Homiletical Outlining an Expository Sermon Introduction

An expository sermon tries to illustrate, explain and give the practical application of scripture in life. It aims at helping the audience to identify the factual interpretation of scripture in their life. Such a stance is an ideal of high order. It is a reigniting of the preacher’s soul that glistens with conviction and an enthusiastic touch (Knott, 1930; Hamilton, 1992). Every writer and preacher broaching homiletics views expository sermons as an approach par excellence. The preaching of expository sermons is a fabulous area for the preacher. It inspires the preacher, profoundly, to study scripture. Expository preaching encourages the preacher to look for sermon content from the Bible as opposed to other sources such as works of science and philosophy. It is a misplaced notion to think that the Bible isn’t as rich in material for sermons as those other sources. Most people who think that the Bible is boring, and that it lacks such material hold that view because of their ignorance about the Bible (Brosend, 2017; McDill, 2006). This essay is an expository sermon example derived from Luke 16: 19-23.

Rich Man and Lazarus Sermon Outline

Scripture ref: Luke 16:19-23

SUBJECT: Covetousness

TITLE:  Lazarus and the Rich Man

Type: Expository

PROPOSITION: To examine the narrative of the rich man and Lazarus, and notice: 1. Characters, 2. The Circumstances, 3. The rich man’s cries, 4. Story conclusions

OBJECTIVES: Everyone in the audience should be in a position to understand the story, explain and repeat.

AIM: To make everyone familiar with the story and to render lessons to the audience so as to make sure that people do not find themselves in similar predicament as the rich man.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Reading of Luke 16:19-23

2. About text

i. The context begins at Luke 16:13 onwards

ii. The contrast between service to God and to the mammon (v.13)

iii. The overhead covetous Pharisees (v.14)

They made themselves just before the eyes of men….

a. They rejected John the Baptist

b. They refused to acknowledge what the law said

c. They lived lawlessly in their marriage activities

v. The story starts in the following context

3. NOTE: Is this just a parable?

i. Jesus mentions an actual person in the story (Lazarus). It is a departure from the form of parables

ii. Parables are stories from earth with a meaning drawn from heaven. This one is a story with a spiritual warning

iii. The story highlights Abraham being alive; Jesus reaffirms the story to the Sadducees (Mathew 22:32)

iv. If the outcomes of the story are unreal, then we need to examine

a. Deprive the story

b. The story has a warning with regard to eternal death

v. What’s the motivation for looking at it as only a parable

vi. However, even if it is assumed that it is a parable, it would not of necessity mitigate the truth of the content. Parables are drawn from TRUE and REAL life situations. They are not fictitious.

DISCUSSION:

I. THE CHARACTERS

1. Rich Man

i. Is Described as rich

a. Self satisfied.

Independent.
ii. In Purple clothing

a. Purple was a known color of royalty and wealth

b. Jesus was dressed in a purple rob before crucifixion (John 19:2, 5).

c. Lydia traded in purple garments (Acts 16:14).

iii. Fine linen

a. The rich man’s clothing too

b. Genesis 41:42 – Joseph

c. 1 Chronicles. 15:27 – David when bearing the ark on his journey back to Israel

iv. Fared sumptuously.

a. A robust and healthy individual

b. Dining in finesse

c. All life’s indulgences

2. Lazarus

i. Beggar

a. Relies on charity for food needs

b. Depend on others for all their needs

ii. Laid at a gate

a. Shows that he was put there by someone

b. Could not find his way around

iii. Full of sores.

a. Signals physical health

b. His health was waning

iv. Desired crumbs

a. Doesn’t show a desire for anything else apart from being hungry

b. The only thing he wanted were the leftovers

c. Only the small portions to keep him alive

v. Dogs licked his sores

a. It shows that he was helpless

b. He was not given medical attention by anybody else

c. They were his only company

II. THE CIRCUMSTANCES

1. Lazarus passed on.

i. The angels carried him.

a. Although he did not have anyone to care for him on earth, he was cared for in death

b. He was no longer lonely

ii. He ended up in Abraham’s bosom

a. The expression refers to someone who has gone to paradise

b. Abraham indicated salvation, in Mat. 8:11

iii. He was now comforted (vs.25).

2. Rich man died

i. Explains he was “buried.”

a. may be , an elaborate funeral was all he got when he died

ii. Found himself in hades/hell

a. The unseen realm

b. A place for those who have died

iii. The rich man was in a place of torments

a. States that he was tortured in flame(vs.24)

b. Raises his head to see Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham

III. THE CRY FOR SELF

1. Take not that it is only the rich man who cries

i. Lazarus cried when he needed help in life

ii. Lazarus does not cry any more

2. The rich man’s cry is for self.

i. He cries “ have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water so as to cool my tongue; I’m tormented in this flamer” (v.24)

ii. Take note of the cry by the rich man for self and the irony therein.

a. Lazarus cried and sought help from the rich man, when he was still alive

b. Now the rich man cries out to Lazarus for help

c. Lazarus didn’t seek much in his life; only wanted bread crumbs from the rich man’s table

d. Similarly, the rich man wasn’t asking for anything much; only a water drop

e. It was not given to Lazarus when he was alive

f. Similarly, it was not given to the rich man when he died

3. Notice Abraham’s answer.

4. i. Remember son, that in your…