Forgiveness Series: Part 4 | Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr.

About this sermon

Broadcast Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026 The book of Philemon is a short letter, but it gives us a powerful picture of forgiveness and reconciliation. Paul writes to Philemon concerning Onesimus, a man who had wronged Philemon and left him. While Onesimus was away, something changed. He encountered Paul, became a believer, and his life began to transform. Now Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon. But Paul does not want Philemon to receive Onesimus based only on who he used to be or what he had done. Paul asks Philemon to receive him differently. Onesimus was returning to the same person he had wronged, but he was not returning as the same man. Throughout Paul’s appeal, we see what forgiveness can look like when the Gospel becomes the foundation for how we handle offenses. Paul points Philemon toward God’s purpose, asks him to extend pardon, reminds him that Onesimus is now a partner, and even addresses the issue of payback.

Topics

• Forgiveness
• Leadership