WEEK 2, 2008

By Melinda

be part of our class, near or far.

Week 2 began sparkling clean by doing a car wash fundraiser and God was incredibly faithful to keep the rain at bay all morning. Even though it had been forecasted to rain, the day turned out beautifully, God helped us to raise $360AUD towards our upcoming outreach in J-City.

In the second week of the school, we focus on the second, third, and fourth steps of the inductive study method. As we learn the inductive study method, we use certain books to aid us in this and so we used Philemon. Philemon is short but yet power packed with amazing truths and can be really beneficial to ‘wrap’ ones mind around interpretation. The teacher was great and they really drew the students into the book and into the process and before they knew what was happening, the week was over. God really brought encouragement to us in the areas of knowing him, leadership, discipleship, and our identity in Him.

I had a greater revelation in the area of leadership and how Paul persuaded Philemon. I realised that he was really encouraging and really supportive of all of those involved in the ordeal. If you haven’t read Philemon lately... it is about a runaway slave who’s master, Philemon, is being appealed to in a letter from the apostle Paul to accept Onesimus, the slave, back into his household. This book is an incredible demonstration of forgiveness and reconciliation. But more than just that, it shows incredible use of tact and care of a very difficult situation. Paul was faithful to make sure that he didn't just tell Philemon what to do because when in a leadership position that would be easy to do. If he had just ordered him then Philemon would have never owned the situation. But with appealing, it give Philemon the chance to make the right choice. I should be persuading people to make right choices and show them how to walk out the right choice, but often times it is easier to use authority and just order. The end result would ultimately not be loving to the people involved because it would bring insecurities, doubt, possibly even resentment towards leadership. I love it that Paul's love for Philemon and for Onesimus really shines through! God is soooo amazing.

Join us for next week... when we look at Titus & Hebrews!