1. What is the main theme of the Book of Philemon?
2. Why were Philemon and Onesimus “at odds”?
3. Paul was trying to play the part of “peacemaker” between two brethren who found themselves in a disagreement with one another. What did Jesus have to say about this in Matthew 5?
4. If we find ourselves in a disagreement with someone else, what is the first thing we should do to resolve that disagreement?
5. Paul says that even if we disagree with another person, we still should be thankful for that person. Why? What is the purpose of this command?
6. As Paul approached Philemon through the letter he wrote to him, he used “tact in contact.” What is meant by that phrase?
7. Apparently, Philemon’s love and faith were well known among Christians. As a result, something had happened to those Christians. According to verse 7, what was that “something”?
8. If two Christians find themselves in a disagreement, they must find a common ground upon which they can resolve that disagreement. According to Paul, what is that common ground?
9. What does the name Onesimus mean? How does the meaning of the name play into Paul’s comments in verse 11?
10. According to Paul’s comments in verse 15, how “certain” can Christians be that specific events in their lives were due to God’s providence?
11. What is frequently the primary reason for disagreements between Christians?
12. Why did Paul feel as if Philemon “owed” him something?
13. Why did Jesus urge us to “agree with our adversary quickly” (Mt. 5:25)?
14. If we want to mend a broken relationship, there are times when we must trust the other party to do something. What is that “something”?
15. What are three possible reasons for disagreements between Christians?
16. This lesson teaches that in order to mend a broken relationship, we may have to “pay a price.” What might that price be in certain instances?
17. Where was Paul when he met and converted Onesimus? How did that factor into his comment that “perhaps” Onesimus departed from Philemon “for a while for a purpose”?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,