What happens when the gospel collides with a real-life grievance between brothers? In this study of Philemon 8-22, we watch Paul craft one of the most skillful appeals in Scripture. Rather than pulling rank as an apostle, Paul appeals on the basis of love, asking Philemon to receive his runaway slave Onesimus — not just as a servant, but as a brother in Christ. We examine what this teaches us about authority versus influence, the transforming power of the gospel to change a man’s character, and the responsibilities that come with forgiveness. Paul even offers to pay whatever Onesimus owes — while gently reminding Philemon that he owes Paul his very soul. This letter is a case study in how Christian relationships should navigate emotionally challenging situations when both parties want to please God.
There is nothing new under the sun — and the New Age movement proves it. In this lesson, we examine a repackaged philosophy that replaces the reality of a personal God with the idea that humanity is the center of all things. We trace its roots from 19th-century occultism and Eastern religion through the 1960s counterculture, and look at how it has morphed into today’s wellness, self-help, and “spiritual but not religious” culture. We examine key proponents like Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, then measure New Age beliefs — the divine within, the law of attraction, reincarnation, and channeling — against what the Bible teaches. Perhaps most alarming, a 2018 Pew survey found that 60% of self-identified Christians hold at least one New Age belief. We expose how these ideas have bled into mainstream Christianity through practices like “Christian meditation,” the Word of Faith movement, and the dangerous idea of “your truth.”
