Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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“I’ll believe it when I see it
Q: Most incredible, tough to explain witness or experience
Rich man and Lazarus -
Story Elements
Lazarus - laid at the gate (by someone, assuming the “well-off” would help him
“eliezer” = “God helps” (a common name, and also the name of Abraham’s servant)
Rich man - (unnamed, as though unimportant, and as if God did not know him - OR allowing the hearers of the story to insert own name)
Dogs - used to describe the “unworthy” - not typically pets then; slur to slander the poor
Thoughts of the audience
Rich were favored, must be spiritual
Poor were poor due to their sin
This story presents a twist - not the outcomes they expected of these two characters
Jews believed in life after death, making this story plausible
Law required the better-off help the lesser-off
Those who had faith in God followed the law (the outward expression of their inner faith)
Therefore…rich man had every opportunity to get right with God, and help the poor.
In this story, since he never helped him, it shows his heart never got right.
OVERALL POINTS TO THIS AUDIENCE
Trust God, He’ll take care of you forever
Trust in self - God’s justice will suffice, forever
Life forever, need relationship with God, here and now
What Jesus is Saying Through This Parable
1) These with God (believers) are in His presence after death
Lazarus represents those who God helps, secures eternally
Once an enemy (sinner), now in alliance with God
2) God has always spoken His truth through His Word - “What the Bible says, God says”)
Through Moses
Through Prophets
Now, through Jesus
3) Repentance is the Key to Life (v.
30)
The desire is for his brothers to repent ( so as not to face the same fate)
(rich man still treats Lazarus like servant - “send him to tell...”, and his lack of compassion demonstrates his heart)
NOT material worth - shown by the element of Abraham being in Heaven (he was very wealthy), so that’s not it
Faith, not works
Lazarus, could do nothing of any worth in his condition
REPENTANCE LEADS TO OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF INNER TRUTH
And Hell is irreversible, so is Heaven.
Putting The Text To Work
A) Answer for life, eternity depends on NOW
Questions the neither the rich man nor Lazarus NOT asked upon death
When did you go to church?
When were your baptized?
How good a person were you?
When did you say some prayer?
However, THE question all must answer: WHEN DID YOU REPENT?
B) This parable supports Scriptural Truths
Eternal separation between Heaven and Hell
God provides what we need now, and will reward later (prosperity theology nonsense)
Salvation based on repentance
“YOLO” - um, NOT!
It’s a Valid Question: What WOULD it take for you, or someone you know/love, to REPENT?
One rising from the dead?
(literally, one sitting up in a coffin, but applies well to Jesus, some foreshadowing)
WRONG - I’ll accept Jesus when I see _________
CORRECT - I’ll see the truth when I accept by faith
God’s Word makes sense when a person yields to the H.S. conviction, becomes a believer (Illumination)
God’s Word (Moses, Prophets, Jesus) is spiritual, God-breathed, and not understood by the “natural man” (flesh)
H.S. convicts - by the Word
You accept - the Word
Born again - by the Word
New life is then guided - by the Word
CHALLENGE
What would it take for YOU to repent?
Possible to believe, but not repent, resulting in un-saved
James
(general idea of “yeah, God exists...”)
Some people KNEW Jesus rose, but tried to cover it up
People say things that they really don’t mean, such as:
If you find the ark, then I’ll believe - NOPE
Prove the Bible is true, and I’ll believe - NOPE
Someone comes back from the dead, then I’ll believe - NOPE
(if it takes you to believe such a sign, besides the truth of Jesus, then there is a lack of trust in God’s inerrant Word)
Jesus did the impossible
and people still would not believe and repent
result in some was hardened hearts
All Lazarus had in this story was trust and faith in God
2 Cor 2:19
Like the Rich man and Lazarus:
All will see
Meanwhile,
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