Sermons on Wasted Opportunities:

What Do You Crave? What Does God Crave? (James 4:1-10) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Jul 5, 2022

The verses make best sense through non-Western eyes, in a non-Western church. So talked about an African church plant. Also, on how/when to ask God for money.

Today's passage, James 4:1-10, was a real struggle for me at first. These verses, read as a whole, read as a response to a specific problem within the church, really don't make sense within the context of Western, white, evangelical Christianity. The way we tend to view the church, and ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

God Heals Naaman

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 23, 2020

The story of God healing Naaman is full of lessons, for example, about opportunity, courtesy, humility, and greed. But the key message must be the one Jesus drew from it. That is, that if we wish to see God's miracles, we must accept his word.

NAAMAN’S HEALING We’re continuing in our series ‘Bible Stories for Grown-Ups.’ Today we’re looking at one of the most famous stories in the Book of Kings. It’s the story of the healing of the Syrian general, Naaman. It’s a great story for Sunday School, because one of the key characters is a ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Three Crosses On A Hill: A Study In Evangelism

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Nov 6, 2022

When we preach about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins upon the cross, we forget that there were also two men crucified on crosses next to Him. Each man had the opportunity to look to Jesus for grace and mercy. Their response determined their eternal destiny.

The agony of the crucifixion and the final hours of Jesus are recorded in all four gospels, each written with their own unique perspective of what happened that dark day (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19). Each one tells of the jeering, mockery, contempt, and seething hatred towards the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 53:5-6, Luke 23:39-46, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 5:6-11, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 64:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Man's Extremities Are God's Opportunities To Show His Glory!

Contributed by Otis Mcmillan on Aug 3, 2021

Amid the many crisis of today, that are causing so much loss and pain, it is wonderful to know that God is still at work. Although, we cannot choose how the works of God, the method God will use to supply the help we need. The good news is that God is still in charge and will help.

Man’s extremities are God’s opportunities to show His Glory in this present world. Our study in John brings us to chapter 9, here we learn some lesson from a blind man. Jesus follows his familiar pattern of worshipping in the temple. Our Lord took great delight in visiting His father’s House. The ...read more

Scripture: John 9:1-38, Romans 8:28

Denomination: Methodist

Wine And Wisdom Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 15, 2014

To make the most of the time we have left and bring harmony to all your relationships, walk in wisdom, God's Will, and in the fullness of the Spirit.

In 1867, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel invented a new high explosive, which he named “dynamite.” He was convinced that his invention would make war too horrible to ever happen again. However, he quickly discovered there was no shortage of buyers for his new explosive. He made a huge ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-21

Denomination: Evangelical Free

My Days Are Limited

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Sep 19, 2011

We must not waste our time on things that don’t matter, but invest our time in eternal things.

My Days Are Limited September 18, 2011 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We must not waste our time on things that don’t matter, but invest our time in eternal things. Focus Passage: Ephesians 5:13-17 Supplemental Passage: So teach us to number our ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

"He Who Has An Ear, Let Him Hear What The Spirit Says To The Churches.” Part 2

Contributed by Pastor Sam Georgis on Jan 15, 2023

Some opportunities will not be presented for the second time in our lives, so is this opportunity when the lord speak to us might not be repeated again, so I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity

Revelations 3:6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I’m sorry ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:6

Denomination: Pentecostal

Joseph - The Dilemma Of Interruptions Series

Contributed by Pat Damiani on Jan 3, 2019

Interruptions are often opportunities in disguise

NOTE: This is a manuscript, and not a transcript of this message. The actual presentation of the message differed from the manuscript through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is possible, and even likely that there is material in this manuscript that was not included in the live ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Staying Power Series

Contributed by Bradley Boydston on Dec 8, 2001

Apostolic Christianity is opportunity driven.

Do verses 2-3 make sense to you? "But the Jews who spurned God’s message stirred up distrust among the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas, saying all sorts of evil things about them..." At which point--based on prior patterns in the book of Acts, you’d expect Luke to say, "So they were let over ...read more

Scripture: Acts 14:1-20

Denomination: *other

Elevate To The Next Level: "Living Opportunistically”

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Aug 17, 2025

Today’s message is about the choices we make concerning the opportunities God places before us that determine which road we’ll travel in this divine adventure God has called us to take. “Carpe Diem/Seize the Day.”

Elevate to the Next Level “Living Opportunistically” 1 Samuel 14:1-15 Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIthj1ZwwfE John Wycliffe lived 200 years before the Protestant Reformation, which ushered in a belief system that moved the church away from Roman Catholicism, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 14:1-15, Joshua 23:10

Denomination: Foursquare

Number Your Days

Contributed by Rick Boyne on May 10, 2017

Don’t waste your life pursuing pleasure; serve the Lord with all of your heart!

Number your Days May 7, 2017 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: Don’t waste your life pursuing pleasure; serve the Lord with all of your heart! Focus Passage: Psalm 90:7-12 Supplemental Passage: And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Passion Of Jesus: What And Why And Who Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 31, 2023

Don’t waste the week. Come into intimate contact with the God-man and His redemptive death.

Palm/Passion Sunday 2023 We have just proclaimed some of the longest, most intense Scriptures of our Christian year, informing us and all the world of the what and why and who of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ not quite two thousand years ago. These words invite long contemplation; the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-11, Isaiah 50:4-7

Denomination: Catholic

Clever Sharing Of The Good News

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 5, 2024

Looking at the story of the wasteful servant without trying to be too specific can be helpful to us today.

Friday of the 31st Week in Course 2024 Parables from Jesus struck the listeners as stories that might help them understand God’s kingdom. Often the real challenge is to look at the story as a whole, and ask what general lesson Jesus is trying to help us learn. The parable we just heard is one of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 122:1-5, Luke 16:1-8, Philippians 3:17-21

Denomination: Catholic

How Will You Be Remembered?

Contributed by The Rev Deniray Mueller on Feb 19, 2024

When you die, will you b e remembered for the good you did, or for the time wasted

Proverbs 22:1 Ben just came to town as a new rabbi. Unfortunately, his first official duty was to conduct a funeral service for Albert, a man who died in his eighties, with few relatives. Since Ben didn't know the deceased personally, he paused from his sermon to ask if anyone in the ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 22:1

Denomination: Episcopal

What Matters Most Sermon Ii: What Matters Least Relative To What Matters Most Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Aug 5, 2020

True meaning in life is found by mature Christians after they learn to waste no time on useless pursuits.

PLEASURE AND POSSESSIONS MATTER LEAST - RELATIVE TO WHAT MATTERS MOST Pleasure and Possessions Are Okay Per Se If Pursued Responsibly And Used Rightly Several years ago, while prepping me for a court appearance as a witness in a custody case, ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11