18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

20 Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 In the meantime, prepare a guest room for me, because I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

So far, Paul has challenged Philemon on what the gospel means for how we view one another. God calls us to see one another as we truly are through faith in Jesus: partners in the gospel, coworkers, children of God with the same honour and value and status.

But there is one final issue he needs to address, which for Philemon might be even more difficult. It’s the twin topics of reconciliation and forgiveness. For Philemon to receive Onesimus back as if he were receiving Paul himself (v17), their relationship needed to be fixed. Onesimus had committed some serious wrong against his master, and Paul must have known that Philemon still felt … anger? resentment? a sense of entitlement, of demanding payback?

For Philemon to begin to obey Christ, there needed to be reconciliation. But Paul recognises that reconciliation can’t happen unless Philemon is willing and able to forgive Onesimus – to release the debt, let go of his demand for personal payback.

That can be SO hard, can’t it? But that’s what I love about the Bible: God knows that we struggle to forgive, and Scripture is realistic about how long it will take and how often we will need to be forgiven for failing to forgive!

That’s what we see here. Not only does Paul know Philemon will struggle to forgive Onesimus, he offers to help him with it – at his own expense. He offers to pay whatever damages Onesimus owes, simply to help Philemon to let go of his unforgiveness. What an amazing example of valuing the gospel and relationships over material things!

But Paul also slips in a subtle reminder to Philemon of the biggest thing that will help us to learn to forgive. He reminds Philemon, “you owe me your very self” (v19) – that is, Philemon is eternally in debt to Paul, and through Paul to God himself, for his eternal salvation and joy. Because Paul was the one who brought Philemon the gospel.

Our sin meant that all of us had a debt to God that we couldn’t ever pay off, not even if we had all eternity. But through the gift and sacrifice of his Son, God has gladly freed us from that debt. Compared to that, every other moral debt we are owed is trivial. Remembering that is what will help us to learn to not hold onto our personal grievances, and to extend the same kind of extravagant forgiveness to others that we have received in Christ.

As we saw yesterday, others at church might sometimes treat you by society’s stereotypes of classes and levels. Can you learn to forgive them? Because if you can forgive them first, it will be so much easier to do the hard work of talking with them about the way they’ve treated you. In the end, that is what will help us to grow as the very best thing there is: brothers and sisters in the Lord, and spiritual royalty together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

12 I am sending back to you him who is my very heart.

13 I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Today Paul finally gets to the heart of why he is writing to Philemon. He’s taken a while to get there, because … he’s a godly, caring pastor. He was eager to start by affirming Philemon of his thankfulness to God for their partnership in the gospel and for the encouragement Philemon has been to him. I love seeing this example of Paul’s gentle, pastoral manner.

Now he gets to the point. Paul is about to send Philemon’s runaway slave back to him – Onesimus, who has now been transformed by knowing Christ. So what does Paul want Philemon to do? In a nutshell: receive Onesimus back, not as a slave, but “better than a slave, as a beloved brother” (v16). Or in v17: receive Onesimus back just as if he were receiving Paul himself!

That doesn’t necessarily mean Onesimus would stop being Philemon’s slave, in legal terms. Slavery in the ancient world was very different from the pure evil of the African slave trade. Under a godly master, it could be a good form of employment. The issue for Paul was not whether Philemon was going to release Onesimus. It was how Philemon was going to view Onesimus from now on. Was he going to relate to him as an inferior, a good-for-nothing slave, or as Christ called him to – as an equal through the gospel, a cherished brother in Christ, someone to both encourage and be encouraged by?

This was an unbelievably radical thing for Paul to ask an ancient slave-owner to do. But that’s how radical and countercultural the gospel is! Christ raises all of us up to the same level. We will still have different styles, different backgrounds, different cultures and subcultures. But in Christ, there is only one level: the highest one there is. Jesus himself calls every single one of us his brothers and sisters (Heb. 2:11)! That makes us all spiritual royalty.

But it’s so hard to live that out in church life. It’s so easy to subconsciously think of each other by society’s class stereotypes. I’ve seen it so often in ministry (and in myself!) – tensions and conflicts and misunderstandings, because of blind spots on both sides of the class divide or the cultural divide. We slip so easily into looking at “those people” with suspicion, interpreting their words and actions in the worst possible light instead of with grace, generosity and deep affection.

Have you ever been on the wrong end of that? That wouldn’t be surprising. We’ll think about that more tomorrow. For today, pray that God would help you to view and treat all your Christian brothers and sisters as spiritual royalty in Christ, just like you are.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Over the next 3 days, we are looking at the little letter of Philemon.

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets at your house:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God, remembering you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ. 7 I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

8 So although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, 9 I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Like 2 Timothy, Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell, though this was some years earlier (how many times was Paul thrown in jail for preaching Christ?!).

It’s a simple letter, but it’s important to understand the situation of the two main people Paul talks about. He wrote the letter to Philemon, who was a close Christian friend and a gospel coworker. It seems that Philemon was reasonably well-off – he had a church gathering meeting at his house, and he had at least one slave. Well, until recently.

That’s the other main character: Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus. It seems that Onesimus had been an unbeliever and a lousy slave, and had wronged his master Philemon in some way (we don’t know how – maybe he stole something from him). He then fled, but he somehow ended up with Paul in prison. Through Paul, Onesimus not only came to faith in Christ, Paul clearly came to have a deep affection for him. On top of that, Paul tells Philemon, “now he has become useful both to you and to me” (v. 11).

Paul is having a bit of fun with Onesimus’s name there. His name means “useful” or “profitable.” But before he knew Christ, when it came to the things of faith and eternity and salvation, Onesimus didn’t live up to his name. He wasn’t Mr Useful, he was Mr Useless, Mr Good-For-Nothing. But how amazing and transforming is it to know Christ?! Christ turned this crooked and spiritually useless runaway slave into Mr Useful-For-Jesus.

So Paul wants Philemon to see his slave Onesimus, not as a loser who will scrape into heaven in last place. Onesimus is now Philemon’s partner in the gospel, just like Paul is.

Two thoughts to finish. As you think about yourself: Jesus doesn’t just save us from hell. He saves us for useful work. His goal is to transform us into “gospel doers” in his service, hard-working partners with our brothers and sisters. Are you aiming and striving for Christ’s goal for you?

And as you think about your brothers and sisters at church: Which of them do you see as your potential gospel partners, as Useful-For-Jesus people? If there are some you don’t put in that category, pray for your heart and mindset now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
21 Make every effort to come to me before winter.
Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Everett

My heart broke for Paul when I read v16. Going on trial must be scary. That’s why family and friends of a defendant usually come to court to support them. But Paul says no one stood for him at his defence. Not even his Christian brothers and sisters stood up for him while he was on trial for the gospel. If I were in his shoes, I would’ve felt abandoned, hopeless.

But Paul knew he wasn’t alone. I love the comparison between vs 16 and 17 – Paul says, ‘no one stood with me’ (v16), but in v17 says, ‘the Lord stood by me.” Even though no one else in that courtroom saw him, Paul knew that Jesus was with him, and was giving him the strength he needed to proclaim the gospel in that courtroom.

Paul also had confidence that Jesus would rescue him and bring him ‘safely into His heavenly kingdom’ (v18). That didn’t mean Paul wouldn’t suffer – he knew his own death was near (v6). But he had confidence that God would protect him spiritually, and help him to persevere and enter His heavenly kingdom.

I know Jesus calls us all to ‘make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28:19), like Paul. I haven’t been on trial for the gospel, but I still find it scary to start a gospel conversation with my friends or invite them to church. Maybe you do too. But we all can have the same confidence as Paul here. As we share the gospel with friends, family, coworkers, and team mates, we can know Jesus is standing with us, right there, giving us strength. He’s with us always (Matt 28:20). And no matter what happens – whether people like what we say, don’t care, or even hate us – we can know that Jesus will protect us, and bring us safely home to heaven. “To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (v18).”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Student Ministers.

9 Make every effort to come to me quickly, 10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Today’s passage brings home some harsh realities of what it’s like being involved in the ministry of the gospel message.  Doing ministry is heavily relational, and requires being involved in people’s lives. But as this passage reminds us, there are seasons to these relationships, and sometimes, those seasons end badly.  There are four examples that I can see from this passage.

First, we have Demas, who appeared to have been in partnership with Paul in his ministry, but his love for the world resulted in him deserting Paul. Second are Titus and Tychicus, who were together with Paul in his ministry, but probably for the sake of the kingdom, have moved on to do ministry elsewhere. Third are Timothy and Mark, who are moving to join with Paul in his ministry. And finally, there’s Luke, who perseveres with Paul through his ministry, appearing to never leave.

In my workplace, over 6 years ago I started a Bible reading group. Initially it was just me. But then a few months later another joined, then another, then after the first year we had five people. These were mostly Christians, with the occasional borderline non-Christian joining. As the months rolled on, people left and others arrived. Overall, I have probably seen about 50 people pass through – people who I have read the Bible and prayed with. Only 1 person has stayed through the whole 6 years. He has been a great encouragement to me, and is someone who continues to wrestle with his faith in light of the world’s pressures.

Let’s pray for the ministry of the gospel everywhere, and that God would enable us to press on in faith and continue to be light to those around us, especially in seasons where relationally things might be tough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Matt Radloff

These verses are packed full of emotion as Paul passes on the torch of gospel ministry to Timothy. Paul has reached the end of his life, he has run the Christian race that we all run, and he wants his apprentice and his friend, Timothy, to run like he did. As we run the path following Jesus, it’s hard! There are times when the Christian journey might not feel hard – sometimes it might feel like a pleasant jog through the park. We feel joy in God’s word, prayer feels easy, going to church is refreshing. Thank God for those times!

But the Bible does promise us that there will be times of hardship. Times where it’s just difficult to keep doing the work we know God wants us to do. Times when it’s hard to keep trusting in Jesus. When it’s hard to keep the faith. The weight of sin, the desires of our hearts and the temptations of the world pull at us, call us to step off the track and take a break from the race. I find it comforting that Paul is real about the hardship of running for Jesus. He doesn’t sugar-coat it. He poured himself out for the sake of serving Jesus. That’s hard to do! He gave up everything in order to run the race. But Paul is also in no doubt that it was 100% worth it.

Finishing the race means receiving the crown of righteousness. When we reach the end of the race, God isn’t just going to give us a participation trophy. Not a “you ran in a race” ribbon. Not a “you tried your best” medal. God will give us the 1st place prize – not the prize for our own righteousness, but for the righteousness which Jesus won for us. Trusting in Jesus, through the good times and the bad, will be 100% worth it in the end. Knowing the prize means I can run with confidence. We can always know that it’s worth continuing to run.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt is one of our Student Ministers.

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.

3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Alex Chen

Jesus changes how we should value truth and continue to share it even when our world doesn’t want to hear it. Paul has such a fatherly encouragement to Timothy to hold fast to the truth and keep proclaiming it, even when people only want to listen to what suits them. We might look out at the world and point fingers at greedy corporations or progressive politics and say, “they are closing their ears to the truth.” But it matters even in our homes. We too are in danger of only paying attention to things that suit our itching ears or our own desires, and closing our ears to harder truths. It might be finding self-value in status, money, or job fulfilment. We don’t just need small changes in these areas. We have died to the old self that sinfully put these above God, so we must live new risen lives.

I often thought preaching the word in season and out of season meant a taking loud, bold stance. But it’s more about the everyday – faithfully and consistently holding onto the gospel. Our decisions in small things making it easier to make decisions at big moments. Our character in small situations will make it clear in big clashes what truth we stand for. This is being prepared in season and out of season. We won’t always be given a few days to prepare a speech.

Often, the hard part is where Paul says to do this with “patient instruction.” We can be so zealous and bold for the truth that we forget that it’s a person in front of us who is being corrected, rebuked, and encouraged. When we just want the truth to be upheld, it can be hard to use our words wisely, love the person, and exercise self-restraint instead of being harsh. It helps to humbly remember that we too are sinners who need correction, and we all want to run the race together. Remember that Jesus will ultimately judge and will return to bring us to glory.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex is one of our Student Ministers.

14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. 15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Annie Davies

So far in this chapter, Paul has warned about people doing evil things in the last days. Despite the circumstances, now he encourages Timothy to continue to hold firm to Scripture and to the biblical truths he has learned since he was young. The reason? It makes you wise for salvation.

As I read this passage I am reminded of the importance of God’s word in the Bible. As we see people do wrong and seemingly live a full life, as we encounter new ideas or hard times of suffering, all we need is God’s word. God’s word is where He reveals His great plan of salvation for those who trust in Jesus. We can hold firmly to God’s word, knowing it is all we need. Those other things will pass away but our salvation through faith in Christ will remain.

Sometimes when I read the Bible, I can rush through, thinking, “I’ve read it before and I know it,” or I can skim over it and not be impacted by it. I can think it is old news – and slowly my life starts to look more like those around me who don’t know Christ. But this passage encourages me to continue to hold onto the precious teachings and promises God has made, and to be reminded that they are all I need. As Paul says in verse 17, God’s word makes us complete and is enough to equip us for the good work God has planned for us to do.

Timothy was taught the Scriptures “from infancy”. Having kids of my own, this passage also reminds me of the importance of teaching my kids from the Bible from when they are young, so that they might have the same certainty of salvation and comfort knowing the truth of God’s word throughout their lives. In the busyness of managing naps and meals and activities with young kids day to day, I am challenged to ensure teaching the Bible is a priority and a part of each day. After all, it is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ, and that is the most important thing I want for my kids.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annie is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

10 You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance, 11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Adam Davies

In the previous reading, Paul has just warned Timothy about people who will manipulate and abuse their power to gain from others. But how does Timothy know Paul himself isn't just like that as well!? How do we know that those who teach and disciple us aren't manipulating us or abusing their power for their own gain.

Well, it seems like we can discover that by doing life together. When we do life together, like Timothy saw for Paul, we see the shape of the lives of our leaders and teachers and mentors. Look at that list in verse 10 and 11. Timothy has seen it all! Everything about Paul – his teaching, yes, but also his conduct, his purpose, his faith in Christ, his character or patience, love and perseverance. He's seen that Paul is the real deal, willing even to suffer for the sake of living a godly life and proclaiming the gospel.

I'm so thankful that our ministers open their homes and share their lives with us, and that we know and spend time with their families. We get to know what kind of people they are, and see that their walk matches their talk. There might be some really smart, talented bible teachers online, but we don't know them or their lives, and that's dangerous. How can we know that they're the real deal? I'm keen to be taught and discipled by those leaders we know, whose lives match up in honouring Christ, and I feel at peace that I'm not missing out on anything I need for life and godliness. Praise God for giving us a church family and great leaders who we can share life with, so that we don’t just talk the talk, but together we walk the walk of the Christian life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adam is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,[A] so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith. 9 But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

According to Jewish tradition, Jannes and Jambres are the names given to the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses and Aaron when they came before Pharoah – you can read about them in Exodus chapters 7 to 9.  What’s interesting about them is that they really stood in opposition to God. They attempted to discredit Moses and Aaron by performing god-like acts to show that the God of Moses had no real power.  After initially seeming to perform well, they are soon found out. God shows that there is no comparison – he is the Lord, and they are fakes.

In today’s passage, Paul warns us that we need to watch out, because the same kind of person might come amongst us today – not a magician, but someone with a form of godliness but denying its power, opposed to the truth, depraved in mind and disqualified from faith. They are the type to take advantage of vulnerable people, and seek to undermine the ministry of the gospel. They lead both men and women astray from the truth. Paul’s message to Timothy is one for us too: turn away from such as these.

I knew one such guy at my workplace. When I first met him a few years ago, he had started dating a Christian girl (not from work). He seemed interested in talking about the Bible and learning more about Jesus. He had informally been meeting up with people at work and at the same church of the girl he was dating.  Not too long after, Covid hit, and I lost touch with him. Two years later, I bumped into him and asked him how life was. He was now living together with the same girlfriend, and no longer interested in talking about Jesus. He probably never was really interested in making Jesus his Lord.

As a father of three girls, and as a brother to many other brothers and sisters in Christ, one of my biggest fears is watching someone like this drag the hearts of believers away from Christ.  As I think about how to help my brothers and sisters stand firm in gospel truth, this passage tells me that I need to be like the apostle Paul – staying close to them, encouraging and reminding them of the gospel, helping them through prayer and speaking words of truth, to help them discern for themselves who to stay near to and who to turn away from.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.