As Christ has reconciled us to God, so believers are to be reconciled to one another. In part 1 of Small Books with Big Messages, Pastor Dan Cox reads from Philemon 1-25.
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Study Notes
SMALL BOOKS WITH BIG MESSAGES
The New Testament books of Philemon, 2 John, 3 John and Jude may be small in terms of how many verses they contain, but their messages are big. These little books contain powerful messages about such things as reconciliation, obedience, mutual care, integrity and perseverance and need to be heard today just as much as when they were first written nearly two thousand years ago.
A Brief Introduction to Philemon
Author: The Apostle Paul
Date: Around AD 62
Recipient: Philemon
Purpose: To ask Philemon to forgive and reconcile with Onesimus
Some context first…
The Elephant in the Room: Slavery in the Roman Empire and the Christian Faith
Understanding the Text
- Greeting (vv. 1-3)
- Love and Faith (vv. 4-7)
- Appeal for Onesimus (vv. 8-22)
- Final Greetings (vv. 23-25)
An Illustration of Redemption
An Example of Reconciliation
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Blessed are the Peacemakers…
Applying the Text
- Are you a peacemaker?