Being part of a family isn't easy - but then again, not worth doing is ever easy.  We have a hidden warning at the end of Philemon through the providence of God's progressive revelation.

A healthy church needs more than just a one-hour-a-week gathering. A healthy church needs personal community that goes beyond the 4 walls of the church building.  A healthy church needs intentional reunion for the refreshment of our souls.

The follow-through is always the hardest.  It's one thing to know that you're bound together in the family of God with others in the church, but it's a whole other thing to put your money-where-your-mouth-is and intentionally dig in deep into fellowship and Christian community.

Paul's message to Philemon isn't for Onesimus's sake alone - it's actually to help Philemon. The evidence of our Christian faith is only seen when put the world's standards behind those of our Creator. It is our Creator who gives us our lasting identity in Him.

The Christian community was always designed by God to be more than just a "community".  As there are many such "communities" in our world, all defined by shared values and identities, the Christian community was supposed to be a family of God.

God's design for our growth in Him includes a commitment to one another in love, fellowship and encouragement.  For the church to experience and express this as a whole will require small manageable groups of families, whose relationships can grow deeper beyond the 2 hours of accessibility of a Sunday morning worship service... these are called Life Groups at Grace.

One of the essential mechanisms for our growth and encouragement in the faith is the Christian community. Paul's interaction with Philemon reveals many of these characteristics that we can learn from today.

The sending of disciples on mission was determined by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. If we too are to be sent, we also must learn to be led by the Spirit.

One of the most difficult aspects of being sent is submitting to the one who sends you. We are most secure when we are in the center of God's purpose and calling, no matter where He sends us.

Our true opposition in this world is not the men and women we are sent to, rather it is the unseen enemy that opposes the glory of our God.  We are protected from this deceiver by grounding our understanding upon God's Truth!