“Freed To Love”
Philemon 1-25
Sermon Series: “No Longer A Slave”
Introduction: What kind of church do you want to be a part of in regard to how people are treated? Well, remember that we are the church so people will be treated like we treat them. People will be treated in a loving way if we are loving and will be treated in an unloving way if we are unloving.
Main Idea: The love of God imparted through the cross of Christ transforms human relationships by filling us with love for others.
This idea permeates Paul’s letter to Philemon. The love of Jesus transformed Paul from trying to exterminate Christians to loving a runaway slave by the name of Onesimus. It completely transformed the relationship of Onesimus and Philemon as Onesimus went back to make things right and Philemon forgave him and accepted him as a brother. Here are some truths we need to learn and apply in order to have loving Christian relationships:
I. The Essence of Loving Christian Relationships
- We are a loving family (v. 1, 16, Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:1-4).
2. We are fellow ministers (v. 1, 24, 1 Corinthians 12).
3. We are fellow soldiers (v. 2, Ephesians 6:12).
II. Expression of Loving Christian Relationships (1 John 3:18)
1. Showing appreciation to each other (v. 4-7).
2. Praying for each other (v. 4, 22).
3. Sacrificially meeting each other’s needs (v. 7, 17-18, Titus 3:14).
4. Kindly and respectfully exhorting each other to obey God (v. 8-15).
5. Forgiving and accepting each other (v. 15-19, Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-35).
Conclusion: Are you loving, serving, and warring with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Is our love in word or in deed? Can the world see the difference Jesus makes because of the way we love each other? Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
