Onesimus MeansUseful

Discipleship RelationshipsPhilemon

Introduction

355 Raise many questions Point: forgiveness and

usefulness in Christ

Structure

Vv 1-3 – Paul’s Greeting Vv 4-7 – Thanksgiving Section

including prayers and encouragement

Vv 8-21 – Paul’s exhortation to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus

Vv 22-25 – Closing and benediction

Key Points:Characters

Paul - Apostle Philemon – Wealthy

Christian Onesimus – Runaway Slave

Key Points:Story

Paul – Evangelizing, converts Philemon

Philemon – Starts house church

Onesimus – Steals something and runs away

Ends up with Paul Leads to the epistle (letter)

The Appeal

Could order Philemon to receive Onesimus

Underlying sarcasm or genuine appeal?

“Basis of Love” Leads to some statements

about Onesimus

The Appeal“Onesimus”

Is as my son (v 10) Once useless, now “useful” (v

11) Paul wishes he could keep him Even perhaps Divine intervention Once a slave, now can be like a

brother

The Request

Welcome Onesimus home… …as if he were Me. Paul will cover the bill… …remember you owe me too Confident that Philemon will

obey (p.s., get a room ready)

The Request

Welcome Onesimus home… …as if he were Me. Paul will cover the bill… …remember you owe me too Confident that Philemon will

obey (p.s., get a room ready)

Examples

Transformation of Onesimus Character of Philemon Tact and Gentleness of Paul

DiscipleshipImplications

Discipleship: disciples of Jesus Christ helping others to grow in the process of following Jesus Christ in doctrine, discipline, life, and relationship unto maturity (dan)

DiscipleshipImplications

Discipling is an intentional relationship in which we walk alongside other disciples in order to encourage, equip, and challenge one another in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. This includes equipping the disciple to teach others as well. (Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials)

DiscipleshipImplications

Discipleship is Essential Discipleship Works“The one indispensable requirement

for producing godly, mature Christians is godly, mature Christians.”

- Kevin Deyoung

DiscipleshipImplications

Discipleship is Essential Discipleship Works Discipleship is Challenging

DiscipleshipImplications

“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

DiscipleshipImplications

Discipleship is Essential Discipleship Works Discipleship is Challenging Discipleship makes us Useful

Catch the Vision

Pick a person Set something up