24 hour prayer today – next one is May 16/17, 2015 – you can sign up at http://www.nrhbc.org/24pray. Here’s our next series – “I Have a Friend Who…” We invite your questions. Today is I’m Not Ashamed Day – a day when many will publically identify with Jesus in baptism. You’ll also hear about how we are seeking to engage our community to make this a better place. You’ll be given an opportunity to baptize in a few short minutes – even if you didn’t bring clothes!
Parables were Jesus’ favorite method to teach. Over the course of four weeks, we’ve been examining some four parables of Jesus inside the gospel of Luke. Each of these represents a small story with a big truth.
Now, Jesus taught in parables to disarm his listeners, and by doing so He was able to penetrate any hardness of heart or resistance to what He is saying. Today’s story is rich and layered like a tall wedding cake. I call it a chilling story of a stingy rich man and I think you’ll quickly see why.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)
In this one small story, Jesus speaks to four issues:
1) How you treat the poor in this life matters;
2) There’s consequences of being callous to the needs of the poor;
3) Judgment is permanent;
4) And take care to pay serious attention to Scripture.
Sermon Preview
Life on Earth
Life in Eternity
The Value of Scripture
And along the way, we’ll going to share with you how many in our church are making a difference in the lives of others through a year long emphasis we’re calling Love Loud. And invite you to join us.
1. Life on Earth (Luke 16:19-21)
In the beginning of this parable, we are introduced to two characters. And these two characters are obviously a study in violent contrast. One is extravagantly rich while the other is exceptionally poor. One is covered with luxurious garments while the other is covered with sores. One is feasting every day on the inside of a mansion while the other one is starving on the outside of the gate, longing for crumbs. Jesus says the poor man was so sick, that he couldn’t even move. Then we’re told the rich man had a funeral. He had a burial, but there’s no reference to a proper burial for the poor man. It probably means he died in the street and was thrown into the ground by strangers. Today, we put the poor in a pine box and place them in an unmarked grave. But back in Jesus’ day, the custom was to throw their bodies on the trash heap called, The Valley of Hinnom. It’s that valley that Jesus often references when He speaks of hell. Jesus places two people together so closely who are usually so far apart financially.
Jesus wasn’t the last one to do this…
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, set in the later 1700s, tells the story of the French Revolution, often thought of as one of the most important events in past 500 years. You know Dickens’ novel by the words, “It was the best of times and the worst of times.” Dickens captures the essence of the French Revolution by giving us a memorable character, Monsignor St. Evrémonde. The handsome and wealthy aristocrat leaves his grand hotel in Paris, munching on chocolate with his usual break-neck pace. Evrémonde ordered his driver to drive his carriage and horses as if he was charging his enemies. His carriage runs through the streets with no care for the nearby people. Peasants scatter in terror but one small child isn’t quick enough – the carriage takes the life of a small child. The Monsignor shows no empathy when he sees the crushed body and his broken father beside the lifeless body just a few feet from the carriage. Instead of showing any humanity, any sympathy, Evrémonde asks if his horses are fine as if he had run over a common thing. He reaches into his pocket and flips a coin to the grieving father as if this compensated for his careless actions. And just as quickly as he came, the carriage resumes its breakneck speed on his way to his chateaux.
Very much like Jesus’ story of the sting man, Dickens places two characters together in a violent contrast. But maybe 18th century English writers aren’t your thing? Then do you remember how Bruce Wayne’s father died of Batman fame? The uberrich Thomas Wayne dies at the hands of street thug and mugger as the young Bruce Wayne looks on in horror. Like so many after Him, Jesus places the in close proximity the over the top wealthy and the underprivileged in the same city block.
What’s in a Name? The poor man’s name is given and his name is Lazarus. And that is significant for two reasons. First, it is noteworthy because his name literally means “God helps” or “God is my help.” But this is also significant because it is the only time in all of Jesus’ parables that any character is named. In dozens of parable and among score of characters in Jesus’ stories, Jesus never gives any other of His characters a name. Not once. He calls them by the names of son or daughter or judge or businessman, but it is only here that He gives any one of them a name. And just as significant as Jesus giving the name to the poor man is this fact: Jesus doesn’t offer a name for the rich man. Why? Let’s come back to that in a few minutes.
Life on Earth
2. Love Loud Interview
While we examine the negligence of a callous rich man, I wanted to you to hear from some people who are making a difference in the lives of others. Let’s leave our story for a few moments for quick word about where our church is going this year. We’re calling our yearlong emphasis on making the mid-cities a better place, Love Loud.
8:00- Jerry Morgan, Trent Voyles
9:30- Mike Dukes, Trent Voyles, Bill Stewart
11:00- Mike Dukes, Bill Stewart
Jerry and Mike will discuss Doyle’s Class involvement in Love Loud projects (last year Apt cookout) and moving emphasis to Snow Heights. Questions- What has your class done in the past? Why are you changing your emphasis? Plans moving forward? Trent Voyles will discuss Unity Park and participation of Stamps Class involvement at Jack C Binion. Questions- what has your group of classes done with Jack C Binion? What has been the benefit of continually reaching out to this school? How can other classes adopt a school or Apt? Bill Stewart will discuss involvement with Bus Ministry Questions- Why do you continue serving in this ministry? How can classes get involved?
Return to our story… There’s a change of scenery in the second part of our story.
3. Life in Eternity (Luke 16:22-26)
As we enter into the second scene of our story, we witness a Great Reversal. The dramatic reversal at death makes this story so vivid and stunning. Jesus describes the rich man as being in torment hell. He asks for some cool water on his tongue simply to cool his tongue. The imagery is unbearable to think of. For Lazarus, our poor man, the opposite is true. He’s finally being cared for and his suffering is finally relieved. Where no one cared about Lazarus on the earth, he finally finds acceptance and friendship in heaven. Death isn’t the end of any of us and life continues on for both men.
3.1 Half-Truths
Now, a surface reading of this parable might lead someone to believe that the rich man missed heaven and landed in hell because he wasn’t generous enough with his money. But be careful with half-truths for they can be misleading. There’s nothing here that condemns the rich man simply for being rich. Nor is there anything here that praises the poor man for simply being poor. Lazarus’ suffering did not entitle him to heaven any more than the rich man’s riches entitled him to heaven. Where the rich man was abundantly wealthy on earth, it masked his spiritual poverty. And while the poor man was destitute on earth, his poverty masked his spiritual prosperity. All the benefits the wealthy man enjoyed on earth were erased in the next life. While all the poor man suffered on earth was provided for him in the next.
Don’t be misled by half-truths. Jesus doesn’t have problems with the wealthy, but He does have problems with the callously wealthy. Abraham who sees to the needs of Lazarus in heaven (verse 24)… but we must also remember he was rich while he was on the earth. Instead, the Bible teaches believers to use their wealth to assist others: “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16)
The way you use your money shows your spiritual state. The way you use your finances shows your faith. If you’ve experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, you will generously give to those in need. This rich man’s failure to be generous shows his failure to truly understand the gospel.
Life Truth: It is impossible to be both rich and Christian without also being generous and sharing what we have with others.
3.2 A Parable on the Heels of a Parable
This is one of the few parables Jesus told as a follow up to another parable. Let me show you… Two Sundays ago we focused on Jesus’ story of a dishonest man. Jesus told about a man who was fearful for his future so he used his remaining days in his status job and his access to his wealthy boss’ funds to secure his future. Like the IRS agent who knows he has just a few days on the job, he cuts extra-large refund checks to influential friends who will give him a cushy job in the coming days. So Jesus tells this story about using your finances not just for this life but for the world to come. At it’s here that the religious leaders of His day ridiculed him: “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.” (Luke 16:14) So Jesus tells this parable as a follow up to the story of the dishonest business man and to warn the Pharisees of His day. Jesus did His best to wipe the sneers off the faces of those who brushed aside His teaching on using your wealth to bless the poor.
Back to the afterlife…
3.3. The Gulf is Fixed
“between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ (Luke 16:26)
Nor surge in human sympathy can bridge the gulf – it is irrevocably fixed. Christianity says we exist for eternity. And upon our death, God’s judgment is fixed: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). You must understand that your grave marks a point of no return. You know this is the only passage in all of the Bible that describes the actual thoughts, emotions, and even the words of someone who is in hell.
While Jesus speaks about hell numerous times… While Jesus warns people about hell everywhere you turn… … this is the only description of a person actually suffering in the torment of hell. The Bible even tells us who’ll end in hell: “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
Hell is real and you have an opportunity to escape it’s torment by saying “yes” to forgivness Christ offers.
Life on Earth
Life in Eternity
4. The Value of Scripture (Luke 16:27-31)
His first request rebuffed, the rich man seeks help for those on earth. Look at what this man asks for. He says, “…send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame…” (Luke 16:24) That’s a job for a servant. Wait a minute here. The rich man used to be on top, and Lazarus was literally at the bottom, but there has been a little reversal here. Lazarus is now at the top while the rich man is at the bottom. But the rich man is still ordering him around like a servant? Even in hell, the rich man hasn’t been humbled. But look in contrast to the poor man, Lazarus, for a moment. Take notice of this one fact – Lazarus never speaks throughout the parable – not once. He never once gloats in heaven. Nor does he show any emotion when asked to be the rich man’s errand boy. All the while the rich man still clings to his authority. He still thinks he can order him around.
Remember a few minutes ago I told you that is was significant that the poor man in this story was given a name. And it was equally significant that Jesus didn’t offer a name for the rich man. When we think of really doing something in life, we talk about making a name for yourself. It is so easy to think, “Since I am financially wealthy, I am also spiritually wealthy.” Don’t let money in your bank account fool you.”
This rich man took his arrogance with him to the other side of the grave. And if he knew Lazarus’ name in hell, didn’t he also know about Lazarus’ pitiful condition on earth? And look what he implies when he says, “Father Abraham, I beg you, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place.”
What’s the implication there? He says, “I have a bunch of brothers, and they’re trampling on the poor, just like I did, and they lived in all these kinds of way. Do you know what? Someone needs to warn them. They don’t have enough information to make a informed decision.”
Again, what’s the implication? It’s pretty obvious. “I didn’t get proper warning. I didn’t get proper information.” But Jesus tells us that even a dead man coming back to life doesn’t provide any more proof than what you have in your hand – the Scriptures. Remember this: the One who says the Scripture is enough is the very One who rose from the dead.
Invitation
I will go section by section through worship center to invite people to be baptized.
Share the story of man who goes home after worship and he realizes he was supposed to come forward for baptism. He immediately drives back to church where it was the pastor and a few volunteers. Still, they baptized him I’m saving you some gas – man gets home and tells his wife, “I was supposed to be baptized.”
