MEMORY VERSE: Luke 16:26 "...there is a great gulf fixed..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: 2 Kings. Write "2 Kings" on small slips of paper to encourage the students to memorize another Old Testament book at home.
PRAYER: We pray that we realize the seriousness of this life, that it is a 'preparing' time to work out our soul's salvation with fear and trembling.
SPECIAL SONG: The Wise Man Built His House On The Rock (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog.
VISUAL AID: As the Bible teacher finishes teaching the lesson, write the many things that were learned from this lesson. paragraph under "Lesson Pints" below.
LESSON POINTS:
- Note: This may be a lesson designed for older students due to its content. Please read through the lesson to see if your students would understand this lesson before you teach it.
- People wonder about what happens after we die and Jesus gave us a glimpse into the unseen world through this lesson. The story that Jesus told was about a rich man who had no name and a poor man whose name was Lazarus. (This was not the same man who lived in Bethany, who had two sisters named Mary and Martha, and was raised from the grave. This was another man named Lazarus. Both men had the same name, but that was the only connection.)
- Jesus said that the rich man lived a wonderful, easy life on this earth. He wore clothes that were purple and wore fine linen which was something only the very rich people did in Bible times. This man was very rich! He ate what he wanted and as much as he wanted. He lived in a fine house and had a wonderful life.
- There was also a beggar or a very, very poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus had a very hard life. He had big sores all over his body and could not help himself. He relied on kind, compassionate people to lay him by the gate where rich people would see him and perhaps give him a little something. He had a desire to be fed with the few crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, but his desire was ignored. Dogs would come and lick his sores. It was extremely hard being poor in Bible times.
- One day the beggar died and the angels carried him to a place of comfort called Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried, and lifted his eyes in Hades to see Abraham far away and Lazarus was close beside him. The rich man was tormented and distressed. The rich man was also very, very thirsty. When he saw Lazarus, he cried and spoke to Abraham. He said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip his finger in water that he may cool my tongue, for I am tormented by this flame."
- But Abraham replied, "Son, remember that in your lifetime, you received many good things and Lazarus received bad things. Now, Lazarus is comforted and you are tormented. Besides that, there is a great gulf that is fixed between us. Those who would want to go to where you are, cannot. And those who would want to come to us, cannot."
- The rich man then turned his thoughts to his family and requested that Abraham would send Lazarus to his home where he had five brothers. He wanted Lazarus to tell them what had happened because he did not want his brothers coming to where he was tormented. But, Abraham said no. He said that his brothers had Moses and the prophets to listen to; his brothers could hear them. The rich man persisted. He said to Abraham, "No, Father Abraham, if one would go to them from the dead, they would repent." Abraham had the last word. He said, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither would they be convinced if someone rose from the dead."
- From this lesson that Jesus taught, we can learn many things.
- After death, there is a place of comfort and a place of torment. How we live on this earth will determine where we go when we die.
- Having riches on earth does not mean much after a person dies. The rich man could not take any of his wealth with him when he died.
- It is very hot in the place of torment.
- There is no water in the place of torment.
- There is no comfort in the place of torment.
- Do people know each other after they die? The rich man knew Abraham and Lazarus. Abraham knew the rich man.
- There is a great gulf or chasm between the place of comfort and the place of torment and it cannot be changed. It is fixed or fastened securely in position.
- No one can travel from one place to the other. Surely, many would want to go to the place of comfort, but they cannot.
- Many people wonder about what will happen after they die and make up comforting thoughts and their own ideas such as purgatory and limbo, but we find no mention of any of those ideas in God's Word. It is important to know that we, as Bible students, can only teach and say what is written in God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).
- God's Word is sufficient or it is enough for people to learn to turn from their wicked ways and turn towards God and His Word (Psalm 119:105, 130).
- While we live on this earth, it is a time to prepare for where we will spend eternity.
- We need to read God's Word and learn how to live and behave, so we will live in the place of comfort.
ACTIVITY: The Rich Man And Lazarus
Materials needed: 12" x 18" any light and bright color of construction paper, crayons, marker.
- Hand out paper.
- Write "THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS" AND "Luke 16:19-31" at the top of the paper, portrait-style.
- Write "WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS LESSON:"
- List the the things that were learned from this lesson (see last paragraph under Lesson Points above.)
