The more central God's gospel generosity is in your life, the more radical your generosity will be toward others. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

TEXT: Acts 20:32-35
TITLE:  Redeeming Grace and Radical Generosity
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.

POINTS:
I. Keep Believing the Gospel
II. Live Radically Generous Lives
III. Paul's Personal Example

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Our section of Scripture today is known as Paul's farewell. In 25 and again 38, it says these men would never see Paul's face again. This moment marked the end of Paul's church planting work. In Ch. 21, Paul goes to Jerusalem where he is arrested, an arrest that, in God's providence, saved his life and set him on a course to Rome, where he wished to share Jesus with the Emperor. But in Ch 20, Paul summons the Ephesus pastors to come to see him in Miletus, which is a 50+ mile trip. As he leaves them, he has a few things on his heart.”

“First, in 18-27, he reviews the grace in his ministry and where the Spirit was now leading him. He was going to Jerusalem, not knowing what would happen there. Sound familiar? Think eastside church plant—We are Going Not Knowing what will happen. Then, in 28-31, Paul charges them as pastors to protect the church against fierce wolves, i.e., false teachers and divisive people.”

“Finally, in our text, 32-35, and if we're honest, this is a surprise, Paul exhorts them—wait for it—to generosity. That's right, Paul's final words to these men were simple—It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“To the degree you understand that you are an undeserving sinner saved by the infinitely generous grace of God is the degree to which radical generosity will characterize your life. The greater your grasp on the profound reality that you have an eternal inheritance in heaven that will blow your mind, the more generous you will be with your temporary earthly inheritance. The more you look up, the more open your hands become.” 

“What would your final words to friends you love dearly be? Paul says—Radical generosity is the fruit of redeeming grace.”

“The first thing I want you to see is what Paul says is in 32: I entrust you to the gospel. I set the gospel before you. I want you to remember the gospel. I want the gospel always to be front of mind and heart. I want you to be shaped by the unmerited favor God has shown you in the gospel. I want the reality that you are a sinner saved by grace to touch every area of your life. I want your short time on earth to be informed by your eternity in heaven. Keep the main thing the main thing, and the main thing is the gospel, which all of God's Word points us to—I commend you to God and the word of his grace.”

“That's the last thing Paul says to these men he loves—Live generously. Interestingly, those aren't Paul's words. According to the end of 35, they belong to Jesus. When and where Jesus said this, we don't know because, and I think it's the only instance, these words aren't recorded in the gospels. It's a simple yet powerful call to live radically generous lives. So, Paul's final message is this—Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. Here's the question: Are those two different subjects? Are they disconnected thoughts - Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives. They are not.”

“Paul didn't live a greedy life; he lived a generous life because that's what Apostles do? No, because of the grace of God toward him in the gospel. That's the transforming power of the gospel—Saving grace produces radical generosity. We see this connection in other passages.”

“Paul's exhortation is significant. Whether it's time, money, or possessions, generosity can be pushed out by greed—I keep instead of give. As the antithesis to the gospel, greed is serious because it is the fruit of idolatry. Idolatry is treasuring something more than I treasure Christ. Greed is the expression of the treasuring.”

“Greed is also subtle. If you are committing adultery, you know it. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you. However, greed can be difficult to detect. No one has ever come to me and said—Pastor, I struggle with greed. Can we meet?  I don't think that's because we're absolutely free of greed. There's a reason Keep believing the gospel and live radically generous lives are Paul's final words to these pastors. There's a reason Jesus spent more time teaching about money and possessions than heaven and hell combined, including—It is more blessed to give than to receive. Greed affects us all.”

“We are prone to put the burden of proof on giving rather than keeping. Too often, our starting place is Why should I give? instead of Why would I keep? …Here's the word that exposed my greed: Effortlessness.”

“That's what greed looks like in my life. That greed reveals my idol of leisure and having nice things so I can look successful. Maybe yours is different. The call to steward what God entrusts to you is applied by saving every penny you get. Someone else can help those in need. Someone else can bless others. Someone else can financially support your church's gospel mission. You have a plan to control your world and secure the future you have always dreamed of, and nothing gets in the way. That's greed that reveals your idols of control and security. Here's the truth about idols—they control us.”

Illustration: Little Shop of Horrors— Giant Fly-trap yelling ‘Feed me

“So it goes with the greed and idolatry in our own lives. So, how do we put greed to death and grow in generosity? We could:

• Force the will—Just be generous

• Play on emotion—Think of all the sinners your church can reach through your generosity

• Work the mind—What's the best return on my money

Or we could do what Paul does—I commend you to the gospel:

• Set your mind on the things above where Christ, your inheritance sits, and one day will return to you (Colossians 3:1-4).

• Fix your focus on Jesus, who, though he was rich, became poor so that you, by his poverty, might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

• Have the mind of Christ, who left the glories of heaven, condescended to your world to become a servant and die to secure your highest good—eternal salvation (Philippians 2:5-8).

• Jesus, who was without sin, became sin, for you, so that you might know the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

• In Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and lavished us with the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1).

“What do those passages have in common—they reveal how deeply Jesus treasures you. Let that sink in—Jesus, the sovereign and supreme Lord of all, treasures you. He came for you, was spent for you, and will return for you because he treasures you. How do you measure that? You can't. But you can treasure him back by allowing his redeeming generosity toward you to pour out in radical generosity toward others.”

“Generosity isn't ultimately about a transaction of time, possessions, or money. Radical generosity is a disposition of the heart consumed with the generous love of God in Christ.”

QUOTES:
James Montgomery Boice - “In effect, Paul says, I have not tried to build an earthly fortune. I have not coveted anyone's gold. I have not been in this religion business to become wealthy. The reason I have not done that is I have had my eyes set upon the inheritance laid up for me in heaven.”

John Piper - “If you believe that the wealth of God's grace and the glory of his inheritance are so immeasurable that giving is more blessed than getting, the root of covetousness is severed, and the branch of greed dries up and dies.”

APPLICATION:
Further Study:
- In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul links the generous giving of the Macedonians and Corinthians to the inexpressible gift of Jesus Christ.
- As the early church grew, Luke gives progress reports in Acts 2 and 4, highlighting the centrality of the gospel and the radical generosity toward one another.

Today is Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just days before he would give himself to the most radical act of generosity to mankind—His life-giving death on the cross and his justifying resurrection from the dead.

This Easter, I invite you to evaluate your generosity in light of the cross and resurrection.  

• Where is your generosity effortless and where does it take much effort?

• Where do you put the burden of proof, giving or keeping? 

The answers will reveal your treasure and expose your idolatry. That's hard, but it's good. It will prepare you to apply the good news of God's generous love toward you so that your generosity can increasingly become a radical act of grace in response to grace. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
It Was Finished Upon That Cross
Man Of Sorrows
Jesus Thank You
We Receive

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
EASTER SUNDAY - John 11:25-26

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:17-25
TITLE:  Reconciling Because We Have Been Reconciled
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”In my 30 years as a Christian, 20 of those in pastoral ministry, I have seen countless people come and go from the church. Some for good reasons and in good ways, but if I’m honest, most for bad reasons and in bad ways. In my mind, so many of the bad departures boiled down to one thing—An unwillingness to reconcile.”

“The church is God’s spiritual family; sinners saved by grace and brought into supernatural relationships with one another. And yes, just like any biological family, God’s family gets messy. If you’re new around here, I promise you, at some time, someone in this room will sin against you. Here's the question: When that happens, what will you do?”

“Will you reconcile or run? Will you forgive or flee?  It's human nature to run. But nothing is more out of step with the gospel than an unwillingness to reconcile with a fellow believer because, in the words of John Calvin— The gospel is the embassy of reconciliation.”

“This couldn’t be clearer in Philemon’s situation. We find his situation coming to a head in 17.”

“Paul uses the word partner to describe their relationship. It’s a powerful term that encompasses every aspect of their relationship. In one sense, they are partners in that they are co-laborers in the gospel. But more than business partners, they are brothers in Christ. At the deepest level, their partnership is expressed in their fellowship. They forgive one another. Encourage one another. Spur one another on. Correct one another. Enjoy one another. Challenge one another. Remember 6—koinonia is a gospel fruit that characterizes God’s people..”

“Paul says, just as you would receive me as a gospel partner, receive Onesimus. Welcome him as you would welcome me. Hug him as you would hug me. Take joy in him as you would take joy in me. Labor with him as you would labor with me. Be hospitable toward him as you would me. Look down at 21.”

“Paul was hoping to come to Colossae. When he did, the expectation, as partners, was hospitality. One can imagine what Paul’s stay with Philemon may have been like. Breaking bread. Catching up. Celebrating gospel grace. These men would have respected, enjoyed, and expressed gratitude for each other. Paul says I won’t be there this time, but Onesimus will—Receive him as you would receive me.”

“You know the story, so you know this is a big ask. Onesimus has sinned against Philemon in numerous ways. The nature of the Greco-Roman master-slave relationship demanded Philemon punish Onesimus. Besides guarding his reputation in the community, making an example of Onesimus would make him think twice about what he had done, and it would deter others from doing the same, showing everyone who is boss.”

“Here’s what’s hard for us to get our arms around—It doesn’t matter. What Onesimus did doesn’t ultimately matter. Here’s what matters: Paul, Philemon, Onesimus, and the entire church in Colossae, listening to this letter being read, believe their faith in Christ has made them one. Notice Paul’s language: (20) Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. (23) Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus.”

“Their union with Christ was center stage. This is an application of what we learned in the longer letter to the Colossians: Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all—Colossians 3:11 ESV”

“If Christ is all and in all and we are in Christ, then Christ in one another is all that should matter to us. Paul knows that Christ in Onesimus is all that matters.”

“The If in 18 shouldn’t be seen as casting doubt on whether or not Onesimus wronged or stole from Philemon. Given the context of a desperate runaway slave, it’s very likely Philemon was robbed, even if it was Onesimus’s service. Paul doesn’t give us details, but the church likely knew the details. What we do get is astounding. Paul says—Whatever he owes you, charge it to me. I’ll pay his debt in full. However he has wronged you, I will make it right so that the two of you can enjoy sweet fellowship in Christ. And did you catch what Paul said at the end of 19.”

“Do you see what Paul does here? He reminds Philemon of the basis of their relationship. In doing so, he moves Philemon from being a creditor to a debtor unable to pay the spiritual debt he owes Paul, i.e., he shared the gospel with him. Don’t miss the miracle of grace here.”

“In 18-19, Paul, in a sense, becomes Christ to Philemon. He becomes a mediator between them. Paul owed Philemon nothing, yet he took Onesimus's debt upon himself. He paid it in full so that Philemon, who could never repay Paul the spiritual debt he owed him, could now regard Onesimus as owing him nothing. What a profound expression of imitating Christ and living out the gospel. We are the spiritual debtors, and sin is our currency. Our sin against a holy God is an unpayable debt. As Romans 3 says—All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and no one can remedy their situation by the works of the law. That was Paul. That was Philemon. That was Onesimus. That was us.”

“Jesus, who owed God nothing; he was without sin, took the debt of our sin and paid it in full on the cross. Just as Philemon should regard Onesimus as owing him nothing because Paul paid it all, we owe God nothing because Christ paid it all.”

“This is the good news of the gospel we hope to bring into our relationships with unbelievers. It’s also the good news that shapes our relationships with one another. 1 Corinthians 15:1 says we stand in the gospel, meaning we keep believing it, living it, and allowing it to inform lives, including our relationships, even the most difficult ones.”

“Forgive because you’ve been forgiven. Forgiven people are forgiving people. Reconciled people are reconciling people. However you want to say it, the gospel is the basis for it. And, the gospel is powerful enough for what we cannot do on our own. Paul’s conclusion is telling. Paul knew Philemon. Most of all, he knew God would provide all the grace for Philemon to see his situation with a gospel-centered perspective of his difficult situation. You can hear it in his conclusion.”

“The Yes that begins 20 is emphatic. It's as if Paul says—Great! I'm glad that’s settled. I can’t wait to see you and Onesimus and all the Colossians. The guys say hello!”

“Forgiveness and reconciliation are the difficult expressions of our fellowship with one another. It can be overwhelming and seem unattainable. That’s because we’re proud. I think the other person is the chief of sinners, not me. We want to dump all the blame on the other person. We believe we are owed something. We believe vengeance is ours, not the Lord’s. We don’t want to pay the price that forgiveness requires, which is absorbing the hurt and embracing the offender. So, we disappear, disavow, or disassociate.”

“Illustration: Driving modes for different conditions: Rock, Sand, Mud, Snow - We must guard against making those kinds of distinctions in our fellowship based on how people treat us—them, but not them.”

“Here’s the truth: If we can’t forgive and reconcile with one another, we don’t have true fellowship. Forgiveness is the test of true koinonia. Here’ another truth: Only the gospel, not our reconciliation skills, is powerful enough to move our hearts to GENEROUSLY forgive one another.”

“When we see ourselves and one another as underserving recipients of the gospel, by God’s grace, we are enabled to do what seems humanly impossible and powerfully demonstrates the light of Christ’s glory and heart of God’s love!”

“God loved us enough to send His only Son. Jesus treasured us enough to give his life for us. In this broken world, the Spirit moves among us, empowering us to be reconcilers. And heaven, oh, heaven is the place we will finally and fully bask in the fruit of our reconciliation. Until that day, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation with one another. It’s messy work, but where would we go? We’re family, and Jesus is worthy of it all.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Romans 5:1
Colossians 2:13-14

APPLICATION:
In response to our text and Philemon as a whole, I want to leave us with two questions:

1. Who is your Onesimus?

   Is there someone you are challenged to forgive and need to reconcile with and restore your fellowship? I’m not going to unpack the theology and practice of forgiveness here. For your application, I encourage you to go to our website and listen to the FORGE teaching on being peacemakers. It will equip and encourage you to pursue reconciliation with your Onesimus. And we need to be encouraged, don’t we? In the words of C.S. Lewis: We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.

2. Who do you need to be a Paul to?

   Paul loved the Lord. He loved Onesimus. He loved Philemon. He loved the fellowship their shared life in Christ brought them into. That included the hard parts of fellowship. His appeal wasn’t easy. He chose his approach and words carefully. 

   Are you aware of a brother or sister stuck in unforgiveness and struggling to fellowship with someone because of an offense? Part of your fellowship with that person is to GO be Paul to them. GO be Christ to them. Allow yourself to be used by God as an instrument of reconciliation. If you need help, your pastors are eager to help you. 

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
How Rich A Treasure We Possess
Grace Alone
Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Christ Our Glory
Is He Worthy

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Acts 20:32-35 - The April Offering

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin

By Lundgaard, Kris A.

Buy on Amazon

Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:8-16
TITLE:  Fellowship That Overcomes
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA:

POINTS:
I. A Foundation of Love
II. A Christ-Centered Perspective
III. A Conviction of God’s Sovereignty

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Last week, we saw how Paul prayed for Philemon in 6—May the fellowship you share with others because of your union with Christ be powerfully effective. In 7, Paul followed that prayer with praise for how powerful and effective Philemon’s fellowship had already been in the Colossians church. To know Philemon was to be encouraged, corrected, and cared for in Christ. Rich koinonia characterized Philemon.”

“Philemon is in a difficult situation. His runaway slave has returned home—as a brother in the faith! How will he respond? Will Philemon receive Onesimus into fellowship or exclude him from fellowship? I want to begin by asking you to do something the Spirit has already moved me to do this week: Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?”

“It’s easy to fellowship with the person in lockstep with you. What about a fellow believer you’ve been in conflict with, who is very different from you or is just a difficult person for you, so it’s easier to disconnect from them? Will I receive that person {give them a name and face) into fellowship, or exclude them from fellowship?”

“Here’s what our passage holds out for us: three things that must characterize our hearts if we are to glorify God in our fellowship in difficult situations.”

“Paul was an apostle. And as an apostle, his words carried authority. He alludes to this authority when he begins by saying—though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required. Paul could have commanded Philemon to forgive and receive Onesimus. Instead of demanding, he appeals. The foundation of his appeal is love—(9), yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you.”

“Love is the brand of the Christian life. That doesn’t mean Christian Duty is wrong. To the contrary, it’s biblical. But as a motivator, the law is much weaker than love. Paul is after much more than compliance. Remember his prayer in 6—the sharing of his faith, his fellowship with the saints, would become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in them for the sake of Christ. Paul’s desire for Philemon is a broader and deeper experience of the life he shares with his fellow believers. We see this a few verses later.”

“Paul’s point is that taking Philemon back in complete forgiveness as a brother in Christ must come from a believing heart, not a heavy hand. It needed to come from a heart of love, not a forced necessity. It needed to express the love Paul celebrated in 7 that flowed from Philemon’s faith in and love for Jesus Christ.”

“That’s so important. The cross positions us, and the Bible commands us to live a shared life of fellowship. Praying for one another, gathering with one another, carrying one another’s burdens, reconciling, and being peacemakers with one another, to mention just a few of over 35 one another’s, Scripture commands us to participate in our shared life in Christ.”

“But that duty becomes delight when it’s grounded in love—even the difficult expressions of our fellowship, like forgiving and reconciling with someone who has sinned against us. Duty will only get you so far, but love patiently perseveres, bearing and enduring all things, making our fellowship effective for the glory of Christ.”

“This is the first time Paul mentions Onesimus. In 15, we learn that Onesimus fled Philemon. Verse 18 suggests Onesimus may have been caught stealing from Philemon. Perhaps that’s why he fled—the gig was up. Whatever the circumstance, now 1300 miles away in Rome, he crosses paths with Paul. Paul shared the gospel with him, and Onesimus was saved. Notice how Paul speaks about him.”

“In 10, he refers to Onesimus as his child. The man who came to Paul as a fugitive slave is now his spiritual child. Notice what Paul says in 12.”

“There is deep affection and brotherly love between the two men. Paul isn’t just playing mediator; he is a brother in Christ. Onesimus is a changed man. Somehow, Onesimus crossed paths with Paul. They begin to talk, and Paul finds a way to share the gospel with this fugitive. Perhaps Onesimus had a moment of vulnerability and let Paul in on his situation.”

“Did Onesimus argue or believe immediately? Did they meet repeatedly or just once? We don’t know. We do know that, like the prodigal son, Onesimus is not the same person who fled Colossae. He is transformed by the saving grace of God.”

“Paul makes a play on words here. Onesimus means useful. But up to this point, he has only been useful to Philemon and only for earthly matters. Regarding Philemon’s true work of advancing the gospel and building the church, witnessing to the lost, a work he passionately shares with Paul, Onesimus has been useless as an unbeliever. But now, he joins the heavenly ranks of laboring for eternal things in Christ, which is exactly what he’s been doing in Rome.”

“Was he still a runaway slave—Yes. Did he still need to return and reconcile with his master, Philemon—Yes. But he is not returning home the same person. He had a completely new standing before his master: he was now a brother beloved, identified with Paul, and therefore accepted. If Philemon’s fellowship was going to be effective with Onesimus, it would begin here—A Christ-centered perspective of Onesimus.” 

“Imagine the moment Philemon and Onesimus are in the room. Whatever the moment was like, it had to be complicated. Paul’s words in 15-16 are meant to help Philemon see this problematic situation with the eyes of faith needed for effective fellowship with his new brother in the Lord.”

“Onesimus decided to make a run for it. But without mitigating his guilt or dismissing Philemon’s disapproval, Paul helps Philemon see this through the lens of God’s providence. He helps Philemon interpret this difficult situation through the sovereign hand of God, who is constantly working all things for Philemon’s good (Romans 8:28).”

“This is God’s doing. Onesimus fled from Philemon. But ultimately, God took Onesimus from Philemon. Why? Onesimus was gone for a little while—that you may have him back forever (play on words), not as a slave but as a beloved brother. As a slave in a Christian household, who knows how many opportunities he had to believe. Hearing the gospel in the home. No doubt, church members are praying for him. In God’s design, it took running away 1300 miles smack dab into Paul. Why? God’s plan for Onesimus!”

“Paul could have turned Onesimus in. Instead, he shared Christ with him and said you need to return and make things right. That’s who you are now. You serve a new Master. You do all things for the glory of your heavenly Master. For Philemon, he gets to experience the most powerful fellowship he has ever experienced—forgiving and receiving a runaway slave, no longer as a slave, as his beloved brother in Christ, serving the same Master he serves.”

“To this world, what Paul was asking Philemon to do was revolutionary. But in the kingdom of God, what’s revolutionary is not outwardly following a set of rules but living in step with the realities of the gospel from a changed heart. And today, we must be reminded of the same gospel reality that defines us. Do you want to know how to impact the world? We don’t start revolutions. We fellowship with one another in brotherly love, even with the most difficult or different person because they are a brother or sister in Christ, and our relationship is a providential outworking of God’s sovereignty in our lives. How powerful is that? This is how God changes us and the world.”

QUOTES:
John Woodhouse- “The effectiveness of the fellowship believers share is seen most clearly in difficult situations, where this fellowship changes things in unexpected ways.”

Geoffrey Wilson - “If this letter presented no revolutionary challenge to the social structures of the day, the implications of its teaching were bound to prove fatal to slavery in the end

APPLICATION:
- Will I receive ___________ (multiple names?) into fellowship or exclude them from fellowship?

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
We Give Thanks (Psalm 107)
Sing
Here Is Love
Help Us See Christ
There is One Gospel

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
GUEST PREACHER - Rich Richardson

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

Buy on Amazon

Welcome to the book of Philemon. Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.

SERIES: Philemon: Redemption and Relationships
TEXT: Philemon 1:1-7
TITLE:  Got Fellowship?
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
BIG IDEA: Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in.

SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes, and text emphasis, are taken directly from the pastor’s notes.

”Just 335 words in the original, Philemon is the third shortest book in the Bible. Only 2 and 3 John are shorter. Paul wrote Philemon around the same time he wrote Colossians and Ephesians, 62 AD.”

“It’s different than Colossians and Ephesians. As you read it, you won’t find Paul arguing grand theology. You won’t see him connecting the Christological dots of the gospel to OT promises. You won’t find Paul using his apostolic authority to shape local church polity and liturgy. Philemon is a Christian speaking to a Christian about a personal matter. In a sense, it’s Colossians fleshed out in a real-life situation.”

“Paul intercedes for Onesimus, a slave who has deserted his master, Philemon. Paul crossed paths with Onesimus in Rome, shared the gospel with him, and now he sends him back to Philemon with this letter.”

“Philemon is about redemption and relationships. It’s about how the gospel transforms our relationships by creating true and meaningful fellowship with one another.”

“Verse 1 makes it clear that Paul is writing this letter. Equally clear is who he is writing it to. First, he mentions Philemon, the primary recipient of the letter.”

“Philemon lived in Colossae and was part of the church there. We don’t know when he became a believer, but 19 suggests he was saved under Paul’s ministry. Our text makes it clear that Philemon was a church pillar, serving and hosting. It’s clear from this letter that, unlike most in the Colossians church, Philemon knew Paul and labored in the gospel with him in some way.”

“Paul also greets Apphia, probably Philemon’s wife, and Archippus, possibly a leader in the church, but probably Philemon’s son. Paul’s letter concerns matters in Philemon’s household, so including Philemon’s family would make sense. Paul thought highly of Archippus, encouraging him to fulfill his ministry in Colossians 4:17 and referring to him as our fellow soldier. If Archippus was Philemon’s son, the picture here is beautiful: A young man on fire for God serving in his parent's church. The next generation laboring side-by-side, ready to take the helm. It reminds us of what we are building for here at SGC on the west and east side.”

“Speaking of the church, Paul ends by greeting the church at the end of 2—and the church in your house. So Paul is writing to Philemon about a personal matter, but he is doing it very publicly.”

“Paul finishes his greeting in 3, reminding everyone what has brought them together and what binds them together—the grace and peace of God in Jesus Christ. Every word that follows is an outworking of the gospel that now defines their existence, including the heartfelt appeal Paul is about to make to Philemon.”

“Paul now turns his attention to Philemon. The you’s and your’s from 4 to 21 are singular, meaning Paul speaks directly to Philemon. You can imagine Tychicus reading this letter to the church, repeatedly lifting his eyes to look directly at Philemon. You could probably hear a pin drop.”

“Paul isn’t trying to publicly pressure Philemon. The personal and public nature of this letter speak to the nature and centrality of what Paul is about to commend Philemon to—true fellowship. The first thing Paul does is pour out his gratitude for Philemon.”

“It reads a bit more awkward here, but Paul is commending Philemon for the same thing he commended the church for in Colossians 1.”

“Philemon was an exemplary man of faith. Paul has nothing bad to say or correct about Philemon. His faith in Jesus was strong. He loved the Lord. He longed to please God with his life. And that love and zeal for God bubbled out into his relationships. He loved the church. He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was known for the fruit of the Spirit that should characterize everyone saved and indwelt by the Spirit, a gospel cause and effect according to 1 John 3:14—We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.”

“Whatever strengths Philemon had - Bible knowledge, business skills, or maturity in wisdom - his faith in Jesus and love for the church stood out the most, and all Paul could do was say—Thank you, God!”

“Now, in 6, Paul shifts his prayer from what he sees to what he hopes. This is the key verse in our text. It’s also the most difficult. It sounds like Paul has Philemon’s personal evangelism in mind—the sharing of your faith may become effective. The sharing of faith here is not evangelism—it’s biblical fellowship. Sharing your faith with those in the faith. Sharing your love for and life in Christ with other believers.”

“The word Paul uses for sharing is koinonia. It means fellowship, partnership, or sharing. It communicates the shared life believers have together. It’s the word used to describe the intimate nature of the early church in Acts 2 and the Philippian's devotion to Paul and his ministry in Philippians 1:6.”

“You can’t manufacture koinonia; the gospel creates it. You can’t have this fellowship with your unbelieving friends because it’s rooted in your identity in Christ. Koinonia is between believers— sharing your faith with those in the faith—love, encouragement, forgiveness, correction, learning, burdens, patience, friendship, hope, interdependence—all the blessings we have in Christ, we share with one another, not just intellectually or in theory, but experientially. That’s koinonia. That’s biblical fellowship.”

“You could say it this way: I pray your experience of our shared life together, because of our common faith in Christ, will bring you into a deeper understanding and experience of the blessings we have as a result of our union with Christ for the glory of Christ.”

“Why is Paul praying this way? Paul is about to ask Philemon to do something unheard of, unnatural, and counter-cultural in his day—welcome back his runaway slave, who is now a believer in complete forgiveness as a fellow brother and co-laborer in Christ. Only the power of the gospel is sufficient for this. So Paul prays that the fellowship Philemon knows to be God’s will for and goodness toward His church will now be freely extended to Onesimus, whose life is now bound up in fellowship with Jesus; therefore, his life is now bound up in fellowship with Philemon and the rest of the church.”

“Paul prepares Philemon by drawing his attention to God’s will and his experience of God’s will for His church. Paul’s prayer precedes his appeal because he knows Onesimus’s return to Colossae will be a true test of gospel union and fellowship in Philemon’s home and the Colossians church.”

“We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But we are not alone. The Christian life is personal but not private. When we are joined to Christ, we are joined to one another. In a society that prizes individualism, that can be hard to embrace.“

“It’s easy to think about the church as a voluntary group of people who meet on Sundays because they share the same doctrinal beliefs or ministry paradigms. But the most intimate expression of our doctrine and the most powerful testimony to our ministry is our fellowship with one another.”

“God uses our mutual fellowship to strengthen our faith, conform us to Christ, lighten our burdens, enlarge our sense of awe and wonder of Christ, and shine as a bright light in our dark world. Koinonia is a powerful thing.”

“If Paul knew our church I know he would say the same thing, even calling some of you out by name. The question remains: Are you in fellowship? The path to meaningful fellowship doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. Start with your church family. Start small.”

“Biblical fellowship is a powerful blessing. Fellowship expresses our dependence upon one another. Fellowship is central to our partnership. That is not a SGC thing; it’s a gospel thing. It’s a Bible thing. It’s a God thing. Got fellowship? If not, you are missing out in a big way on what God has for you.”

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Colossians 1:3-4
1 John 1:3

QUOTES:
David Garland - “Paul is referring to the mutuality of Christian life which springs from a common participation in the body of Christ. Shared faith in Christ has a bonding character and welds us to others who share the same experience of faith.”

David Garland - “The spiritual well-being of the congregation will always be demonstrated publicly by the well-being of its social relationships. The reconciliation of a disloyal slave with his master as brothers in Christ speaks volumes to the community within and without. It demonstrates how Christian faith recasts all relationships and how Christ reconciles all things to himself.”

APPLICATION:
There’s one big question for us today: Got Fellowship?
- What do you see most in others? What makes you say—Thank you, God!—when someone comes to mind?
- Are you in fellowship? Do others know you, and do you know others in your church? Not simply by name, but do you spiritually KNOW them, and do they spiritually KNOW you?

• Come to church early and stay late so you can get to know people. Rushing in late and rushing out early doesn’t help. 

• Grab a lunch after church with someone. 

• Open your home.

• Accept the invitation into someone else’s home. 

• Join a CG, a context to share life your life in Christ—the ups and downs, good and bad, triumphant and tragic—with fellow believers.

- We’re all busy, the question is, What am I busy with? But if Fellowship is a powerful blessing God calls every believer to flourish in, then we must make time for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to be busy with koinonia.

SONGS FROM THIS SUNDAY:
Our Song From Age To Age
How Vast The Love
The Steadfast Love of Christ
God Is Faithful (Psalm 114)
Reformation Song

NEXT WEEK’S PASSAGE:
Philemon 1:8-20

THE BOOK OF THE QUARTER:

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life

By Tripp, Paul David

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