1.

Read vs. 7-8.  Although Paul was in chains, he had ways to communicate with fellow brethren in the Lord about God’s work. What can we learn from Paul about the way to serve the Lord despite personal difficulties?

** He established two spiritual brothers to share God’s work with church members scattered throughout minor Asia. 

From Paul, then, we learn that what is important is the desire to get God’s work done. Instead of asking God to improve the physical environment, we must fully give our hearts to God making the most use of the environment we are in. When Jesus came he taught the same wisdom through the examples of feeding a multitude of people using two small fish and five small barley loaves, or through healing a man born blind using mud. 

2.

Read v. 9. Who is Onesimus? (Philemon 1:8-21)  What can we learn from Paul who, despite his chains, ministered to Onesimus?

** He is a runaway slave owned by Philemon. Paul met him while he was in chains. Paul then led him to the Lord while in prison. 

** This passage reminds us of the old adage that says the work of salvation begins at home. In a given situation, as we look around ourselves, the Lord might bring into our lives one person or another. Then we can establish a friendship with them, and lead them to Christ through prayer and teaching the Bible. 

3. 

Read vs. 10-11. Paul was in chains because of the Jews. Yet, the Lord God provided Paul with three fellow workers from among the Jews (Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus called Justus). What can we learn here from the Lord?

** The Lord does not ask us to do what is impossible. It is a given that God’s work is not easy. It comes with lots of discouraging events or people obstructing your efforts. Enemies will always come around and make disparaging remarks to you and about your work. But we should never forget that God is the God of comfort. And God provides you with one, two, or three friends to comfort you. We can see this to be the case with Jesus. While Jesus was shedding his blood, beneath the cross of Jesus, his mother was there, John was there, and other women were there to participate in Jesus’ sufferings. 

4. 

Read vs. 12-13.  Paul speaks highly of Epaphras.  What does Paul’s commendation tell us about the mighty work that can be done despite such obstacles and hardships as being in chains?

** One of the major ways to overcome such physical limitations as imprisonment is prayer. God’s work is done more by praying people than people who talk. Perhaps it is because of Epaphras’ fervent spirit of prayer that he became very fruitful, even being responsible for three churches like Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis coming into being. We don’t know exactly what Paul meant by Epaphras being a fellow “prisoner”. Perhaps he was not in prison for doing anything wrong, or for preaching the gospel, but perhaps Paul used this term “prisoner” only to describe that in order to serve Paul, Epaphras chose not to leave Paul’s side but continue to remain with him in  service of him. 

Paul’s example and certainly the example of Epaphras teach us that many who are stuck working from 9-5 or with baby sitting duties, etc. can still serve the Lord by wrestling in prayer for each of the flock of God, naming them one by one, for God is really pleased with people praying specifically for others. (Example: Abraham praying for Lot.) 

5. 

Read v. 14a. Luke is a (medical) doctor for Paul, who later wrote the Gospel of Luke. (Also consider Mark in verse 10a who wrote the Gospel of Mark.) What can we learn from God who used Paul in chains?

** God is never short of ways in which to advance His gospel, but only if we give our hearts fully to serving the Lord. In this case, then, we see the Lord killing two birds with one stone, that is, by providing Paul with Luke, a personal healthcare manager, Paul’s physical and spiritual wellbeing was secured. In turn, then, Paul also provided Luke with the opportunity to have  fellowship with Paul, get inspired by this fellowship with Paul (and perhaps vice versa), and then he was able to write the Gospel according to Luke. 

6.

Read v. 14b and compare the way Paul describes Demas in other epistles. (Philemon 1:24; 2 Tim 4:10)  How must Paul have felt about Demas later when Demas deserted him? What warnings are there for us to heed? (1 John 2:15-17)

** At first Paul described Demas as a fellow worker. Then, in Colosse he says nothing about him other than simply calling him Demas, and then in 2Ti he says Demas deserted him for his love of the world. 

Perhaps Paul might have felt very discouraged, not just for losing support that might have come to him from Demas, but for Demas having forfeited all the blessings that come from suffering for the sake of God’s kingdom.  

** No one is safe from falling victim to the temptations of this world, especially the love of this world. No matter what level you have reached in your spiritual pilgrimage, always watch out for the love of the world creeping into you. Otherwise, you will end up becoming like Demas. 

7.

Read vs. 16-18. What does this passage tell us about the Lord who used Paul even while in chains?

** The Lord never loses to any of the enemies who are trying to give you a hard time, or in any other way disrupt you from doing His work. The greater the hindrances, the greater work the Lord God can fulfill. The only thing for us to remember then is to never be discouraged by hardships, trials, or ordeals. Always seek to please God, and ask God for the wisdom to promote God’s interests in His kingdom, despite limitations. Remember what Paul said in Phi 4:13. We can do nothing on our own, but we can do everything through him who gives us strength (and wisdom.)

The end.