Philemon - Reading Service and Introduction
It Takes Character
Pastor John Talley
Part of Philemon
April 25, 2022

Please follow along in your Bible as we read the book of Philemon together as a church. We also encourage you to take notes and ask questions. If you’re not part of a small group, this is a great opportunity to join one.

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1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you–I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus– 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother–especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it–to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. —The Epistle of Paul to Philemon


I. Introduction to Philemon

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Conflict within the body of Christ is

but it needs to be seen as God’s way of .

II. Philemon’s Character 4-5

  • A. His character considered 4
    1. Paul’s thanksgiving
    2. Paul’s prayer
  • B. His character commended 5
    1. Paul’s measurement of maturity – Faith, Hope, and Love
    2. Paul’s focus is on the present so hope not mentioned
    3. Philemon’s love and faith are properly focused

A genuine faith will manifest itself in a

and a desire to please through for the .

III. Philemon’s practice 6-7

  • A. His potential sharing 6
    1. What he is to share – Fellowship of your faith
      a. Fellowship = enjoying one another/mutual sharing partnership
      b. Effective = energy or powerful
      c. Full knowledge = fullest extent of the Gospel
    2. Why is he to share – For Christ’s sake
  • B. His present caring 7
    1. What it causes – refreshed “military term resting from a march”
      a. For Paul
      b. For the Saints
    2. What it accomplishes
      a. Brings rest & renewal to those in conflict
      b. Peacemaking

When we understand the extent that Christ went to heal our broken relationship it should

to be an instrument of in the broken relationships we encounter.


Small Group Questions

  1. How did God speak to you today through the reading of His Word? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

  2. What questions came to your mind as His Word was read today?