Paul writes a letter to Philemon, a faithful Christian, thanking him for his faithfulness and asking him to accept Philemon's runaway slave, Onesimus, back as a brother. Paul praises Philemon for being a faithful family man and worker for the Lord who shows love for others. He prays that Philemon will continue in this faithfulness by welcoming Onesimus back charitably. The letter encourages Christians to express gratitude for those in their lives who help them and to live faithfully as examples for others.

3. Appreciation & Praise for
Philemon!
Phile.1:1-3 Paul, a prisoner of Christ
Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To
Philemon our beloved friend and
fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia,
Archippus our fellow soldier, and to
the church in your house: Grace to
you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Today we will be looking at the
“need” for us to be thankful for
those in our lives!
▪ Paul writes to a brother in Christ encouraging,
and thanking him for his faithfulness, and then
asking him to remain faithful by accepting his
run away slave back as a brother!
▪ Paul is thankful & appreciative for Philemon
and his faithfulness to Jesus!
▪ Paul writes encouraging him to maintain this
faithfulness!

5. Sometimes we get so caught up in our
own lives that we forget to be thankful for
the people that help us every day!
▪ Paul may have been writing to Philemon,
but the message here is equally for us!
▪ We need to always remember to “show”
gratitude & appreciation to those God has
placed in our lives!
▪ We are to have an attitude of gratitude
first for God and then for others!

6. I. Philemon was a Family Man!
(Phile. 1:1-3)
▪ There are six names within two verses 1,2!
▸Verse one “Paul, Christ Jesus & Timothy”
▸Verse two “Philemon, Apphia & Archippus”
▪ Many believe the three Paul mentioned in verse two
are related!
▸Primarily Philemon, then Apphia thought to be either
his wife or mother, and then Archippus thought to be
his son or father.
– Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the
ministry which you have received in the Lord, that
you may fulfill it."

7. “Paul a prisoner for Christ Jesus”
▪ Paul is in prison at the time of writing this letter
and yet he doesn’t call himself a prisoner of
Rome, but a prisoner of Jesus!
▪ His witness for Christ even in prison made him a
prisoner for the cause of Christ!
▸1 Cor. 7:22 For he who is called in the Lord
while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise
he who is called while free is Christ's slave.
▪ Eph. & Col. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ”
Phil. “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus
Christ”

8. “Philemon our beloved fellow
worker!”
▪ Philemon and his family were indeed
“workers for the Lord!”
▸ Archippus is not only a worker, but
he is called a “fellow soldier!” (Cf. Col.
4:17)
▪ The salutation which is common in
many of Paul’s writings is used here,
“Grace to you and peace from God!”

9. II. Philemon was a Faithful Man!
(Phile. 1:4-5)
▪ Paul knew that Philemon was an example of a
true believer and was praying that he would
maintain this faithfulness in the present case!
▸Every Christians needs to live such a life that
we will be seen as a true believer!
▸We must not only talk about Christ, but
rather we must learn to life for Him!
▪ Notices verse 5. “I hear of your love and of the
faith that you have towards the Lord & the
saints!”

10. Paul appealing for Onesimus!
(Phile. 1:8-21)
▪ Paul first shows appreciation and praise for
Philemon’s faithfulness in the past and now he
appeals to him to keep it in the present!
▪ We cannot not live on past successes, we
must live in the present!
▸It is what we do today that makes a
difference!
▸We need to keep moving in the right
direction, keep being faithful!

11. III. Philemon was a Fruitful Man!
(Phile. 1:6-7)
▪ Philemon was the kind of person your could
call on and know that he would be there!
▸“And my prayer is, that thy liberality to the
saints, which is the fruit of thy faith. May
become effectual to the acknowledgment of
thy good works by other Christians, who hear
of such instances of thy charity” (British)
▪ Philemon was one that was willing to “share”
his faith and become an example!

12. Paul expresses his love & joy for
Philemon’s steadfastness in the faith!
▪ Philemon was an example for others to
follow!
▸ “Because the hearts of the saints have
been refreshed through you!” (Phile. 1:7b)
▪ Philemon has been fruitful in the past and
Paul is hoping he will now remain fruitful in the
present!
▸ How should this letter help change us?
What should we be getting from it?

13. Conclusion:
▪ There are indeed many lessons here for us!
The world/ the church needs more Philemons!
▪ We need to always be showing appreciation
& praise for the people God places in our
lives!
▪ We need to be living such a life that we are
worthy of praise and we are truly an example
for others!
▪ If you are here and not yet a Christian, then
today is the day!

14. Living as an....
For Jesus!