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Onesimus Means Useful. Discipleship Relationships Philemon. 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
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Onesimus MeansUseful Discipleship Relationships Philemon
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