Who Are We Willing to See - Luke 16

1. A Prayer For The People of God
Holy God,
you reach out in love through Jesus Christ
to save us so that we may live as
faithful servants of you alone.
Unchain us from our desire
for wealth and power so that
we may, in turn, release others
from the prisons of poverty,
hunger, and oppression.
Amen.

4. Luke 16:19-31
WHO are we WILLING to SEE?

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

6. In Hades, where (the rich man)
was being tormented, he looked
up and saw Abraham far away
with Lazarus by his side.
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.’
Luke 16:23-24

7. 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.
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.’
Luke 16:25-26

8. He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you
to send him to my father’s house—
for I have five brothers—
that he may warn them,
so that they will not also
come into this place of torment.’
Abraham replied,
‘They have Moses and the prophets;
they should listen to them.’
Luke 16:27-29

9. He said, ‘No, father Abraham;
but if someone goes to them
from the dead, they will repent.’
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.’”
Luke 16:30-31

10. Luke 16:19-31
WHO are we WILLING to SEE?

11. DETAILED CURIOSITIES ABOUT HELL
- What will the tormenting be like?
- Is it literal or metaphorical?
- Is it a future or present reality, or both?
- Will it last forever or eventually die out?
- Who will or won’t be there?
- How can we know?
QUESTIONS we AREN’T meant to ASK…

12. QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE’RE LIVING NOW
- Do I see myself as Lazarus, but I’m the Rich Man?
- Who is the Lazarus at my gate?
- Am I willing to welcome them as family?
- What will I do to care for them?
- How can I leverage my privilege for their sake?
- What will happen to them if I don’t?
- What will happen to me if I don’t?
QUESTIONS we ARE meant to ASK…

13. HOMELESSNESS among LGBT+ youth (2017)

14. HOMELESSNESS in LAWRENCE

15. “Love is a rugged
commitment to be
FOR, WITH and UNTO
another person…”
SCOT McKNIGHT

16. “As we spend time with and care
for the poor, or seek to obey
the call to “do justice, love mercy
and walk humbly with God,”
if we only include those we
perceive no potential threat
or inconvenience from, we might
as well stop calling ourselves
followers of Jesus or pretending
we care about what the Bible
undeniably says on such things.”

17. “Today ‘poor’ includes gay men
and lesbian women; bisexual
and transgender people;
intersex and asexual people;
black, white, native, Jewish,
Muslim people; immigrants;
refugees; disenfranchised
voters; Palestinian Christians
living in Israel; basically:
anyone who is poor,
vulnerable, or in need.”

18. DARE Center (Drop in And REst) – 944 Kentucky

19. “You say you love the poor.
Name them.”
GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ

20. Luke 16:19-31
WHO are we WILLING to SEE?

21. Benediction
Holy God, you reach out in love
through Jesus Christ to save us
so that we may live as
faithful servants of you alone.
Unchain us from our desire
for wealth and power so that
we may, in turn, release others
from the prisons of poverty,
hunger, and oppression.
Amen.