Message Notes

Light in Darkness: “The Bright Spot”
Pastor Pete Keirstead
October 29, 2023

Pvb 26:20-27, Phile – Heb. 6, Psalm 101-105, Lam – Eze. 11

Lamentations 1:1-2 Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted. She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave. She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks.

Lamenatations 5:17-18 Our hearts are sick and weary, and our eyes grow dim with tears. For Jerusalem is empty and desolate, a place haunted by jackals.

Lamentations 3:22-23 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Philemon 1:8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.

Philemon 1: 8-12 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father…So I urge you to imitate me.

Philemon 1:12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.

Philemon 1:8,9,14,17-19 I could demand it … But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you… I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!

  • The Spiritual Growth Ingredient of Christian , (relationships characterized by authenticity and accountability) is “risky”.

Philemon 1:23-24 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

  • Philemon’s bright spot in spiritual relationships:

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     All scripture is from the NLT unless otherwise noted