Ice Breaker
Share about a journey or trip you've taken where you learned something important—not necessarily about the destination, but about what happened along the way.
Text
Luke 16:19-31
19 “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.’”
Understanding the Text
In what ways does this passage challenge/encourage you?
What differences might it make if this story is merely a parable instead of an historical account?
How do the contrasts between the rich man and Lazarus reveal the rich man’s relationship with God, himself, and others?
The rich man shows presumption, projection, and protest even after death. What does this reveal about the human heart?
Sermon Review
Big Idea
The way of Jesus includes how we live on our journey, not just the destination.
Main Points
The rich man lived a self-consumed life focused on comfort, image, and abundance.
The self-consumed life leads to the self-condemned afterlife.
Our choices today shape our eternal state
Jesus bridges the chasm that is built by our resistance to God’s mercy.
He rose from the dead not to warn us, but to remake us
Discussion Questions
Pastor Kurt mentioned that abundance can distract us from suffering in two ways:
Using what we have to avoid seeing others' pain.
Believing that if we had more, we wouldn't suffer.
Which of these resonates more with your experience? Share an example.
The rich man was so self-consumed he couldn't see Lazarus at his gate.
Who are the "Lazaruses" in your life—people in need that you might be overlooking? (This could be literal poverty or other kinds of suffering).
Pastor Kurt said, "A heart that won't help others won't recognize its desperate need of God to help them."
How does serving others help us understand our own need for God?
Lazarus's name means "God is my helper," yet he appeared to have no help.
In what ways have you experienced times when God's help looked different than you expected? How did that shape your dependence on Him?
Action Steps
Pastor Kurt gave three action steps:
Receive God's instruction.
What are you doing to hear Scripture with a submissive heart rather than twisting it to fit your preferences?
Reject false riches.
What "riches" (material, relational, reputational) are you tempted to hoard or use selfishly?
Recognize people around you.
Who is one specific person God might be calling you to notice and help this week?
The sermon emphasized that how we live the journey shapes our destination.
What is one specific change you sense God calling you to make in how you're living your daily life?
For those who have abundance (and most of us do, relatively speaking): How can you use your resources to be a blessing rather than a distraction? Be specific.
For those who feel they lack abundance: How might your current season of need actually position you to minister to others rather than disqualify you from it?
Closing Reflection
"If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16:31)
Someone DID rise from the dead—Jesus. He came not just to warn us, but to remake us.
How does the resurrection give you hope for change in the areas you've discussed tonight?
Prayer Time
Pray for each other, specifically:
For soft hearts toward God's Word
For eyes to see the people around us who are suffering
For wisdom to use our resources as a blessing
For dependence on God as our true helper
For union with Christ to be strengthened through this week