Sermon and Worship Resources

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Philemon 1:1-7

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

1-3 · Greetings: In his typical fashion Paul opens the letter according to the standard conventions of the time. Before giving his usual greeting of “grace” and “peace” (v. 3), he indicates that the letter is sent from himself and Timothy and is addressed to Philemon and other members in the church. There are four notable features in this opening greeting. First, Paul identifies himself as a “pris...

2. Thanksgiving and Prayer

Philemon 1:1-7

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

Paul’s Greetings 1 Here is a letter from Paul who is a prisoner of Christ Jesus (cf. Col. 4:3, 18). On the basis of verses 9 and 10, this definitely is a physical confinement and not a way of speaking metaphorically. Paul’s brother in Christ, Timothy, joins him in the sending of the letter (cf. Col. 1:1) to Philemon, a dear friend and fellow worker. Philemon is a dear (agapētos, “beloved”) friend ...

3. Brotherly Love

Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7

Bulletin Aid

Carl Hoefler

Call to Worship Pastor: Man's social structures hinder our fellowship by making some people inferior to others. People: We do not believe in a caste system, but we know our social attitudes deny the equality of which we boast. Pastor: The Christian faith redesigns society to be a brotherhood of people who love one another as God loves each of us. People: May our faith transform our relationships i...

4. The Christian Bond

Philemon 1:1-7, Philemon 1:8-25

Bulletin Aid

James Wilson

Call to Worship Leader: Come, let all who love Christ gather for worship this day! People: In Christ we are made one family, sisters and brothers before God. Leader: Christ renews our spirits and cleanses our souls of sin. People: Indeed, in Christ we are made new, no longer bound by sin's powers. Leader: Let us praise the Lord for the bond we share through the work of Christ. All: Blessed be the ...

5. Proper 18

Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Old Testament: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Jeremiah's parable of the potter. In a potter's house, Yahweh speaks to Jeremiah non-verbally. Upon Yahweh's direction, Jeremiah goes to a potter's house and watches him make and re-make vessels. When the potter makes a mistake and the vessel turns out badly, he reworks the clay into another vessel that pleases him. Yahweh is saying: "That is what I can ...

6. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Philemon 1:8-25, Philemon 1:1-7, Jeremiah 18:1--19:15, Luke 14:25-35

Sermon Aid

William E. Keeney

The Price Of Discipleship In the mid-1960s President Lyndon Johnson introduced a so-called war on poverty. At about the same time he got involved in escalating the American participation in the Vietnam war. It soon began to cost about two billion dollars per month. He was unwilling to raise taxes. The attempt to wage the wars on two fronts, domestic and international, soon affected the economy ad...

7. Whose Work Is It?

Philemon 1:1-7

Drama

Pamela Urfer

Cast: Two women, Euodia and Syntyche one man, Clement Length: 10 minutes The two women are seated on their stools with an empty stool between them. CLEMENT enters excitedly, waving a letter. CLEMENT: Euodia! Syntyche! Paul has sent us another letter! Epaphroditus just brought it. SYNTYCHE: Oh, Clement! That's so wonderful. I just don't know what we would do without Paul's advice. EUODIA: Yes....

8. Proper 18

Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 14:25-35, Philemon 1-21

Bulletin Aid

Julia Ross Strope

Call To Worship Leader: Good morning! It’s great to be alive this early autumn day! School has begun; summer gardens are closing up; darkness comes sooner. People: The earth seems to be slowing down and we know that winter comes soon enough. Leader: What are you grateful for this morning? People: In our conversations with God and with one another, we express thanks for joyful events, for cheerful ...

9. Proper 18

Psalm 139:1-24, Jeremiah 18:1-11, Luke 14:25-35, Philemon 1:1-21

Bulletin Aid

B. David Hostetter

READINGS Psalter—Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 First Lesson—The prophet declares the Creator’s privilege of breaking and remaking a flawed nation. Jeremiah 18:1-11 Second Lesson—Paul suggests that a slave may be freed by brotherhood. Philemon 1:1-21 Gospel—Jesus defines the absolute, bottom-line cost of discipleship. Luke 14:25-33 CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all....

10. Proper 18

Lk 14:25-33 · Eze 33:1-11 · Phm 1-20 · Prov 9:8-12

Sermon Aid

John R. Brokhoff

COMMENTARY Ezekiel 33:1-11 The watchman saves his life by giving God's warning to the wicked in the hope that the wicked will repent and live. The setting for this pericope is the defense alarm system of Ezekiel's day. A watchman was posted on a hill to warn the city by blowing a trumpet when an enemy approached. This gave the people in the fields an opportunity to come into the walled city for p...

11. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

If Paul's words still have persuasive power for us today, consider how helpless poor Philemon must have been when faced with a personal letter from the apostle who had been responsible for his own conversion. The canonical letter to Philemon aptly demonstrates Paul's mastery of this communication form, leaving us little doubt about the outcome of this thorny situation. At the outset Paul reminds ...

12. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

13. Philemon 1-21

Philemon 1-21

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

This short, personal letter of Paul to his friend and fellow believer, Philemon, has generated a surprisingly hefty amount of commentary. Textual scholars since the first centuries of the church's history have enjoyed studying this epistle. Part of the attraction is that while Philemon is quite brief, it is nevertheless the only piece of personal correspondence from Paul that has survived and foun...

14. A Miracle of Grace

Philemon 1:1-21

Sermon

King Duncan

Many years ago, Deputy Sheriff Bill Cromie was called to investigate a traffic accident in Constantia, New York. A drunk driver had crashed into the pumps at a gas station. Fortunately, none of them exploded. The situation was under control. But the driver was nowhere in sight. Deputy Sheriff Cromie ran into the nearby woods to find him. It didn’t take him long. The man was nearby, crashing aroun...

15. Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

8–22 · Paul’s Appeal: Although Paul is bold enough in Christ to command Philemon to do what he ought (v. 8), he appeals on the basis of love (v. 9). For Paul, the love believers share in Christ bonds them and solidifies Christ’s work of reconciliation on the cross (Col. 1:20–23; 3:11). In other words, this love breaks down social barriers and places all three individuals (Paul, Philemon, and Onesi...

16. Paul’s Request for Onesimus

Understanding Series

Arthur G. Patzia

Now that Paul has sufficiently commended Philemon for his exemplary Christian life, he moves to the heart of his request regarding Onesimus. In one way, Paul gives the impression that he is “shadow boxing,” that is, skirting around the real issue and not confronting Philemon directly. But Paul’s strategy is determined by two factors: First, he needs to move very carefully and weigh every word. Aft...

17. Ask Nicely

Children's Sermon

Tim Carpenter

Exegetical Aim: Our requests of others should be polite. We should use kindness whenever possible. Props: A bottle of vinegar, an onion, a jar of jelly, and a packet of Kool-Aid. Lesson: Today I want to take a survey to see what kind of things you like, okay? Hold up the jar of vinegar. How many know what this is? (response) Now, how many people like to have a big, cold glass of vinegar on a war...

18. The Christian Life Whatever Happens

Bulletin Aid

Call to Worship Leader: Whatever happens conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Youth: Even when my best friend gets me in trouble by lying, when I flunk math and when I miss the school bus? Leader: Whatever happens conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Women: Even when the washer breaks in the middle of a load and I don’t have a car to run to the l...

19. Proper 18

Sermon Aid

George Bass

THEOLOGICAL CLUE The eschatological/kerygmatic motif of the gospel, which is injected into the liturgy of the church by its year, may become almost indistinguishable by this part of Pentecost, but once more the proximity of a minor festival renews the kerygmatic accent of Sunday worship. Depending on the lectionary followed and the calendar year, the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost will be near ...

20. Proper 20

Bulletin Aid

Theme: Continuity of life in Christ Jesus Exegetical note Paul, probably writing from prison, finds himself facing the real possibility of martyrdom, which he not only does not fear, but seems to welcome. His only hesitation stems from his suspicion that he may be more useful alive for those dependent on his guidance, and thus he resolves to continue "in the flesh." But in either case, alive or "...

21. A Scout is ... Helpful

Children's Sermon

Shirley Jennings

Object: An item from a Scout uniform. Lesson: Children can be helpful. Can you see the Scouts who are here at church today? I’m going to ask them to stand so we can see them. What is one way you can tell if a youngster is a Scout? They have on special clothes. Those clothes Scouts wear are called uniforms. Today is Scout Sunday and that’s why the Scouts are wearing their uniforms. Would you bo...

22. Special

Children's Sermon

Wesley T. Runk

Object: Some ordinary coins and some collector’s coins. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you know what the word "special" means? [Let them answer.] That is very good. Very few things are special, and when we have something that is special it means a lot to us. The funny part of this is that we do not always know or understand the special things. For instance I have with me some coins. Yo...

23. Do It the Right Way

Children's Sermon

Object: A piece of wood, several screws, a hammer and a screw driver. Text: Yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you - I, Paul, an ambassador and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus. Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to learn about one of God's great disciples, Paul. He was put into prison for teaching about Jesus in a part of the world that thought it was wrong to talk abou...

24. A Man Named Useful

Sermon

King Duncan

It is always interesting to get a glimpse into the world of the Bible. When we do, we realize very quickly that these were men and women were very much like ourselves, but they lived in a culture quite different from our own. For one thing, biblical people lived in a society that condoned the owning of slaves. Of course, the same thing could be said of our own society up until 150 years ago. And,...

Showing 1 to 24 of 24 results