3. Why?
-Mission-

4. What?
&
How?
-Vision-

5. ‘Vehicle’

6. Koinōnía
fellowship, sharing, community, participation, partnership, communion
Both inward and outward focused
(receiving) (giving)

7. Onesimus, the runaway

8. Philemon 1-18

9. Welcome “the runaway” into koinōnía
unsaved
‘unchurched’ or ‘de-churched’
offended/hurt
‘backslidden’
out of the habit
useless
You

10. Galatians 6:1-3
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

11. Jude 20-23
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love… 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

12. Welcome “the runaway” into koinōnía
How Paul does it:
Led him to the Lord
Doesn’t make any excuses for him
But also declares he is useful now!
He restores him
He sends him
He connects him
He gives of himself- which is costly

13. Welcome “the runaway” into koinōnía
How Paul does it:
He appeals to Philemon and the church that meets in his home…
On the basis of:
Being active in koinōnía (sharing their faith)
Love

14. Welcome “the runaway” into koinōnía
How Paul does it:
He appeals to Philemon and the church that meets in his home…
To become family with him
He fathered him
Consider him a dear brother

15. Koinōnía is becoming family
“God gives lonely people a family. He sets prisoners free, and they go out singing.” Psalm 68:6 (NIRV)

16. Examine yourself before the Lord and recognize/consider the body:
Do you have unresolved offense?
Do you need to welcome back or restore a ‘runaway’?
Are you not active in koinōnía and need to be?

17. 6 “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”