Philemon - Pt 1

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philemon 1:1-3 ESV). Perhaps one of the least read books of the New Testament is Paul’s letter to Philemon. It is very brief, but packed with wonderful insight. For the next few days, we’ll be looking at it somewhat microscopically. Philemon was a man who was growing as a Christian. In this letter to Philemon, Paul challenges Philemon to let go of the things of this world, and to allow God's plan to become his own. There is no greater calling for the Christian. Philemon was apparently a man of some means. He may have even been wealthy. As we will see this week, Philemon certainly owned some property, one of which was Onesimus, a slave. We don't know all the details, but we do know that Onesimus was working with Paul in ministry, and that he apparently should have still been a slave to Philemon. What I want to point out today is about Philemon. Here is one who loves the Lord so much that he has opened his home to the church. Do you know anyone like that? Their home is a haven of rest, a place of strength, where believers and seekers feel comfortable, and there is never a stranger. Somehow when I read of the church at Philemon's house that is the kind of mental picture I get. Why else would Paul have mentioned it? What would people say about your house? Is it a place for weary souls? Do others feel welcome? Sometimes I think we put so much time preparing our homes so that WE can be comfortable and yet God wants our homes to be places for others also. God wants us, as Christians, to have homes that reflect His love to those who are hurting; homes that reveal His grace; and homes that reach out to a lost world. Although most of us attend church outside of our homes, which is customary today, shouldn't the house in which we live be a church? Shouldn't our homes be a place where people can find peace and joy? My challenge to you today is to begin to reexamine your home so that it can be a place where others find welcome in the name of Christ.