The Church Bone Yard: Or: Bony Christians

THE CHURCH BONE YARD

OR: BONY CHRISTIANS

TEXT: Ezekiel 37:1-10

INTRODUCTION: This is talking about Israel. Explain.

But what if we applied this to the church today? What if this was the church bone yard? What kind of bony Christians would we have in our churches today?

Let’s look at some of today’s bony Christians.

I. THE TAILBONE CHRISTIAN

This is the Christian that sits and does nothing for the Lord. He sits and lets someone else do the work that he should be doing for the Lord.

See God has a job for you to do. God didn’t save you to sit around and do nothing, otherwise He would have called you home the moment He saved you.

It is said that 10% of the people in our churches do all of the work. That’s not right! That shouldn’t be! We are ALL supposed to be busy in the work of the Lord.

Prov 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

We are wasting the precious time God has given us by being slothful (slackers) and sitting on out tailbones while the world goes to hell!

Visitation, Sunday School Teachers, people to clean the church, Nursery Workers, groundkeepers, handymen, kitchen workers, et cetera.

THERE IS NO JOB TOO BIG, THERE IS NO JOB TOO SMALL, IT IS ALL IMPORTANT TO THE FURTHERING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!

AND EVERYONE CAN DO SOMETHING!

We must work because Jesus could come back at any time!

John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

God will reward His workers.

Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

It’s not in vain to work for the Lord, now or in the life to come.

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

It is time Christians get off their tailbones and get busy!

II. THE FINGERBONE CHRISTIAN

This is a Christian who points his finger to blame someone else. This started all the way back in the Garden.

Look at Gen. 3:8-14

Adam and Eve have sinned and God now comes to confront them and look what happens.

Read Gen. 3:8-14

Adam blamed the woman AND God, Eve blamed the serpent, and the serpent ended up not having a finger to point.

And we’ve been playing the blame game ever since!

A.A. teaches that it’s not your fault that you are an alcoholic, it’s you parents fault! They gave you this mysterious gene and you couldn’t help yourself. It’s not your fault it’s a disease.

That’s as ridiculous as going into a store and asking for a six-pack of cancer. You don’t wake up one morning and say, “Oh my! I’m an alcoholic, I have got to have a drink!”

Someone asks, “Well then why do children of alcoholics tend to become one themselves?

What about environment?

The thing that has been passed on to us from our parents is the sinful nature. And we can choose! You can choose to never take a drop of alcohol into your body!

Our society has taken personal responsibility out of everything and sometimes Christians fall into the same mindset.

Working with the youth over the years I have seen teens who’s parents let them do certain things that the Bible teaches are wrong. Like watch movies that Christians should not watch. Yet they think because mom and dad say it’s all right, they won’t have to answer to God for their actions!

I’ve got news for them: 2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

ALL! EVERYONE! You personally. For our service not our sins.

When we stand before Him, there will be no real finger pointing. We will know that it was our responsibility.

And just remember, when you point a finger at someone, you have three pointing back at you!

III. THE JAWBONE CHRISTIAN

I’ll let the Bible explain this one. Look at I Tim. 5:13 Those that have the old jawbone going all the time speaking things they ought not to.