Company LOGO To 160 th Ave Church of Christ

Michael Jordan Bill Russell Wilt Chamberlain Jerry West Clyde Drexler Larry Bird

Earl Manigault Eddy Curry Michael Ray Richardson Chris Washburn Keon clark

Wasted Potential

Earl “The Goat” Manigault

Addiction So many begin so bright with so much potential – Growing up in Christian homes – Knowing the truth from a young age – Some come to Christ with different backgrounds that can be able to relate – have unbelievable God-given abilities Many who have so much to offer fall into addictions (to sin) – Many give up the father’s house for prodigal living (Luke 15) – Most lost sons don’t come home. – Hearts get hardened (Eph. 4:18), consciences get seared (1 Tim. 4:2), minds are blinded (2 Cor. 4:4)

“Uncoachable”: Unwilling to Heed Counsel Players that think they know everything Won’t listen to the coaches or teammates Bad attitudes “You can’t teach someone who is unwilling to learn.”

“Uncoachable”: Unwilling to Heed Counsel Biblical examples that could have done so much had they listened! – Reheboam (1 Kings 12:6-8) – Zedekiah (Jeremiah 38:17-18) So many today have great opportunity, great advice, great counsel, and yet they waste their potential to do what they want to do. – They don’t like to be told what to do/that they are wrong. – They “know better”

No Work Ethic: Lazy!!! Don’t want to practice, Don’t care to train. Some think their talents and abilities will carry them on forever.

No Work Ethic: Lazy!!! Some have incredible ability – Some have incredible abilities (sing, teach, etc) – Some have incredible opportunity (good health and an open schedule) But they don’t want to commit spiritually – Don’t want to work/be active – Think it is too hard and are unwilling to commit (Matt. 19:16-26) – Some think having become a Christian and/or sitting in a pew is enough

Some Have Zero Potential But Use Everything They’ve Got

You can all the heart in the world and accomplish nothing in the field of sports. – You may have no potential to waste in the sporting world. Spiritually, we ALL have INCREDIBLE potential! If you are all heart and effort and desire in the spiritual world, you will accomplish everything! WILL WE USE IT OR WILL WE WASTE IT?