1. “Blest be the Tie That Binds!”
Philemon 1-25

2. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

3. Galatians 3:26-28
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

4. This letter addresses the issue of relationships and how “in Christ” there are ties that bind Christians together regardless of rank, gender or status.

5. Purpose:
to show Christianity defines relationships on totally different grounds as does the world

6. I Key Words to Consider
A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)

7. Paul was not ashamed of his chains… It was his sign of ownership, that he belonged completely to Christ Jesus!

8. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”

9. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)

10. This brotherhood that Christ creates was and is totally radical…

11. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)
C. Friend (v 1)

12. Don’t know of any “community” in the world that creates true friendships like the Christian family.

13. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)
C. Friend (v 1)
D. Fellow Worker (vv 1, 24)

14. Those who are not together on task will not accomplish that task no matter how important or unimportant it may be…

15. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)
C. Friend (v 1)
D. Fellow Worker (vv 1, 24)
E. Fellow Soldiers (v 2)

16. Ephesians 6:12
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

17. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)
C. Friend (v 1)
D. Fellow Worker (vv 1, 24)
E. Fellow Soldiers (v 2)
F. Father/Son (v 10)

18. To be used of God to bring someone to Christ is a greater matter than witnessing their birth into the world…

19. I Key Words to Consider A. Fellow Prisoner (vv 1, 9, 23)
B. Brother/Sister (vv 1, 2, 7, 16, 20)
C. Friend (v 1)
D. Fellow Worker (vv 1, 24)
E. Fellow Soldiers (v 2)
F. Father/Son (v 10)
G. Partner (v 17)

20. We all know what coerce means… Paul said to Philemon, “…I could order (coerce) you… instead I appeal to you on the basis of love.”

21. A. We Are Brothers in Prayer
II Application of These Key Words
A. We Are Brothers in Prayer
B. We Are Brothers in Resolving
C. We Are Brothers in Refreshing

22. 2 Timothy 1:15-16
“You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermongenes. May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”

23. What did this Onesiphorus do
What did this Onesiphorus do? Did he bring blankets, parchments, news of the churches or did he just bring himself? We’re not told, but Paul says, “… he often refreshed me.”

24. Conclusion and Summary
Here’s my point: when we become more concerned about personal preferences rather than our Lord’s desire of saving souls, we become totally ineffective… I challenge each of us to give the world irrefutable evidence that baptism into Christ creates the most radical, committed, attractive, and refreshing community it can find!