Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

Mark A. Copeland
throw away your time, if I do my own.” - Richard Cecil
2) “Unfaithfulness in the keeping of an appointment is an act of clear dishonesty. You
may as well borrow a person's money as his time.” - Horace Mann
2. Lack of punctuality is a lack of respect for others
a. E.g., our brethren whom we are to honor - Ro 12:10; Ph 2:3
b. Including our Lord, Who honors us with His presence - cf. Mt 18:20
c. Most would be unlikely to be late for an appointment with someone whom they want to
honor (e., the President, or a boss at work)
d. If we honor others better than ourselves, we will make it a point to be on time when
meeting with them
e. “Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a want of punctuality in our
engagements. I have known the breach of a promise to dine or sup to break up more
than one intimacy.” - William Hazlitt
3. Lack of punctuality is a violation of the Golden Rule
a. We are treat others as we would want to be treated - Mt 7:12
b. Are you not bothered when others are late in meeting you?
c. Suppose you were teaching a class, and half the class was consistently late?
1) How would that make you feel about your efforts?
2) Not only during class, but the time spent in preparation?
4. Lack of punctuality is a violation of the Greatest Commandment
a. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength - Mk 12:30
b. “...when we are late for these meetings to worship God or to learn of God, it may be
indicative God is not really as important as whatever causes us to be late, be it our
bodily rest, our meals, our recreation, our chores, etc. We are, of course, not saying
that all lateness for the appointed means would fall into this sin. But if we are habitually
late for the means, we must really examine our attitude towards the Lord. One who is
generally on time for other appointments but is usually late for worship or prayer is
probably experiencing severe backsliding. One who is generally late for all appointments
is probably also suffering some form of tardiness in the soul. No one who genuinely
loves Christ can be late for an appointment with Him without feeling shame and
embarrassment.” - Pilgrim Covenant Church web site
B. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES...
1. What others have said in this regard
a. “Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.” - Niccolo
Machiavelli
b. “The best-laid plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes of individuals, the weal of
nations, honor, life itself, are daily sacrificed because somebody is ‘behind time.’ There
are men who always fail in whatever they undertake simply because they are ‘behind
time.’ There are others who put off reformation year by year, till death seizes them; and
they perish unrepentant, because for ever ‘behind time.’ Five minutes in a crisis is worth
years. It is but a little period, yet it has often saved a fortune or redeemed a people. If
there is one virtue that should be cultivated more than another by him who would
succeed in life, it is punctuality; if there is one error that should be avoided, it is being
‘behind time.’” - Freeman Hunt
2. Think of the missed opportunities when we are late to services of the church
a. The opportunity to visit with brethren and visitors (more on this below)
b. The opportunity to be of service should there be a last minute need
c. The opportunity to hear some point, some truth, that was presented prior to arriving late
Topical Sermons 363