Lecture Notes: Preaching Luke 16:19-31

Introduction

• Focus: Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus from Luke 16:19-31
• Objective: Develop skills to preach the word of God effectively.
• Approach: Interactive study of scripture rather than a straightforward lecture.

Textual Analysis

• Luke 16:19-31: Literary unit from rich man to poor man, their lives, deaths, and afterlives.
• Text Structure:
  • Rich man: Habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, lived in splendor every day.
  • Poor man: Named Lazarus, laid at the rich man's gate, covered with sores, longing for crumbs.
• Key Observations:
  • The word 'now' signals new literary units.
  • Rich man's lifestyle contrasts with Lazarus.
  • Keywords: Hades, Lazarus, great chasm.

Sermon Preparation Process

1. Initial Steps:
   • Write initial notes to visualize structure.
   • Identify dominant and supportive elements.
   • Note significant modifiers and participles.
2. Outline Development:
   • Formulate headings and subheadings based on textual units.
   • Example headings: Two men before death, two men at death, two men after death.
3. Draft and Commentary Review:
   • Write rough drafts, then refine into the final sermon.
   • Read and underline key points in commentaries (e.g., Robertson's word pictures, Hendrickson's commentary).

Introduction to Sermon

• Opening Remarks:
  • Death as a pressing reality for all.
  • Importance of thinking about death and its implications.
• Key Questions:
  • Where will you be five seconds after you die?
  • How will you answer God if He asks why He should let you into heaven?
• Purpose: Help the congregation address the reality of death correctly and act appropriately.

Detailed Exposition

Two Men Before Death (Luke 16:19-21)

• Rich Man: Lived luxuriously, habitually dressed in purple, symbolizing wealth and status.
  • Represents the Pharisees, outwardly religious but inwardly worldly.
  • Loved money; their religiosity cloaked their greed.
• Poor Man (Lazarus): Name means 'God has helped,' symbolizing faith in God despite earthly poverty.
  • Laid at the gate of the rich man, covered with sores, longing for crumbs.
  • Dependent on God's mercy.

Two Men at Death (Luke 16:22)

• Commonality: Both men died; death respects no person.
• Differences:
  • Rich man: Buried with a lavish funeral, but no mention of angels attending.
  • Poor man: No mention of burial, but carried away by angels to Abraham's bosom.
• Emphasis: The reality that everyone dies, and the nature of their afterlife depends on their earthly life.

Two Men After Death (Luke 16:23-31)

• Rich Man in Hell (Hades):
  • Hell as a real, immediate, conscious, separated, agonizing, haunting, inescapable, and desperate place.
  • Rich man in torment, longing for water, remembers his earthly life and missed opportunities.
  • Hell's fire is real and eternal, not symbolic.
• Lazarus in Heaven (Abraham's Bosom):
  • Close fellowship with Abraham, representing eternal comfort and joy.

Application and Conclusion

• Final Exhortation:
  • Reflect on personal spiritual state: rich toward God or living for this world?
  • Urge to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation before it's too late.
  • Death is inevitable; preparation for afterlife is crucial.
• Closing Prayer: Lead the congregation in a prayer to commit to Christ and prepare for eternal life.