"Spirit of Conspiracy"

Our scripture today is from Hebrews chapter 13, verses 1-3 and Philemon Chapter 1, verses 8-16 from the Common English Bible.

Hebrews 13: 1-3

1 Keep loving each other like family. 2 Don't neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. 3 Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. 

Philemon 1: 8-16

8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to command you to do the right thing, 9  I would rather appeal to you through love. I, Paul—an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus—10 appeal to you for my child Onesimus. I became his father in the faith during my time in prison. 

11 He was useless to you before, but now he is useful to both of us. 12 I'm sending him back to you, which is like sending you my own heart. 13 I considered keeping him with me so that he might serve me in your place during my time in prison because of the gospel. 14 However, I didn't want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure. 15 Maybe this is the reason that Onesimus was separated from you for a while so that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—that is, as a dearly loved brother. He is especially a dearly loved brother to me. How much more can he become a brother to you, personally and spiritually in the Lord! 

Leader: This is the word of God for a people of God.

All: Thanks be to God.