Sermons on Filemon 1:16:

Why Forgive

Contributed by William Wyne on Feb 10, 2012

Forgiveness is a Christian Ministry that God has given the injured and the one who caused its wholeness.

Mahatma Gandhi said, “the weak finds it difficult to forgive, because forgiveness is an attribute of the strong. But the strong that can and does forgive needs to know that their forgiveness comes from a place, a person, a strength, a power far stronger than them. Reinhold Niebuhr says, ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-18

Denomination: Baptist

A Postcard To A Friend For A Friend Series

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Jan 9, 2013

Sermon 1 in a series on the short letters of the New Testament. This one is on the letter by Paul to Philemon concerning Onesimus.

A Postcard to a Friend for a Friend Series: New Testament Postcards January 6, 2013 A very brief PowerPoint presentation for this message is available by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com. TEXT: Turn to Philemon INTRODUCTION Illus. – Back in 1820 the average person in England wrote ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

A Letter To Philemon: A Plea For Grace

Contributed by Drake Caudill on Oct 29, 2014

A plea for forgiveness to Philemon and to the church today.

Many of us are aware that much of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul. 13 out of the 27 New Testament books are written by Paul. Romans, Corinthians, and Titus are some of the more popular books written by Paul. When written, Paul didnʼt divide the ʻbooksʼ into chapters ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Useless Or Useful? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 8, 2014

Mercy is the greatest of the virtues in the external manifestation.

Thursday of the 32nd Week in Course Joy of the Gospel St. Paul had a dilemma. One of his converts in Asia, Philemon, lived in Colossae. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, had escaped and probably stolen property in the process. Escaped slaves were dealt with according to their owner’s whim ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:7-20

Denomination: Catholic

The Ledger, Charge That To My Account - Philemon

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 9, 2015

Beloved, Martin Luther saw the power of this short epistle to Philemon in his statement: "We are all his Onesimi if we really believe it." Updated September 2022

Beloved ... It seems right to me ... that we lay the foundation ... the background to this letter to Philemon ... before we look into it ... to behold its treasures. We know the following ... from the Scriptures ... from both this letter ... and the letter ... to the Colossians: That Philemon ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:46-48, 1 Peter 1:18, Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23, Galatians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philemon 1:1-25, Romans 10:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Philemon Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jan 16, 2022

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

January 15, 2022 Paul was a prisoner in Rome Philemon was a leader in the church at Colossae and a wealthy slave owner. Onesimus was Philemon’s useless runaway slave who made his way to Rome. A note on slavery in ancient Rome: • 85% of Rome’s population were slaves. • Slavery was not ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:8, Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:10, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:10, Galatians 4:7, Philemon 1:1-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

You’re A Person Of Potential

Contributed by John Gaston on Dec 3, 2020

Onesimus was a slave who became a criminal and fugitive. His name means "useful," but he wasn't. He met Paul in Rome and received Christ. He became useful; His master freed him and he became a minister. We too are to become useful for God.

YOU’RE A PERSON OF POTENTIAL Philemon 1:9-18 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. A church service occurred during Covid-19 and only two people showed up: the preacher and a rancher. The preacher led songs, took up the offering, and then he preached for an hour and a half. 2. When they were going out the ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:9-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Burden And Blessing Of Forgiving Others

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Feb 2, 2021

The gospel has made us all brothers and sisters, one in Christ Jesus. It has torn down whatever dividing walls used to stand between us, and it’s given us a reason to love and to forgive.

There are two sisters who aren’t speaking to one another because of things that happened, years ago: What does the gospel say to them? There’s a brother in the church who’s made a serious mistake: What does the gospel say to him, and those around him? There’s a whole congregation that needs ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:12-14, Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Does It Mean To Appeal For The Useful?

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Jul 7, 2024

An example of grace in how it demonstrates the action of true Christian fellowship.

Paul wrote this letter as a plea for a runaway slave of Philemon’s named Onesimus. He had stolen from Philemon then ran away to Rome where he met Paul. Subsequently he accepted Christ as his Savior, so Paul was writing this letter as he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon, but he wanted Philemon ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unknown To Us, But Known By God And Part Of His Plan Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 11, 2024

In the Bible, there are many individuals whose lives and actions, though briefly mentioned, play significant roles in God's unfolding plan. Here, we explore a dozen such figures to shed light on their importance.

Unknown to us, but known by God and part of His Plan In the grand narrative of the Bible, there are individuals whose lives and actions, though briefly mentioned, play significant roles in God's unfolding plan. Here, we explore a dozen such figures, drawing upon the insights of renowned ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 4:34, 2 Chronicles 9:29, Romans 16:7, 1 Chronicles 7:24, Genesis 41:45, Exodus 2:1-3, Acts 18:26, Exodus 4:24-26, Acts 18:2-3, Philemon 1:2, Colossians 4:17, Philemon 1:1-2, Philemon 1:10-16, Colossians 4:15, Colossians 4:12-13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

13th Sunday After Pentecost. September 7th, 2025. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 29, 2022

Year C, Proper 18.

Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 139:13-18, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33 A). A VIEW FROM THE POTTER'S HOUSE. Jeremiah 18:1-11. On one occasion I was taken to a pottery museum, where one could purchase wares and also see them being made. I had made one ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 139:13-18, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Wisdom Of God Vs The Wisdom Of This World

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 3, 2022

When Jesus is telling us that following Him means hating everything and everyone else, He uses strong language.

Twenty-third Sunday in Course Today’s Gospel is so unnerving, even shocking, that we might in our meditation forget about the other readings. The lessons we can learn from the wisdom books of Scripture are good foundations for our appreciation of the teachings of Jesus. I like to think of our ...read more

Scripture: Job 38:17, Luke 14:25-33, Philemon 1:9-17

Denomination: Catholic

Refresh My Heart

Contributed by Larry Grant on Oct 30, 2022

Here is the history of a saint who has been greatly wronged and is called upon to put it all behind him and forgive. Here is also the history of a sinner running from his past who found grace with God and was told to go back to what he ran from.

Philemon 1:8-20 Refresh My Heart October 30, 2022 The Plea for Onesimus. This short letter is one of the greatest of Paul’s writings. Even unbelievers have seen the power of this small excerpt of history. It speaks of a request for redemption and reconciliation. ILLS: The Setting. Here is ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-20

Denomination: Baptist

Plan Of Salvation - A Letter To Philemon Series

Contributed by Heman Sapogu on Oct 31, 2022

The Letter To Philemon: The Book of Philemon has only one chapter with 25 Verses. It’s a simple letter written by Apostle Paul when he was in prison to a man called Philemon who lived in COLOSSE, today we are going to meditate/learn what was the need of this letter to Philemon.

The Letter To Philemon: The Book of Philemon has only one chapter with 25 Verses. It’s a simple letter written by Apostle Paul when he was in prison to a man called Philemon who lived in COLOSSE, today we are going to meditate/learn what was the need of this letter to Philemon. Paul is not writing ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Transformed By The Gospel Mark 13:10 Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on Feb 3, 2024

In the words of Jesus recorded in Mark 13:10, we find a compelling mandate that resonates through the ages - the proclamation of the Good News to all nations. Let's delve into the transformative truth encapsulated in this verse and understand the urgency and significance of our mission.

Transformed by the Gospel Mark 13:10 Mark 13:10 (NLT) "For the Good News must first be preached to all nations." Introduction: In the prophetic words of Jesus recorded in Mark 13:10, we find a compelling mandate that resonates through the ages—the proclamation of the Good News to all ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:10, Matthew 24:14, Romans 1:16, Acts 1:8, 2 Peter 3:9, Matthew 28:19-20, Philemon 1:16, Ephesians 2:14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal