1. To download a copy of today’s lesson go to TheGoodTeacher.com and click on “Gospel Meetings”

2. After Death… What Then? Lessons From the Rich Man and Lazarus Prepared by Chris Reeves * Mt. Moriah church of Christ Gospel Meeting * July 27, 2007

3. Luke 16:19-31  Is wealth a sign of God’s approval? Some think so (Lk. 16:14).  Jesus confronted those who were lovers of money, pointing them to their eternal destiny (Lk. 16:19-31).  Some have tried to dismiss this passage by saying, “It is only a parable.”  Make no mistake: what happened here will happen to us.

4. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  It is foolish to trust in riches (vv.19,25) Riches can lead us away from God (Mt. 6:19-24) Riches can lead us into sin (1 Tim. 6:9-10)  It’s not what you have, but who you are that counts in life (vv.19-21) The rich man was well off, but not right with God (Lk. 12:20) Lazarus was poor in life, but rich with God (Jas. 2:5)

5. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  The wealthy often ignore and neglect the poor (vv.20-21) Who is your Lazarus (Prov. 21:13; Gal. 2:10; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; Jas. 1:27; 1 Jn. 3:17)?  All men die, rich or poor (v.22) Death is an appointment all will keep (Heb. 9:27)

6. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  Death is not the end of life, but a transition from one life to the next (v.23) There is more to man than a body (Gen. 1:26; 2;7; Eccl. 12:7; 2 Cor. 4:16; Jas. 2:26) The spirit of man lives on after death (Mt. 22:32; Lk. 23:46; Phil. 1:23) There is a life to come (Mk. 10:30)

7. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  Salvation is not universal; not all will be saved (v.23) Lazarus saved and the rich man lost God wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4), but few will be saved (Mt. 7:13- 14,21; Lk. 13:23-24)  Mercy must come from us in this life, before it comes from God in the next (v.24) Are you merciful now (Matt. 5:7; Jas. 2:13)?

8. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  You can go from comfort to suffering, or from suffering to comfort (vv.24-25) Terrible to be lost: the torment of Hell is great (Mk. 9:43-48; 2 Thess. 1:8-9). Wonderful to be saved: the comfort of Heaven is great (Heb. 4:9-11; Rev. 14:17)  You can’t order God around in the next life (v.25) We are judged according to our deeds (Rom. 2:6)

9. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 YYou will be conscious in the next life (vv. 23ff) The doctrine of “materialism” is denied We “see,” “say” and “remember” in Hades OOnce you die your destiny is fixed (v.26) The doctrine of “second chances” is denied The doctrine of “reincarnation” is denied The doctrine of “purgatory” is denied The doctrine of “baptism for the dead” is denied All die once, then the judgment (Heb. 9:27) Judged for what we do today (2 Cor. 5:10; 6:2).

10.  It’s too late for personal evangelism after you die (v.27) Open doors are shut at death (Col. 4:3) Don’t wait until death to be urgent about preaching (2 Tim. 4:6-7; 2 Pet. 1:12-15)  It is possible to judge a person as lost (v.27) We can judge righteously (Matt. 7:1-5) We can judge someone as “lost” (Lk. 15:24)

11. The Rich Man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31  God saves through Scripture, not through miracles, or communicating with the dead (vv.29-30) The doctrine of “spiritism” is denied The doctrine of “Calvinism” is denied The “social gospel” doctrine is denied The Scriptures are all sufficient for salvation (Rom. 1:16; Jas. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).  Some will not let God’s word convince them (v.31) Some are hardened (Jn. 12:40; Acts 19:9)

12. Where Will You Be… One Second After Death?  No more sermons, songs, or study  No more family and friends to encourage you  No more longsuffering and listening  No more opportunities to get it right  Where will you spend your eternity?