Luke 16:19-31
For what occasions do you feel like dressing to the hilt? When are you permitted and content to dress just in rags?
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- What are the lessons we can learn from the story of the rich man and Lazarus? Does it make any difference whether this was a parable or a real story?
- In verses 19-22 Jesus contrasts the earthly status of the rich man and of Lazarus. What impresses you most about the differences? After death?
- How should those who are rich respond to the parable?
- How could the rich man have attained the blessings Lazarus received?
- What determines who enters heaven? Why does this poor man qualify while the rich man is kept out?
- What does this story teach you about comfort Suffering? Why is it so difficult for people to be convinced of God's ways? How is Luke 16:31 prophetic?
- Verses 23-26 possibly give us the most graphic picture of heaven and hell in the Bible. What facts — open and hidden — do you observe about these dimensions of existence?
- What does this passage teach about the afterlife?
- Why was the rich man’s request in Luke 16:27-28, 30 futile? What did he believe and why was he wrong?
- How should Pharisees and other lovers of money respond to this parable?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- On a scale of 1 (the rich man and his brothers) to 10 (Lazarus), where do you stand? Why there?
- Since lack of knowledge is not the brothers' problem, what is? How do you see that tendency in yourself?
- How do you feel about discussing judgment day with friends?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
"To the rich man, Lazarus was part of the landscape. If ever he did notice him, it never struck him that Lazarus had anything to do with him. He was simply unaware of his presence, or, if he was aware of it, he had no sense of responsibility for it... A man may well be condemned, not for doing something, but for doing nothing." — William Barclay
Link to information by Phil Sanders
Life After Death or What happens After Death?
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
A sermon by Preaching Minister Randy Johns from the series, "Stories Jesus Told."
This sermon focuses on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.
Parables -
Parables of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
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Dear Ann Landers:
The letter from the woman married to the tightwad -- she couldn't get an extra quarter out of him -- reminded me of my wonderful aunt who was beautifully warmhearted and had a great sense of humor.
Aunt "Emma" was married to a tightwad who was also a little strange. He made a good salary, but they lived frugally because he insisted on putting 20 percent of his paycheck under the mattress. (The man didn't trust banks.) The money, he said, was going to come in handy in their old age.
When "Uncle Ollie" was 60, he was stricken with cancer. Toward the end, he made Aunt Em promise, in the presence of his brothers, that she would put the money he had stashed away in his coffin so he could buy his way into heaven if he had to.
They all knew he was a little odd, but this was clearly a crazy request. Aunt Em did promise, however, and assured Uncle Ollie's brothers that she was a woman of her word and would do as he asked.
The following morning she took the money (about $26,000) to the bank and deposited it. She then wrote a check and put it in the casket four days later.
This is a true story and our family has laughed about it ever since.
What I have is not mine to own.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· What factors cause us to count our wealth only in material holdings instead of also the “coin of God’s kingdom.”
· What are the facts about the poor in America today?
· How do you feel when you are stopped in public and asked for money?
The Rich Man and Lazarus — Luke 16:19-31
19“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
31“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
· What is the main point of this parable?
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. What feelings motivate us to be selfish and money grabbing?
2. What mistakes did the rich man make?
3. How do the lives of the rich man and Lazarus compare on earth (vv. 19-21)? After death (vv. 22-24)?
4. What determines who enters heaven? Why does this poor man qualify while the rich man is kept-out?
5. What does this story teach about comfort? Suffering? Why is it so difficult for people to be convinced of God's ways? How is verse 31 prophetic?
6. Jesus quotes Abraham as saying that if one will not listen to the testimony of Scripture, he would not heed a warning from the dead. Why is that true?
7. What does this passage teach about the afterlife?
8. Why will many people be surprised to find themselves in hell?
9. What should we do with our lives on earth?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. What are some questions we should ask ourselves to avoid selfishness?
2. On a scale of 1 (the rich man and his brothers) to 10 (Lazarus), where do you stand? Why there?
3. Since lack of knowledge is not the brothers' problem, what is?
4. Why is it important to love ourselves in order to love others as God commanded?
5. To what extent should we place the good of others before our own good?
What are some of the last generation's luxuries that have become today's "necessities"?
What are some of the last generation's luxuries that have become today's "necessities"?
6. In what ways are you/we being selfish.
7. Selfishness is sly and deceptive. How does selfishness deceive you most often?
8. What do you feel Satan has whispered in your ear recently to temp you toward selfishness?
9. Suppose you were able to totally eliminate any form of selfishness from your life, and you became completely selfless. What would your life become?
10. With what, other than money, are you most selfish? How can that be overcome?
Selfishness demonstrates a misunderstanding about the true ownership of my possessions here on earth. They are not mine to own; they are only on loan to manage fro the Master.
Here are a few characteristics of hell set forth in the New Testament:
* It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12).
* It is a place where people scream for mercy, have memories, are tormented, feel alone, and cannot escape (Luke 16:23-31).
* It is a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:48).
* It is a place of darkness (Revelation 9:2).
* It is a place of eternal damnation (Mark 3:29 KJV).
* It is a place where God's wrath is poured out (Revelation 14:10).
* It is a place of everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
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