Archive for month: November, 2021

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Philemon 1:8-16.  Let’s go!

Philemon 1:8-9 (NIV) 
8  Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 
9  yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul–an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

On verses 8-9:  Paul had a special role in Philemon’s life.  For one, Paul was the one whom God used to lead Philemon to Christ (v19).  In this way Paul was like a spiritual father to Philemon.  Not only that, Paul’s disciple Epaphras was the one who started the church in Colosse that met in Philemon’s home and so, like a spiritual grandfather to the Colossian Christians, Paul’s words carried special weight.  Yet instead of throwing his weight around and using his rights and authority to order Philemon to do what he should do (v8), Paul appeals to Philemon gently and meekly “on the basis of love” (v9) – not as an authoritarian apostle, but as “an old man” and as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” (v9).   From this I learn an important lesson:

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of Philemon, a letter Paul wrote during his first imprisonment in Rome between 61 to 63 AD (imprisoned for preaching the gospel).  Here is some background that you might find helpful:

· Paul wrote this letter to a man called Philemon.  Who was Philemon?  Philemon lived in the city of Colosse and came to faith in Christ through the ministry of Paul (v19).  Later on Philemon would open up his home for the church in Colosse to use as their meeting place.  The fact that Philemon had a home large enough to host a church and owned slaves like Onesimus suggests that Philemon was wealthy.

· Paul’s reason for writing Philemon personally is because one of Philemon’s slaves, called Onesimus, had stolen something from Philemon, ran away, only to meet Paul in Rome and become a Christian under his ministry.  Onesimus becomes useful to Paul’s ministry, but Paul thinks it is best to send Onesimus back to Philemon, encouraging Philemon to forgive his former slave and take him in again.

From this short letter we can learn some powerful lessons on communication, forgiveness, the greatness of what Christ has done for us, and the kind of lives God calls us to live. 

Today’s passage is Philemon 1:1-7.  Let’s go!

Philemon 1:1-7 (NIV)
1  Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,
2  to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:
3  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Leviticus 27:1-15.  Let’s go!

Leviticus 27:1-15 (NIV) 
1  The LORD said to Moses,
2  “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the LORD by giving equivalent values,
3  set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel;
4  and if it is a female, set her value at thirty shekels.
5  If it is a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
6  If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver…..

On verses 1-15:  During Moses’ time, people would occasionally make vows to dedicate a person, an animal, or real estate to God.  Instead of actually releasing that person, animal or real estate to God, that person could keep the person, animal or real estate for themselves and instead pay an equivalent price to the priests.  But what should that price be?

Leviticus 27:1-15 sets out the price to be paid for a person, animal or real estate.

Now here’s the big elephant in the room: why are men valued more highly than women here?  For example, why is a 30 year old male valued at 50 shekels of silver (v3) whereas a 30 year old female is valued at 30 shekels (v4)?