Philemon

5+ lesson pack
 Introduction
In this lesson, we will study a personal le�er from the apostle Paul to Philemon. Paul teaches us
through this le�er the power of the gospel to transform individual lives and our new rela�onships in
Jesus.
Key Points:
We should forgive our Chris�an brothers.
We should do the right thing.
We should thank God always.

Lesson Guide
Explain to your child that a slave is a person that has to work for someone else. Depending on the age
of the child, you may choose to go into more depth on the subject. Ask the child if they would like to
always have to do work when someone else told them to. Explain that a slave named Onesimus
decided to run away and not do the work anymore that he was supposed to. He also stole something
from Philemon.
Explain that stealing is wrong.
Now, talk about how we can be forgiven by God when we repent. Repentance means to turn away
from what we are doing and do the opposite. It is not enough to say sorry and not mean it. Pour a
glass of ice water. Have your child feel the temperature. Ask the child if it is comfortable to keep their
hand in the water. When they say no, tell them that you are sorry it is cold. Ask them if telling them
you are sorry change the temperature of the water. When they say no, empty out the water and
replace it with lukewarm water. Ask them if changing the water made it comfortable to put their hand
in. Talk about how it is not enough to say sorry without changing. We should say sorry and then show
we were sorry
Onesimus did a bad thing, but he then met Paul and became a believer. Paul sent him home to
Philemon so that he could do the right thing. Paul told Philemon to put down Onesimus’s things on
his own account.
Talk about how in a store, we can buy things. You may choose to take your child to a store or create a
“store” in your own home. Explain that each item can be redeemed by money (for the home “store”
you may choose to use some other currency such as chores). Explain that if someone doesn’t have
money to redeem the purchase than they cannot buy the item. Talk about how we couldn’t purchase
our freedom from sin, but that Jesus paid the debt for believers, just like Paul was willing to pay
Onesimus’s debt.
Explain that those who have received forgiveness from God will forgive others. You may speak about
the parable of the two debtors, or you may enact it out. Imagine with your child that their sibling or
friend owes them two pennies, and that they owe you a houseful of pennies. Talk about how we
should forgive others the small debts because Jesus forgave us the big debts.
Paul also was grateful for Philemon and Onesimus. We should be grateful to God always. We should
also thank God for the Chris�an brothers and sisters He has given us.

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 Philemon

When Paul was in prison, he met a man called Onesimus.

Onesimus was a servant who had run away from his master. He did not
do his work well, and when he ran away, he took things that didn’t
belong to him with him.
Then he met Paul.
Paul told Onesimus about the
gospel of the Saviour Jesus
Christ. Soon, Onesimus believed
in Jesus too! Now, he was a
Chris�an.
Paul knew that Onesimus needed
to go home to his master,
Philemon, to make things right
with him. Philemon was also a
friend of Paul’s. Philemon was
very rich, and a church in his
town met in his home to worship
God.

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 Paul decided to write a le�er to
Philemon. He would give it to
Onesimus to carry with him when he
went back to make things right with
Philemon.
I am a prisoner for Christ, Paul
wrote. I am wri�ng this le�er to
Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and
the whole church that meets in
Philemon’s house.
I pray for you all and thank God for you. I am filled with joy when I hear of
your faith and your love for our fellow Chris�ans. I hope you con�nue to
share your faith and love with others, because you have given me great joy
and encouragement.
“I wish to write you this le�er to ask you to be merciful to Onesimus. I
could order you to be kind, but I appeal to you based on love. Onesimus is
like a son to me. I know that before he was a bad to you, but he is now a
Chris�an and good.
Indeed, perhaps the reason he was separated from you was so that he
could come to faith in Jesus. Now, he is be�er than a servant. He is our
brother in Christ!
Welcome him as you would me. If he robbed you, put those costs on my
account.
I know you will obey and do more than I could think. Prepare a room so I
can come see you soon. Paul”
Paul finished the le�er and sent it with Onesimus.
Onesimus went home to do the right thing and make peace with his
master—who was no longer just his master, but also his brother in Christ.

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 Games and Activities
Run away
Talk about how Onesimus ran away from
Philemon.
Have the child stand behind you. They must make
it to the other side of the room without you
seeing them move.
Turn away from the child. Whenever you turn
around the must stay s�ll.
If you see them move, they must return to the
start.

Philemon says..
Philemon was Onesimus master. That means,
that Onesimus had to obey him and do whatever
he said.
This game is a twist on ‘Simon says’ whenever
you say, ‘Philemon says..’ the child must obey. If
you don’t say ‘Philemon says..’ the child should
ignore the instruc�on.

Send a le�er
Paul wrote a personal le�er to Philemon.
Have the child make a personal le�er or
picture to send to a friend or family member.
Draw a picture, place it in an envelope and
post or deliver the le�er.

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Find 12 differences

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 Help Onesimus
return to Philemon

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 Word Search
BROTHER
J H A U O N E S I M U S FAITH
P S U S E J V W G A R U
FORGIVE
X Y W Q Z F E N J J E T
FREE
W D V E R L G D R V N J
X A C E C Y P G I H O E JESUS
S O E O L P C G O E M B LETTER
G G M L Z E R B V L E R ONESIMUS
F E J U V O T E V B L O PAUL
Y A V A F F V T M P I T PHILEMON
J H I P Y A R P E P H H PRAY
D R Q T L H R N I R P E SLAVE
Q Q B S H N W I B P Y R WELCOME

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 True or False
Cross out all the false statements

Paul wrote the letter to Philemon while he was in prison.

Onesimus was Philemon’s son.

Paul asked Philemon to punish Onesimus for running away.

Paul referred to Onesimus as his brother in Christ.

The letter to Philemon is found in the Old Testament.

Paul encouraged Philemon to forgive Onesimus.

Onesimus delivered the letter to Philemon himself.

Philemon was a wealthy man who hosted a church in his home.

Paul forced Philemon to take Onesimus back.

Paul offered to repay any debt Onesimus owed Philemon.

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Philemon wheel craft

What you need:

Template page (on card for best results),
Colouring equipment,
Scissors,
Split-pin.

https://youtu.be/QVsy6QT0rH0

What to do:

Colour the template page. Cut out the template. Fix wheel behind house
with a split pin.
Carefully remove the door
section.

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 re a
sa
t thi
t ou
Cu
a re a
th is
u t
to
Cu

a re a
th is
u t
to
Cu

He is no longer like a slave to you.

He is a beloved brother in the Lord.
Philemon 1:16

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 © 2024 truewaykids.com

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 Philemon slide craft

What you need:

Template page (on card for best results),
Colouring pencils,
Scissors,
Glue,
Cardboard strip or lollipop stick.

https://youtu.be/HlHqvcEaRvg

What to do:

Colour the template page. Cut out parts. Glue lollipop stick to people
images.
Insert inside folded hose.
Glue outside, except
handle section.

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He is no longer like a slave to you. He is a beloved brother in the Lord. Philemon 1:16

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© 2024 truewaykids.com
© 2024 truewaykids.com
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 Worship Time
Recommended worship songs. Not produced by Trueway Kids. YouTube
Videos to be used for personal use only.
Bible story
https://youtu.be/twchhnBj jCQ
The B-I-B-L-E song for kids
https://youtu.be/Wg582srC7cg
I’ve got good plan
https://youtu.be/1RbgBBB5GkA
Repent! a Children's Song
https://youtu.be/idKRmNZO078

Prayer
Thank God for forgiving us. Ask Him to
help you forgive others.
Thank God for your brothers and
sisters in Jesus.

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 Answers
Answer Key
1. True
2. False (Onesimus was a servant/slave of Philemon,
not his son.)
3. False (Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus
and welcome him back as a brother.)
4. True
5. False (Philemon is in the New Testament.)
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False (Paul appealed to Philemon’s love and faith
rather than commanding him.)
10. True (Philemon 1:18–19)

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