Rich Man & Lazarus
November 27, 2016
Rich Man & Lazarus Luke 16:19–31 Sermon Recap Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and Lazarus to illustrate the eternal effects of trusting in riches rather than in God. The only means by which people will be rescued from eternal misery is the clear and authoritative testimony of the Scriptures. Sermon Highlights - You don’t get to heaven by birth, but by re-birth. - You cannot scare anyone our of their sin or to love God. - Hell is insufficient to cause someone to repent. - The Scriptures alone are sufficient to save anyone.
Study Questions1 1. Introduction (optional): when was a time that you were primarily motivated by fear? What are characteristics of people motivated by fear? How does this relate to the topic of hell? 2. Read Luke 16:19-21 and compare it with v. 14. Why do you think Jesus is telling this particular parable here? What do you think are the implications for our own lives?2 3. Read v. 22-26. What are things that stand out to you in terms of what this parable depicts about hell?3
1
Read through all of the questions prior to meeting to decide which ones would be best for your Community Group. 2
See question #1 in the “Going Deeper” section for a more in depth look at this topic.
3
The word used is “Hades,” which was believed to be the place of torment before the final judgment in Revelation 21 when God condemns to the “lake of fire.”
Sermon Series: Gospel of Luke
1
November 27, 2016
Family Discipleship Questions Have you ever obeyed someone out of fear? Do you think God is pleased when we obey him because we are afraid of hell? Read Luke 16:19-26. What does Jesus teach us about hell? What does this tell you about God’s love that he died to save us from hell and bring us to be with him forever?
Practical Helps Take some time to pray for each other’s hearts that you would trust Jesus out of love, not fear.
Soundbites Trust Jesus out of love for him, not fear of hell.
4. Read v. 24 carefully. Does the rich man show a desire to leave Hades and join Abraham’s side, or merely be relieved us his pain? What do you think are the implications are for what Hell is unable to do? 5. Do you think that fear of punishment is sufficient to keep someone from committing a particular sin? (i.e. gossip, lust, drunkenness, self-righteousness, etc.) Why or why not? What do you think is the greatest motivation for resisting the temptations of sin in this life? 6. How would you know you are saved because of your faith in and love for Jesus, and not mainly because of your fear of hell? 7. Read v. 27-31. Read the following statement and ask the group if v. 27-31 agree with the statement: the Bible has the only power to save someone from the torments of hell. What are the implications of this for the sufficiency of the Scriptures4 to save anyone and everyone? 8. Do you find your own heart trusting in the power of Scripture the way Jesus talks about them in v. 27-31? Do you find yourself desiring something more than the Bible for the building up of your faith?
Moments Look for opportunities when you can praise your children for listening and obeying out of joy and not fear or resistance. Look for moments when you can explain to your children or even your spouse how you love to do things for them out of joy and not frustration.
Going Deeper (optional) 1. Following up with question #2, take a deeper look at Luke’s testimony about the dangers of wealth: 8:14; 12:12-21; 12:34; 16:13; and 18:22-23. 2. In verse 22 it says, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.” Another translation is “Abraham’s bosom.” This is a phrase used to describe a tender and affectionate embrace of someone. Compare this with John 1:18, as it depicts the Son’s relationship with the Father from all eternity. What does this all seem to teach about the nature of heaven? 4
Jesus uses the phrase, “The Law and Prophets” which was another term for OT.
Sermon Series: Gospel of Luke
2
Rich Man & Lazarus Luke 16:19–31 Sermon Recap Jesus tells a parable about a rich man and Lazarus to illustrate the eternal effects of trusting in riches rather than in God. The only means by which people will be rescued from eternal misery is the clear and authoritative testimony of the Scriptures. Sermon Highlights - You don’t get to heaven by birth, but by re-birth. - You cannot scare anyone our of their sin or to love God. - Hell is insufficient to cause someone to repent. - The Scriptures alone are sufficient to save anyone.
Study Questions1 1. Introduction (optional): when was a time that you were primarily motivated by fear? What are characteristics of people motivated by fear? How does this relate to the topic of hell? 2. Read Luke 16:19-21 and compare it with v. 14. Why do you think Jesus is telling this particular parable here? What do you think are the implications for our own lives?2 3. Read v. 22-26. What are things that stand out to you in terms of what this parable depicts about hell?3
1
Read through all of the questions prior to meeting to decide which ones would be best for your Community Group. 2
See question #1 in the “Going Deeper” section for a more in depth look at this topic.
3
The word used is “Hades,” which was believed to be the place of torment before the final judgment in Revelation 21 when God condemns to the “lake of fire.”
Sermon Series: Gospel of Luke
1
November 27, 2016
Family Discipleship Questions Have you ever obeyed someone out of fear? Do you think God is pleased when we obey him because we are afraid of hell? Read Luke 16:19-26. What does Jesus teach us about hell? What does this tell you about God’s love that he died to save us from hell and bring us to be with him forever?
Practical Helps Take some time to pray for each other’s hearts that you would trust Jesus out of love, not fear.
Soundbites Trust Jesus out of love for him, not fear of hell.
4. Read v. 24 carefully. Does the rich man show a desire to leave Hades and join Abraham’s side, or merely be relieved us his pain? What do you think are the implications are for what Hell is unable to do? 5. Do you think that fear of punishment is sufficient to keep someone from committing a particular sin? (i.e. gossip, lust, drunkenness, self-righteousness, etc.) Why or why not? What do you think is the greatest motivation for resisting the temptations of sin in this life? 6. How would you know you are saved because of your faith in and love for Jesus, and not mainly because of your fear of hell? 7. Read v. 27-31. Read the following statement and ask the group if v. 27-31 agree with the statement: the Bible has the only power to save someone from the torments of hell. What are the implications of this for the sufficiency of the Scriptures4 to save anyone and everyone? 8. Do you find your own heart trusting in the power of Scripture the way Jesus talks about them in v. 27-31? Do you find yourself desiring something more than the Bible for the building up of your faith?
Moments Look for opportunities when you can praise your children for listening and obeying out of joy and not fear or resistance. Look for moments when you can explain to your children or even your spouse how you love to do things for them out of joy and not frustration.
Going Deeper (optional) 1. Following up with question #2, take a deeper look at Luke’s testimony about the dangers of wealth: 8:14; 12:12-21; 12:34; 16:13; and 18:22-23. 2. In verse 22 it says, “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.” Another translation is “Abraham’s bosom.” This is a phrase used to describe a tender and affectionate embrace of someone. Compare this with John 1:18, as it depicts the Son’s relationship with the Father from all eternity. What does this all seem to teach about the nature of heaven? 4
Jesus uses the phrase, “The Law and Prophets” which was another term for OT.
Sermon Series: Gospel of Luke
2
