The Paradigm of Grace
Paul challenges Philemon to move from the old master–slave paradigm to a new paradigm of family in Christ, seeing Onesimus not as property but as a brother.
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The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.
Classroom Instructions
Section 02
SESSION 2: The Paradigm of Grace
Opening Considerations:
❖ Changing paradigms is difficult…
❖ Philemon must go from a _________________ paradigm to a _________________ paradigm.
TEXT
***…***I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for
my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. (Phile. 9–10)
❖ Five times Paul refers to himself as imprisoned… (Phile. 1, 9-10, 13, 23)
❖ Paul communicates the why with the what.
CONTEXT: Old Paradigm
Formerly, he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. (Phile. 11)
❖ The Master-Slave Paradigm: Four false assumptions about slavery in the ancient world
❖ The cultural norm was to see slaves as objects and tools, rather than as human beings.
SUBTEXT: New Paradigm
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you (Phile. 12)
❖ When grace is our paradigm we see people as _________________
❖ Paul communicates the paradigm shift by _________________ himself to Onesimus in two ways:
First way…
Second way…
❖ What is the what and the why of the paradigm shift?
- Philemon is to see Onesimus as _________________ because Onesimus is now _________________’s family.
Discussion Questions for Reflection:
How does the information relate to your understanding about slaves in the first century?
Have you ever had to go through a big paradigm shift on how you viewed people or yourself?
What are ways you have treated someone like an object?
What is a practical way to see and treat people like Christ in your daily life?
The Paradigm of Grace Instructions
Section 02
SESSION 2: The Paradigm of Grace
Opening Considerations:
❖ Changing paradigms is difficult…
❖ Philemon must go from a _________________ paradigm to a _________________ paradigm.
TEXT
***…***I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for
my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. (Phile. 9–10)
❖ Five times Paul refers to himself as imprisoned… (Phile. 1, 9-10, 13, 23)
❖ Paul communicates the why with the what.
CONTEXT: Old Paradigm
Formerly, he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. (Phile. 11)
❖ The Master-Slave Paradigm: Four false assumptions about slavery in the ancient world
❖ The cultural norm was to see slaves as objects and tools, rather than as human beings.
SUBTEXT: New Paradigm
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you (Phile. 12)
❖ When grace is our paradigm we see people as _________________
❖ Paul communicates the paradigm shift by _________________ himself to Onesimus in two ways:
First way…
Second way…
❖ What is the what and the why of the paradigm shift?
- Philemon is to see Onesimus as _________________ because Onesimus is now _________________’s family.
Discussion Questions for Reflection:
How does the information relate to your understanding about slaves in the first century?
Have you ever had to go through a big paradigm shift on how you viewed people or yourself?
What are ways you have treated someone like an object?
What is a practical way to see and treat people like Christ in your daily life?