December 6/7, 2014
Philemon
Of all Paul’s letters, the letter to Philemon is nearest and dearest to my heart.
About thirty-five years ago, I began work on a musical based on Philemon. I entitled it, “Onesimus: A Slave in Search of a Master,” and first performed it with youth and adults from Grace United Methodist church in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Six or so years later, after finishing seminary, we produced it again with a cast of predominantly clergy-types and their spouses. This production we had the privilege of presenting at Annual Conference around 1988. The last time we did “Onesimus” was as a dinner theater production at Niedringhaus United Methodist Church in Granite City, Illinois. By this time, the musical had gone through a couple of re-writes, with added songs, and our sons and one (future) daughter-in-law were both old enough to be in the cast.
Why do I love the story behind Philemon so much? Why did I think it worthy of the stage?
Just imagine. A runaway slave, having escaped his master in Asia Minor, finds his way to Rome, where he meets the Apostle Paul, hears the gospel and accepts Christ as his Savior. Somehow, Paul discovers that Onesimus is a “runaway,” and what’s more, a runaway from a master that Paul himself had also led to faith in Christ! Paul takes the dangerous step of sending Onesimus back to his master, Philemon. Most slave owners would put a runaway to death, or punish him severely. What would Philemon do? Paul wrote the letter that bears his name to re-introduce the runaway slave to his master, in the hopes that Philemon would receive him back as a brother, rather than a slave.
Read Philemon. How do you think the story ends?
Monday, we begin the book of Hebrews!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
December 5, 2014 Titus
December 5, 2014
Titus
Paul’s letter to Titus is a letter to a man who was a considerable help to Paul in the ministry of the gospel in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, and, according to this letter, Crete. Paul writes to Titus to encourage Titus’ pastoral ministry in that difficult setting. After all, Paul quotes an old saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.” (Titus 1:12)
Paul gives Titus specific directions on what must be taught to various groups of people within the church. By the end of this short letter, he has provided Titus with one of the grandest statements of the good news in Scripture. Here it is:
“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying!” (Titus 3:4-8a)
This weekend is Philemon!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Titus
Paul’s letter to Titus is a letter to a man who was a considerable help to Paul in the ministry of the gospel in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, and, according to this letter, Crete. Paul writes to Titus to encourage Titus’ pastoral ministry in that difficult setting. After all, Paul quotes an old saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.” (Titus 1:12)
Paul gives Titus specific directions on what must be taught to various groups of people within the church. By the end of this short letter, he has provided Titus with one of the grandest statements of the good news in Scripture. Here it is:
“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying!” (Titus 3:4-8a)
This weekend is Philemon!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, December 4, 2014
DECEMBER 4 2 TIMOTHY
December 4, 2014
2 Timothy
Many years ago, a dear friend of mine found and performed a one-man, two-act play based on Second Timothy, the last letter (perhaps) that Paul ever wrote. Both acts were set in a dungeon, the Mamertine prison in ancient Rome where Paul awaited his trial and execution. In the first act, Paul is communicating through a grate in the ceiling of his cell with Dr. Luke, his physician, friend and fellow laborer in the gospel. The second act simply consists of Paul dictating Second Timothy to Luke through that same small opening.
We say that Paul “wrote” his letters, but that is not precisely true. He dictated his letters to an amanuensis (a secretary), and only rarely took “pen in hand” himself.
Read Second Timothy with the prison and Paul’s imminent death in mind, and not only does it make more sense, it adds drama to your reading. There is poignancy in Paul’s remembrances of Timothy in chapter 1, and urgency in Paul’s exhortations in chapter 2 and his warnings in chapter 3, and true victory in his statements in chapter 4, especially, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!” (4:7).
Tomorrow is Titus!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
2 Timothy
Many years ago, a dear friend of mine found and performed a one-man, two-act play based on Second Timothy, the last letter (perhaps) that Paul ever wrote. Both acts were set in a dungeon, the Mamertine prison in ancient Rome where Paul awaited his trial and execution. In the first act, Paul is communicating through a grate in the ceiling of his cell with Dr. Luke, his physician, friend and fellow laborer in the gospel. The second act simply consists of Paul dictating Second Timothy to Luke through that same small opening.
We say that Paul “wrote” his letters, but that is not precisely true. He dictated his letters to an amanuensis (a secretary), and only rarely took “pen in hand” himself.
Read Second Timothy with the prison and Paul’s imminent death in mind, and not only does it make more sense, it adds drama to your reading. There is poignancy in Paul’s remembrances of Timothy in chapter 1, and urgency in Paul’s exhortations in chapter 2 and his warnings in chapter 3, and true victory in his statements in chapter 4, especially, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!” (4:7).
Tomorrow is Titus!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
December 3, 2014 1 Timothy
December 3, 2014
1 Timothy
Sometimes, we think of Paul’s letters to Timothy with the warm and fuzzy vision of a mentor (Paul) writing to his dear son in the Lord (Timothy), and this would be accurate, especially in 2 Timothy.
But 1 Timothy is primarily an instructional letter designed to give clear and specific guidance to the pastor of the church in Ephesus, who just happens to be Paul’s protégé whom Paul had placed (See 1:3). So, we can read nearly everything Paul says in light of his desire that Timothy find success in this ministry.
Paul prepares Timothy to combat false teachers (1:3-11), quotes many axioms of the early the church (such as those quoted in 1:15; 4:9; 5:17-18; 6:6, etc.), provides guidelines for public worship (2), gives instructions for the offices of elder and deacon (3), lends advice for certain special groups within the church (5), and a special word about handling money (6). This is the stuff pastors need to know.
Filtered through the letter, however, we find some memorable personal encouragements to Timothy, as well. Here are a few of them:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (4:12)
“Be diligent in these matters...; watch your life and doctrine closely.” (4:15)
“Fight the good fight of the faith.” (5:12)
Tomorrow we read Paul’s second letter to Timothy, which was, perhaps, the last letter he ever wrote!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
1 Timothy
Sometimes, we think of Paul’s letters to Timothy with the warm and fuzzy vision of a mentor (Paul) writing to his dear son in the Lord (Timothy), and this would be accurate, especially in 2 Timothy.
But 1 Timothy is primarily an instructional letter designed to give clear and specific guidance to the pastor of the church in Ephesus, who just happens to be Paul’s protégé whom Paul had placed (See 1:3). So, we can read nearly everything Paul says in light of his desire that Timothy find success in this ministry.
Paul prepares Timothy to combat false teachers (1:3-11), quotes many axioms of the early the church (such as those quoted in 1:15; 4:9; 5:17-18; 6:6, etc.), provides guidelines for public worship (2), gives instructions for the offices of elder and deacon (3), lends advice for certain special groups within the church (5), and a special word about handling money (6). This is the stuff pastors need to know.
Filtered through the letter, however, we find some memorable personal encouragements to Timothy, as well. Here are a few of them:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (4:12)
“Be diligent in these matters...; watch your life and doctrine closely.” (4:15)
“Fight the good fight of the faith.” (5:12)
Tomorrow we read Paul’s second letter to Timothy, which was, perhaps, the last letter he ever wrote!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
December 2, 2014 2 Thessalonians
December 2, 2014
2 Thessalonians
Paul’s second letter to the Church in Thessalonica followed relatively closely on the heels of his first, both in time (as little as six months later), and purpose. Like the first letter, Paul writes to encourage the believers, to exhort them to obedience, and to correct a misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s return.
Right here, it might be a good thing to correct that same misunderstanding. Paul says, “We ask you...not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come” (2 Thess. 2:2). Paul corrects this but reminding us that “the lawless one (often associated with the “antichrist”) must rise to power first, then be overthrown “by the breath” of Jesus’ mouth when he comes in his glory (1 Thess. 2:8). In other words, there will be no mistaking the Second Coming of Christ. The whole world will know it, especially the “lawless one.” The Second Coming will get the attention of everyone!
In the light of Jesus return, Paul calls the Christians in Macedonia to stand firm with regard to what they have been taught (2:15) and to keep busy in the the work of the gospel (3:15). Lord, help us never to tire of doing right!
Tomorrow is Paul’s first letter to Timothy!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
2 Thessalonians
Paul’s second letter to the Church in Thessalonica followed relatively closely on the heels of his first, both in time (as little as six months later), and purpose. Like the first letter, Paul writes to encourage the believers, to exhort them to obedience, and to correct a misunderstanding concerning the Lord’s return.
Right here, it might be a good thing to correct that same misunderstanding. Paul says, “We ask you...not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come” (2 Thess. 2:2). Paul corrects this but reminding us that “the lawless one (often associated with the “antichrist”) must rise to power first, then be overthrown “by the breath” of Jesus’ mouth when he comes in his glory (1 Thess. 2:8). In other words, there will be no mistaking the Second Coming of Christ. The whole world will know it, especially the “lawless one.” The Second Coming will get the attention of everyone!
In the light of Jesus return, Paul calls the Christians in Macedonia to stand firm with regard to what they have been taught (2:15) and to keep busy in the the work of the gospel (3:15). Lord, help us never to tire of doing right!
Tomorrow is Paul’s first letter to Timothy!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, December 1, 2014
DECEMBER 1 1 Thessalonians
December 1, 2014
1 Thessalonians
This is, most likely, the earliest of Paul’s letters. He wrote it from Corinth around AD 51. It’s good to remember that Thessalonica was a city Paul had to flee from. He wrote this letter, in part, to encourage and instruct a relatively young congregation, most of whom were converts from paganism. His encouragement takes the form of...
- Thanksgiving for their faith and works (1:2-10),
- A defense of Paul’s ministry in their midst (2),
- A ministry update (2:17-3:13),
- Affirmation in the midst of trials (3:1-5),
- Exhortations to live a holy life (4:1-12), and
- Teaching concerning the Second Coming of Christ (4:13-5:11).
But nowhere does the letter encourage readers more powerfully than in the three famous verses of chapter 5:16-18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Tomorrow is Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Sunday, November 30, 2014
NOVEMBER 30 Colossians
November 30, 2014
Colossians
Of all Paul’s letters, none so clearly heralds the divinity and supremacy of Jesus Christ as his letter to the Christians in Colossae. Colossians 1:9-23 is an unrelentingly powerful passage that makes a sensitive reader want to fall on his/her knees in worship!
Paul is concerned about some heretical tendencies he has heard about, such as Judaism (2:11; 3:11), asceticism (2:21f), angel worship (2:18), secret knowledge (2:18), and the reliance on human wisdom and tradition (2:4, 8). These are distractions from Jesus Christ. And so, Paul exalts the Lord Jesus in this letter, as in no other!
Tomorrow, we enter December and Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonian Christians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Colossians
Of all Paul’s letters, none so clearly heralds the divinity and supremacy of Jesus Christ as his letter to the Christians in Colossae. Colossians 1:9-23 is an unrelentingly powerful passage that makes a sensitive reader want to fall on his/her knees in worship!
Paul is concerned about some heretical tendencies he has heard about, such as Judaism (2:11; 3:11), asceticism (2:21f), angel worship (2:18), secret knowledge (2:18), and the reliance on human wisdom and tradition (2:4, 8). These are distractions from Jesus Christ. And so, Paul exalts the Lord Jesus in this letter, as in no other!
Tomorrow, we enter December and Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonian Christians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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