One Shot!

TEXT:  James 4:13-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.      JERRY WEST'S MIRACLE SHOT.

B.      IF I HAD ONE SHOT, WHAT WOULD I SAY?

          1.       I would talk about things that are most important.

          2.       I would prepare as best I could under the circumstance.

          3.       I would give it my best effort.

C.      I MIGHT JUST HAVE ONE SHOT!  I MUST TREAT THIS SERMON THUS.

D.      I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT IN SOME THINGS YOU JUST HAVE ONE

          SHOT.  YOU JUST HAVE ONE SHOT AT...

I.      A HAPPY YOUTH( Ecc. 11:9 ).

A.      FOLLOW WISDOM.

          1.       Our own wisdom is not enough( Jer. 17:9;  Prov. 28:26 ).

          1.       Of parents( Prov.3:1-2 ).

                   a.       Their responsibility( Eph. 6:4;  Deut. 4:9 ).

                   b.       Their motivation, Love and a Desire for the Best For You.

                   c.       Prov. 1:1-5;  Prov. 6:20-22;  Prov. 4:10-15;  Eph. 6:1-3.

          2.       Of God( Prov. 9:10;  Psa. 119:165 ).

                   a.       Judgment is sure ( Ecc. 12:13-14;  Job 13:26 ).  Consequence!

                   b.       Blessing in hearing God( Psa. 1:1-2;  2:12;  106:3;  119:1-6 ).

                   c.       In devotion( Psa. 84:1-5 )

                   d.       In building a good character( Matt. 5:3-10 ).

                   e.       In doing good( Psa. 41:1;  James 1:12 ).

                   f.        In seeking and finding forgiveness( Psa. 32:1-2 ).

B.      BE PATIENT( Lam. 3:25-27 )

C.      TRUE JOY AND PLEASURE( 1 Pet. 3:8-12;  Phil. 4:4-7 ).

II.     DEVELOPING GOOD HABITS AND CHARACTER.

A.      JESUS BEGAN EARLY( Luke 2:40-52 ).

B.      SO DID DAVID( Psa. 71:1, 5-6, 17-18 ).

C.      HABITS ARE STARTED IN YOUTH( Rom. 2:14;  Eph. 2:3;  Psa. 58:3 ).

D.      OLD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK( Heb. 3:12-13;  Jer. 13:23;  16:12).

E.      START EARLY( Prov. 4:23;  Phil. 4:8 ).

III.    BUILDING A GOOD NAME.

A.      THE WORTH OF A GOOD REPUTATION( Prov. 22:1;  Eccl. 7:1 ).

B.      THE BITTERNESS OF A BAD REPUTATION( 1 Tim. 4:12 ). People remember.

C.      Rom. 14:7.  THE EFFECT OF A REPUTATION.

          1.       For evil( Titus 2:6-8 ).

          2.       For good( 1 Pet. 2:11-12;  Matt. 5:16 ).

IV.   EDUCATION AND PREPARATION FOR WORK.

A.      YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY( Eph. 4:28 ).

          1.       For you and your family( 1 Tim. 5:8 ).

          2.       Nobody owes you anything( 2 Thess. 3:10 ).  Not even a chance.

B.      WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE?

          1.       Laziness has its reward( Prov. 6:6-11;  10:26;  13:4;  15:19;  19:15;  19:24; 

                   20:4;  21:25;  22:13;  24:30-32;  26:13-16 ).

          2.       Prepare and work diligently while you can( Ecc. 9:10 ).

          3.       There is the obvious reward( Prov 22:29 ).

          4.       The deeper significance( Col. 3:23;  Rom 12:11 ).

V.    CHOOSING A LIFE PARTNER.

A.      THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHOICE( Prov. 12:4 ).

B.      THE CLOSENESS OF MARRIAGE( Eph. 5:28-31 ).

C.      NO SECOND CHOICE, STARTING OVER( Matt. 5:31-32;  19:3-12 ).

          1.       A wrong choice is a lost chance( 1 Cor. 7:10-11 ).

          2.       Mal. 2:16.

VI.   JUDGMENT BEFORE GOD.

A.      WHAT IS GOING TO BE JUDGED?( 2 Cor. 5:10 ).

B.      NO SECOND CHANCE HERE EITHER( Luke 16:26 ).

C.      WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO DO THAT'S SO IMPORTANT?( Matt. 16:25-27 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      YOU HAVE ONE SHOT IN LIFE.

B.      NOT FAIR, MAYBE, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

C.      WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?