s not good for man to be alone.” You need to know this about God.  He is concerned with your aloneness.  Main Points: 1. I believe God is calling the church to be a place of hope.  A place of life.  A place of love.  A place of honesty and genuine friendships and relationships.   2. This is why there are 59 “one another” statements in the New Testament.  You can’t read the New Testament and see any version of Christianity being lived out in isolation.  This is why being a part of a local church is so important.  You cannot be obedient to Christ as a Christian and not be a part of a local church.  How would it be possible to carry out the “one another’s?” 3. How do we build Christ-centered relationships? You’ve got to be willing to take the first step.  You don’t wait for somebody else to connect with you.  You must take the initiative to connect with them.  This often takes courage.  Why?  Because it’s fear that disconnects human beings.  When we’re full of fear and anxiety, we don’t get close to each other.  In fact, we back off from each other.  We’re afraid of being rejected, manipulated, vulnerable, hurt, used.  All of these fears cause us to be disconnected in life. With the help of the Lord, we push past these fears. We take a step of faith and reach out to someone.   Today’s Scripture Verses: Colossians 3:12-14 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Quick Links: Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on Social Join The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

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Daily episodes are hosted by Pastor Loren Hicks. This podcast will challenge you to go deeper into your Christian faith. The goal is to inspire you to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Episodes have been downloaded over 700,000 times.

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