Sermons on Philemon 1:21:

The Hardest Thing Series

Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 7, 2016

What do you as a follower of Jesus Christ when someone close to you has hurt you?

The Hardest Thing You’ll Ever Do Philemon What do you do when the person closest to you has betrayed and hurt you? I had a friend in college with whom I reconnected after I moved back from seminary. Let’s call her Jane. She had a whirlwind romance and after just six months, got married. ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Methodist

Being An Advocate For Others Series

Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Feb 28, 2016

A sermon examining the importance of ministering to others.

BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS Philemon 1:8-21 (Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday Morning, July 6th, 2025) Listen online at - https://youtu.be/hA3T00nqTGM?feature=shared It’s the kind of story that makes the news; a man who had set out on a mission to destroy a church unexpectedly came to ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-21

Denomination: Baptist

Freedom For The Captives Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 23, 2015

Paul's whole plea to Philemon is to act the way the loving Father acted: to welcome home the beloved son; to restore him to fellowship with the family. There will be, and have been, occasions when we'll be called to respond to wrongdoers the same way.

There's something quite different about reading this letter compared with all Paul's other letters. In all the others, even those addressed to individuals, the focus is on the Church where they're ministering. But here there's a much more personal feel to the correspondence. You can feel the warmth ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Anglican

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

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

An Open Letter

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 20, 2019

No longer a slave.

AN OPEN LETTER. PHILEMON 1:1-21. Onesimus was a slave who had escaped from his Christian master, Philemon. Yet in a beautiful irony, having not ‘made it’ alone in the big city, he found himself at last brought under the direct personal influence of “Paul the prisoner” (Philemon 1:1). Many a ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Plan Of Salvation - A Letter To Philemon Series

Contributed by Heman Sapogu on Oct 30, 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

Little Book With A Big Message

Contributed by Alvan Lewis on Sep 2, 2019

Discover why the tiny book of Philemon was included in the New Testament

Little Book with a Big Message Philemon Come with me this morning 20 long centuries back in time. Stroll with me down the streets of imperial Rome. See the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Bath and of course, the Senate. As we jostle our way through the great crowds in the Market place keep in mind that ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Anglican

Philemon

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 22, 2024

Paul's letter to Philemon is short but it has some wonderful lessons for us, especially about how we address something that's wrong.

I’d like you to imagine a scene. It’s about 60 A.D. We’re in the home of a wealthy man named Philemon. Philemon lives in the city of Colossae, in the south-east of what is now Turkey. Some time back, he met the apostle Paul and became a Christian, and he’s now one of the leaders of a church. ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

Go! And Understand God's Heart Series

Contributed by Dean Courtier on May 22, 2025

Some Old Testament verses are often misunderstood, or used to mock Scripture, or paint God as outdated or cruel. But when rightly understood, these verses don’t repel us—they reveal something glorious: the holiness, justice, and mercy of our God.

Go! And Understand God's Heart Introduction: It’s always an honour to open the Word of God with you. We are continuing in our Go! And... series today with a vital and timely message: Go! And Understand God’s Heart. Now, we’re going to deal with some Old Testament verses that are often ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 11:7, Exodus 21:7, Exodus 35:2, Matthew 5:17, Mark 7:18-19, Hebrews 4:9-10, Galatians 3:28, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Acts 3:19, John 14:6, Philemon 1:1-25, Romans 1:26-27, Leviticus 18:22  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

The God Of "Good Ole Slavery”

Contributed by Amiri Hooker on Sep 7, 2025

Paul sends Onesimus back. Back to Philemon. Back to the house he ran from. Back to the chains he escaped.

Sermon: The God of “Good Ole Slavery” Scripture: Philemon 1:15–16 – “Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother…” Introduction: Wrestling with Paul and Our Present Beloved, ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: United Methodist

I'm Sending Him Back! Series

Contributed by Ron Freeman, Evangelist on Jan 23, 2026

To discuss Onesimus, who was a ”runaway servant,” whom Paul converted in Rome, and returned to his master, as a Christian and now “a faithful and beloved brother” in the Lord.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 1. Paul’s Confidence in Philemon 2. Paul’s Conversion of Onesimus 3. Paul’s Consensus of Philemon Introductory Remarks. 1. This Letter, though only one chapter, has a tremendous lesson for all Christians, especially for those who consider themselves “in authority.” This will ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 4:7-9, Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

I'm A Prisoner! I'm Free! I'm Free!

Contributed by Dan Chromy on Oct 21, 2000

When we consider God’s purpose for our lives as a result of God’s grace, we will see the consequences of life as opportunities to serve God and to be effective witnesses for the gospel.

Do you see every circumstance of your life as an opportunity to be a witness for the gospel? Throughout your lifetime, you will have many opportunities to serve Christ as a witness for the gospel. There will be times in your life when it is easy to serve the gospel, especially when everything ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25, Acts 28:21-25

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jet Tour Through Philemon Series

Contributed by Travis Moore on Oct 31, 2000

Introduction to Philemon

PHILEMON - Equality INTRODUCTION: Philemon was the 10th Epistle written by Paul. It was one of the four Epistles written by Paul from his Roman jail. It is the smallest and most personal of all Paul’s Letters. It has been called “a postcard with a punch”. It deals with the question, “How do you ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Transforming Gospel

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 10, 2001

Paul makes a special plea to his friend Philemon concerning his run-away slave but now a Christian, showing how the gospel transforms all relationships.

THE TRANSFORMING GOSPEL Letter writing is almost a lost art. We’d rather pick up the phone or dash off an e-mail but I’m glad that Paul used pen and ink. Doubtless Paul, being a man of letters and bubbling over with ideas for the spread of the gospel, must have written many ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist