2 Minute Disciple

Luke Chapter 1

Article  |  May 31st, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s fantastic to be with you today. We are now moving into the Gospel of Luke today. The four Gospels give us a grand mosaic of who Jesus is, what he did and said, and they show us how to live in his kingdom. We will be reading from Luke chapter 1 today along with the introduction from the Message. Let’s dive in…

Episode 169: Luke Chapter 1

Episode  |  May 31st, 2022  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 52 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

We are now moving into the Gospel of Luke today. The four Gospels give us a grand mosaic of who Jesus is, what he did and said, and they show us how to live in his kingdom. We will be reading from Luke chapter 1 today along with the introduction from the Message.

Mark Chapter 16

Article  |  May 27th, 2022
By Nick Oyler

What strikes me most in this chapter is the importance of women to the ministry of Jesus. They are the first to see him alive and Jesus entrusts them with the important message of his resurrection. I love that God sees us all as vital to his kingdom, no matter your sex, race, ethnicity or financial status, we are all a part of God’s kingdom.

Episode 168: Mark Chapter 16

Episode  |  May 27th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  4 mins 15 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self-care, soul care, spiritual journey, spirituality

What strikes me most in this chapter is the importance of women to the ministry of Jesus. They are the first to see him alive and Jesus entrusts them with the important message of his resurrection. I love that God sees us all as vital to his kingdom, no matter your sex, race, ethnicity or financial status, we are all a part of God’s kingdom.

Mark Chapter 15

Article  |  May 26th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self-care, soul care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

We are making progress in our journey through the Gospels and we find ourselves at the end of the book of Mark. We have seen Jesus in action, from healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding thousands of people, and walking on water. We have also seen him get away from the crowds to pray and recharge and he has been teaching us about the kingdom life that he is ushering in. The one thing about Mark 15 is how much Jesus told his disciples that it was going to happen and it did. This was what Jesus came to do, to take the abuse of violent people to open up God’s kingdom to all of us.
At the moment that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The significance of this moment is that God is opening up access to himself to everyone. Now we can have direct access to God and not have to go to the temple and have someone else go into God’s presence for us. His sacrifice made that possible for us. The other thing that I am pondering is the fact that God had to watch his only son die at the hands of wicked violent people. God knows what it’s like. God stands with those who have lost children senselessly by wicked violent people and he weeps with them. He also points to the torn veil and says today your child is with me.

Episode 167: Mark Chapter 15

Episode  |  May 26th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  8 mins 9 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, personal development, self-care, soul care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

We are making progress in our journey through the Gospels and we find ourselves at the end of the book of Mark. We have seen Jesus in action, from healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding thousands of people, and walking on water. We have also seen him get away from the crowds to pray and recharge and he has been teaching us about the kingdom life that he is ushering in. The one thing about Mark 15 is how much Jesus told his disciples that it was going to happen and it did. This was what Jesus came to do, to take the abuse of violent people to open up God’s kingdom to all of us.
At the moment that Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The significance of this moment is that God is opening up access to himself to everyone. Now we can have direct access to God and not have to go to the temple and have someone else go into God’s presence for us. His sacrifice made that possible for us. The other thing that I am pondering is the fact that God had to watch his only son die at the hands of wicked violent people. God knows what it’s like. God stands with those who have lost children senselessly by wicked violent people and he weeps with them. He also points to the torn veil and says today your child is with me.

Mark Chapter 14

Article  |  May 25th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spirituality

I was struck by the depth of pain that Jesus was in while he was praying in the garden. Jesus really felt the weight of what was going to happen to him, from the betrayal, abandonment, rejection, beating and crucification. He really wanted to skip all of this if he could, but in perfect obedience, he went through it. I’m glad that he went through all of this, because we have a God who knows exactly what we feel and has been through it and worse, quite frankly. When I am tempted to tell God that he doesn’t know what I’m going through, this is the gentle reminder that he does and he cares for me.

Episode 166: Mark Chapter 14

Episode  |  May 25th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 37 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spirituality

I was struck by the depth of pain that Jesus was in while he was praying in the garden. Jesus really felt the weight of what was going to happen to him, from the betrayal, abandonment, rejection, beating and crucification. He really wanted to skip all of this if he could, but in perfect obedience, he went through it. I’m glad that he went through all of this, because we have a God who knows exactly what we feel and has been through it and worse, quite frankly. When I am tempted to tell God that he doesn’t know what I’m going through, this is the gentle reminder that he does and he cares for me.

Mark Chapter 13

Article  |  May 24th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

What jumped off the page and is rolling through my mind is this statement: “When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you.” Times are tough for Christians right now, and part of it is our own fault for allowing the world to press us into it’s mold and for holding up a standard that we are not living to. We look way more like those who killed Jesus than we do Jesus. It’s also tough to be a Jesus follower, because the world hates him and those who shine light in the darkness.
However, we still have to speak to those around us and it is comforting to know that all we have to do is speak from our heart and the Holy Spirit makes his witness in and through us. God will use our words for his glory and witness for those around us. God is so good and his forgiveness is so thorough and his grace is enough, however we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and keep listening to Jesus and work his words into our lives.

Episode 165: Mark Chapter 13

Episode  |  May 24th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  8 mins 15 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

What jumped off the page and is rolling through my mind is this statement: “When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you.” Times are tough for Christians right now, and part of it is our own fault for allowing the world to press us into it’s mold and for holding up a standard that we are not living to. We look way more like those who killed Jesus than we do Jesus. It’s also tough to be a Jesus follower, because the world hates him and those who shine light in the darkness.
However, we still have to speak to those around us and it is comforting to know that all we have to do is speak from our heart and the Holy Spirit makes his witness in and through us. God will use our words for his glory and witness for those around us. God is so good and his forgiveness is so thorough and his grace is enough, however we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and keep listening to Jesus and work his words into our lives.

Mark Chapter 12

Article  |  May 23rd, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

What stuck out for me in this chapter is that the people who are supposed to have it all together in their religious and financial lives are the ones arguing with Jesus and trying to trip him up. However, all of these people are set alongside a widow who is faithful to God and gives her everything without quibbling. Again we see the scriptures as a mirror to our souls, who are we most like if we are completely honest with ourselves? As we pray, ask God to help you to be more like the widow.

Episode 164: Mark Chapter 12

Episode  |  May 23rd, 2022  |  Season 2  |  7 mins 19 secs

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, discipleship, spiritual formation, spiritual journey, spirituality

What stuck out for me in this chapter is that the people who are supposed to have it all together in their religious and financial lives are the ones arguing with Jesus and trying to trip him up. However, all of these people are set alongside a widow who is faithful to God and gives her everything without quibbling. Again we see the scriptures as a mirror to our souls, who are we most like if we are completely honest with ourselves? As we pray, ask God to help you to be more like the widow.

Episode 163: Conversation With Adam Tomlinson

Episode  |  May 21st, 2022  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 43 secs

christianity, discipleship, interview, leadership, leadership development, pastoral conversation, personal development, spiritual growth, spirituality

We have a special guest with us, Adam Tomlinson. Adam is the Lead Minister at Westwood Christian Church, in Madison, Wisconsin. He grew up in Illinois and Wisconsin before going to Milligan College where he met his wife, Lauren. He has been in ministry since 2014 and they have 3 children: Nathanael (7), Caleb (4), and Junia (1). I have known Adam’s family most of my life, his mom babysat me and my sister while my mom was in Bible Study. I used to play church softball with his dad and I remember Adam in the stroller at the softball games.
In this special episode, Adam and I have a conversation about what he is learning from God in this season of life, enjoy the conversation…

Mark Chapter 11

Article  |  May 20th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spirituality

Jesus’ teaching on prayer in this chapter, jumped off the page and slapped me in the face. I know that the things he said are true and I want to live them out them in practice, but when it comes down to doing it, I freeze. God wants me to bring everything to him in prayer, but I hold back. I’m not sure exactly why, but it could be because I think it’s not big enough to bother God with. It could be because I think I can handle it or that he doesn’t care enough to do those little things for me. However, I know better and want to take everything to him, I want to walk into God’s everything, I want to take everything to God and ask big things, but why do I doubt and hold back, when I know that if I include everything in prayer, I get God’s everything.
There is a lot to work on here for me, bringing everything to God and letting go of my pride.

Episode 162: Mark Chapter 11

Episode  |  May 20th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 1 sec

audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, personal development, self-care, spiritual formation, spirituality

Jesus’ teaching on prayer in this chapter, jumped off the page and slapped me in the face. I know that the things he said are true and I want to live them out them in practice, but when it comes down to doing it, I freeze. God wants me to bring everything to him in prayer, but I hold back. I’m not sure exactly why, but it could be because I think it’s not big enough to bother God with. It could be because I think I can handle it or that he doesn’t care enough to do those little things for me. However, I know better and want to take everything to him, I want to walk into God’s everything, I want to take everything to God and ask big things, but why do I doubt and hold back, when I know that if I include everything in prayer, I get God’s everything.
There is a lot to work on here for me, bringing everything to God and letting go of my pride.

Mark Chapter 10

Article  |  May 19th, 2022
By Nick Oyler
audio bible, christianity, daily bible, daily devotional, jesus, personal development, self-care, spiritual journey, spirituality

In our upside down way of looking at things, we want to earn our keep. It is common sense that if you work hard, you can achieve whatever you want. However, Jesus teaches that it is not that way with entering God’s Kingdom. No amount of work, charm, merit or money can gain you entrance into God’s Kingdom. Then how do we get in? We let God do the work and trust in Him. It’s that simple, but also that complex because it’s not that easy to trust Him when it’s wired in our brains to pull ourselves up. We have to forget about striving for our gain and embrace giving ourselves away and we will get everything back and more in God’s Kingdom. How hard is this concept to wrap your brain around?