Discovering HOPE

November 17, 2024 Pastor: Paul Knight The Bible Teaching Ministry of HOPE Church 2 Thessalonians 1:1-11 NIV Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Connect with us: We would love to connect with you! You can fill out a connect card in the HOPE Church app or here: https://www.gfhope.org/connect​ Support Us: Giving is a way that we worship God with our tithes and offerings. To give online, visit: www.gfhope.org/give To give via text: text ‘GFHOPE’ to 77977 You can also give via the HOPE Church app. Or, you can mail a check to: HOPE Church 1601 17th Ave. S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Sermon Notes: https://www.gfhope.org/sermon-notes​ Prayer: If you would like prayer today you can submit your prayer requests here: https://www.gfhope.org/prayer​ HOPE Church gfhope.org

November 10, 2024 Pastor: Patrick Severson Welcome to the HOPE Church Podcast. We are so glad to serve you in this way. Connect with us: We would love to connect with you! You can fill out a connect card in the HOPE Church app or here: https://www.gfhope.org/connect​ Support Us: Giving is a way that we worship God with our tithes and offerings. To give online, visit: www.gfhope.org/give To give via text: text ‘GFHOPE’ to 77977 You can also give via the HOPE Church app. Or, you can mail a check to: HOPE Church 1601 17th Ave. S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Sermon Notes: https://www.gfhope.org/sermon-notes​ Prayer: If you would like prayer today you can submit your prayer requests here: https://www.gfhope.org/prayer​ HOPE Church gfhope.org

Dear God. . . I pray for our leaders.

Dear God…Give Us Abounding Love!

Welcome to HOPE Church Podcast. We are so glad to serve you in this way. We would love to connect with you! You can fill out a connect card in the HOPE Church app or here: https://www.gfhope.org/connect​ Giving is a way that we worship God with our tithes and offerings. To give online, visit: www.gfhope.org/give To give via text: text ‘GFHOPE’ to 77977 You can also give via the HOPE Church app. Or, you can mail a check to: HOPE Church 1601 17th Ave. S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Want to take notes along with service? Sermon notes are available in the HOPE church app, or at: https://www.gfhope.org/sermon-notes​ If you would like prayer today you can submit your prayer requests here: https://www.gfhope.org/prayer​

Welcome to HOPE Church Podcast. We are so glad to serve you in this way. We would love to connect with you! You can fill out a connect card in the HOPE Church app or here: https://www.gfhope.org/connect​ Giving is a way that we worship God with our tithes and offerings. To give online, visit: www.gfhope.org/give To give via text: text ‘GFHOPE’ to 77977 You can also give via the HOPE Church app. Or, you can mail a check to: HOPE Church 1601 17th Ave. S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Want to take notes along with service? Sermon notes are available in the HOPE church app, or at: https://www.gfhope.org/sermon-notes​ If you would like prayer today you can submit your prayer requests here: https://www.gfhope.org/prayer​

Welcome to HOPE Church Podcast. We are so glad to serve you in this way. We would love to connect with you! You can fill out a connect card in the HOPE Church app or here: https://www.gfhope.org/connect​ Giving is a way that we worship God with our tithes and offerings. To give online, visit: www.gfhope.org/give To give via text: text ‘GFHOPE’ to 77977 You can also give via the HOPE Church app. Or, you can mail a check to: HOPE Church 1601 17th Ave. S Grand Forks, ND 58201 Want to take notes along with service? Sermon notes are available in the HOPE church app, or at: https://www.gfhope.org/sermon-notes​ If you would like prayer today you can submit your prayer requests here: https://www.gfhope.org/prayer​

This week Pastor Patrick takes us through the appropriate response to church hurt.

Is God a Jerk September 22, 2024 Pastor: Mason Peters This week Pastor Mason continues the series on deconstructing faith by asking, is God a jerk? 1) FOUNDATION (PERSPECTIVE) Scriptures referenced: Psalm 73, Truth Humilty Perspective 2) WALLS (UNDERSTANDING) Result of Sin (Gen 3:14-20; Rom 3:23; 6:23) Natural Outcome (Deut 28:1-2,15) Protection and Purity (Deut 20:16-18) Justice and Mercy (Exod 34:6-7; Psa 145:8-9) 3) ROOF (PERMISSION TO DOUBT) Scriptures referenced: Matt 11:2-6; Mark 4:35-41; Rev 6:9-11 HOPE Church gfhope.org

The Human Problem September 15, 2024 Pastor: Mason Peters We are loved and have value, we have proud and rebellious hearts, are humans special or sinful? 1) WE ARE loved AND HAVE value Scriptures referenced: Genesis ; 2:7; 5:1-2; Psalm 139:13-14; Psalm 8; Luke 12:6 Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 8 (NIV) Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Luke 12:6 (NIV) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 2) WE ARE Proud AND rebellious Scriptures referenced: Genesis 3:1-13; Psalm 10:4; Matthew 19:16-22, Genesis 3:1-13 (VER) Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Psalm 10:4 (NIV) In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Matthew 19:16-22 (NIV) Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 3) WE ARE OFFERED A LIFE OF sacrifice AND reward Scriptures referenced: Matthew 7:13-14 Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. HOPE Church gfhope.org

Reconstructing Faith: Unmasking Your Doubts – Introduction September 08, 2024 Pastor: Mason Peters This week Pastor Mason Peters begins the series of "Reconstructing Faith: Unmasking Your Doubts". Pastor Mason will walk us through a systematic overview of faith, what it means, how to answer tough questions, and how to built faith that lasts. Main Scripture Reference(s): Jude 20-23 Jude 20-23 (VER) But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 1) BE Honest Scriptures referenced: Jeremiah 17:9, Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 2) ** BE Diligent** Scriptures referenced: Jude 20-21, Jude 20-21 (NIV) But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Build Acts 17:11-12 (NIV) Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. Pray Ephesians 6:18-19 (NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, Walk 3) BE Merciful Scriptures referenced: Jude 22-23, Ephesians 6:12 Jude 22-23 (VER) Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. HOPE Church gfhope.org

This week our pastors answer your questions!

Jude 1 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. 8 In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them. 11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. 24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen RECOGNIZE FALSE TEACHERS (Jude 1:18) RESILIENT FAITH (Jude 1:3; 1:20-21) REACH and RESCUE (Jude 1:22-23)

This week Paul walks us through being an open door for those around us. 3 John The elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.15 Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. Three Church Guys 1. Gaius Diotrephes Demetrius: Acts 19:25-27 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” Practice Unreasonable Hospitality ·Gaius 3 John 1:1-8 NIV To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. Romans 16:23 NIV Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. 1 Peter 4:8, 9 NIV Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. “We need to meet people where they are, not where we are. The gap between those two areas is where judgement (and bias) come from. You can eliminate that judgement and close that gap when you meet people where they are.” a Roman Catholic Sister Ruthlessly Shut the Door on Divisiveness · Diotrephes 3 John 1:9-11 NIV I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Romans 1:28-32 NIV Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Titus 3:10, 11 NIV Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. Live So Others Speak Well of You. · Demetrius 3 John 1:11, 12 NIV Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true. Matthew 5:14-16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 1 Peter 2:11-15 NIV Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 1 Peter 4:8 NIV Above all, love each other deeply . . .

2 John The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings. 1. Walk in Love. 2 John 1: 5, 6 NIV And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. John 13:34, 35 NIV “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Love is . . . The Apostle Paul 1 Corinthians 13 John 14:15 NIV “If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:21 NIV Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Love is dependent on obedience. When we don’t obey, we don’t love. When we don’t love, we don’t obey. John 15:12, 13 NIV My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Love does . . . Bobb Goff Matthew 5:43, 44 NIV “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . Walk in The Truth. 2 John 1:1-4 NIV The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. John 14:6 NIV Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The Essentials Walk in the Truth of these realities. The Holy Bible is God’s Word God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God become flesh, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. Every human being is completely sinful. Jesus Christ shed his blood and died in our place to atone for our sin. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, alone. Jesus Christ rose physically from the dead. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and will literally return to reign. 1 John 2:20-23 NIV But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Don’t be Gullible. (a call to be discerning) 2 John 1:7-11 NIV I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories… 1 John 4:1-3 NIV Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. Lies can’t hide, where Truth abides. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Philemon 1 (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. 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. 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— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. BACKGROUND OF PHILEMON FOUR IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS FOR BIBLICAL RECONCILIATION: INTEGRATE (Matthew 18:21-35; Philemon 1:5) IDENTITY (Philemon 1:16) INVITATION (Philemon 1:8 and 1:18) INVOLVEMENT (Matthew 18:15-17) Bonus: INSPIRING (John 13:35)