A Parable to Share

Introduction:

Today, talking about a Parable; Intro this topic

Jesus & Parables

Ever thot about…: Jesus made the parables up!

Inspir'd by HS, script.; He used nature, ppl, sitch. saw around him

Embellish

X had 2 major paradoxical purposes.

1. Parables Reveal Deeper Truth to those Seeking.

Many parables begin: “kingd. of God is like”… | end: “just like your Father in heaven will…”

Remember: Kingd. of Heav/God was about God's values

He shared so that the people could have those same val’s ; know what type of pers. God valued

Jesus very much was revealing what God’s priorities are like:

Value the child, poor, women, foreigner, sick, hurting.

To critique/ condemn those use power to abuse, or take adv.

If a pers. rlly wanted to live a Kingd. life, they’d want to know more!

Those who were truly seeking could discover the meaning!

Parables were a kind of a test; see what kind of heart U had…

bc ALSO… >>

2. Parables Conceal the Message from the Antagonist or the Apathetic.

To those opposed to or confused by Jesus & His mission, parables concealed Jesus’ way.

Parables themselves served as a way to discern the authentic & the fake followers.

Mark 4:11 “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you [disciples]. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables”

Parables were initial test for world’s acceptance of God’s values!

Jesus used parables expertly to try and draw those who were TRULY seeking the best life; God’s life… not just the perks, bless/gs!

What kind of Heart do you Have?

Is your heart a seeking one - really honestly wanting MORE of Jesus?

Do you rearrange your social & business life to make sure Jesus has first priority?

Do you want to know more about God’s rules & prior’ies?

Going to look at a parable today: Luke 16. >>

The Fate of the Rich man & Lazarus

X was teaching his disciples not to love money, but to use it as a tool.

JC nex parable was a mni-apocalypse; not 2 reveal truth abt afterlife, but to teach a lesson.

Some schol’s think based on real beggar bc only char. w/ name.

LUKE RECORDS >>

Luke 16:19–27 ““There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So 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.’ “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. And 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.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “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.’”

The 1st reminder that this parable tells is this: >>

God Knows my Heart

Luke 16:19–22 ““There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and [taken down to] Hades where he was in torment.”

In parables, JC turned assumptions on their heads 4 his audience.

1st C. Judaism: Bless’gs person had (riches) = God’s favor | Often, bigger house, fam. tied to God’s favor or holiness?

Greater respect & admiration in comm., fam.

Same way, beggr, hungry & sick may’ve been seen as cursed by G.

Hwver! Jesus flips it - the rich guy godless, & Lazarus godly.

See… not your outside behav that saves you. Not good words/ deeds, bank acct! AP is very clear >>

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God knows your heart & your motives.

How many kno: can serve @ soup kitchen 4 self’h reas’ns! Can be pastor; can sing wrshp song, wear suit/tie & heart be far from your actions.

Alt: Can have tats, long hair, no hair, beard to knees, too short skirt, smell of smoke… & be hav'g auth. enc. w/ X!

One that’s changing your life & prior’s!

Caveat, s’times external is a sign of internal prob… but —

It’s our heart that counts. Whn X saves, it’s our internal life that changes!

God sees you rt. where U are. He loves you & designed U & wants U to rely on Him in every area of life.

He loved you SM that he sacri’d his life to save yours — and you ddn’t even ask him to; want him to; didn’t even realize!

Bc our parab. reminds us: [You have] >>

One Heart, One Chance

Luke 16:23–25 “In Hades, where he was in torment, [the rich man] looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So 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.’ “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.’”

WHOLE LOT to say abt Abe’s bosom & sheol/hades, but for today’s sake going to ref. “heaven” & “hell”. Good place vs. bad place.

Jesus’ story shows the content of each man’s heart rev’l’d in their eternal resting spot.

Here’s the thing: ‘Been given an amazing priv’ge of life, freed’m, hope… But only ONE life.

X warned of a day when every1 would acct for their faith & their actions thereof:

Luke 21:34–35 ““Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth.”

JC speaks of a person too concerned w/ pleasure; liv’g life w/ worldly prior’s.

As of now, we only have a limited time to choose Christ & follow!

I don’t remind you of this to scareU, but to put in perspective.

James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

TRUTH: solution already came, lived, taught, healed, died, & he lives TODAY.

The GOSPEL really is GOOD NEWS!

a) We are not bound by our appetites - we can choose to go God’s Way. Saved from a life of fear & disillusionment.

b) We are saved into a family and a blessing that lasts fo’EVER!

There IS something more to life than this. In fact, God has a very GOOD plan for you.

But it takes giving up your desires until they line up w. HIS.

ASK ‘sefl…:

“What kind of Heart do I Have?”

Luke 11:35 “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.”

ASK AGAIN:

Is your heart a seeking one - really honestly wanting MORE of Jesus?

Do you rearrange your social & business life to make sure Jesus has first priority?

Do you want to know more about God’s rules & prior’ies?

For those who claim JC as Lord of our hearts, there is a subsequent Way we show our devotion to Him…

We foll. same motive of X. God grows in us >

A Heart to Seek out the Lost

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The greatest way we can partner w/ X in our lives is to…

Win Hearts for Jesus

Luke 16:27–31 ““He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “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.’ ””

The rich man got that same desire.

He knew what was important all'a'sudden… but too late.

Give your whole heart to JC!! Turn over to him your hobbies, passions, Priorities.

Give Jesus & his ways top billing in the:

way U parent—do UR job—drive car—help a friend—use money—use talents—serve time—value spouse

And go share the good news of what X did and the purpose of this life!