I forgive
Children's sermon
Object:
a model house
To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to
Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in your house. (vv. 1b-2)
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought something with me today. I am sure everyone knows what it is. It is a pretty house. I know a lot of people who would like to live in a house like this. How many of you live in houses? (let them answer) Do you live there alone? (let them answer) Everyone here lives with someone else. Who lives in your house? (let them answer) Very good; when we live with our family in a house we call it a home.
There was a home in the city of Colossae that was owned by a man named Philemon. Philemon had a wife named Apphia and a son named Archippus. They were good people. Philemon was a Christian and followed carefully the teachings of this new religion. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus who ran away from his house and got as far away as Rome. We don't know why he ran away but he was very afraid of Philemon.
Philemon met Paul in Rome while Paul was serving time in prison. Philemon was baptized and became a Christian while serving Paul as helper in spreading the word of God inside and outside of prison. One day, Onesimus told Paul that he was Philemon's runaway slave. Paul knew that Onesimus would die if he were caught. Death was the penalty for being a runaway slave. Paul really loved Onesimus and did not want any harm to come to him. He also knew that Philemon would be very upset if he found his slave serving Paul in Rome.
I think Paul and Onesimus must have talked many times about him running away. Finally, Paul decided to write a letter to Philemon and tell him about how Onesimus had really changed his life and how he was serving Jesus in Rome. Paul said that Onesimus and Paul knew it would be wrong if it continued. Paul told Philemon that he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon's home to take whatever punishment he wanted to give. Paul was hoping that Philemon would see what a changed man Onesimus was and that he would welcome him back into his home like a brother and not like a slave. Philemon had learned about the love of Jesus and would now have an opportunity to practice his love. It was a great letter that Paul wrote and gave to Onesimus to deliver to Philemon.
We don't know the end of the story. What do you think happened to Onesimus? Do you think Philemon welcomed him back into his home with love or was he angry that Paul was sticking up for his slave? Is our faith in God so strong that we can forgive anyone for what they have done, if they are really sorry and want to make up? If you have friends who have hurt you, could you forgive them, with God's help? I hope so. Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls. I brought something with me today. I am sure everyone knows what it is. It is a pretty house. I know a lot of people who would like to live in a house like this. How many of you live in houses? (let them answer) Do you live there alone? (let them answer) Everyone here lives with someone else. Who lives in your house? (let them answer) Very good; when we live with our family in a house we call it a home.
There was a home in the city of Colossae that was owned by a man named Philemon. Philemon had a wife named Apphia and a son named Archippus. They were good people. Philemon was a Christian and followed carefully the teachings of this new religion. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus who ran away from his house and got as far away as Rome. We don't know why he ran away but he was very afraid of Philemon.
Philemon met Paul in Rome while Paul was serving time in prison. Philemon was baptized and became a Christian while serving Paul as helper in spreading the word of God inside and outside of prison. One day, Onesimus told Paul that he was Philemon's runaway slave. Paul knew that Onesimus would die if he were caught. Death was the penalty for being a runaway slave. Paul really loved Onesimus and did not want any harm to come to him. He also knew that Philemon would be very upset if he found his slave serving Paul in Rome.
I think Paul and Onesimus must have talked many times about him running away. Finally, Paul decided to write a letter to Philemon and tell him about how Onesimus had really changed his life and how he was serving Jesus in Rome. Paul said that Onesimus and Paul knew it would be wrong if it continued. Paul told Philemon that he was sending Onesimus back to Philemon's home to take whatever punishment he wanted to give. Paul was hoping that Philemon would see what a changed man Onesimus was and that he would welcome him back into his home like a brother and not like a slave. Philemon had learned about the love of Jesus and would now have an opportunity to practice his love. It was a great letter that Paul wrote and gave to Onesimus to deliver to Philemon.
We don't know the end of the story. What do you think happened to Onesimus? Do you think Philemon welcomed him back into his home with love or was he angry that Paul was sticking up for his slave? Is our faith in God so strong that we can forgive anyone for what they have done, if they are really sorry and want to make up? If you have friends who have hurt you, could you forgive them, with God's help? I hope so. Amen.
