Today's passage: Philemon 23-25

Helpful thoughts:

• Epaphras is mentioned in Colossians 4:12-13.
• The listing of Mark's name especially could have also served to remind Philemon and the church at Colossae of broken relationships being restored. (Colossians 4:10, Acts 15:38-40, 2 Timothy 4:11)
• A church is people, covenanted together to follow Jesus.  It isn't a place you go.  It isn't just a preaching post or a place to get a music gig or express your talents.  It is a group of people who seek to love each other, serve one another, serve others, and follow Jesus together.

Questions to consider:

1. What did Paul call all of these men on his list?  Besides sending their greetings, what did he call them?  What are some of the “works”/”labors” you are doing to serve the Lord and your brothers and sisters in Christ?
2. Why did the church want to know how Epaphras was doing and vice-versa?  What are some ways we can be an encouragement to our missionaries who have gone elsewhere to serve the Lord?  Might there be people from our church whom God would call to go in the future?
3. What would be the fruits of Paul's prayer in verse 25?

Today's passage: Philemon 17-22

Helpful thoughts:

• The one who formally was a slave was to be counted as equal to the Apostle Paul.  The Apostle Paul was happy to count himself a slave to Christ.
• Options are presented for reconciliation:
  • Paul was willing to pay the price for Philemon's and Onesimus' reconciliation.  (A picture of Christ's work on the cross on our behalf)
  • Philemon could choose to forgive the debt.
  • If Onesimus had the means to repay, he could have done that as well.
• It brings great joy to our hearts when brothers/sisters in Christ are reconciled to each other.

Questions to consider:

1. What would be necessary for Philemon and Onesimus to be reconciled?  If Onesimus asked for forgiveness but Philemon did not grant it, would they be reconciled?  If Philemon told Paul he was willing to reconcile but treated Onesimus poorly, would they be reconciled?
2. How does the love of God and Christ's sacrifice (The gospel!) give us our road map for reconciling our relationships?  What has God done for you which equips and motivates you to forgive others?
3. How would the way Philemon and Onesimus handle their relationship have affected the health of the Colossian church?  What do unresolved conflicts do to the church?  How does resolution fuel health and growth?

Today's passage: Philemon 8-16

Helpful thoughts:

• Though Paul had the prerogative to give a command, he wanted Philemon to respond in willful love.  He gave Philemon freedom to do the right thing.
• Before his conversion, Onesimus was a detriment to Philemon in earthly ways.  As a new brother in Christ, Onesimus was now of great value in eternal ways.
  • Onesimus' name means, “Useful.”  This was evidently a common name for slaves in that day.
• The kind of slave Onesimus was is not the same as the slavery in our nation's history.
  • The servant and the master were fully brothers in Christ.  Equal in the eyes of God and each other.

Questions to consider:

1. How might the book of Philemon have been useful in eliminating the use of slavery as a social construct?  Not just based on race, but even also in an economic or social class kind of system which would have been the kind of slave Onesimus was?
2. Why did Paul allow for Philemon to welcome Onesimus back by his own choice, in love?  What was Paul allowing Philemon to do which he was also asking Philemon to allow Onesimus to do?
3. In what way have we been set free from our bondage to sin in Christ?  In what way should we see ourselves as slaves to Him and desire to be found, “useful?” (Romans 6:15-23)

Today's passage: Philemon 4-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul's prayer concerning Philemon:
  • Thanks for the love and faith that is evidenced in Philemon's life, toward Jesus, and toward the church.
  • A request, that Philemon's life and the words he speaks (His faith/The Gospel message) would be effective, producing fruit.
• These observations of fruit are evidence of Philemon's conversion and place in the family of God.
• Faithful, loving ministry and shared participation in the church brings joy and refreshing to everyone.
  • Many people want church to “work” by simply coming to services and leaving.
  • The fellowship of the believers produces fruit and joy when the believers are truly “fellowshipping” together.

Questions to consider:

1. Paul knew a lot of people.  And this is the Bible, so I don't think he was lying when he said he prayed for Philemon often.  How can Paul's example give us encouragement to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ?  Not just the amount of prayer, but the content of our prayers?  What might happen as we are faithful to pray for fruitfulness in ministry for one another?
2. How does this description of the life of a church differ from the way we sometimes think about church in our time and in our culture?  How are your relationships with the people of our church?  How close are we?  How can we grow?
3. If Paul was writing this letter to you, how might he have described the fruits that have come through your faithful service?  What would you ask him to pray for you if you could?  Where in your life and relationships might future fruit come from?

Today's passage: Philemon 1-3

Helpful thoughts:

• Philemon was a member of the church in Colossae (The Colossians).  The church met together in his house.
  • Designated church buildings are unheard of until the third century.
• Paul wrote this letter to Philemon, his family (Aphia and Archippus) and the rest of the church from his imprisonment in Rome.
  • In this letter, Paul did not immediately appeal to his authority as an apostle, but to the hardship which he was happy to endure for the cause of Christ.  What he was about to ask Philemon to do didn't really compare.
  • In addressing this letter to the whole church, Philemon would have accountability to complete the task Paul is about to ask.
• “Grace to you” appears in all of Paul's letters.
  • God saves us by grace and our salvation brings us peace.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is church membership important?  What has to be happening in the membership of the church to prove its very real purpose?  What kind of church life would convince people that membership was unnecessary or something you would desire to avoid?
2. What would the lack of a building do to the church today?  Would it be the end of the church?  In what ways would it hurt?  In what ways might it be a blessing?  How could thinking through this help us get the best of both options?
3. Why does it matter that Paul equates God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?  What is the doctrinal significance?  Why does it matter that Jesus Christ is Lord?  Can you be a Christian if Jesus is not your Lord?