5minutes of courage with Maggi Arndt: Recent Episodes
Maggi Arndt
Everyone has 5 minutes to spare right? What if in 5 minutes I could share something with you that could change your life? This podcast focuses on God's Word, the bible, and how much He loves you. My goal is to show you throughout scripture how loved and valued you are by the God of the universe. Just 5 minutes is all you need to be filled with hope, joy, purpose, and yes- courage.
Season 2 Episode 80
There are certain men (and women) who are going to teach lies and present them as truth. We must keep our eyes open and be ready to arm ourselves with truth. Jude warns us that we may be mocked for our faith, but to stand firm.
Season 2 Episode 79
Certain men (or women) are going to try and lead you astray. Why? The enemy- Satan- is alive and well. He will convince you that it's all about you. Do what you want, Do what feels good. Choose your own truth. Jude warns us against this behavior.
Season 2 Episode 78
The other brother of Jesus. And he's here with a powerful message- one that's hard to deliver, and possibly harder still to hear. Beware- there are false teachers who have wormed their way into our churches.
Season 2 Episode 77
We did it! James concludes his letter reminding his readers of the power of prayer. There is power in the name of Jesus and our prayers are a direct line to the Almighty. Pray for yourself, pray for others. Pray to stop the rain , and then start it again (see Elijah). Never stop praying.
Season 2 Episode 76
A lesson in patience and endurance or a lesson in farming? Maybe both. James uses the analogy of farming and growing crops to believers waiting for the return of Jesus. There's not a lot we can do to speed things up. We must wait, not complaining. Everyone's got problems. Everyone suffers. How you deal with it, in the waiting, is up to you.
Season 2 Episode 75
What makes you rich? Is it all monetary? And if you are rich, what are your odds of getting into the kingdom of heaven? Does God actually dislike rich people?
Season 2 Episode 74
It's very easy to speak evil over others, while assuming the rules don't apply to you. Only God can be the judge of others. Not you. Nothing is certain in life. It would be a mistake to make plans for your life without first asking God's will.
Season 2 Episode 73
Submit. Submit? Seriously?? But I'VE got this. I can do this. Don't submit to anything of this world. Submit ONLY to God. Only by doing so can you humble yourselves for the Lord. In return He will lavish you with His grace.
Season 2 Episode 72
An enemy of God? Whoa! That seems extreme. But I love so much about the world. James is making a distinction between loving things that are temporary, and loving God first and foremost.
Season 2 Episode 71
Have you ever met a "one upper"? They always do things better; they're smarter, funnier, just all around more awesome than you. How do you feel about them? Probably not too good. What about you? Are you jealous of people who have more than you? Do you have bitter feelings in your heart? James would tell you to call upon the peace and wisdom of God. Those negative feelings aren't from God. We can do better.
Season 2 Episode 70
No one can tame the tongue. Even if you have the will power to cut off your own leg (to save your life) you may still have trouble filtering the words that come out of your mouth.
Season 2 Episode 69
Have you ever taken a spiritual gift finder? Do you know where best to use your gifts? If you're curious, check out www.hosannalc.org and take the survey linked. I found it I'm exactly where I should be- teaching, preaching and ministry. However, know that God holds teachers of His word to a higher standard. Be careful what you're putting out there.
Season 2 Episode 68
Faith without works is dead, but good works DO NOT affect your salvation. We are saved by grace alone. Period. There is literally nothing you can do or not do to to EARN your eternal salvation. Jesus paid it all. ALL. Rest in the grace knowing that your sins are forgiven. Hallelujah!
Season 2 Episode 76
A lesson in patience and endurance or a lesson in farming? Maybe both. James uses the analogy of farming and growing crops to believers waiting for the return of Jesus. There's not a lot we can do to speed things up. We must wait, not complaining. Everyone's got problems. Everyone suffers. How you deal with it, in the waiting, is up to you.
Season 2 Episode 67
Follow the Royal Law. It's Royal, because it came from the King- Jesus. Loving the rich man is great, but you don't get to choose not to love the poor man too. The Royal Law states that we are to love everyone. No picking and choosing. God isn't your personal consultant. He is LORD.
Season 2 Episode 66
Partiality and discrimination even in the family of God. Ever tried to make yourself look better than you actually are? Do you gravitate toward those who can do something for you? James warns against that. That is NEVER going to be what Jesus calls us to do.
Oops- I misspoke. There's no book of Solomon in the Old Testament. I meant Samuel 🙈
Season 2 Episode 65
Talk less. Smile more. Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and definitely be slow to get angry. The "religious" are judged for their actions and reactions. If you talk the talk but don't walk the walk, you are a hypocrite.
Season 2 Episode 64
When you have trouble, and you WILL- know that your trials weren't given to you by God. But, trials can present an opportunity for faith refinement and joy. Joy? Yep, good can come from the things that try us. And when it's too much for us, we are to reach out to God.
Season 2 Episode 62
I hadn't seen my mom or dad in 15 months. It's been a LONG year for everyone. Here's my dad's story from this past year, and how his faith kept him grounded.
Season 2 Episode 61
We are invited to have breakfast on the beach with Jesus- forever. We have been given the gift of salvation. It's a free gift, but it will cost you everything. Are you willing to follow Jesus?
Side note: JESUS is perfect- Peter was not. I misspoke....
Season 2 Episode 60
Come and have some breakfast! Jesus didn't need the fish that the apostles caught to feed them breakfast. He already had it covered. Jesus needs NOTHING from us. All we need to do is approach Him with open hands. He has already paid it all.
Season 2 Episode 59
When you don't know what to do, you go back to what you've done. Peter was a fisherman, so he went back to his boat. 6 other disciples went with him. When all of a sudden, Jesus is standing on the shore.
Season 2 Episode 58
The door is shut and locked. The disciples are afraid and hiding, and Jesus appears! "Peace be with you." Jesus endows them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one is missing- Thomas. 8 full days later Thomas finally gets his own encounter with the resurrected Jesus. But "Blessed aware those who believe without seeing."
Season 2 Episode 57
Mary Magdalene was beside herself. Her Lord was missing. Jesus greets her by name. He chooses Mary Magdalene to be the very first witness to His resurrection. In a time when women couldn't be trusted in a court of law, Jesus chooses her. Now go and tell my brothers.
Season 2 episode 56
He is not here! The tomb is empty! Mary Magdalene was the first to make the discovery. John and Peter were next. The linen cloths were still there, but no Jesus.
Season 2 Episode 54
I thirst. Jesus was given sour wine to clear His throat. He had something to say. "It is finished" isn't Jesus giving up. It's a victory cry! The price has been paid. Jesus was taken down off the cross by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. They were very wealthy, closeted followers of Jesus and wanted to show their loyalty to the slain Son of God.
Season 2 Episode 53
Jesus carries his own cross to the place of the Skull. Crucifixion might just be the most gruesome way one can die. It was reserved for the lowest of the low. Our Savior willingly submitted himself to this indignity, for our sins.
Season 2 Episode 52
Old Testament prophecy fulfilled. Jesus is scourged, stripped, slapped, spat upon, and humiliated. Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. He knew executing Him was wrong. However, Pilate wasn't strong enough to stand up to the crowd. It was easier to deny what he knew to be true. Jesus actually IS the son of God.
Season 2 Episode 51
Meet one of the voices from our podcast intro- Abby. She's not actually my daughter, but she's a favorite bonus kid. Join me for my conversation with Abby on what has brought her courageous this year.
Season 2 Episode 50
Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate. Honestly, Pilate isn't quite sure what to do with Him. "Are you the King of the Jews?" Who really IS Jesus? Is He a King? Is He YOUR King?
Season 2 Episode 49
Jesus is taken to Annas. Peter denies Jesus more and more aggressively. Then, just as predicted, the rooster crows.
Season 2 Episode 48
After stepping over the Kidron Brook, Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there that Judas brings a contingent of Roman soldiers to arrest Him. No need. Jesus hands Himself over willingly. Peter tries to come to the rescue by cutting off Malchus' ear.
Season 2 Episode47
Jesus' parting words to His disciples. Jesus prayers for Himself, His disciples and for the entire world. We must not allow anyone or anything to divide us.
Season 2 Episode 46
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you. Jesus explains the gift of the Holy Spirit a few more ways. There will be a new way to pray. You WILL face troubles, but don't let it destroy your faith. Trust me, you life will be better off with the gift of the Comforter.
Season 2 Episode 45
Being a Christ follower is tough. The world hated Jesus. Following Him carries with it the threat of hatred for us. But- the paraklete.
Season 2 Episode 44
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. Even my crabby neighbor? Who exactly does this apply to?
Season 2 Episode 43
I am the vine, you are the branches. Some things about our lives are like dead wood. They are decayed and are incapable of producing any good fruit. Our job is to identify what that is, and prune it out.
Season 2 Episode 42
Jesus is leaving us with a gift; the comforter, the advocate, the helper, the Holy Spirit. But as with all gifts, you don't have to accept it. The world will not want nor accept this gift. Will you?
Season 2 Episode 41
Anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. Jesus promises His disciples that they will do great things. In fact, they can ask for anything in His name, and He will do it. And because they/we love Him, keep His commandments.
Season 2 Episode 40
TRUTH BOMB. Spoiler- Jesus is the way; Jesus is the truth; Jesus is the life. If you believe this and follow Jesus, there is no other option. And Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for you.
Season 2 Episode 39
Glorified, glorified, glorified, glorify, glorify- that's how Jesus describes the cross. Not humiliation. Not pain. NOT defeat. And He leave the disciples with a new command: love one another. Oh and Peter, you're not as loyal of a friend as you think.
Season 2 Episode 38
After eating bread with Jesus, Judas turns against Him. Big betrayal coming. John self identifies as the beloved. Peter misses the whole thing.
Season 2 Episode 37
Jesus' time has come. His earthly ministry is over. Yet, He takes the time to share a meal and a beautiful act of servitude and love. He washes His disciples' feet.
Season 2 Episode 36
Isaiah 6 foretells that Jesus will be denied by His own people. Jesus didn't come to the world to condemn the world. He came to save. This is His last teaching to the public before He is arrested and tried.
Season 2 Episode 35
Hosanna, hosanna! The King is here to save us! Wave your palm branches!
Season 2 Episode 34
Even though Jesus knows He's staring down the roughest week of His life, He puts on His smile and goes to dinner at Simon the leper's house. Martha brings out her finest china. Mary anoints Jesus' feet with the finest oil. Judas has to make it awkward. Have a Judas in your life? I think we all might.
Season 2 Episode 33
They saw it with their own eyes, and yet they aren't willing to embrace Jesus as Messiah. There were two camps who saw Lazarus raised from the dead; the ones who saw and believed and the ones who saw and feared. At this point, the pharisees aren't necessarily denying that Jesus is the Son of God, but they fear what Rome may do if they get wind of this enormous news. So, they plot to kill Him. Get rid of the evidence.
Season 2 Episode 32
Jesus is too late. Or is He? Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. Martha said he stinketh. Mary weeps and wails and tells Jesus 'if only He had been here...' Jesus sees their grief. He shares their pain. And then- He commands Lazarus to come out of that grave!
Season 2 Episode 31
One of Jesus' best friends, Lazarus, gets sick and dies. Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha send word to the Lord to come quickly, but He tarries for another 2 days. Why? Does He not care, or is there a much more important reason?
Season 2 Episode 30
Jesus is under hostile of ambush. The Jewish leaders blame Him for their own unbelief. Yet He has told them in 16 different ways who He really is. They want to stone Him. How many times in our own ways do we doubt Jesus and even pick up our stones?
Season 2 Episode 29
Jesus foreshadows His own death for His sheep. Not just the Jews, the Gentiles as well. We are all on in His flock. Do you claim that? Can you own being a follower of Jesus all the time?
Season 2 Episode 28
The parable of Jesus as the shepherd and we as His sheep. Do we know His voice? He is the gate. All who come through Him will be saved.
Season 2 Episode 27
Turns out getting excommunicated was a blessing in disguise. If you are blind, you aren't guilty. But if you think you can see, but live in sin, you'd be better off being blind. Maybe blindness is also a blessing in disguise. Can Jesus use your "blindness" to help you actually see Him? Will you allow it?
Season 2 Episode 26
The reward for being healed from blindness.... get hauled before the Pharisees! Was he ACTUALLY blind from birth? Where are his parents? This miracle happened on the Sabbath. We're going to cry foul!
Season 2 Episode 25
Physical and metaphorical blindness. Jesus healed a man who didn't even ask for healing. But is healing a man using dirt and spit offensive? Depends on your perspective. These days we can be offended by anything, can't we? For me, I'll take the sight. The grace.
Season 2 Episode 23
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Aren't we already free? Nope. Jesus says anyone who sins (all of us) is a slave to sin. The only thing that sets us free.....truth. Truth is not relative. Truth is absolute.
Season 2 Episode 23
Is the 'woman caught in adultery' in the right place? Did John even write it? Can we trust the bible? God's story was written down by people- but YES we can trust it to be His word. Jesus is the Light of the World. Are your eyes on Him, or are you checking how many "likes" you have on Facebook? If we follow the SON we will always walk in the LIGHT.
Season 2 Episode 22
The woman caught in adultery- the pericope adulterae. While looking to trap Jesus, the scribes and pharisees bring a woman caught in the midst of adultery out into the square. What will Jesus do? Stone her in accordance with Mosaic law? Let her go and upset the righteous Jews? What will Jesus do?
Season 2 Episode 21
Day 8 of the festival. Jesus saves His best material for the most somber day of the feast. Jesus invites EVERYONE to come and drink of the living water. The only prerequisite- you have to be thirsty. That's it. You can have Jesus, you just have to want Him. Some believe, some still hate and want Him dead. Our old buddy Nicodemus tries to help, but he is pushed aside as just another dummy from Galilee.
Season 2 Episode 20
The good people of Jerusalem are perplexed. This Jesus guy seems to know a lot. He does pretty amazing things. The problem is, we know where He came from. Isn't the Messiah supposed to just 'appear'? Would an 'actual' Messiah do better miracles? Who gets a miracle anyway?
Season 2 Episode 19
Being heckled by siblings- yep, it even happened to Jesus. They wanted Him to show His greatness in Judea, and possibly gain positive popularity. Jesus knew people wanted to kill him. When He arrives, the people are murmuring. He teaches from the temple and again speaks from the Law of Moses.
Season 1 Episode 149
Lamentations 3:23 2 Timothy 2:13 Matthew 25:23
Great is thy faithfulness
Season 2 Episode 18
Jesus isn't here to makes friends. Are you offended? You can't handle the truth? Are you going to leave? Some do.
The story continues in Capernaum. The people wanted more miracles and more food. Instead of actual bread, Jesus offers them the Bread of Life. Murmuring happens. Who does Jesus think He is?
Season 2 Episode 16
It's Passover which means the people are out in mass. Jesus teaches them until all of a sudden it's dinnertime. Grain fit for farm animals and 2 appetizer sized smoked fish? Houston, we have a problem. Or do we? Check out the title- Jesus FED the 5000 AND there were leftovers! Do we trust Jesus to do great things with the small amount that we bring Him?
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Be well,
Maggi
Season 2 Episode 15
Can I get a witness here? How about John the Baptist. Maybe the paralyzed guy with the mat. Or even better, Moses. If you believe any of them, you can believe in Jesus.
Season 2 Episode 14
The problem isn't that the man is healed, the problem is that it happened on the Sabbath (gasp!) Oh dear..... This makes the Jewish leaders angry.
Season 2 Episode 13
The lame man in Bethesda is healed by Jesus. Was it the water that healed him or the power of Jesus? Sometimes it's not the conduit that does the healing, but the Lord Himself.
Season 2 Episode 12
If you believe, you will receive. Jesus CAN perform signs and wonders, but even if He doesn't, you can still believe Him to answer you. You don't need to be anyone important, you simply must have faith.
Season 2 Episode 11
Living water doesn't just mean bubbly water from an artesian well. Jesus IS the living water. He offers it freely to ALL. He knows us. We can't hide anything from him, and yet we are still invited to partake of the water that will change everything.
Season 2 Episode 10
John 4 The Woman at the Well.
In an attempt to avoid the pharisees in Jerusalem, Jesus heads to Galilee by way of Samaria. Seems like an odd choice- Samaria. There he meets a woman at the well and changes her life forever.
January 21, 2021 Season 2 Episode 9
John the Baptist and Jesus were on opposite sides of the river. People started leaving John to go be with Jesus. John's disciples were confused and angry. What follows is John's understanding of his place in the work of the Kingdom. More of Him, less of me.
January 20, 2021 Season 2 Episode 8
John 3:16 "For God so love the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son; that whoever believes should not perish, but have everlasting life." Got this one memorized? It's kind of the Christian rally cry. Let me break it down for you. What does this verse really mean?
January 19, 2021 Season 2 Episode 7
Nicodemus, the well educated pharisee has some questions for Jesus. But, he comes to Him under the cover of darkness. Jesus drops the truth bomb that Nicodemus must be 'born again' in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. What in the world does THAT mean?
January 14, 2021 Season 2 Episode 6
Signs and wonders. Turning over tables. Fan or follower? And yep, Jesus can read your mind. Wrapping up the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of John.
January 13, 2021 Season 2 Episode 5
During the Jewish Passover, Jesus visits the temple in Jerusalem. What He finds there makes Him angry. Money changers gouging people looking to buy sacrifices. Jesus' "passion for His father's house consumes Him" referencing Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 69:9. Righteous indignation is born.
January 12, 2021 Season 2 Episode 4
(This was pre-recorded on May 15, 2020 during the COVID 19 quarantine)
Correction- Jesus was 30 at the wedding, not 33
Jesus and his mother Mary are guests at a wedding. The wine runs out- gasp! Mary asks Jesus to do something. The following story is what ensues. There's much here than meets the eye.
Day 3- Jesus creates a posse. He begins to assemble what becomes His 12 disciples; the 12 men who travel with Him for the next 3 years during His ministry.
Jesus says to Philip- 'Come follow me'. Those words apply to us over 2000 years later. Are you willing?
Introducing- John the Baptist. This reclusive, locust eating, cousin of Jesus actually played a really important role in the introduction of the Messiah to the world. It was in baptizing Jesus that John knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the promised Savior. God had told him 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit' v 33.
5minutes of courage in podcast version! Welcome to the Gospel of John. After 156 episodes all over the bible during the 2020 pandemic quarantine, we are now going to focus more specifically on particular books. There is no better book to choose than John. One of the four gospels, written by the 'beloved disciple' John, this book will give us an insider's view of what it was like to walk with Jesus. Join me for an adventure of miracles as we dive deeply into John.