FBC Marshallville
February 15, 2026 Clay Burdette
  • The Family Of God
  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin
  • Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

  • The Truth of Christianity

    Luke 16:27-31
    2 Destinations: Heaven or Hell
    Jesus tells us in this story or parable ...
    Of 2 men and 2 destinations
    He described Hell
    He tells of A Desperate Appeal made by the rich man in hell
    Now we see The Truth of Christianity
    You and I need to keep in mind that we live in a world that is diametrically opposed to the word of God.
    The world’s way of thinking is not even close to the reality of God and a Biblical world view.
    What I have learned to this point is that the world tries to keep us from thinking of eternity.
    So we do not even address our own destination.
    Usually if we do address eternity our belief is that somehow we will spend eternity in heaven.
    But just as heaven is real, so is hell.
    Luke 16:27–31 NASB 95
    27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

    The Lie of Worldliness

    Luke 16:30 NASB 95
    30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’
    Listen to the rich man in hell.
    He’s a failure
    Yet he still thinks he knows best.
    Look where his best got him.
    And he dares to tell Abraham no, father Abraham.
    Listen to what he is saying
    If someone goes to them from the dead they will listen
    The world speaks so loudly.
    You don’t need to sell out completely.
    Just go to church some,
    Be sure and pray when you get a chance.
    But change your life? Why? You are living a good life now.
    If you put your time and energy into this you’ll be happy.
    Work is so rewarding.
    Ladies why would you give up a career to raise children.
    Where is the reward in that?
    You’ll be old and all alone if the children become the center of your life.
    You do so much in life you deserve a rest.
    Go ahead, sit down and relax.
    That work will be there when you’re rested.
    All these worldly teachings are Lies.
    God tells us to rest one day per week.
    He gives us 1/7th of our lives for rest besides the sleep period of night.
    He told us to work, to tend the garden even before sin entered the world through Adam.
    Sin simply increased the difficulty of work as part of the curse.
    Jesus told us to come to Him for rest when we grow weary or over burdened. Mat 11: 28
    Matthew 11:28 (NASB 95) 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
    The world’s form of rest is a lie, a deception for true rest can come only through the Lord.
    When I hear of a pastor burning out I know they have neglected time alone with the Lord.
    When we try to live life without the Lord then life does get too hard and we do burn out.
    Not only Pastors but everyone else as well.
    We must learn to rest in the arms of Jesus.
    As far as a complete sell out?
    Jesus says it this way.
    Luke 9:23 (NASB 95) 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
    Deny
    Obey
    Follow
    Luke 14:26 (NASB 95) 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
    Prioritize Jesus
    Put God before everyone including self
    Luke 14:27 (NASB 95) 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
    Carry the cross of obedience
    Obedience-a must
    There is no room for rest, thinking of yourself.
    Luke 14:33 (NASB 95) 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
    All we own must be given to the Lord
    We cannot keep anything for ourselves.
    Jesus, God, The Holy Spirit demand total sellout.
    The world says sellout is unnecessary
    The rich man in hell proves sell out is essential.
    The rich man, even in hell, still thought he knew better than God.
    If someone came from the dead....
    My brothers will believe
    I would have believed.
    Essentially the rich man is saying the Bible isn’t enough.
    The Bible is an unfair system.
    If you gave them a more fair advantage...
    Maybe a few miracles
    Or perhaps a resurrection or 2.
    But the Bible?
    The world lies to us but...
    The real power is...
    Luke 16:31 NASB 95
    31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

    The Power of God’s Word

    Last week we talked about Moses and the Prophets, God’s word.
    God’s word is indeed powerful.
    Hebrews 4:12 (NASB 95) 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    The Bible is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    Consider that for a moment.
    I do not know your heart.
    I cannot tell why you are here this morning.
    I assume you are here to worship God but only God and His word know the intentions of your heart.
    But I can tell you this.
    Even if you are here for the wrong reasons.
    God can change your life anyway.
    The word of God is powerful.
    What convinced you of the need for the Savior?
    It wasn’t some silver tongued preacher.
    It was the HS using the word of God that convinced you of your need for the Savior.
    How many people have set out to prove the Bible wrong only to be convinced of its truth.
    Josh McDowell-Evidence that Demands a Verdict 2 volumes, More than a Carpenter
    A quote from Josh about his reluctance to become a Christian even though he knew truth.
    You would think that after examining the evidence, I would have immediately jumped on board and become a Christian. My mind was convinced of the truth. I had to admit that Jesus Christ must be exactly who He claimed to be. But in spite of the abundant evidence, I felt a strong reluctance to make the plunge.
    There were two reasons for my reluctance: pleasure and pride.
    I thought that becoming a Christian meant giving up the good life and giving up control. I couldn’t think of any faster way to ruin my good times. I was really miserable. I was a walking battlefield. My mind was telling me that Christianity was true, but my will was resisting it with all the energy it could muster.
    During my second year at the university, I became a Christian.
    Somebody asked me, “How do you know you became a Christian?” There are several answers, but one was simple: “It changed my life.”
    cru.org/us/en/how-to-know-god/my-story-a-life-changed/my-story-josh-mcdowell.html
    Lee Strobel-Case For Christ
    After probing the evidence for Jesus for nearly two years, Lee became a Christian in 1981. He subsequently became a teaching pastor at three of America’s largest churches and hosted the weekly national network TV program Faith Under Fire. In addition, he taught First Amendment law at Roosevelt University and was Professor of Christian Thought at Houston Baptist University.
    leestrobel.com/about
    Absolutely the Word of God is powerful
    Look at the last clause of that last verse.
    Luke 16:31 (NASB 95) 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
    Notice the color of those words.
    Jesus says these words.
    He already knew something of what He was about to do.
    Even though He knew some would not believe His resurrection He still died a horrible death.
    In fact He knew some of those He was talking to, who knew Moses and the Prophets so well, would not believe.
    Even today, though one rise from the dead, they still do not believe.
    When I was hospice chaplain in Plainview TX, I witnessed this first hand.
    One of my patients lived in Tulia, a town about 30 miles north of Plainview.
    His wife was a good Methodist and he had attended the church often though not a believer, as he confessed.
    He was approaching death but still able to carry on a good conversation.
    I asked him what he thought about the resurrection of Jesus?
    He looked at me and said, “Well, it sure is hard to believe.”
    Here was a man facing eminent death and he still denied the resurrection.
    Absolutely, even though someone should rise from the dead they still will not believe.
    The Word of God is the proof needed for anyone to believe.
    There is an organization called, The Gideons.
    This organization is made up of business men and professionals.
    They fund themselves and their purpose is to distribute Bibles anywhere they can.
    They believe God uses His Word to save those who read it.
    When I became a Christian it was because of a message from Gods word that I realized the horrible situation I was in.
    Because of that word I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.

    Conclusion

    The Truth of Christianity is the Love of God.
    He pursues us.
    He provides the way of Salvation.
    But He does not force us to follow Him.
    He gives us the option to deny Him.
    The Truth of Christianity is that without our witness all will end up like the rich man in hell.
    It is my prayer that each of us pursue that one whom the Lord puts in our path to make him/her a disciple of Christ.
    Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
    Teaching them to do all the things He has shown us.
    Today, commit to making disciples by sharing the truth of Christianity.

    282 Living For Jesus

    Verse 1 Living for Jesus a life that is true Striving to please Him in all that I do Yielding allegiance glad-hearted and free This is the pathway of blessing for me
    Chorus O Jesus Lord and Savior I give myself to Thee For Thou in Thy atonement Didst give Thyself for me
    I own no other master My heart shall be Thy throne My life I give henceforth to live O Christ for Thee alone
    Verse 2 Living for Jesus who died in my place Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace Such love constrains me to answer His call Follow His leading and give Him my all
    Verse 3 Living for Jesus through earth's little while My dearest treasure the light of His smile Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem Bringing the weary to find rest in Him

      • Luke 16:27–31NASB95PARA

      • Luke 16:30NASB95PARA

      • Luke 16:31NASB95PARA

  • Living For Jesus
  • Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow
FBC Marshallville
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