Philemon, Pt. 1: Scripture
Take Communion
Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:
Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.
Review the Last Practice
Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Scripture, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how our practice of Lectio Divina went.
What did your time in Scriptures look like this week? Did you find Lectio Divina to be a helpful tool? In what ways did it differ from your typical practice of reading Scripture?
What’s one way you heard God speak to you through his Word in your time of reading this week? How did you feel led to practically respond to God’s voice this week (i.e. a change of mind or change of habit, an act of love toward someone you know, etc.)?
What about your current practice of Scripture feels off to you (i.e. a discomfort, interruption, inconsistency, etc.)? Is it something for you to change, or is it something God is using to change you?
As we dive into our practice for tonight, we’ll start to see how God uses Scripture to shape our hearts and minds to reflect that of his son’s. Let’s take the next few moments to simply pray and ask Jesus to be our teacher tonight, as we continue to practice reading Scripture together.
Leader Note: As followers of Jesus, we look to him as our teacher, so take this moment in prayer to offload the pressure of your formation back on to Jesus and receive the freedom to simply engage this practice, trusting that the practice itself is what gives the Spirit space to form you.
Read This Overview Aloud Together
In the book of Philemon, the Apostle Paul writes to a pastor, named Philemon, asking him to not only welcome home a runaway slave, named Onesimus, but to go one giant leap further and receive him as a brother. Paul recognizes Onesimus’ genuine decision to follow Jesus and chooses to send him home to the master he wronged. The runaway slave returns to his master with a letter from Paul, detailing what should be Philemon’s proper response in light of this new spiritual reality. Paul seized this opportunity to reconcile the relationship between two brothers in Christ, and at the same time re-shape the minds of his readers to see their world, their society, and one another, through the lens of God’s kingdom.
In verses 4–6, the Apostle Paul prays for Philemon to direct his attention to “every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” Throughout the letter, Paul is teaching Onesimus, Philemon, and surely the entire church gathering in his home to be “transformed by the renewal of their minds” (Rom 12v2) and to see themselves within the redemptive narrative of scripture. Paul knows that without an “understanding of every good thing” our minds will instead be shaped by societal trends, or what he calls in another letter “the ways of this world” (Rom 12v2).
Do This Practice Tonight
Paul’s prayer for Philemon challenges us to reconsider the norms of our society and the typical narratives we accept. As we build a habit of reading Scripture, we learn to find ourselves in God’s story and reframe the world around us from the vantage point of Heaven. What we choose to intentionally fix our minds on will shape the way we view reality and ultimately determine the way we relate to one another.
Let’s take the next few minutes to break into smaller groups and consider these questions:
What influences are you currently giving your attention to on a daily basis? How might they be shaping the way you think about yourself, others, or the world around you? Do you notice each source influencing you in a positive way, or in a negative way, or something in-between?
Paul says in another letter to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4v8). What practices or resources have you found helpful in cultivating your imagination around these things?
For those influences you notice impacting you in a way that isn’t helpful or pulls you away from a Kingdom perspective, how could you replace those habits or redirect your attention to things that reinforce a truer narrative? How do you feel about that idea — excited, daunted, encouraged, something else?
Leader Note: As the smaller groups discuss these questions, keep track of the time and encourage people to talk through each question before moving on to the next part of the practice.
Now let’s take the next few moments to consider each other's answers and pray for one another, using Philemon v4–6 as a guide.
"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ." — Philemon v4–6
Leader Note: When everyone has finished praying, call everyone back in to read the next section and close out the night in prayer.
Read The Practice for the Week Ahead
In the week ahead, let’s continue in our efforts to renew our minds through Scripture, allowing God to give us the perspective of Heaven. This week, we’ll be setting aside intentional time each day to pray Scripture, using Philemon v4–6 (or Romans 12v2) as a template for our prayers. The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how this Practice of praying Scripture influenced our week and directed our attention.
End in Prayer
Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue teaching your Community that the renewal of all creation comes through our ordinary lives and the Practice of Scripture.