Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

In 2010, two books with very similar premises took the country by storm.

These books were both on the best sellers list, sold millions of copies, and movies were made to portray the events that were described within the pages of the books.

Both books had as their main characters young boys who through a vehicle accident in one case and appendicitis in the other, nearly lost their lives.

As a result, the books record in amazing detail what these young men allegedly saw as their lives slipped away.

They recalled what Heaven looked like, what it was like to meet Jesus, and one even recounted meeting a sister that had died prematurely that he apparently had no way of knowing about.

What were these books?

You’ve probably heard of at least one of them.

They were titled “The Boy Who came back from Heaven” by Kevin and Alex Malarkey

and “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo

But there’s more to the story.

5 years later, in 2015, Alex Malarkey who’s alleged story was recorded in the book “The Boy Who Came back from Heaven,” made a public statement that read in part,

"I did not die.

I did not go to Heaven.

I said I went to Heaven because I thought it would get me attention.

When I made the claims that I did, I had never read the Bible.

People have profited from lies, and continue to.

They should read the Bible, which is enough.

The Bible is the only source of truth.

Anything written by man cannot be infallible.

I want the whole world to know that the Bible is sufficient.

Those who market these materials must be called to repent and hold the Bible as enough.

The publisher stopped selling the book the same year that he made this statement.

Now I won’t pass judgement on the other book or story that continues to be promoted and sold, I’ll let you come to your own conclusions on whether or not to believe any such claims.

But I hope that after tonight we can agree that we don’t need such books to strengthen our faith, as the scriptures are sufficient

We begin tonight in a familiar location, turn with me to Luke chapter 16 and beginning in v. 19

We used this parable when talking about death and judgement a few weeks ago, and if you recall I stated that this parable is rich with meaning, including what we used it for then, to show that an immediate judgement takes place at death, and that judgement is carried on for eternity.

Tonight Id like to take a bit more time looking into this parable and drawing out what other lessons we can draw from it.

Moses pronounces a harsh reality on the rich young ruler, “You are here because you neglected scripture”

In essence saying, all this could have been remedied if you would have just listened to Moses and the prophets while you were alive.

and more than that, he says that if someone is not inclined to hear the truth of Scripture, then they won’t pay attention if someone comes back from the dead.

Moses tells the rich young ruler, the scriptures are strong enough to accomplish what they have been sent to accomplish.

Isaiah 55:6-

Scripture has the power to train and correct

The implication of Abraham is that the rich young ruler was not ignorant of the scriptures, but that he ignored them.

God had much to say regarding the way he expected the poor to be treated by his people

It is clear that the rich young ruler refused to hear what Moses and the prophets had to say, but had he listened, he could have corrected his life before it was too late.

He could have had Lazarus brought in and cared for, or at the very least, provided means for him to be cared for.

Scripture has the power to rebuke

Stones to bread

Throw yourself down

Bow down and worship me

Scripture has the power to save

Abraham states that mankind, has within the pages of scripture placed there by the pen of the HS inspired writers what they need to know in order to avoid the fate that happened to the rich ruler.

BUT IT’S HERE THAT WE NEED TO BE EXTREMELY CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING.

PURE HEAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES, CAN NOT, WILL NOT, AND NEVER HAS SAVED ANYONE.

After all, did Jesus not struggle with telling the scribes and pharisees and experts of the law that they were in the express lane to hell unless they repented?

John 5:30-

Jesus says the whole of scripture points directly to Him and just as says

So the reason that the scriptures contain the power to save is because they contain the saving message regarding Jesus Christ as the messiah, the chosen one, the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world.

John 17:6-

For what reasons did Jesus come to earth?

To establish his kingdom, to show the power of the kingdom that he had ultimate power and authority over all things especially evil, to die on the cross and redeem us from our sins.

But he also came to do what he said in

And it was those words that the HS brought to their remembrance, and that the men who penned the NT wrote down so that we can be like those he prayed for in

Church, the scriptures are powerful because they come from God.

Yes he used men to put pen to paper, yes he used their personalities and writing styles, but they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

Church Scripture saves because it carries to us the message of the gospel.