HORSESHOE RELIGION
. Jas. 2:10; Acts3:19-26.

INTRO:

1. The Bible refers to the religion of Christ in many different ways and by many different methods.

2. In this lesson we want to liken it unto a game of horseshoes.

3. In the game of horseshoes, you throw horseshoes at a stake driven in the ground some distance away.

4. The object of the game is to get the open part of the shoe around the stake.

5. If you do this you have a ringer, 5 points to your credit.

6. But if your opponent throws his shoe on top of yours around the stake, then your points are nullified and only his counts.

7, If you do not circle the stake with a ringer, but only lean your shoe against it, then you are credited with 4 points.

8. If your shoe just touches the stake, then you have 3 points.

9. If your shoe is the closest to the stake, but not a ringer or even touching, you are credited with 2 points. This closeness has to be within a shoe's width or there is no point credited at all.

10. By adding a certain number of these points together in the game, you can determine who wins the game.

11. So it is in the religion of Christ to a certain point, no pun intended.

12. First, we must play the game.

13. Second, we must produce ringers.

14. The difference between the game of horseshoes and the religion of Christ are these:

A. Leaners, Touchers or Closer To's don't count.

B. All must be ringers. Only ringers will apply to your score.

C. Neither can you cover or nullify another's good work, nor he yours.

15. So, with these thoughts in mind let us procede to notice the religion of Christ in the light of playing horseshoes.

I. OUR BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST MUST BE A RINGER.

A. It cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of faith only.

2. "A toucher" of repentance only.

3. "A closer to" of baptism only.

B. But it must be a "ringer" of all of these combined. Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6; Lk. 13: 3; Matt. 10:32,33; Acts 2:38.

II. OUR WORSHIP OF GOD MUST BE A RINGER.

A. It cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of regular attendance only. Heb. 10:25; Acts 2:42.

2. "A toucher" of praying only.

3. "A closer to" of giving only.

B. But it must be a ringer of these and other required things combined.

III. OUR LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN MUST BE A RINGER.

A. It cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of good morals only.

2. "A toucher" of abstinence of certain things only.

3. "A closer to" of helping others in need only.

B. But it must be a ringer including all of these and other required things. 2 Pet. 1:5- 11.

IV. AS PARENTS AND HOMEMAKERS WE MUST MAKE RINGERS.

A. It cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of whipping our child only.

2. "A toucher" of sending them to Bible study on Sundays only.

3. "A closer to" of giving them the physical necessities of life only.

B. But we must make ringers in these and all other required things in order to fulfill our responsibilities as parents and homemakers. Eph. 6:4.

V. AS CHILDREN OF OUR PARENTS WE MUST MAKE RINGERS IN OUR LIVES.

A. This cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of just wearing our parent's name only.

2. "A toucher" of calling them mother and father only.

3. "A closer to" of staying where they stay only.

B. But our lives as children must be ringers including respect, allegiance, honor and obedience to our parents. Eph. 6:1-3.

VI. OUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR FELLOWMAN MUST BE A RINGER.

A. This cannot be done by just wishing them well only: or:

1. "A leaner" of live and let live.

2. "A toucher" of I've mentioned Christ to him once.

3. "A closer to" of O, what's the use?

B. But our consideration must be ringers of sincere care and love for their souls that will produce action on our part to convert them to Christ. Gal. 6:1-10.

VII. OUR TREATMENT AND CARE OF OUR BRETHREN IN CHRIST MUST BE A RINGER.

A. This cannot be accomplished by:

1. "A leaner" of O, I don't know why he is not here in services today.

2. "A toucher" of, it might make him mad if I go to see him or call.

3. "A closer to" of, let him worry about his own soul.

B. But our treatment of our brethren must be ringers made up of sorrow for sin and a deep desire to save a soul from hell. Fervent and unfeigned love must abound within our hearts for our brethren. Jas. 5:19,20.

VIII. OUR ENTERING HEAVEN WILL HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHING BY THROWING RINGERS IN OUR LIVES UNTIL THE END.

A. We can never reach heaven, the eternal home of the soul, by:

1. "A leaner" of, just thinking about going.

2. "A toucher" of, just desiring to go.

3. "A closer to" of, just believing that you're going.

B. But we must have the ringers of a deep desire to go, faith in God's promise, and strict, faithful obedience to God until the end. Rev. 2:10; Matt. 25:31-46.

CONCLUSION:

1. Why not liken the religion of Christ to the game of horseshoes, knowing that it takes ringers to score points.

2. But remember, you must enter the game and make ringers all the way.

3. You can't score and win unless you first enter the game.

4. Why not enter into Christ and His religion today?

5. Then play the game according to the rules and win the victory.

By Jim Sasser

Return to the Sermon Outlines page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /