Loving Jesus Style

Scripture Philemon 8-22 8  Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9  yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10  I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11  (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12  I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13  I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14  but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15  For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16  no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17  So if y

Philemon 1-7 1  Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2  and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4  I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5  because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6  and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7  For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. [1] Devotion             In Philemon we find the shortest of all of Paul’s letters. Only 355 words in the Greek. Paul introduces himself as a prisoner for Christ Jesus rather than as an Apostle. Most commentators deduce that this is Paul’s impr

Sermon on Prayer Countryside 1-26-2020 Scripture Ephesians 6:18-20 18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. [1] Sermon Text:           Most of us are familiar with the verses that precede these verses. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 

Scripture Colossians 4:7-18 7  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8  I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9  and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. 10  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11  and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13  For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and f

Scripture Colossians 4:2-6 2  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4  that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. [1] Devotion             As Paul gets ready to close his letter to the Colossians, he makes a prayer request of them. First, he encourages them to be consistent in their prayers. He encourages them to be watchful making note of the times. “ The Colossians were to pray with mental alertness. Presumably, this meant that they were to know the circumstances of life, particularly those which affected the spread of the gospel. Informed prayer is likely to be more purposeful,

Colossians 3:18-4:1 18  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19  Husbands love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20  Children obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21  Fathers do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22  Bondservants obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25  For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4  Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. [1] Devotion                 The society to which Paul addressed his “table of household duties” was very different from ours; but the duty to m

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17 3  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6  On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and unci

Scripture Colossians 2:16-23 16  Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21  “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22  (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but the

Scripture 2:6-15 6  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10  and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11  In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14  by cance