Curriculum

The Rich Man and Lazarus

The Rich Man and Lazarus Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Jesus told another story about a rich man and a beggar. Because the rich man was selfish and kept all his riches to himself, he couldn’t join the beggar in heaven. Jesus saves us and invites us to live like Him.

Scripture Summary

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He often taught eternal points using everyday stories, called parables. In this parable, Jesus told a story about a rich man and a beggar, whose name was Lazarus, and what happened after they died. The Lazarus in this parable should not be confused with Jesus’ friend Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.

The religious leaders—or Pharisees—saw wealth as a sign of righteousness. As he did with many of His teachings, Jesus challenged the legalistic and law-focused religion of the day. Instead, Jesus offered a new way of thinking, a new way of living.

In the parable, Lazarus sat outside the rich man’s property begging for food. The rich man went to hell, and Lazarus went to heaven. The rich man didn’t go to hell because of his wealth; he went to hell because of his selfishness and the way he used his wealth for selfish gain.

While the two didn’t interact while living, the rich man knew about Lazarus and asked Abraham to let Lazarus give him water and warn his family of hell. Abraham denied the rich man’s requests, saying that if his family didn’t pay attention to Moses or the prophets, they would surely ignore any messenger from the dead.

Why Is This Important

Jesus wants us to live with Him in heaven. He offers each of us salvation and a new way of life where we freely share what we have to help others.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30)

I often want to hold too tightly to my own life—my accomplishments, my desires. The thought of becoming less and less can create in me a sense of fear and an attempt to advocate for myself and for what I think I desire.

This is a Scripture rich with love. It’s not trying to convey a demeaning action or devaluating process.

I can attempt to hold on to my false self and die. Or I can live in my true identity—being a beloved child of God—and focus my attention on God and His purposes. He’s perfect. He is love. There’s no risk to “letting” Him become greater.

When I become less and less, I find more of who I truly am.

While this is one of the great paradoxes in Jesus’ message, I wonder if we could take a practical approach to the “less and greater” message. Did you notice that God becomes greater before we become less? I remember a beautiful example of this, written by Sheridan Voysey.

  • I receive Your love and release my insecurity.
  • I receive Your joy and release my unhappiness.
  • I receive Your peace and release my anxiety.
  • I receive Your patience and release my impulsiveness.
  • I receive Your kindness and release my indifference.
  • I receive Your goodness and release my ungodliness.
  • I receive Your faithfulness and release my disloyalty.
  • I receive Your gentleness and release my severity.
  • I receive Your self-control and release my self-indulgence. Whatever I’m facing today, I can allow God to be greater and greater in my life.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your willingness to become greater and greater in my life. Please help me embrace becoming less and less in my own life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bible, “Rich Man, Poor Man” handouts, Colored pencils

Get Ready: Before class, print the “Rich Man, Poor Man” handout, one per child.

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.” (Luke 16:19-21)

Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:

  • Open your Bible to Luke 16:19-21.
  • Read the Bible memory verse several times and invite kids to repeat phrases after you.
  • Give each child a handout and set out colored pencils to share.
  • Invite kids to draw the scene in the blank space provided and fill in the missing words at the bottom.
  • Have the class recite today’s Bible memory verse several times together.

SAY: Great job learning today’s Bible memory verse! Today we’re learning that we have to make the choice to place our trust in Jesus. It’s only through Him that we find true salvation.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bible, Robe or suit jacket, Torn bed sheet or old towels

  • Open your Bible to Luke 16:19-31.
  • Read aloud the passage.
  • Choose one child to be the rich man and give him or her the robe. Choose another child to be Lazarus and give him or her the torn bed sheet to wear.
  • Explain that you’re going to read the passage again. This time, the kids will act out each character’s part.
  • Invite the rest of the class to listen for words or phrases that stand out to them as you read.

ASK:

  • What can we learn from the rich man?
  • Which words or phrases stood out to you in this passage?

SAY: Even though he didn’t have very much when he was on earth, Lazarus trusted in God to take care of him. Let’s learn more about that now.

Snack

Poor Man’s Sandwich

You’ll Need: Plates, Napkins, Plastic knife, Small bowl, Tortillas, Butter, Cinnamon, Sugar, Plastic spoon

Get Ready: Before the snack, have kids clean their hands. Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl.

Follow these steps for the “Poor Man’s Sandwich” snacks:

  • Give each child a plate, a napkin, and a tortilla with butter on it.
  • Help kids sprinkle cinnamon sugar across the tortilla.
  • Roll up the tortilla.
  • Enjoy!

ASK:

  • What does Jesus teach us with the story of the rich man and Lazarus?

SAY: We have to choose where we will place our trust. We can trust in God, or we can trust in ourselves. If we put our trust in the wrong thing, we will end up like the rich man, wishing we could have another chance.

Game

Rich Man, Poor Man Relay

You’ll Need: Large playing area, Bag of raggedy old clothes (5 to 10 items), Bag of nice, dressy clothes (5 to10 items)

To play the “Rich Man, Poor Man Relay,” have kids follow these steps:

  • Form two teams, and have each team choose one child to be the model.
  • Place the two bags of different clothing at one end of the room and have teams gather at the opposite end.
  • When you say “go,” the two models will stay put while the rest of the team members run to collect their bag of clothes.
  • Teams will race to dress their models as the rich man or poor man.
  • The first team to dress their model wins.
  • Have both models walk the runway for the class to see.

ASK:

  • What did the rich man ask for?
  • What happened when the poor man died?

SAY: Just like the rich man and the poor man, we have to decide whether we want to live for God or live for ourselves.

Craft

Rich Man and Lazarus

You’ll Need: Round wood peg clothespins, Scissors, Fine-tipped markers, Glue, Purple felt, Burlap

Have kids follow these steps to make the “Rich Man and Lazarus” craft:

  • Give each child two round wood peg clothespins, purple felt, and burlap.
  • Invite kids to wrap one clothespin in purple felt to represent the rich man, and the other in burlap to represent Lazarus.
  • Have kids glue the materials in place and finish by drawing a face on the round head of each clothespin.

SAY: Great job creating your “Rich Man and Lazarus” crafts! Take these home as a reminder that Jesus gives us the choice to follow Him. It’s only through Him that we have salvation.

Prayer

Poor Man Prayers

You’ll Need: “Rich Man and Lazarus” crafts

Follow these steps to lead kids in prayer.

  • Have kids spread out around the room while holding their crafts.
  • Remind kids that in today’s Bible passage, they learned about a man who had favor on earth but overlooked those in need who were right in front of him.
  • Invite kids to pray silently to themselves and thank Jesus for the salvation that is found in Him alone.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear Father, we trust in Your unfailing love; our hearts rejoice in Your salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.