Mix Tape Vol 3. [Track 1] Philemon

June 7, 2026
Mix Tape Vol 3. [Track 1] Philemon

Some parts of Christianity are easier to believe in a church service than they are to practice in a living room.

  • Here is the tension of the whole letter: What do you do when the gospel changes someone you still remember by their worst moment?

Philemon 1-25

1) The gospel changes our identity. (vs.1-7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13)

2) The gospel changes how we see people. (vs. 8-16)

      • Grace does not mean pretending nothing happened. Grace means believing Jesus can write a better ending.
      • We cannot claim to believe in resurrection while refusing to believe people can change and be made new.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

3) The gospel changes how we handle sin and debt. (vs.17-19)

      • The gospel is not that God ignored our sin and debt. The gospel is that Jesus paid it. Forgiveness is costly. Somebody absorbs the loss. Somebody lays down the right to revenge. Somebody chooses mercy over payback. That is what Jesus did for us.
      • Some people say, “I just can’t forgive them.” But for the Christian, the deeper question is NOT, “Do they deserve forgiveness?” The deeper question is: “Can I withhold from them what Jesus did not withhold from me?” (Romans 5:8)

4) The gospel changes the witness of the church. (vs. 20-25)

      • Why? Because the way Christians handle broken relationships either confirms or contradicts the gospel we proclaim. (John 13:35)
optimizing
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR VBS
Level Up: Living God's Way July 27-30, 6-8:30 pm. Kindergarten-5th Grade 
Read more