2 Minute Disciple

Episode 142: Matthew Chapter 19

Episode  |  April 25th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  7 mins 12 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spirituality

Jesus shows us again what living right side up looks like, the ones who we think are the top of the heap are really at the bottom. The rich are not automatically in God’s kingdom because they are rich and children are to be seen and heard. Nice guys don’t always finish last in God’s kingdom. When we give up things now, we will get even more than that in God’s kingdom. These words of Jesus today give me a boost, they are words that I need to hear and to realize that in God’s kingdom I have a place and I belong. I can breathe easier and hold my head up a little higher knowing that I belong in God’s kingdom. What are you learning from Jesus today? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Matthew Chapter 18

Article  |  April 23rd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, forgiveness, self care, self development, spiritual journey, spirituality

I saw this tweet from Bob Goff today and I thought it fit with today’s reading. “Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.” That is exactly what this chapter is about, relational health. God made us for community and Jesus gives us the road map to having healthy and thriving relationships. Everyone can benefit from the lessons that Jesus teaches here. This is where I want you to join the conversation and tell me what you learned from Jesus in this chapter. Either go to the show notes page and scroll to the bottom and type your response or if you are using a podcast platform, click on the podcast episode website link and you will see it at the bottom of the page. Please join me in conversation.

Episode 141: Matthew Chapter 18

Episode  |  April 23rd, 2022  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 42 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, forgiveness, self care, self development, spiritual journey, spirituality

I saw this tweet from Bob Goff today and I thought it fit with today’s reading. “Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.” That is exactly what this chapter is about, relational health. God made us for community and Jesus gives us the road map to having healthy and thriving relationships. Everyone can benefit from the lessons that Jesus teaches here. This is where I want you to join the conversation and tell me what you learned from Jesus in this chapter. Either go to the show notes page and scroll to the bottom and type your response or if you are using a podcast platform, click on the podcast episode website link and you will see it at the bottom of the page. Please join me in conversation.

Matthew Chapter 17

Article  |  April 22nd, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, spiritual journey, spirituality

I try to put myself in the shoes of Peter in this story. I would be in shock to see Jesus in all of his glory, my chin would be on the ground like in a cartoon and I would have fallen over. I’m not sure that I could have spoken to get the words that Peter babbles out, but I know that I would have been stumbling and bumbling through that moment. I would have missed the point too until the resurrection, which would make everything click.
I am just pondering the sight of Jesus in all of his glory standing before me and as I close my eyes I can see him shining. I just want to soak it in and be reminded that Jesus is God with me and that he promised to be with me through thick and thin. I can trust him with my life and daily decisions.

Episode 140: Matthew Chapter 17

Episode  |  April 22nd, 2022  |  Season 2  |  5 mins 41 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, spiritual journey, spirituality

I try to put myself in the shoes of Peter in this story. I would be in shock to see Jesus in all of his glory, my chin would be on the ground like in a cartoon and I would have fallen over. I’m not sure that I could have spoken to get the words that Peter babbles out, but I know that I would have been stumbling and bumbling through that moment. I would have missed the point too until the resurrection, which would make everything click.
I am just pondering the sight of Jesus in all of his glory standing before me and as I close my eyes I can see him shining. I just want to soak it in and be reminded that Jesus is God with me and that he promised to be with me through thick and thin. I can trust him with my life and daily decisions.

Matthew Chapter 16

Article  |  April 21st, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, discipleship, personal growth, self care, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, spirituality

Who is Jesus? That is still the question that needs to be answered by followers of Jesus. This question is the heart of the 2 Minute Disciple Podcast, to discover who Jesus is so that we can follow him better. This podcast is for seasoned Jesus followers who desire to spend more time in the Gospels to get to know Jesus better. It is also for serious seekers desiring to discover who Jesus is for themselves and gain wisdom that will help them on their spiritual journey.
What is the answer to this sincere question, who is Jesus? He is the one that God had been promising that would come to rescue his people, usher in His kingdom and put things to rights. He is the one who heals the sick, raises the dead, casts out demons and sends out his followers to do the same. He is God in the flesh, not a distant God with his arms crossed waiting to zap us, but a God who walks among us as one of us. He has been the plan from the beginning and he is here. Do you believe it?

Episode 139: Matthew Chapter 16

Episode  |  April 21st, 2022  |  Season 2  |  5 mins 55 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, discipleship, personal growth, self care, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, spirituality

Who is Jesus? That is still the question that needs to be answered by followers of Jesus. This question is the heart of the 2 Minute Disciple Podcast, to discover who Jesus is so that we can follow him better. This podcast is for seasoned Jesus followers who desire to spend more time in the Gospels to get to know Jesus better. It is also for serious seekers desiring to discover who Jesus is for themselves and gain wisdom that will help them on their spiritual journey.
What is the answer to this sincere question, who is Jesus? He is the one that God had been promising that would come to rescue his people, usher in His kingdom and put things to rights. He is the one who heals the sick, raises the dead, casts out demons and sends out his followers to do the same. He is God in the flesh, not a distant God with his arms crossed waiting to zap us, but a God who walks among us as one of us. He has been the plan from the beginning and he is here. Do you believe it?

Matthew Chapter 15

Article  |  April 20th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, discipleship, personal development, self care, spiritual development, spirituality

In this chapter, I observed that persistence impresses Jesus. The Canaanite woman came to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter, but he first ignored her and she persisted asking the disciples and with Jesus until he healed her daughter. She would not take no for an answer and Jesus rewarded her persistence that was driven by her faith in Jesus. This makes me pause and consider my own prayers, am I persistent in asking or do I give up easily. If I’m honest with myself, I do give up too easily and back off when my prayers aren’t answered in as timely manner as I would like. My faith is not big enough at times and I’m not as persistent as I should be. This woman would probably be labeled a ‘Karen’ today and most of us don’t want to be perceived that way, so we back down easily in all areas of life. In my prayer life, I see that I need to risk being a Karen to grow my faith and see God work. That is a stretch for me, but if I am to become a better follower of Jesus, I need to stretch my faith muscles and be persistent in my prayers.
What did you observe in today’s reading?

Episode 138: Matthew Chapter 15

Episode  |  April 20th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 21 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, discipleship, personal development, self care, spiritual development, spirituality

In this chapter, I observed that persistence impresses Jesus. The Canaanite woman came to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter, but he first ignored her and she persisted asking the disciples and with Jesus until he healed her daughter. She would not take no for an answer and Jesus rewarded her persistence that was driven by her faith in Jesus. This makes me pause and consider my own prayers, am I persistent in asking or do I give up easily. If I’m honest with myself, I do give up too easily and back off when my prayers aren’t answered in as timely manner as I would like. My faith is not big enough at times and I’m not as persistent as I should be. This woman would probably be labeled a ‘Karen’ today and most of us don’t want to be perceived that way, so we back down easily in all areas of life. In my prayer life, I see that I need to risk being a Karen to grow my faith and see God work. That is a stretch for me, but if I am to become a better follower of Jesus, I need to stretch my faith muscles and be persistent in my prayers.
What did you observe in today’s reading?

Matthew Chapter 14

Article  |  April 19th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spirituality

My 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.

Episode 137: Matthew Chapter 14

Episode  |  April 19th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 45 secs

audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spirituality

My 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 | Jesus Follower
active listening, audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, spiritual journey, spirituality

What 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?

Episode 136: Matthew Chapter 13

Episode  |  April 18th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  8 mins 55 secs

active listening, audio bible, daily bible, daily devotion, spiritual journey, spirituality

What 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?

Episode 135: Interview With Sam Davis

Episode  |  April 16th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 55 secs

I invited my friend, Sam Davis to record a conversation about what he is learning from Jesus and how it is impacting his life. I have known Sam & his twin brother Dan since they were in 5th grade and I was their youth sponsor. I am honored to have invested in them over the years. Sam is missionary with Bridges International in San Diego, CA. His passion is for every college student to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and respond to it. Sam lives in San Diego, CA with his amazing wife, Gloria. They love to go on hikes, explore new food, and travel. Sam is a fellow podcaster, he is a host for the Bible Nerds Podcast. You can check out the links to the podcast and his website here.

Matthew Chapter 12

Article  |  April 15th, 2022
By Nick Oyler | Jesus Follower
audio bible, daily bible, daily devotional, leadership development, personal development, self care, spiritual journey, spirituality

Something 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?

Episode 134: Matthew Chapter 12

Episode  |  April 15th, 2022  |  Season 2  |  8 mins 38 secs

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

Something 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?