Put it all on my account— freely forgiven in Christ – Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Bible Readings Proverbs 9:8-12, Luke 14:25-33
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Pastor Paul A. Tullberg
Sermon text: Philemon 1

Greeting
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon, our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love and faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 I pray that this fellowship of your faith may become active in understanding every good thing that belongs to us in Christ. 7 For I have received great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Appeal on Behalf of Onesimus
8 For that reason, even though I have plenty of boldness in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 I am appealing to you, instead, on the basis of love, just as I, Paul, am an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I am appealing to you on behalf of my child Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains. 11 There was a time when he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. Welcome him. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might serve me in your place while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your kindness would not be the result of compulsion, but of willingness. 15 Perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while: so that you would have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave, as a dear brother. He certainly is dear to me, but he is even more of a dear brother to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, have written this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 Yes, brother, I am asking for a favor 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 Just one more thing: Prepare a guest room for me, because I am hoping to be given back to you in answer to your prayers.

Closing Words
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends his greetings to you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Take a Moment to recall something from today’s message.
Ask Jesus to create for you opportunities to use your words,
activities and thoughts to glorify Him this week.

We value your friendship and the opportunity to share the love of Jesus together with you!