Sermons on Wasting Potential:

What Does The Book Of James Say About Rich People?

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on May 8, 2024

Why does James not like rich people? The culture tells us why. Wealth is not a problem today. It is how wealth is obtained and used that is the potential problem.

What does the book of James say about rich people? James 2:1-7 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine ...read more

Scripture: James 2:1-7

Denomination: United Methodist

God Blesses Isaac (Genesis 26)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 4, 2024

We all face potential family problems. The patriarchs were no exception. Let's look at Isaac's family in Genesis 26.

The patriarchs had all the normal family problems that most of us experience. It seems there is always trouble in the human sphere, someone we don’t get along with, someone who brings trouble of some kind. Yet, in the midst of troubles there is faith. Is there also faith in us? Let’s look at ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Parable Of The Prodigal Father: A Parable Of Extravagant Love Series

Contributed by Joey Nelson on Apr 21, 2002

“Prodigal” means extravagant, lavish, unrestrained, and even to the point of being what some would consider being wasteful. Watch the father in this story. It was the father who threw himself into the prodigal land of extravagance and unrestrained love fo

INTRODUCTION Opening Statement: In Luke 15, Luke gives a series of three parables in response to the criticism of the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus received unbelieving people and even ate with them. Evidently, His love and vulnerability attracted lost people from all classes and lifestyles. He ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Hands Open Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Sep 21, 2008

Hands open may be a handshake or a salute, signalling friendship or respect. Just as those gestures affirmed Saul, we also must approach others by leading them to safety and by affirming their potential.

f I come toward you with an open hand, what does that mean? If I approach you from across the room with either one hand or both hands open, how would you interpret that? Well, of course, it would mean different things for different kinds of open hands. There is more than one way to be ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Deserving Poor? (Matthew 15:10-28)

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 7, 2007

Why waste time with negative pepole who are never going to make much progress? Because we follow a shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine grazing to pursue one lost sheep....

‘And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from the region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”’ (Matthew 15:21-22) One of the most formative experiences in my ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-28

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Heartbreak Of Disappointment Series

Contributed by Stephen Colaw on Nov 29, 2005

Part 1 of 3 part series. God will never waste a hurt. He uses the broken heart of disappointment to make us more like Christ and to minister to our world through us

The Heartbreak of Disappointment Scripture: I Corinthians 6:19 Exodus 2 & 3 Theme: Sometimes God allows us to be disappointed so that he can shape us and prepare us for the tasks to which he has called us. Seed: Devotional by Oswald Chambers Purpose: To help the congregation realize that ...read more

Denomination: Wesleyan

Are You A Sower Of Discord

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Oct 28, 2020

God has called us to unity, but too many thinking they are sowing in His fields are actually tearing up the field causing malnutrition in the Body because there is no fruitful harvest only wasted seed.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 6:16-19, Romans 15:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Twenty Four Hours To Live

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 12, 2018

Suppose you knew that you would face your God sometime tonight. What would you spend your day doing? We would not waste one second of that precious time.

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Course 2018 Twenty four hours to Live Let me invite you all to do what we in science call a “thought experiment” for a while. Suppose, through a vision or a medical diagnosis you attained a 99% certainty that you will not wake up tomorrow morning. Suppose you knew that you ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30

Denomination: Catholic

'tis The Season To Be Extravagant Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 4, 2015

There is much excess and waste in the church especially in the west. It is time for us to be excessive in worship, forgiveness, caring for others, self-control, stewardship and thankfulness. Learn the difference between sinful excess and righteous exces

Intro: A woman bought an extravagant dress, and the husband asked why did it have to be so expensive, She said the devil made me buy it, The husband asked, why didn’t you say get behind me Satan?, The woman said, I did and he said it looked as good in the front as it did in the back, so I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Get On God's Team Here Is My Time

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Nov 7, 2020

This sermon deals with the importance of giving our time to God. We never know how much time we have to serve God. We are either investing, wasting, or sharing our time.

Get On The Team It Takes Teamwork To Make The Dream Work Here’s My Time 11/8/2020 Psalm 90:1-12 Mark 3:13-19 We are in part 2 of our series “Get On The Team-It Takes Teamwork To Make The Dream Work. Last week Pastor Toby emphasized that if we are on God’s team, we are to offer our services ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12, Mark 3:13-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Prone To Wander Series

Contributed by Brad Beaman on Oct 17, 2022

We don’t need to go through life in meaningless wandering. God has a purpose intended for you. There is no need of the tragedy of wasted years once you begin your journey with Christ.

The Hymn Come Thou Font of Every Blessing was written by Robert Robinson. In 1752 when he was seventeen years old, he went to hear George Whitefield preaching. He went drunk to the meeting planning to make fun of the preaching. That day Whitefield preached on the wrath to come. The sermon made an ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 33:19-49

Denomination: Baptist

The Sign Of Jonah (Matthew 12:38-42)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Apr 6, 2025

The Pharisees kept clamoring for a sign that Jesus was the Promised Messiah. Jesus in turn saw this request as a waste of time and effort. Nothing He would do or say would ever make them believe.

Beginning in Matthew 12:38-42, we read that the Pharisees won’t leave Jesus alone. Now they wanted to see a “sign from heaven” that would provide visual evidence of His Divinity. Consider what has happened so far in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. These same religious leaders had seen the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:1, Matthew 24:3, John 4:48, 1 Corinthians 1:22

Denomination: Baptist

Unwritten Contracts Series

Contributed by David Mcclain on Jul 22, 2018

There is a potentially destructive tension when our expectations of our spouse do not match our reality. We reduce the tension when we create more realistic expectations and identify and agree

OPENING SENTENCE: There is a popular commercial series from that has a character named “Captain Obvious.” INTRODUCTION: One of the common themes of the commercials is that the internet pictures and information on the hotel you booked does not always match up to what you really get. I can ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Hope Renewed Series

Contributed by Josh Foster on Feb 20, 2014

Hope rests upon the heart of God. Hope tells us the desire of God. Hope has the potential to transform our most significant relationships into reflections of the covenant we have with Him!

Covenant Connections: A Covenant of Old ~ A Hope Renewed Scripture Text: Hosea 1.2 – 2.1 INTRODUCTION If you are not familiar with Hosea ~ …his life and the message that God told him to announce ~ …if you don’t know that-much about Hosea, …then the story may be a ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

The Greatest That Is In You

Contributed by Ronald Fair on Feb 7, 2001

Like the potential in a seed so is the undeveloped greatness in you, Rev. Fair’s sermon speaks of the possibility that each of us have with God’s love and guidance.

THE GREATEST THAT IS IN YOU Matthew 20:17-34 INTRODUCTION I hold in my hand one of the most marvelous things in the whole world. It is brown in color, stream lined in shape, and so small that if I dropped it, I would have difficulty finding it again. Science can duplicate it’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1, Matthew 20:17-34

Denomination: Methodist