Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Lesson 4 • February 21 & 22
Session Title: Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Bible Passage: Luke 16:19-31
Big Picture Question: What is heaven? Heaven is the place where God is.
Key Passage: Matthew 13:11
Unit Christ Connection: Jesus taught in parables so His followers would understand how to live in anticipation of
His second coming.
LEADER BIBLE STUDY
In Luke 16, Jesus taught His disciples about money. The Pharisees listened, and they did not like what they heard.
The Pharisees loved money. (See Luke 16:14.) Then Jesus told them a parable about two men. The first man was
rich, wearing expensive clothes and feasting daily. The second man, whose name was Lazarus, was poor and sick.
He sat outside the rich man’s gate. Lazarus suffered greatly, and he died. Then the rich man died too.
Nothing the rich man had on earth helped him in eternity. The parable reveals that the rich man went to Hades.
Hades is a Greek word that translates to “hell,” the place of the dead. Luke says that the rich man was in torment
there. (Luke 16:23) He looked up and saw Abraham, the father of the Jewish faith. At Abraham’s side was the poor
man, Lazarus.
Lazarus was comforted in heaven while the rich man suffered in hell. There is a great chasm between heaven and
hell, and no one can cross it. No one can change his mind and trust in Jesus after he has died.
Remember that having wealth on earth is not a sin, and living in poverty is not a one-way ticket to heaven. Lazarus
was saved by faith, but the rich man was consumed by his wealth. He devoted his life to living in luxury, and he did
not love God or other people. In his suffering, he asked Abraham to warn his brothers.
Abraham refused. Sending Lazarus would not help. The rich man’s brothers had access to God’s Word, and
Scripture is clear about salvation. Even a miracle would not convince the brothers, as Jesus raised His friend
Lazarus from the dead and the religious leaders still plotted to kill Him. (See John 11:43-53.)
As you teach kids about Jesus’ parable, clearly share the gospel. Getting into heaven has nothing to do with whom
you know, what you wear, or what you do. Entering into heaven requires faith in Jesus, the Son of God. The Bible
says those who trust in Jesus will be with God forever, but those who reject Him will suffer without God forever.
Welcome Activity (15 minutes)
Playground (15 minutes)
Large Group Chapel (20 minutes)
Small Group Activities (15 minutes)
Snack and Transition (10 minutes)
Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide
Unit 30, Session 4
© 2014 LifeWay
WELCOME ACTIVITY
Talk about needs vs. wants
Supplies: “Needs & Wants” cards will be cut apart for you
Tell the children that a need is something they cannot live without, and a want is something that they can live
without. Then hold up two of the provided pictures, one that is a need and one that is a want. Ask the children
which is the need and which is the want. They can point to the need first and then to the want.
Say • God promises to provide for all of our needs. He does not promise to give us everything we want. Jesus told a
story of two men. One man had everything he needed and spent his life trying to get everything he wanted. The
other man didn’t even have everything he needed, but he put his trust in God. We will find out what happened to
these two men after they died.
PLAYGROUND
LARGE GROUP CHAPEL
Music
“Mighty, Mighty God”
 Our God is mighty! What are some examples of how we know this to be true?
 What are some ways that God serves us?
 Marvelous! Matchless! Magnificent! What are some other ways we can describe God?
“I Will Love and Serve You”
 What are some things God has given us that show us His love?
 What are some ways we can show Jesus we love him?
 How can we serve others to show we love Jesus?
Introduce the Bible story
Once the children are seated, talk about sharing. Discuss why it is hard to share toys, food, clothes, and so
forth.
Say • In our story today, a man had everything he needed on earth. He was very rich. He thought his riches
meant he would go to heaven when he died. Jesus told this parable to teach others about God’s kingdom.
When Jesus was on earth, He explained that some people who could not understand the stories He told. This is
because people need God’s help to understand the truths about His kingdom.
Read the key passage aloud several times. Remind the children that the words in the key passage are Jesus’
words.
Watch or tell the Bible story
Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide
Unit 30, Session 4
© 2014 LifeWay
The Bible Story: Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:19-31
Jesus had been teaching His friends. He told them stories to help them learn about God and His kingdom.
One day, Jesus told His friends a story about a rich man and a poor man.
Jesus said, “A man was very rich. Every day, he dressed in nice, purple clothes made of the finest cloth. He ate
wonderful foods—whatever he wanted. But another man sat at the gate of the rich man’s house. This man was
poor, and his name was Lazarus. Lazarus did not have nice clothes made of the finest cloth, and he did not eat
wonderful foods.
“Lazarus was hungry. He wished he could eat the crumbs and bits of foods that fell off the rich man’s table
onto the floor. But Lazarus could only sit outside the rich man’s house.
“One day, Lazarus died. The angels carried him to heaven, and Abraham was there. The rich man died too,
and he was buried. The rich man did not go to heaven.
“The rich man looked up, and he saw Abraham far away in heaven with Lazarus. The rich man called out to
Abraham. ‘Father Abraham!’ he said, ‘Be kind to me! Send Lazarus to help me. I am hurting!’
“Abraham said, ‘Son, remember what your life was like. You had so many good things—riches, nice clothing,
and wonderful foods. Lazarus had nothing but trouble in his life. Now Lazarus is comforted here, and you are
hurting.’
“The rich man said, ‘Then father Abraham, please send Lazarus to my father’s house on earth. I have five
brothers there. Lazarus could warn them so that they will not come to this place of sadness and pain too.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Your brothers have the Scriptures. They should read and learn from that.’
“The rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham! If someone came to them from the dead, then they will be sorry for
their sin. They will turn away from their sin and turn to God.’
“Abraham said, ‘If they do not listen to the Scriptures, then they will not listen to someone who came back
from the dead.’ ”
Christ Connection: People who know and trust in Jesus love Him more than anything else. Going to heaven is
not about whom you know, what kind of clothes you wear, or what you do. People who trust in Jesus, God’s Son,
will be with Him forever.
Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide
Unit 30, Session 4
© 2014 LifeWay
Talk about the Bible story
Ask the following review questions.
What was the rich man’s life like? (He dressed in nice clothes. He had a nice house. He ate wonderful
foods.)
What was the poor man named Lazarus’ life like? (He was hungry. He didn’t have a house, but sat
outside the rich man’s house.)
Where did the rich man go after he died? (to a place without God, where he was in pain)
Where did Lazarus go when he died? (to heaven, where he was no longer hungry, hurting, or sad)
What is heaven? Heaven (flat hands point to each other at eye level, move to center of forehead with
flat palms outward) is a place (middle fingers begin by touching each other, hands circle back
towards the body and the fingers come together again) where God (hand moves up and down center
of face) is.
What did the rich man want Lazarus to do? (to go to the rich man’s father’s house and tell his
brothers how to go to heaven)
Where can we learn about God and how to get to heaven? (in the Bible)
Say • People who know and trust in Jesus love Him more than anything else. Going to heaven is not about
whom you know, what kind of clothes you wear, or what you do. People who trust in Jesus, God’s Son, will
be with Him forever.
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES
Make good news cards
Supplies: “Newspaper Hearts,” construction paper cut to 6x9 inches, washable markers, glue sticks
Give each kid construction paper, markers, and glue sticks. Invite them to fold their construction paper in half and
make a card to give a friend or family member who does not know about Jesus. Guide them to glue the newspaper
heart to the front of the card, and help kids print Good news! Jesus loves you! on the heart. Talk about the good
news about Jesus.
Say • What is heaven? Heaven (flat hands point to each other at eye level, move to center of forehead with flat
palms outward) is a place (middle fingers begin by touching each other, hands circle back towards the body and
the fingers come together again) where God (hand moves up and down center of face) is. People who trust in Jesus
will one day be in heaven after they die. It is important to tell people we love about Jesus so they can turn away
from sin and trust in Him, too!
SNACK AND TRANSITION
Enjoy your snacks and practice the Big Picture Question together while you eat. Be sure to place a Big Picture
Question Sticker on each child while you practice.
Lead the children through a prayer time, asking God to remind them throughout the week that heaven is a place for
people who know and trust in Jesus. Pray silently for each child to one day repent and put their trust in Jesus.
Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide
Unit 30, Session 4
© 2014 LifeWay