Today’s passage: Luke 16:19-31
Helpful thoughts:
- A Jewish man who was rich (Perceived culturally as a blessing and obvious favor from God) died and found himself in Hell. A poor man who had sores all over his skin (Perceived culturally as a curse and judgment from God) died and was in Heaven. This was a shocking account.
- Lazarus’ name means, “Whom God has helped.”
- The rich man is given no name. God had NOT helped him.
- “Moses and the Prophets” is a name for the Old Testament. These people had the Word of God. The Word of God is what we need to hear from God (Romans 10:17).
- Miracles do not produce faith. Not even witnessing resurrection.
Questions to consider:
- Why is the prosperity gospel and the word of faith movement an abomination? What does it do to people? What does it distract them from? How does it treat God? (Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, etc.) – By the way, go ahead and read ahead to Luke 17:2 to see what Jesus says about people who teach this things…
- How does Lazarus’ name point us back to the true gospel? Is man’s biggest problem that he thinks too lowly of himself or too highly? What must we realize before we are ready for the good news?
- If God uses the Word of God to reach/speak to people, what does the Spirit (Who is God) use to reach/speak to people? If someone accuses others of not following or being sensitive to the Spirit because they want to go back to the Bible to hear from God, what is really happening? Who is the one who is truly sensitive to the Spirit of God (Who personally led men -inspiration- to write the Bible)?