Sermons on Opportunities Wasted:

The Deceptive Power Of A Good Excuse

Contributed by Richard Tow on Jul 29, 2024

Excuses can rob us of God's best. They are an enemy of great faith and accomplishment. In this examination of Luke 14:15-24, we learn from Jesus's story about those who excused themselves from a great feast. Those people missed the opportunity of a lifetime.

Intro We take as our text today Luke 14:15-24. Follow with me as we read that passage. “Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, ‘Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! 16 Then He [Jesus] said to him, ‘A certain man gave a great ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-24, Matthew 22:1-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Philippians 4:13, Luke 6:1-11, Proverbs 26:13, John 4:1-29, John 3:16, Matthew 7:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Elevate To The Next Level: "Living Purposefully”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Aug 31, 2025

This week we are following up on two prior messages, “Living Intentionally,” and last week’s “Living Opportunistically,” where we looked at our need to seize the opportunities God places in our lives. Today we’ll look at living our lives according to God’s purpose.

Elevate to the Next Level “Living Purposefully” Ecclesiastes 1:2-15 Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dCXKQhB2Is This morning, we’re continuing in our series on elevating our discipleship, or better yet, elevating our lives as Christians to the next level. In our ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Matthew 6:20, Acts 13:36

Denomination: Foursquare

Triumph Over Temptation Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 26, 2021

Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, and not just in the 3 areas of which we have record here. The last verse of this record makes it clear that when it was done it was far from over. Satan just withdrew to lick his wounds and prepare for another assault at an opportune time.

Plato had a friend named Trachilus who had a very close call and almost lost his life in a storm at sea. The ship actually sank and he was thrown into the sea, but he managed to get to shore. When he reached his home he ordered his servants to wall up the two windows in his chamber ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

"Developing Longsuffering”

Contributed by Matt Kyzer on Apr 30, 2003

Correct me if I am wrong, but everyone wants to “Develop Joy” right? And not to many of us would pass on the opportunity to live a life of “Peace”, however it’s this fourth characteristic that many have trouble developing within their Christian characte

“Developing Longsuffering” Job1:1ff Introduction: I pray that everyone is getting something out of this series on “Developing Character”. I hope that we are not just warming a pew, listening to good music, and leaving here unchallenged. My desire is that each one of us would take seriously the ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23

Denomination: Baptist

An Open Door

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Jun 10, 2002

The apostle Paul would call this “An Open Door.” He refers to this thought in his first letter to the Corinthians. Today, we will be equipped in how to know a new opportunity or an open door when we see it and how to make a proper decision.

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: I remember applying to graduate school back in 1994. I submitted all of the necessary papers and finally received my acceptance letter. I was so excited that June day as I read my letter of acceptance. That letter meant so much to me that I kept it. [Read a portion ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:5-9

Michael, Row That Boat Ashore! Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Nov 10, 2003

We are engaged in spiritual warfare, not just minor disputes, and so must take on the enemy. God calls not only "Michaels", leaders, but also "ordinary angels". When we engage evil, we create the opportunity for salvation, wholeness, to be done. Victor

Imagine that it’s Sunday afternoon. You are on the turf at FedEx field. You have been assigned to play defense for the Deadskins ... er, I mean, the Redskins. Yes, you. You have been assigned to play defense; why not? Nobody else is doing it! Spurrier says to you, “When one of them gets the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Act As A Free Man

Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jul 2, 2009

Independence Day for us is when we came to Christ. Christ set us truly free. Some see this freedom as license; but true freedom has constraints. It’s not the right to do as we want but the opportunity to do what is right.

HOW TO ACT AS A FREEMAN 1 PETER 2:15-17 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Sleeping Church

Contributed by Tesh Njokanma on Apr 2, 2015

Divine opportunities pass us by when we are not watchful, when we are not alert. Wrong decisions are taken when we are not watchful, when we are not discerning. The church strays from her mission and God ordained purpose when we are not watchful.

Introduction During Jesus’ last days on earth something worthy of attention happened at the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:36 tells us that Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. Then He told them to sit down at a particular spot while He goes to pray. Jesus then ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Pentecostal

Why Should We Witness?

Contributed by Mark H. Stevens Thd on Mar 9, 2014

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person," (Col. 4:5-6).

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why should I witness?" Several reasons should come to mind. First, because Jesus commands you to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," (Matt. 28:19). Also, Ezek. 3:11 says, "and ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:5-6

Denomination: Pentecostal

"He's Still Waiting At The Well"

Contributed by Bill Burress on Nov 1, 2010

Just like the Samaritan woman we are given second chances through Jesus. Jesus knew the woman was going to be at Jacob's well and He waited on her so He could teach her and give her the opportunity to live a Godly life.

“He’s Still Waiting At The Well” Joke: There was football team who never won a game so one day before practice the coach decided to have a talk with them. He told them, "Men our ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Famous Last Words

Contributed by Bob Joyce on Jan 2, 2011

These last words of Moses are upbeat and positive. He's saying to them that just over the next ridge, just beyond life's next corner is a whole new existence ... a new land, a new life, a new opportunity. It would be what they chose it to be.

In Deuteronomy 30:11-20, we read of God's faithfulness and the wonderful condition of that faithfulness: READ These last words of Moses are upbeat and positive. He's saying to them that just over the next ridge, just beyond life's next corner is a whole new existence ... a new land, a new life, a ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Healing The Wounds Of Our Heart Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 27, 2006

We are continuing in our series this morning entitled HOLDING OUT HOPE IN A WOUNDED WORLD. A series allowing us to face the critical social issues in our common lives and to discover how the Spirit of God is imparting to us a great opportunity; an opport

We are continuing in our series this morning entitled HOLDING OUT HOPE IN A WOUNDED WORLD. A series allowing us to face the critical social issues in our common lives and to discover how the Spirit of God is imparting to us a great opportunity; an opportunity to rise above the temptations of either ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-24

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Taking The Test Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 13, 2012

What happens after you hear the words of Jesus? Is your life different? Today as we study Mark's gospel we see how the Lord gives the disciples an opportunity to test how much the words of Jesus became life in them.

When I was 15 I took a course at high school in how to drive a car. Drivers Education featured movies, texts, and lectures. At no time during this course did we set foot inside of an actual vehicle. Later, I took driver’s training where we tried out our skills behind the wheel. All this was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:21-41

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Forgive And Heal

Contributed by Steve Sheek on Dec 20, 2021

Tree of Life Messianic Congregation Houston. Joseph had an opportunity to punish his brothers for their treachery but instead forgave them. The result was a cohesive people group leaving Egypt 400 years later to become the nation of Israel. Forgiveness brings healing.

20211218 Parsha Vayechi – Forgive and Heal Notes Torah Portion Gen 50:15-21 Haftarah 1 Kings 2:1-7 Brit Chadashah Ephesians 4:26-32 The last reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayechi, which means "and he lived." The title comes from the first verse of the reading, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21, Ephesians 4:26-32

Denomination: *other

Secular Salvation Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 20, 2021

Secular salvation gets nobody into heaven, but it is often the stepping-stone on the way to eternal salvation. Every time we experience secular salvation we are given the opportunity to do for Christ what we could not do if we were not so spared

My father used to say that he had a piece of meat that was so tough it was like trying to eat shoe leather. I doubt that he ever knew that there was a time when Americans actually ate shoe leather. It was back in the year 1610 in the first English settlement called the Virginia Colony. The ...read more

Scripture: Acts 21:27-32