The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Stream - September 7, 2025 (Slides): Open two browser tabs/windows or use two devices. In one stream the service. In the other open the slides and follow along from wherever you are.
Monday Morning Mail (The M3) for
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 17, 2025 - Proper 18
Sermon Text - Philemon
Hymn of the Day - LSB 739, Precious Lord, Take My Hand
“What's God Up to?"
This past Sunday I focused on the book of Philemon as the basis of the sermon. The images of the sermon helped to outline the text of Philemon and the sermon. The first slide says, "God Redeems." I showed an image of a QR Code on the scoreboard at Subaru Park to illustrate that we often think of redemption in terms of coupons today or gifts given. "Scan the QR Code to redeem." In this instance what was redeemed was the offer to have your photo up on the screen at the soccer game. Verse 18 of Philemon is the basis of this slide, for the Apostle Paul says whatever Onesimus owes Philemon, Paul will pay for it: He is urging Philemon to redeem his offer. God Redeems us through the costly death of his beloved Son, Jesus!
The next image showed the restored rocking horse that sits in the office I use. Verses 15-16 of Philemon were the basis of "God Restores." Just as the rocking horse was ugly and dilapidated–even a broken neck–and became a nice antique to display, God restored Onesimus and Philemon through the Apostle Paul. The same is true because of what Jesus has done for us: he has restored us into a right relationship with God the Father.
The final image was that of Lilly Gulch Recreation Center. I retold the story of growing up as a latch-key kid, spending a lot of winter days at this recreation center with my friends. We would go there for hours, playing basketball, swimming, and a lot of Donkey Kong. When the quietness of being at home alone by myself became bothersome, I would go with my friends and "recreate" myself, having fun as a young boy. I used verses 1-3 as the basis of this theme, for it describes the recreated church of Paul, Timothy, Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus in his house.
God Redeems. God Restores. God Recreates.