Knowing Life: Welcome Back

Knowing Life: Welcome Back    

Philemon 1

September 29, 2019

Welcome Them Back With:

I.  Gospel Friendships.  (Philemon 1:1-7)

Friends in the Gospel:

1. Philemon- Partner, wealthy and church met in his home.  

2. Apphia - Sister in Christ. (Maybe wife of Philemon)

3. Archippus- Partner in the Gospel. Maybe in Philemon's family, could be his son.

Proverbs 6:16-19 - “These (seven) are… detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies…a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

Proverbs 11:30 -  “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”

II. Love and Invitation. (Philemon 1:8-16)

Romans 12:18 - “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”     

III. Partnering with Peacemakers. (Philemon 1:17-25)

Peacemakers -Reconcilers who do the hard but good work of helping others work out biblical resolution to conflicts.

1. Refresh one another. (Philemon 1:20)

2. Go above and beyond. (Philemon 1:21)

3. Pray for one another.  (Philemon 1:21)

The Focus of Peacemakers:

1. Behavior and not motives or character.

Matthew 18:15 - “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

2. Christ being honored.

John 17:21 - Jesus prayed, “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you…so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

 3. Restoration and celebration.

Luke 15:24 - “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to celebrate.”

Going Deeper This Week:

1. What is one way you have seen God work in your life this week?

2. Have at least one person share the gospel message.

3. Ask one person this week to read and explain the overall passage in their own words.

4. If a perfect encourager is a “10”, and a perfect discourager is a “1”, where would you place yourself on the scale? How could you improve?

5. If a perfect godly friend is a “10”, and a terrible friend is a “1”, where would you place yourself on the scale?

6. Why is it sometimes difficult to ask for forgiveness?

7. What does it mean to be a peacemaker?

8. Pray for each other to be peacemakers.