Sunday Morning, September 5, 2010
Labor in the Pulpit
Kim Bobo, IWJ, preaching
Worship at 10am in the Sanctuary
Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Philemon 1-21

The reading from Deuteronomy is presented as Moses’ last major address to the people of Israel before they travel across the river Jordan to settle into the promised land. It is kind of the summary of his teaching. I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity…. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God … you shall live…. But if your heart turns away … and you are led astray … you shall perish. This is the essential message of Moses to the people of Israel.

Philemon in the New Testament is one of Paul’s letters, and it is the shortest book in the New Testament: only 25 verses long. Paul is sending a runaway slave, Onesimus, back to his master, Philemon. Both of them are Christians and Paul is asking Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ. A runaway slave could be severely punished and even put to death, but Paul is asking Philemon to consider a whole different relationship with Onesimus.