Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Philemon

Nov. 2, 2025

Message: “Living up to your Name!”

by Pastor George Gnade

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Introduction:

1. As most of you know, we have been studying the letter Paul sent to the Colossians. At the end of this letter, Paul sends greetings from different Christians who helped him in different ways.

2. As most of you know, November is often set aside to give thanks for all the blessings God has given us. I would suggest that some of the greatest blessings God has given us are our Christian friends and co-workers. 

a. So I thought it might be interesting to consider some of Paul’s co-workers that were a blessing to him. Today, we will begin with Onesimus.

b. In Col. 4:7, Paul shares how Tychicus was going to deliver this letter to the Colossians, and in the process tell them all the latest news.

3, Then he adds in Col. 4: 9: “He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.” 

a. To tell the Colossians he was one of them means they knew him personally.  

b. That is all we are told about Onesimus until we read Paul’s letter to Philemon!

A. Notice how Paul begins by only telling the Colossians the positive. That is usually the best way to talk about people.

1. He called Onesimus “our faithful and dear brother.” Clearly he means our brother in the Lord.  

a. Every true Christian is one of our brothers or sisters in the Lord. But Paul was not speaking in a general sense. He was speaking personally.

b. He calls him his “faithful and dear brother.” Language like that implies a lot more. Clearly Paul thought a lot of him. This kind of language implies a close friendship. 

2. Here was one of Paul’s fellow Christians that he considered to be a close friend. He was recommending him to them.  

B. We learn the background to their relationship in Paul’s letter to Philemon, a one page letter full of important information.

1. Philemon was a rich man who owned many slaves. He was also a Christian. In vs. 19, Paul wrote: “You owe me your very self!” I take that to mean Paul led him to the Lord. Possible he also healed him of some disease. In the process, they had become close friends.

a. Paul mentions this as a reminder that Philemon owed him a favor. 

b. In this letter, he strongly suggests that by accepting and helping Onesimus, he would be returning the favor.

2. In this letter to Philemon, we learn that Onesimus had been one of his slaves who ran away and possibly stole from him at the same time.

a. These were serious crimes. Philemon had every right to punish him severely and put him in prison.

b. Instead, Paul asks him to forgive Onesimus. In fact, he begs him to go the extra mile and set him free. 

3. Here’s why! Just as Paul led Philemon to Christ, he also led Onesimus to Christ. Somehow God brought Onesimus into his life. Once he became a fellow Christian, he volun-tarily acted as if Paul was his master and helped Paul everyway that he could.

a. Paul wrote in vs. 10: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.”

b. It is one thing to call Onesimus a brother in the Lord, but for Paul to call him his son means he led him to the Lord. And they were very close because Paul really needed him. After all, he was a prisoner  in his old age (vs.9) and didn’t want to give him up.

4. In fact, in vs. 12, Paul goes so far as to call Onesimus “his very heart!” But Paul did not want to cover up Onesimus’ wrongdoing. He didn’t want to do it behind his friend’s back. In plain words, he wanted to clear the air.

a. Then Philemon could keep him or send him back to help Paul. 

b. If he kept him, Paul suggested that he set him free and allow him to work side by side with him as a brother in Christ. The Bible never tells us what Philemon did. 

5. In William Barkley’s commentary, he believes Philemon sent him back to Paul where Paul trained him to serve the Lord.

a. In the early church, a man named Onesimus became the bishop of Ephesus. 

b. Considering the possibility that Onesimus was much younger than Paul, I like that theory. 

C. The title of my sermon today is “Living up to your name.”

1. I chose that title because Onesimus means “useful.” And in vs. 11, Paul wrote: “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.”

a. I wonder why his parents gave him that name. We will never know. I sense God had something to do with it.

b. By God’s grace, Onesimus certainly did live up to his name once he became a Christian.

2. Some of you may know what your name means. Assuming it is something positive, I pray you are living up to your name. 

a. In the Bible, some people were given a new name once they became a Christian. For example, Simon’s name was changed to Peter by Jesus Himself.

b. Barnabus was given his name because he was used by God to encourage many people. That is what his name means.

3. My last name is a German/ Dutch name that means “grace” or goodwill.” What a perfect name for a pastor whose primary responsibility is to share the good news about Jesus who willingly died on the cross for us so that we can be saved by grace.

a. I knew I needed Jesus to be my Savior. I have dedicated my life to share Christ with others whom God brings into my life.

b. May God do the same through each of you.

In conclusion:

1. One day while studying to be an electrical engineer, I almost burned the place down. Fortunately for me, while there were flames, they simple went out when I pulled the plug.

2. That day I felt very useless with no idea of what I could do. But I knew my Bible and in my heart, I wanted to serve Jesus. But I did not have any of the gifts I would need.

a. But I prayed and told the Lord I would change my major if he would help me get a job in Christian work that summer. But I was shy and not athletic. So I did not want to work at a camp.

b. Amazingly, I received a letter from Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship looking for volunteers to work at the New York world’s fair. In my heart, I knew I could do that.

c. This was a total miracle. I have never received such a letter again. When God desires to call you to serve Him, He will find a way to do it.

4. Onesimus was a run-away slave and a thief. But God led him to the apostle Paul. After accepting Christ, his life would never to the same.  Paul and Onesimus became good friends. Praise God for Christian friends. Amen!