GateWay Church of Visalia
Philosopher Jesus
Luke 16:14-31 Pastor Ed Kemp June 9 & 12, 2022
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
Jesus confronted the Pharisee’s values:
#1. Their hearts distorted God’s Word, vs. 16-18
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.
18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.
2. Their hearts adopted culture over God’s Word, vs. 19-26
19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
19 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
#3. Their hearts ignored God’s Word, vs. 27-31
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
So What?!
What are the values of GateWay:
#1. We believe and practice the Bible.
#2. We create transparency in finances.
#3. We are a Pastor led, staff driven and Board policy Church.
A. New Deacon Board nominees and Deacon
re-election.
A. New Deacon Board nominees and Deacon
re-election.
B. New staff members.
Pastor Jeff Stahl: Venture Ministry
Tracey Tingley: M.O.P.S. Director
Courtnee Hoogland: Pre-School Executive Director
Pastor Jeff Stahl: Venture Ministry
Tracey Tingley: M.O.P.S. Director
Courtnee Hoogland: Pre-School Executive Director
Jesus the Philosopher: Answers for Life
Luke 16:14-31, June 9 & 12, 2022
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who do you know who builds friendships successfully? Why do you think they’re so good at it?
Read out loud: Luke 16:14-31
Jesus confronts the Pharisee’s values:
#1. Their hearts distorted God’s Word, vs. 16-18
The Pharisee’s were trying to justify themselves which means they felt they were proving God’s blessing on their lives through the acquisition of wealth, yet God condemns greediness as detestable. How do we as American Evangelicals need to be more generous with the rest of the world? Discuss the difference between assisting people to succeed and enabling them to become dependent. What do you think are the most distorted or misused verses of scripture?
#2. Their hearts adopted culture over God Word, vs. 19-26
The Pharisees felt that the O.T. taught that the rich were blessed by God because of their righteousness and the poor were being punished by God because of unrighteousness. The story of Job was written much earlier than the Pharisee’s history to correct that common near eastern view. Recount the story of Job. How should the rich man have treated Lazarus? Notice in Jesus story the rich man is called a child of Abraham and yet he is in hell!!! The Pharisee’s felt they were going to heaven because they were children of Abraham so they were automatically admitted to heaven, BIG SURPRISE!!! How many people in the U.S.A. think they’re going to heaven because they’re Americans?
#3. Their hearts ignored God’s Word, vs. 27-31
Notice the high view Jesus has of scripture, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” How many people do you know that think Jesus was a good man but probably didn’t rise from the dead, and wasn’t God in human flesh? Paul says, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead we are of most people to be pitied because we’re believing a lie. What most convinces you that Jesus rose from the dead: the disciples testimony, the gospels historical depiction, the disciples martyrdom for their testimony, or the existence of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Family Time: Read Luke 16:19-22 and talk with your kids about how the rich man should have treated Lazarus and how we can treat homeless people with dignity. Mention the Christian ministries that have been started and funded by Christians to help homeless people. The Visalia Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Visalia Emergency Aid, the Women’s Shelter and others.
Luke 16:14-31, June 9 & 12, 2022
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Who do you know who builds friendships successfully? Why do you think they’re so good at it?
Read out loud: Luke 16:14-31
Jesus confronts the Pharisee’s values:
#1. Their hearts distorted God’s Word, vs. 16-18
The Pharisee’s were trying to justify themselves which means they felt they were proving God’s blessing on their lives through the acquisition of wealth, yet God condemns greediness as detestable. How do we as American Evangelicals need to be more generous with the rest of the world? Discuss the difference between assisting people to succeed and enabling them to become dependent. What do you think are the most distorted or misused verses of scripture?
#2. Their hearts adopted culture over God Word, vs. 19-26
The Pharisees felt that the O.T. taught that the rich were blessed by God because of their righteousness and the poor were being punished by God because of unrighteousness. The story of Job was written much earlier than the Pharisee’s history to correct that common near eastern view. Recount the story of Job. How should the rich man have treated Lazarus? Notice in Jesus story the rich man is called a child of Abraham and yet he is in hell!!! The Pharisee’s felt they were going to heaven because they were children of Abraham so they were automatically admitted to heaven, BIG SURPRISE!!! How many people in the U.S.A. think they’re going to heaven because they’re Americans?
#3. Their hearts ignored God’s Word, vs. 27-31
Notice the high view Jesus has of scripture, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” How many people do you know that think Jesus was a good man but probably didn’t rise from the dead, and wasn’t God in human flesh? Paul says, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead we are of most people to be pitied because we’re believing a lie. What most convinces you that Jesus rose from the dead: the disciples testimony, the gospels historical depiction, the disciples martyrdom for their testimony, or the existence of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Family Time: Read Luke 16:19-22 and talk with your kids about how the rich man should have treated Lazarus and how we can treat homeless people with dignity. Mention the Christian ministries that have been started and funded by Christians to help homeless people. The Visalia Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, Visalia Emergency Aid, the Women’s Shelter and others.