Sermons on Yaakov 4:13:

The Balance Between Planning And Trust

Contributed by Dasol Kang on Mar 9, 2025

We are called to plan for our lives with the Lord

I am a planner – I thrive on making plans and love setting short-term and long-term goals. I always map out plans for tomorrow the night before. It usually looks something like this: Tomorrow, I will do my morning devotions, have breakfast, go to church for office hours, and then go to my lunch ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When Your Plans And God’s Plans Don’t Match

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Oct 14, 2022

There are so many things that we do not know about each other, but then we learn.

For instance: • I have known for sometime that Keith played sports and he was very good at playing baseball. • I found out that Jenney was a cheer leader in junior high and high school. • I found out that Clyde was a pilot. • I found out that Carlos was a finish carpenter. • I found out that ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

Motives Are Weighed By The Lord Series

Contributed by Rudolf E. Y. Mensah on Dec 2, 2023

Cultivate a good motive anytime you pray. God's answer is primarily dependent on the motive behind what you are asking Him.

OASIS WORD DEVOTIONAL Verse Of The Day: We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. Proverbs 16:1 (NLT) Columnist: Rudolf E. Y. Mensah, ©Oasis WordBank Motives Are Weighed By The Lord Cultivate a good motive anytime you pray. God's answer is primarily dependent on ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 16:1, Matthew 10:19-20, James 4:13-14

Denomination: Charismatic

The Servant Heart Of Paul Series

Contributed by Christian Cheong on Dec 5, 2022

In his closing remarks, we see the heart of Paul. He meets the practical needs of the saints. he plans but submits to God's leading. He cares for those in ministry.

1 Cor 15:1-24 ESV CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE POOR – Paul Meets the Practical Needs of People 1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-24, James 2:14-17, James 4:13-16, Romans 15:25-27

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Hospice Patients Are Real People Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Nov 15, 2022

Identify 5 authenticities of hospice patients (Adapted from Percy McCray at: https://www.healthhopeandinspiration.com/2022/06/16/cancer-reveals-who-one-really-is-episode-319/)

Hohum: A relative asked me why I liked ministering to hospice patients (those with 6 months or less to live according to the medical profession), and I said that I liked ministering to hospice patients because they are real people, more real than other people. WBTU: Chaplain Percy McCray ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ephesians 4:25-28, James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, James 4:13-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Speaking & Boasting Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

Our words have the power to bring life or death. We must be mindful of how we use them, ensuring they reflect our faith and the love of Christ.

James kicks off by saying that teachers and preachers are gonna be judged more strictly because their words carry a lot of weight. Our words can make a huge difference, and if we can get a handle on what we say, we can control our whole selves. Imagine this: You're playing a video game, and you're ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-18, James 4:1-17

Topics: Communication, Verbal Influence, Speech Ethics, Language Power

Perspectives For The New Year (And For Every Year)

Contributed by David Owens on Jan 2, 2023

It is critical to have a godly view of time and life in order to live a life pleasing to God. As the new year begins, it is a good time to renew and refocus our minds in the Lord.

A. Happy New Year!! Welcome to 20-23! B. Let’s start with a little New Year’s humor: 1. What do cows say on Jan. 1? "Happy Moo Year!" 2. What was Dr. Frankenstein’s new year’s resolution? To make new friends. 3. What new year’s resolution should a basketball player never make? To ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Ephesians 5:15-16, John 9:4, Mark 13:32-33, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, 2 Peter 3:8-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Does Your Faith Show In Your Priorities?

Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Jul 30, 2024

Let's talk about our faith and the part it plays as we make plans, set our goals, and prioritize things in our life.

Today let's talk about our faith and the part it plays as we make plans, set our goals, and prioritize things in our life. We all make plans and there's nothing wrong with planning. In fact, the Bible has several proverbs that encourage us to make plans. But does your faith have a part in ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17, James 5:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Sermon On A Bridge Too Far

Contributed by William Meakin on Nov 2, 2025

"A bridge too far" is an idiom for an ambitious plan that is considered too demanding to succeed.

George Herbert, a British poet and orator once remarked: “He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.” Luke 14:28-30 reminds us: “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 19:2, James 4:13-15, Ecclesiastes 5:2-3, Mark 11:25

Inshallah… And Wait

Contributed by David Dunn on Oct 10, 2025

To say Inshallah is not to delay life but to dedicate it — to live surrendered to the will of God, waiting in faith and walking in obedience until His “Mashallah” comes.

Introduction – The Word That Waits I once heard a story about a missionary who had served for twenty years in Lahore, Pakistan. He had learned many things in those two decades — how to drink tea politely, how to haggle in the market, how to stay calm when the electricity cut out for the fifth time ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15, Proverbs 19:21, Psalm 27:14, Romans 8:28, Luke 22:42  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Boasting About Tomorrow PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 25, 2023

The main point of this sermon is to remind us to seek God's will and trust in His sovereignty, rather than boasting about our own plans for the future.

Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to be diving into a powerful passage from the book of James that teaches us some important lessons about the futility of boasting about tomorrow, the need to prepare for the future, and trusting in God's sovereignty. To kick things off, I want to ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Topics: Boasting, Tomorrow

The Most Dangerous Word In The Bible

Contributed by John Gaston on Mar 20, 2024

When asked, people thought the most dangerous word might be ‘hate,’ ‘hell,’ 'fear,' 'revenge,' or 'death.' But the answer is a word much more innocent looking; it's the word "TOMORROW!"

THE MOST DANGEROUS WORD IN THE BIBLE James 4:13-14 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: ONE-LINE QUIPS 1. What do you call a cow with a twitch? Beef Jerky. 2. Did you hear the rumor going around about butter? Never mind, I shouldn’t spread it. 3. I stayed up the whole night trying to figure out where ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-14

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Hubris Or Humility Series

Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Sep 16, 2024

There are so many factors that come into play when we make plans, but how often does the Sovereign will of God affect our plan making? In this passage, James challenges us to avoid hubris and embrace humility by submitting to God’s sovereignty in making plans.

Mistakes along the way? In February of 1995, nearly 30 years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a clear way that has impacted the course of my life - and yet it has not been without mistakes and missteps. He urged me to go to the church the Danielle grew up at and help out with the youth ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17, Acts 16:6-10, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 22:42-44, Luke 12:16-21, Proverbs 16:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Planning Wisely, Living Humbly

Contributed by Brian Williams on Jan 1, 2026

We plan responsibly, but we submit these plans to God willingly. When they change—when doors close, when timelines shift, instead of living in despair we can trust that God causes all things to work together for good.

How can we prepare our lives for the future when we don’t know what the future holds? Well we know that God has created life with rhythms we can normally count on. The world keeps spinning on its axis. The sun rises and sets. Gravity holds us to the earth. We breathe without thinking. Seasons come ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

If I Could Put Time In A Bottle

Contributed by David Dunn on Jan 5, 2026

Time is not random or meaningless; it unfolds under God’s sovereign care. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that life is lived in seasons, eternity is placed in the human heart, and meaning is found not in controlling time but in reverently offering it to God. What is given to Him is never wasted.

There are moments in life when time feels generous. Days seem long. Weeks stretch out ahead of us. The future feels wide and open, almost indulgent. And then there are other moments when time suddenly feels thin — compressed, hurried, and slippery. One season we are wondering how to fill the hours, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 90:12, Psalm 139:16, Matthew 6:34, James 4:13-15

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist