December 8, 2015
CATCHING JOY
Philemon 1–25
Emili McAteer
Central Truth
Being bold and joyful in your faith can ignite a renewed passion for Christ in others.
Key Verse | Philemon 7
Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. (Philemon 1:7)
Philemon 1–25
Greeting
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.
Philemon's Love and Faith
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. 1 1:6 Or for Christ's service 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.
Paul's Plea for Onesimus
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, 2 1:10 Onesimus means useful (see verse 11) or beneficial (see verse 20) 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 3 1:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; twice in this verse 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.
Final Greetings
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.
Dive Deeper | Philemon 1–25
I love this time of year. It is a time to reflect on the months that have passed and consider the blessings that God has provided.
Around this time a few years ago, I was finishing up a yearlong mission trip by spending a month in the Philippines. I had visited several countries over the year, and, with this being the last stop before returning home, I thought I could predict how the month would play out. I had no idea how much God would continue to change my life in those short weeks. Even though I was there to come alongside and help those leading youth groups and AWANA, I learned what it looked like to truly have a servant’s heart driven by the love of God. Everyone from the children, to the student leaders, to the pastor were so on fire for Christ. They would worship, pray, and share their testimonies with such passion it made my heart overflow with joy. It was then that I realized I had fallen into a pattern of complacency, but I was also encouraged by the thought that Christ's love is active and at work inside of me as well.
I began to share my faith and the work that Christ has done in my life with renewed passion and confidence. I learned what it is to live out Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV), which says, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I am so thankful for this experience because now every time the end of the year draws near I can’t help but be reminded of how easy it is to become complacent, even when doing His work.
Discussion Questions
1. How are you sharing with others the love that Christ has shown you?
2. Do you allow God to push you outside your comfort zone in your interactions with others?
3. When was the last time you shared what God has done in your life with someone else?
4. What stirs your affections for Christ and pulls you into a closer relationship with Him?