Sermon Tone Analysis

Forgiveness is the duty of the Church of God

A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary.

It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak.

At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list.

The parson called the dear sister and begged forgiveness.

“I’m so sorry we didn’t catch this sooner, Mrs. Hissyfit, won’t you please come to the garden party?” cajoled the pastor.

“Beggin’ won’t help now, Preacher,” said the offended Mrs. H., “I’ve already prayed for rain.”

Philemon 1-25

I.

The Scope of Forgiveness

(v.1)

Forgiveness sometimes needs to be given from many.

The Epistle to Philemon was written to many, not just Philemon

Taking an offence for someone else is wrong.

God has not given you the grace for that wrong.

II.

The Source of Forgiveness

(v.3)

The source of forgiveness is the source of our forgiveness (v.3)

Grace and Peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ

How oft shalt thou forgive thy brother?

That depends:

How often has thy Lord forgiven thee?

Thy debt was great; it could not greater be

And yet thou art forgiven and set free!

Wilt thou not then forgive thy brother

Who offends?

Or, wilt thou thrust him in the darksome jail

And cause him at thy discomfiture to quail

Until he pays thee all thou dost entail?

If thou wilt not forgive thy brother,

What impends?

As thou hast done, thy Lord will do to you:

He’ll punish thee till thou hast paid His due;

In all His dealings God is righteous, true.

III.

The Supplication for Forgiveness

(v.4)

Forgiveness sometimes comes by prayer

Sometimes the offended needs to pray

Sometimes the offender needs to pray

Sometimes the witness needs to pray

Truth is, many all-around need to pray – rather than take an offense.

IV.

The Sacrifice without Forgiveness

That the communication (koinonia / participation/fellowship) of thy faith may become effectual

It’s not worth losing your ministry (vs.5-6)

Keep loving God

Keep loving the Saints

Continued ministry comes from remembering what Christ has done for you.

Some are even held back from true repentance themselves because of their lack of forgiveness.

R.A. Torrey tells of this very thing, “One afternoon in Cleveland, after Mr. Moody had been speaking, he brought me to a lady to show her the way of life.

I had been speaking to her trying this and that passage to see what was in the way of her accepting Christ, when suddenly I turned to her and said, “Is there somebody you cannot forgive?’

She looked quickly at me, and said, ‘Who told you?’

I said, ‘Nobody told me, and I have never seen you before tonight.’

That was her trouble, and that is the trouble with some of you.

Someone has done you an injury, or you think he has, and you will not come to Jesus Christ because you want to cherish this bitter grudge in your heart.

We sacrifice too much when we hold on to unforgiveness.

V.

The Stir for Forgiveness

(vs8-10)

Paul was stirring the pot.

He told him he could, as his pastor, order him to forgive, but he was begging him to forgive.

Be open to hearing the truth about forgiveness.

Whether they come and seek forgiveness

or the Lord speaks to your heart

or a preacher tells you of the need.

It may take bold truth

It may take beseeching love

VI.

The Switch after Forgiveness

(vs.11-16)

A. Allow for a change to be made

(v.

11)

The offender may have gotten right

Our profitableness is a result of Christ

So is theirs

B. Receive the person back

(v.12-15)

Allow them to be profitable

Do this willingly, not out of duty-

Remember the Eternal value of this forgiveness

A Christian worker was having difficulty forgiving a wrong done to her.

After much counsel and seeking for forgiveness on the part of the counsellor, she said, “Well, I forgive her, but I never want to have anything more to do with her,” The counselor asked her, “Is that how you want God to forgive you?

Do you want him to say He will forgive you, but He will have nothing more to do with you?”

C. Receive him closer than ever

(v.

16)

Not as a servant, but as a brother.

VII.

The Sake of Forgiveness

(v.

17-19)

Receive for the bodies sake

Paul asks this for his sake

We must remember an illness in a member effects the whole body.

A little boy, being asked what forgiveness is, gave the beautiful answer, “It is the odor that flowers breathe when they are trampled upon.”

VIII.

The Side-Effect of Forgiveness

(v.20)

This decision will affect others

Brings joy