Summer Scripture Series - Once Useless, Now Useful
Pastor Robbie concludes Philemon and our Summer Scripture series!
We have now concluded our Summer Scripture Series, hopefully you enjoyed walking through Colossians and Philemon verse by verse! If you were not able to make it to our Gathering this past Sunday, know that we missed you! Don’t worry, you can still hear the full message here at Legacy City’s Podcast. Pastor Robbie concluded Philemon from verse 7 until the end and did he ever come prepared to preach this past Sunday – be sure to join us this upcoming Sunday for the beginning of our new series At The Movies!
The core of Philemon (v8-22), surrounds Paul addressing Philemon concerning a past runaway slave of his (Onesimus) that has come to know the Lord and has been attending to Paul’s needs. Ps. Robbie gave us an overview of what Paul was essentially saying, ‘So… Philemon, while you lounge around in your luxurious house, with servants… I, an old man, am here in prison for the gospel. I’ve led Onesimus to Christ, and he really feels a call toward ministry, and I could really use his help right now… but if you really want to take him back, I guess you can.’ The Gospel changes our motivations and the way that we address those around us, not through a position forcefulness or authority, but of humble love and adoration (v8-10). Paul could have used his influence and spiritual authority to demand that Onesimus stay with him – but he doesn’t, and respects Philemon’s position.
There has been some unfortunate history to surround Philemon, a history of oppression and slander against people that God created in his image. The record has been set straight, ‘In Christ, masters and servants become brothers and sisters. The ground is level at the foot of the cross church: one RACE: Human. One CLASS: Sinner. One HOPE: JESUS. One FUTURE: Resurrection. One FORTUNE: the Eternal Riches of Christ.’
Onesimus was no longer useless in his sinfulness, but useful in the body of Christ in service to an apostle and his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! Martin Luther once wrote, “Even as Christ did for us with God the Father, thus Paul also does for Onesimus with Philemon.” Ps. Robbie stated, ‘We are Onesimus, the runaway slave, the rebellious one, the one who is no longer useful because of our sinfulness. But Christ says that we are useful, not because of anything we’ve done to deserve being taken back, but because of Christ’s own reputation!
SOME KEY TAKE-AWAYS
Passage: Philemon 1:8-22
The Gospel should radically change your life and the way you relate to others.
The Gospel produces gracious, self-sacrificial Love for others.
You are called to give value to brother and sisters in Christ and anyone else in your life!
You are Useful in Christ, don’t continue treating others as if they are Useless!
If this topic piques your interest or if you would enjoy listening to this sermon in more depth, please head over to Legacy City’s Podcast here.
To keep up to date with Legacy City Church and everything that God is doing in our community, please follow us on social media:
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Join us next Sunday as we jump into our new series At the Movies! We are so excited to be able to bring this series back - We’re saving you a seat, and know that You Are Loved!
Summer Scripture Series - We're All One Big Kingdom Family
Pastor Brandon Henson brings Encouragements from the first 7 Verses of Philemon.
We’re now in the final stretch of our Summer Scripture Series – our good friend Pastor Brandon Henson spoke such an incredibly encouraging sermon this past week! We covered the first 7 verses of Philemon and there was so much to unpack! We were so glad to see you on Sunday, if you weren’t able to join us, be sure to catch the conclusion to Philemon this coming week when Pastor Robbie will be finishing up our series.
As Ps Brandon suggested during the gathering, there are probably far too few of us who have never taken the time to study one of the shortest books of the Bible – Philemon. This letter may only have 25 verses, but what we encountered this first week of our study was certainly full of rich and convicting qualities! Overall, ‘We’re all one, big, Kingdom Family’!
Paul’s letters overall serve distinct purposes in Scripture; they are intimate and personal letters to different churches that desire to enrich God’s Kingdom. But if we look at our world today, are our churches and communities joining together as a broad corporate Body, or are we more concerned with individual growth and status? What about our relationship with fellow believers in our own church communities – are we empowering our brothers and sisters in Christ as citizens of the Kingdom should?
The first 7 verses of Philemon serve an equally distinct purpose, with a unique and untypical Pauline introduction. Instead of qualifying his position, as an Apostle, he declares himself ‘a prisoner for Christ Jesus’ (ESV) – a position many of us here in the US are used to associating ourselves with Ps Brandon commented. Regardless, Paul is unashamed in his willingness to be in whatever position God places him, if it is for His Kingdom. Are you oriented towards a ‘Kingdom Mindset’? Are you working towards genuine fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ – building them up and ‘calling out the Gold in them’?
SOME KEY TAKE-AWAYS
Passage: Philemon 1:1-7
Remember, It’s All About the Kingdom! (v1-3)
See the Gold in Others (v4-5)
Desire what’s Best for Fellow Believers (v6)
Trust the Results of Love: Joy and Comfort (v7)
If this topic piques your interest, or you would enjoy listening to this sermon in more depth, please head over to Legacy City’s Podcast here.
To keep up to date with Legacy City Church and everything that God is doing in our community, please follow us on social media:
Facebook: LegacyCityGWD
Instagram: LegacyCityGWD
Twitter: LegacyCityGWD
Join us next Sunday as we finish our Summer Scripture Series. We’re saving you a seat, and know that You Are Loved!