Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 45- to 60-minute lesson plan to supplement “The Parables of Jesus: The Rich Man and Lazarus.” It goes with the lesson objectives, “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b); and “Gain a deeper understanding of what it means to give” (Character Building: Personal Responsibility: Generosity-2a).

A tip for preparing the children for the teachings of this lesson plan would be to have already taught them the class “Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Rich Fool.”

Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Rich Man and Lazarus. If you wish, you could also watch “The Rich Man and Lazarus: Luke 16 Sunday School Lesson Resource.”           

Explain how this teaching was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees ridiculing Him after He had spoken about the importance of handling physical riches properly.

Read Luke 16:10–13 and talk about what Jesus was teaching in this passage.

Remind the children of the class “Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Rich Fool” and have a brief discussion about what they learned from that class regarding the importance of giving and sharing with others.

Read Luke 16:14–15 and ask the children why they think these Pharisees were so offended by what Jesus said that they chose to ridicule Jesus.

Reread “The Parables of Jesus: The Rich Man and Lazarus,” or read it here in Luke 16:19–26.

Discuss together what points Jesus is making in this parable. Various points to bring out would be:

1. The rich man wasn’t using his riches correctly. It wasn’t bad that he was rich, but he should have used some of those riches to help care for Lazarus or others in need.
2. Though Lazarus suffered in this life, he was well cared for in the next life (heaven).
3. The rich man enjoyed his riches in this life and didn’t save up any riches for the next life, which he could have done by using some of his wealth to help others.

Read Luke 16:27–31.

Explain that at this time in Israel, people were well versed in the teachings of Moses. Therefore, the rich man’s brothers already knew what was the right way to live, as had the rich man before he died, and this was why Abraham said he would not send Lazarus back to warn his brothers.

You can ask the children why they think that the rich man’s brothers would, therefore, not listen to someone who had returned from the dead. A likely reason would be that someone returning from the dead would be giving the same message from God that Moses and the prophets had given in their teachings. So they had already rejected God’s message.

Listen to or read “An Audio Bible Adventure: Salvation for a Swindler.”

Ask the children what differences they see in this story about a rich man. Points to bring out would be:

1. Review “Crazily Cool Cards Set: Giving.”
2. Listen to “Give a Little, Get a Lot.”