An Expository Sermon involving Homiletical Outlining

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.
b. 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 lifetime you had good things while Lazarus had bad things. However, he is now in comfort while you are tormented.
a. He was referred to as son by Abraham. The term carried significant meaning among the Jews
b. The rich man was prompted to remember; which could have been his only comfort
c. The rich man received no respite for the torments he got.
i. It states that beside everything unfolding, there was a great gulf between them. Nothing could be passed from one side to the other.”(vs.25, 26).
a. The great gulf was a barrier that one could not jump over to the other side
b. The gulf signals the spiritual state
IV. CRYING FOR THE FAMILY
1. The rich man cried out, “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” (vs.27, 28).
i. He wants to send Lazarus back to his earlier life. He does not consider poor Lazarus , even in death
ii. The rich sought to have Abraham send Lazarus to his five brothers
iii. He wished that Lazarus could relay to the brothers the place of his torments
2. Note the following in Abraham’s response
i. He points out the prophets and Moses have possess the information that was needed by the rich man for passing on to his brothers
ii. Abraham also pointed out to the rich man that his brothers were responsible of HEARING prophets and Moses in their lifetime
3. His reply, the rich man says: “And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.”
i. In his last attempt to save his brothers on earth the rich man says that one that has risen from the dead would persuade more
ii. He states that his brothers were going to repent. It means that they needed to do so.
4. Abraham responds, “And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
i. The information they needed were Moses and the prophets
ii. One that has risen from the dead would not be able to persuade those who had little interest in spiritual engagement.
V. CONCLUSIONS
1. Who do we see ourselves to resemble? Lazarus or the rich man?
i. Note that this story was narrated for the covetous Pharisees to benefit
ii. We need to watch out against covetousness throughout our lives because it is evil
iii. “And he said unto them, Take heed, and be wary of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15 
2. Death is for all
i. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27
ii. The sting of death was evident to the rich man1 Cor. 15:56
3. Two final destinations await man
i. One is either saved or lost
ii. Mathew 25:46 says that the evil shall perish in everlasting punishment while the righteous shall live
4. In his lifetime , the rich man traded good stuff to live in torment for eternity
i. What shall we offer to be saved?
ii. Mathew 16:26 poses a question to ponder: what shall a man profit to gain the whole world and lose his soul?
5. There is no second chance once this life is done with
i. Rev. 21:27 states, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that is defiled, neither whatsoever commits abomination, nor makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
ii. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8
6. The lost ones do not wish their relatives to be lost too
7. The lost ones want us to inform others about the horrors that await in hell
i. Jesus explored the subject of hell more than anyone else in the new testament
ii. It is important to inform others of the torments that await them in hell if they fail to seek God.
8. The lost ones wish that their relatives repent
i. Unless one repents, there can be no salvation; Acts 17:30,31
9. Just like the scriptures were enough to save the rich man’s brothers, they can do the same today.
i. We posses everything needed for Godliness and life via the scripture In Second Peter: 1:3 the scripture states, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”).
ii. The scriptures are enough to make us Gods workmen (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
10. Those who fail to accept the scripture testimony did not even believe one that that had risen from the dead. We have both today
i. There are the scripture (Romans 15:4).
ii. The messiah that resurrected (1 Cor. 15:1-11).
CONCLUSION:
1. We should recall the story of Lazarus and the Rich man and borrow lessons hinged around
i. The characters
ii. The context
iii. The plight of the characters and the cries
iv. The conclusions
2. Invitation
i. If you have fallen away from Christianity and pursued the ways of the world you need to reflect and ponder
a. Whose life does yours look like the most?
b. Don’t you feel the urge to repent today?
ii. If you are a non Christian you need to do the following
a. You need to embrace Christianity to avert the predicament that caught up with the rich man
b. Follow the Christian plan for your life to be saved and enjoy the benefits of salvation for eternity;
· Hear the scripture; “faith comes by hearing...” Romans 10:17
· Hebrews 11:6: believe with the whole of your heart
· Repent (Acts 17:30)
· Matt. 16:16: Confess Jesus as God’s Son
· Accept baptism for your sins to be remitted (Mark 16:15,16) (Robinson, 2014).


References
Brosend, W. (2017). The homiletical question: An introduction to liturgical preaching. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books
Hamilton, D.L. (1992). Homiletical handbook. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group
Knott, H. E. (1930). How to prepare an expository sermon. Standard Publishing Company.
McDill, W. (2006). The 12 essential skills for great preaching (2nd ed.). Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group
Robinson, H.W. (2014). Biblical preaching: The development and delivery of expository messages. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic