2 Minute Disciple
Tags
We found 10 articles with the tag “spiritual journey”.
-
Matthew Chapter 14
Article | April 19th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityMy biggest takeaway from this chapter is Jesus’ flexibility and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. After hearing of the death of John, Jesus planed for some solitude and silence, however, word got out about where he was going and there was a crowd of people who needed him. Instead of getting mad and sending everyone away, he has compassion on them and heals them. When supper time come, he feeds the crowds with a small meal that stretches to feed 5000+ people. He then sends his ride away with the disciples and finally gets the alone time he craves. Then he adapts by walking to his ride on the water. He calls Peter out to him and Peter is doing it and realizes it and the anxiety creeps back up, so he sinks. Jesus pulls him up and they get into the boat. Jesus did not fold under the crush of the people or the circumstances. The way that he handled these different situations inspires me to respond this way. I am reminded that I am also equipped by the Holy Spirit to be able to respond like Jesus. We saw this same way of ministry by Paul and he was able to do it like Jesus because of the Holy Spirit working in him.
I have been doing ministry all wrong for years, I tried hard to be like Jesus without tapping in to the power that I have been given, the power of the Holy Spirit. Doing ministry without the power of the Spirit only gets you anxiety and high blood pressure. This week, I want to allow the Holy Spirit to power me through and guide me just like Jesus. -
Matthew Chapter 13
Article | April 18th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
active listening, audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, spiritual journey, spiritualityWhat is the Kingdom of God like? Jesus has been teaching that God’s new government is here and has been showing it’s power through his miracles of healing and casting out demons. He has also sent out his apprentices and empowered them to usher in the kingdom. Now we find him telling stories that answer the question of what is God’s kingdom like? The stories that he uses to describe it in this chapter are all about seeds that grow. It brings to my mind gardening, I love to garden each summer and I make all kinds of things from the vegetables and herbs that I grow. God’s kingdom is growing and it produces wonderful fruit from small seeds. The thing that stuck out to me was this question, “Are you listening, really listening?” That is such a crucial question, because of all the noise around us, we get used to tuning things out, but for the seeds to grow in our live, we need to really listen to Jesus’ words. Are we listening?
-
Matthew Chapter 12
Article | April 15th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualitySomething that I noticed in this chapter is that Jesus is getting criticized for every little thing and he handled it similarly to how he handled the temptation in the wilderness, by referring to scripture. I think that is such a great strategy for handling critics. I need to learn this lesson because if I got all of the criticism that Jesus got, I would scream and want to slap someone. But Jesus I think was frustrated, but he handled it with the scripture and with a calm manner. The way that he handled himself is truly inspiring and something that I am striving to do with the help of the Holy Spirit. What inspired you from this chapter?
-
Matthew Chapter 9
Article | April 13th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, personal development, prayer, self care, spiritual direction, spiritual journey, spiritualityWhat strikes me the most in this chapter is Jesus’ heart for those on the outside of the religious elite. He seeks out the down and out and those far from religious purity and he eats with them, has compassion on them, heals them and urges his followers to pray for them and for workers to reach them with news of his kingdom. He is not following the normal procedures of the religious elite, he is announcing that everyone is welcome in his kingdom. The question that comes to mind is if I am learning from Jesus, am I as concerned about those on the outside as Jesus is?
-
Matthew Chapter 10
Article | April 13th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityI never really connected the dots on Jesus call for his followers to pray for workers for the harvest and the sending out of the twelve into the harvest. I have always thought of that scripture as connected to foreign missions and the starving kids in Africa, that I missed the point of the harvest all around us that Jesus is sending us to. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t go to the starving kids in Africa, but not all of us can do that and there are starving kids all around us whereever we are. This is such a powerful message to us who are learning to follow Jesus. The other thing that ties this all together for me is Jesus call to be all in with him in this kingdom work. What in today’s chapter is connecting with you?
-
Sermon on the Mount Part 6
Article | April 9th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, jesus, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityVerses one through five should be the new rules for social media. It might tone down some of the sniping and canceling that goes on these days. This section of the sermon is so timely for our culture and it is a strong reminder that we are definitely flying upside down in this area today. If just “Christian” people would live this out, we would see a huge difference in the way we treat one another in our culture. I also love how the golden rule is restated here in the Message. It makes so much sense and the idea of taking the initiative to do good to others is another one that if we actually did it, we could change our communities. This is the whole reason that I am doing this podcast, so that we can look into the mirror of scripture and let it change us. I know that I need to cut the sarcasm and attitude before I point out what’s wrong with you. This is what I’m asking God to help me work on. What needs to be changed in your life?
-
Sermon on The Mount Part 3
Article | April 6th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, jesus christ, kingdom living, spiritual journey, spiritualityI had a rough day yesterday and I poured all of the anger, hurt, doubt, and junk that I have been stuffing inside, out onto my journal (no you can’t read it). It was a shake your fist at God moment for me and he prevailed. The words that spoke to me the most in this reading today are “Grow Up!” & “live like it.” Jesus’ way of living seems counter intuitive, but it really is life giving to be honest and open and to not dress yourself up in religious lace just to look the part. Living as citizen of God’s new government is not about looking the part, but it is about really living it out in the grit and grime of life. You can’t have one foot in and the other foot out, you have to be all in or all out of God’s way of life. Are you ready to grow up and be all in for God’s new government?
-
Acts Chapter 28
Article | March 30th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, jesus, self care, spiritual journey, spiritualityI love the last 2 sentences of the book of Acts, “He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open” (Acts 28:31 The Message). I want that to be said of me. What about you?
Tomorrow begins a new season for the 2 Minute Disciple Podcast. We will start back at Matthew Chapter 1 and journey through the Gospels again to discover who Jesus is and what it looks like to follow him. See you tomorrow. -
Acts Chapter 27
Article | March 29th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, jesus, personal development., spiritual growth, spiritual journey, spiritualityAll through Acts, we have seen God move his people to spread the message of Jesus and his new life from Jerusalem to the ends of the world. He is now taking Paul to Rome as a prisoner on a ship through a storm. Paul is assured that he will survive to get to Rome, but not without a shipwreck disaster to go through. We find that God did what he said and continued to give Paul an audience for his message.
This makes me think about my calling to this podcast, it kind of feels like I have been through a shipwreck to get here. However, we are almost to 2000 downloads and quit a bit of encouragement to keep going. Once we finish Acts tomorrow, we will begin again in Matthew Chapter 1 for season 2. -
Acts Chapter 24
Article | March 25th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, daily bible, jesus, spiritual journey, spiritualityIn this chapter, we find Paul given access to the Roman Governor, Felix. Paul is able to speak with him many times about being a Christ follower. I find it interesting that Felix was looking for a bribe from Paul but instead kept hearing more about Jesus and his way. Paul stayed in jail and kept sharing the message of Jesus. I am struck by the way that Paul continued to share the message of Jesus even when his circumstances are not good. I can’t help but think that if I was in jail like Paul, for no reason, that I would not be as positive and faithful to sharing the message. What about you?