October 6th, 2024
1. How do you see God’s hand at work in the unlikely story of Onesimus—a runaway slave meeting Paul in Rome? In what ways has God brought about unexpected transformation in your life or the lives of others?
2. Philemon is called a “beloved fellow worker” in Christ. How does this description of his relationship with Paul shape your understanding of Christian fellowship and partnership in the gospel? What does it look like to be “fellow workers” in our church community today?
3. Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. How does the gospel challenge the way we view and treat people, especially those society may place in lower or higher status? How might this change the way we engage with others both inside and outside the church?
4. What does Paul’s appeal for reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus teach us about forgiveness and unity in Christ? How can we practically apply this kind of reconciliation within our own relationships or church community?
5. The letter to Philemon highlights the deep bond of fellowship we have in Christ. How does the idea of being ‘knit together’ as one family in Christ challenge you to love, sacrifice for, and serve others? What barriers might prevent us from fully living out this kind of intimate Christian community?
6. Paul’s radical transformation from persecutor to apostle is central to his testimony. How does his story speak to the power of God’s grace in changing lives? How does this encourage you when you think about areas in your own life where you need transformation or areas where you feel discouraged about others?
7. In a world filled with division, Paul’s call to Philemon models a different way of living—marked by forgiveness, love, and unity. What are some specific ways we as a church can embody this countercultural way of living in our interactions with one another and with the world?
8. Paul saw himself as a vessel of God’s transformative work in the world. How might God be calling you to be part of bringing reconciliation and transformation in your relationships, community, or workplace? How can we, as a church, better support one another in these efforts?
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