Luke 16:19-31_Sermon_The Chasm

{ILS} Time Blocking

• My daughter Caroline recently reminded me how important time blocking is

• Intentional planning of a work day, home day, vacation day

• As much as possible, you determine the goals and structure for the day

• Opposite - drift between tasks you have been thinking about

• Opposite - whatever anyone else wants to do

• Opposite -  whatever calendar invites or calls come in

• Opposite - whatever the internet serves you

• Turn around and ask yourself “What did I even do today”? 

{SCR} Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 

{MPT} Royalty Rarely Feels the Need to Pray to Anyone

• How is the day framed?

• Whichever direction i want to go, I go

• Whatever I want to have, I have

• Not definitive the man is royalty, but he is living that way

• Purple color is an indicator 

• Food abundance

• Thanksgiving every day, without the prep, travel, or clean up, odd relatives

• Intoxicating in two ways

• Power 

• The actual food and alcohol 

• Things are so great, i don’t even know what i would pray for

• Why? humans are most apt to pray with a need

• Had this man prayed for guidance, it could have been for action

• Don’t need any additional hassles

{MPT} The Rich Man and Lazarus Shared One Thing

• Was it a turkey leg? No.

• Death - because it comes for us all

• Slowly and deliberately

• Thief in the night

{SCR} Luke 16:23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 

{MPT} The Mind Is Drawn to the Outcome

• Is the man in hell because he had so much?

• he never offered out of his abundance? Fictional/Lacking Detail

• he went to synagogue 17 times out of 52?

{MPT} In Desperation, The Rich Man Turns His Eyes Up

• “Father Abraham”

• The Chasm

• Mercy c

• Relief

• Delivery

• Chasm was created by the man in life and fixed in death

{SCR} Luke 16:27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

{MPT} Let me warn my relatives

• Send Lazarus, because if they see him they will be shocked into action

• Time and opportunity matter - wasn’t one big decision, lack of intentionality