“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 – NIV) Today, I launch a new clergy collegial blog. I hope we will encourage and empower each other toward success and excellence in pastoral ministry. As I sit in the Pastor’s Study at Cambria Heights Community Church, I often ponder the possible feedback of clergy colleagues as it relates to preparing sermons, counseling in particularly difficult situation, designing fresh worship, balancing competing priorities of ministry, marriage and family, maintaining self-care, pursuing personal dreams and private interests outside of ministry and family, and finding resources to meet the ever evolving and changing needs of the people whom I serve. After a sustained period of prayer, reflection and meditation, I realize I can invite you to come “In The Pastor’s Study” for an exchange of ideas.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

At Home in the Community - Philemon 8-18 - Part Three


At Home in the Community – Philemon 8-18 - Part Three

Concluding Reflections

If we can see beyond the surface offenses of a man being returned to slavery, we will discover a touching story of Christian friendship.  Paul teaches us the example of loyalty and advocacy.  Surprisingly, the ties of friendship and relationships in the Church exceed the strength of familial connections.  Contrary to popular belief, blood is not always thicker than water.  Paul’s courage in standing up for Onesimus eventually transforms his life as he possibly became the Bishop of Ephesus following the apostolic era.  Paul’s consideration in turn gave Onesimus the strength to change his character.  More than being a political and social blight on the pages of the New Testament, Paul’s letter to Philemon reflects the potential of the gospel to renew relationships and change lives regardless of social location.  Quite possibly, it reoriented the destiny of a runaway slave and providentially put him on a path toward the ultimate liberty of unconditional service to Christ.


Lesson Objectives

  • Discard the conventional notions of friendship and develop a biblically based definition.
  • Dig beneath the service of the letter to consider the triangle of relationships affected by Onesimus’ conversion to Christianity.
  • Consider the ways in which church relationships are more important than family ties.


Prayer

Our dear and gracious Heavenly Father, grant us the special grace to realize the love we have in You and in each other within the household of faith.  Strengthen the ties that bind us together in Christian love and fellowship.  Truly, make it like that above.  Aid us by the power and might of the Holy Spirit to be better friends to those persons whom You put in our paths.  In the Name of our Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.


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