First Things First

Title: First Things First Sermon Series: Runaway - The Gospel According to Philemon Passage: Philemon 1:1-8 Speaker: Sam Cassese Picture this: A story that can change lives. One meant to be told over and over again—but more than that, a story that, once internalized, can change the trajectory of your entire future. For followers of Jesus, that’s exactly what the Gospel is. It’s a real-life story that’s more than just something to know; it’s something that shapes how we live—how we treat others, how we invest our time and money, and how we respond when we’re wronged. Jesus’ followers are living proof that this story still changes lives. We see a powerful example of this in the book of Philemon—a story centered around a runaway named Onesimus. His situation is real, complicated, and full of tension. It had the potential to erupt in drama, pain, and even death. But instead, it becomes a testament to what happens when the Gospel shapes our everyday decisions. The story of Philemon isn’t just a one-off event; it reflects the Gospel itself. In one way or another, each of us has been a runaway—distancing ourselves from God or wandering down paths that took us far from Him. But the beautiful truth of the Gospel is this: God never stops pursuing us. And when we surrender to that pursuit, our story becomes one worth living and worth telling.