January 21, 2024
Since we’re learning to study the Bible, here are a few Bible jokes: At what time was Adam created? A little before Eve! What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? It’s Christmas, Eve. Where is the first mention of insurance in the Bible? When Adam and Eve needed more coverage.
I’m excited because today we’re continuing to talk about how to study the Bible. We’re lucky, there are Bibles all over the place: in the pew, on your phone, Bibles in hotel rooms. If you have a grandmother, chances are on her coffee table there’s a Bible as huge as a Honda Accord! We’re lucky to have all these Bibles around us! Because as we spend time reading the word of God, we are inspired to follow God, to forgive, to love as Jesus did. We find peace and rest in Him. The word of God helps us look around and notice what we’ve haven’t seen. We experience God’s grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love for us!
We have this treasure, but only 32% of Americans read the Bible regularly. Why is that? There are people who don’t believe in God, so they don’t believe in the Bible. There are people who tried to read the Bible, but they got bored or didn’t understand it. But for those of your that are believers and followers of Jesus, the main reason that people don’t read the Bible is they just don’t understand how to do it. They’ve tried and they don’t get very far! So last Sunday and today, we’re talking about how to study the Bible. We’re actually studying the book of Philemon, a very short book, it’s only one chapter. It’s one of the shortest books in the Bible.
Our thought today is the Bible is meant to transform us, not just inform us. It’s great to know some verses in the Bible. My husband, Kevin, is a pastor. He’s not great at memorizing. But he was teaching confirmation class once, and a youth asked him, what is John 3:16? Kevin said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will have eternal life.” This young person was so impressed, and said, “Wow, you have the whole Bibe memorized!” Kevin was lucky, that’s one of the most memorized verses in the Bible! Our goal is not to memorize the Bible, or to know more than anyone else about it. Our goal is that we will be changed from our time in God’s word. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the one who loves God is known by God. What’s most important is: love.
Sometimes people read the Bible, and they are disturbed by the violence in the Old Testament, wonder why there are so many rules and regulations, or why there are a beast and other strange creatures in the book of Revelation. The first parts of the Bible were written 3500 years ago, so we live in a different world than they did. Revelation can seem really scary, but it is a book of hope! For the weird stuff in the Bible, what’s important to know is this: we are Christians. We read the Bible in light of Jesus, his resurrection, and his command to love each other as I have loved you. Jesus is the center of our faith. We study the Bible, to learn how to love like Jesus. If we have questions about the Bible, we ask someone. We research it. The Bible should give us a bigger heart. We don’t read the Bible to hit people over the head with it: tell them what’s wrong with them. As if we’re better. We read the Bible to be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We’ll still sin. But that’s our vision: to love like Jesus did.
Last week we learned how to study the Bible: 1. choose a version you understand. King James Version is written in Shakespeare English. If you don’t understand this verse, “You have refreshed the bowels of the saints,” you might want to try a different version of the Bible that you do understand! 2. Choose a time, a place, and a plan to study. Be consistent, because that helps you to stick with it. 3. Understand the context. Ask, “Who wrote this book of the Bible?” We’re looking at the book of Philemon. Paul wrote it. Who was it written to? To Philemon and the church that meets in his house. What was the purpose? So that Philemon would forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and treat him as a friend, and brother.
4. Read slowly and ask questions. Why did Philemon have a slave? Slavery was legal. But why would a Christian have a slave? Paul knew Onesimus personally. In verse 12 Paul says, “I am sending Onesimus—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.” How has Onesimus helped Paul? Maybe he brought him food or delivered his letters while he was in prison. Why does Paul keep mentioning, hey, I’m in prison? He says, I’m in prison, in chains. And Paul introduces himself at the start of the letter, as Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus. It wasn’t Jesus that put Paul in prison, it was the Roman empire. They put him in prison because he follows Jesus. Jesus had a cross to bear. Paul’s cross was prison. Onesimus’ cross was slavery. Just as the slave master Philemon is concerned for Paul, who’s in prison, maybe he will care about his slave Onesimus and the cross he bears, and so lift him out of slavery. What do these verses say about God? That God cares about the people others don’t care about. What does it say about me? I need to care about them too.
In verse 14 Paul says, “But I did not want to do anything” (like keep your slave!) “without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.” Paul is writing as a friend, not mentioning his apostolic rank. He is writing brother to brother. Verses 15-16 say, “Perhaps the reason Onesimus was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.” Onesimus is the messenger who delivers this letter from Paul to Philemon. Can you imagine him, worried that his master might punish him, just holding out this letter, hoping Philemon takes it to heart!
Verses 17-18 say, “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If Onesimus has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.” Jesus paid a debt he didn’t owe. He paid the price for our sins. Paul is saying to Philemon, I’ll pay any debt Onesimus owes you. That the good news of God’s grace: God offers us unearned favor, and undeserved forgiveness.
What is the rest of the story? Does Philemon forgive Onesimus? Does he set him free? Nothing was written about that! But we know this much: if Philemon did not forgive Onesimus, we probably would not have this letter in our Bible! When Paul would send a letter to a church, that church usually kept it. The letters eventually became part of the bible: Romans was the letter to the church in Rome, Corinthians to the church in Corinth, etc. If Philemon did not listen to Paul’s request in the letter and do what he wanted, Philemon would not have kept the letter, and the church that met in his house wouldn’t have kept it. So, it seems pretty certain that Onesimus was forgiven and treated like a brother by Philemon. That’s why we can read the letter today!
That speaks to the transforming power of Scripture. When Philemon received this letter, it wasn’t Scripture yet. It was just a letter, a heartfelt plea from Paul, and Philemon took it as a message from God. It changed him! He did something unheard of and forgave his runaway slave, granting him freedom!
There’s an Onesimus in the book of Colossians, who is going to come to the church with another of the Lord’s people. There is also an Onesimus who become bishop in Ephesus. It could be Onesimus went from slave to brother to bishop! He was changed by Paul’s letter to Philemon!
Here’s a question I want you to ask yourself as you read the Bible: “How will I be different because of what I have read today?”
We don’t read the Bible to be informed. We read the Bible to be transformed! Imagine if, every day, you read the Bible, it could be just for 5 minutes, and you answer the question: How will I be different because of what I have read today? If you commit to knowing God through His holy word, you will be changed! God will speak to you; guide you empower you and conform you to the image of Jesus a little every single day. If you’re hurting, God will give you hope. If you’re lost, His word will direct your steps. If you’re doubting, he’ll build your faith. If you’re anxious, you’ll learn to cast your cares on Him. I challenge you to read the Bible for a month. Have a time, a place and a plan. And a year from now, you’ll say, “I’m different. Not because I’m better, but because the word of God has changed me!” Amen.
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