Life: God’s Version of
Take Your Child to Work’ Day

Week 6: More Than…
Philemon 1-21

 † In Jesus Name †

 May the grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace!

Intro:   Whose view?

The book of Philemon is the shortest that Paul wrote, yet it is contains one of the greatest challenges, along with an incredible miracle and one of the best examples of what it means to be a servant-leader who shepherds the people of God.

I have heard sermons about it focusing on the change in Onesimus, I have heard sermons about the challenges for Philemon – as his community would frown upon the precedent he was asked to set. I’ve even heard a sermon to pastors about how to imitate the “tactics” that Paul used to manipulate Philemon into doing what Paul wanted to do…

Today, the goal is to see the work of God, that He calls all three to be involved in, as he takes two of His kids to work together…

For some days, you will have the role of Onesimous, and other days, you will have the role of Philemon, and there will be a time where you have to take on the role of Paul….

But God’s work work this day is the same project for all three… to realize that each is…

“more than”

As in “¹⁶ He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me.

The task is simple, rebuilding the relationship that was shatttered.

• The PROBLEM – this is a horrible, worthless sinner

There is no doubt the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus was strained. It was more than that, as Philemon being an escaped slave, He had a price on his head, what we would call in old West, dead or alive.

He ran away, he was a slave, he would have been considered major property theft, not to mention Paul’s own mention that Onesimous was a pretty lousy slave. “¹¹ Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past,” Paul says, yet the Greek is far more caustic

That’s not to say Philemon wasn’t a horrible worthless sinner. He was a slave owner who was brutal enough for a slave to run away, risking death to find some sort of freedom, the kind of guy that Paul wrote Ephesians to address. “⁸  Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free. ⁹  Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.  Ephesians 6:8-9 (NLT2)

So these guys weren’t quite ready to go to work together with the Father.

I hate to say it, but we all have relationships like this – some of which we are the one who seems to be the bigger sinner – the slave who runs away, And some, we are the sinner who slowly wears down someone else, leaving them no seeming option but to sin.

Or maybe our sin would have been to take sides, like Paul did at first, only to set aside the personal benefit to choose to encourage reconciliation of these two men. HE would encourage Philippians,  “² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. ³  And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. “ Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT2)

We have these relationships, just as they did in the day of the Apostles. They seem shattered, the sins committed hanging around like a stench, affecting life.

• The solution

And yet, there is hope…there is the realization we started with, as each person sees, that . “He is more than a slave (/owner/shepherd,) for he is a beloved brother,

Paul writes,

“⁴ I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, ⁵ because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. ⁶ And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

He goes on to say,

^“8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you.”

Paul is pretty blunt- pointing out the incredible change that occurred in Philemon’s life, as he began to have faith, as he began to trust in Jesus, as he depended on the Holy Spirit.

Look at what God did with you… now listen, God did that with someone else… and I want you to hear me out..

He probably had the same conversation with Onesimos, “look I know I am sending you back to where you have a price on your head, but the God who makes you holy and previous to me – God is at work in Philemon’s life as well!

This is what is so amazing – these relationships that seem irreconcilable, at the right time where reconciled, but that reconciliation happened only when we realize we are all loved by God, that Jesus died to forgive our sins to bring us to the Father,

And there we are found together, baptized, cleansed, gathered, one, in Christ Jesus.

That’s why, between confessing and being forgiven and then coming up to the altar to share in the body and blood of Christ, we declare to each other – “the peace of God is with you!” and “and also with you” – a chance to recognize, as Philemon and Onesimos would, what unites us.

Being at peace in Christ Jesus.

For Alleluia! He Died, and we died with Him.

Alleluia! He is has risen!

And therefore WE, with Paul, and Philemon and Onesimos – are risen indeed.

Amen!