Sermons on Philemon 1:21:

Forgive Like Philemon

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jun 10, 2015

Forgiving is easy to tell someone else but very hard for each one of us. Forgiving takes the power out of the hands of the offender and allows God to provide healing to you.

Forgive like Philemon Philemon 1-21 Introduction- This morning I want to talk to you about forgiveness. Right away we can think of many that should hear this message. But you are here this morning and God wants to speak to each one of us about forgiveness. When someone hurts you, you can ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene

How To Influence Someone To Do The Right Thing

Contributed by Derrick Tuper on Jan 26, 2015

Paul was good at knowing how to talk to people. He was wise in how he chose his words. The letter he wrote to his friend Philemon is a great example of that. Let’s take a look at how Paul sought to influence his friend to do the right thing.

HOW TO INFLUENCE SOMEONE TO DO THE RIGHT THING INTRODUCTION: Book-“How to gain friends and influence people”. Paul was good at knowing how to talk to people. He was wise in how he chose his words. The book of Philemon is a great example of that. Paul writes a letter to his friend ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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 Motivation Of One Who Forgives Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Aug 19, 2016

In this lesson we examine the motivation of one who forgives.

Scripture Three weeks ago I started a short sermon series called “Forgiveness and Reconciliation” on the letter of Paul to Philemon. I plan to conclude this series today. Philemon was a wealthy, godly Christian who lived in the city of Colossae. He had a slave named Onesimus. Some ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:19-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Restoring Relationships

Contributed by Kerry Haynes on Sep 4, 2016

Paul's letter to Philemon gives us solid timeless principles in restoring broken relationships. As Paul paid for Onesimus' sin, so Christ pays for ours, thus restoring us to God. Because we have been forgiven much, we need to forgive others.

Philemon Restoring Relationships I’d like to take a little survey this morning: Who here has never had a relationship challenge? Ah ha, I thought so. Today’s subject “Restoring Relationships,” is for all of us. As we seek to live a Christian life, does our faith have any ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Philemon Lesson 1 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 15, 2019

This book is a picture of salvation.

A. THE STORY OF PHILEMON Paul had led Philemon to Christ, a rich businessman in Colossae, 100 miles from Ephesus. Paul probably never visited Colossae (Col. 1:7; 2:7). Philemon owned slaves, and one slave, Onesimus, stole valuables and ran away to Rome, thinking he couldn’t be found in that ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Restoration Of A Slave Series

Contributed by Rick Burdette on Oct 4, 2018

Restoration, Forgiveness, Repentance, Grace

JAIL BREAK (Breaking the Chains of Unforgiveness) - The Restoration of a Slave October 7, 2018 Philemon 1:1-25 (p. 837) Introduction: I believe love is the most powerful motivator known to mankind…I include something in all my wedding ceremonies that Kari and I included in ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

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

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

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

"a Love Letter From Jesus."

Contributed by Dr. Jerry Hulse on Feb 13, 2023

The book of Philemon portrays the love of God through the relationship between Paul and a runaway slave named Onesimus. Similarly, Christ's love for his church is evident in his prayer in the garden where he asked God to receive his church the way he would receive him.

SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES (Philemon 1:10-16) (10) "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:" (11) "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:" (12) ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:10-21, John 17:5-11, John 17:1-5, John 17:12-23, John 17:24-26  (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