Transformed & Reconciled

Philemon
  • Task List Search Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Overview

Paul writes to Philemon sharing the encouraging news that Onesimus, a former slave who committed a crime against the church, has been transformed by the gospel. He challenges Philemon to reconcile with Onesimus and welcome him into the church community.

Aim
To see that Jesus brings transformation and reconciliation. He offers forgiveness, relationship, and Christian community, however far we’ve run or whatever we’ve done.
Notes

Begin your preparation by working through the following:

  1. Read the passage aloud.
  2. Identify repeated Themes or Words.
  3. Look for any surprises or confusing words.
  4. Analyse the passage’s flow and breaks.
  5. Pray through the passage: Praise God for specific verses, and reflect on the challenges.

Reflect on these questions as you begin to apply the passage to yourself:

  1. Imagine you’re in Philemon’s shoes. How would you feel reading this letter from Paul?
  2. Can you recall how it felt when Jesus first transformed your life? How might that help you understand the emotions of Philemon, Paul, and Onesimus?
  3. Do Paul’s descriptions of the church mirror your own experience? In what ways has your Christian community welcomed, encouraged, and loved you?
  4. How does this letter challenge your:
    • Appreciation of Jesus’ power to transform lives?
    • Love and commitment to your church family?
    • Willingness to welcome new believers with open arms?
  • Wave Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Intros

Choose from the following Introduction activities

Group Shapes

Purpose: To set the stage for talking about transformation, inclusion, and what it means to be united.

Set Up:

  • Prepare a list of shapes for groups to create together, for example:
    • A plane
    • A giraffe
    • A slice of pizza
    • A spider
    • A Christmas tree
    • A crown
    • A musical instrument
    • A star
    • A heart

Instructions:

  1. Split into equal teams (around 4-8 per group).
  2. Call out an object, animal, or item for teams to form using their whole group.
  3. They can lie down, crouch, stand, stretch – whatever helps bring the shape to life.
  4. After 10-15 seconds, shout “freeze!” and ask everyone to stop where they are.
  5. Judge the shapes and award a point for speed, creativity, and teamwork.

 

Optional Passage Link: Later, we’ll see how Jesus transforms people and unites them together into a church community. This game gives us a glimpse of how different people can come together to form something completely new.

Biggest Transformation

Purpose: To begin exploring the theme of gospel transformation in a creative and lighthearted way.

Materials Needed:

  • Dressing up items (wigs, beards, hats, costumes, etc).
  • A large mix of materials that can be cut, stuck, and customised into outfits and disguises.
  • Stationery like masking tape, felt tips, sticky tack, and scissors.

Set Up:

  • Spread all the items in the centre of the room so they’re easily accessible to all teams.

Instructions:

  1. Split into small teams. Each team chooses one person to undergo a drastic transformation.
  2. Optional: Take ‘before’ photos for a big reveal later!
  3. Give teams time to use the materials to transform their volunteer in the most creative, dramatic, or unrecognisable way.
  4. At the end, reveal the transformations and decide on a winner.

 

Optional Passage Link: You’ve just transformed someone’s outward appearance, but in today’s Bible passage, we’ll hear about a far greater transformation. One that starts with hearing the Good News of Jesus.

Melting Pot

Purpose: To begin exploring the theme of a church being a gathered and united community consisting of many different people brought together by Jesus.

Materials Needed:

  • One bucket per team
  • A large collection of random items
  • Ways to hide the items (e.g: under blankets, in buckets, a ball pond, around the room)

Set Up:

  • Place the team buckets at one end of a large room.
  • Scatter or hide the random items towards the  opposite end.

Instructions:

  1. Split into teams (around 4-8 per group).
  2. Call out a shopping list of items for each team to collect and place in their melting pot.
    • For added difficulty, write the item prompts as anagrams for teams to decode first. For example: Something Green → “Seontmhig Gerne“
  3. If you don’t have multiples of the same item, call out broader categories instead, like: Something you wear, something green, sports equipment, something beginning with ‘S’.
  4. Play as a relay, with each individual only bringing one item at a time.
  5. The first team to correctly complete the list wins the round.

 

Optional Passage Link: This game reminds us of how church is a bit like a melting pot. Jesus brings together all varieties of people and makes them into one united family.

Variation: If you’re in a larger building, rather than pre-hiding the items, send teams out to collect them from their usual locations.

Ceramic Mosaics Craft

Purpose: Using ceramic tiles, create a mosaic tile that symbolises the unity of diverse individuals who have recognised their deep need for forgiveness and chosen to follow Jesus.

Materials Needed:

  • Ceramic tiles (mixed colours and sizes)
  • Wooden backing boards
  • Tile adhesive or strong glue suitable for ceramics
  • Grout
  • Sponges or cloths for grout application

(These items are readily available as mosaic craft kits)

Instructions:

  1. Choose your tiles and take time to plan your mosaic design.
  2. Use tile adhesive to stick the tiles onto the wooden board. Press down firmly and leave enough space for grout between each tile.
  3. Once the adhesive has dried, apply grout between the tiles using a sponge or cloth. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing and applying the grout.
  4. Allow the mosaic to dry fully.

Optional Passage Link: A mosaic is made up of different shapes, colours, and broken pieces, yet when brought together, they become something new and beautiful. That’s what Jesus does in the church. He brings together people from all backgrounds, all in need of forgiveness, and makes us one family in Him.

Starters

Choose from the following Starter activities 

Illustration: Life Changes

Purpose: To introduce the theme of transformation found in Jesus, by sharing your own life transitions and where salvation happened.

Materials Needed:

  • Photographs from your life that represent key moments of change or transition (e.g. baby photos, first day of school, class picture, a residential or camp, graduation, wedding, baby scan).
  • One photograph that connects to your salvation story (e.g. from the time you trusted Jesus, your baptism, or where that decision took place).

Instructions:

  1. Show the group your photos, briefly explaining what each one represents and how it marked a change in your life.
  2. End with the photo that represents your salvation moment.
  3. Share how trusting in Jesus was the most significant transformation. Not just temporary or emotional, but something eternal.
  4. Explain that in today’s Bible passage, we’ll hear about someone whose whole life was transformed through Jesus too.
Opening Activity: Who Would You Welcome?

Purpose: To begin exploring the challenge Philemon faced of welcoming Onesimus, and the theme of reconciliation. It can also be used as a later callback to illustrate how countercultural Jesus’ way is.

Materials Needed:

  • Prepare a list of character descriptions, written on individual cards, a mix of lighthearted and thought provoking ones. For example:
    • A stranger who’s just moved into your area
    • A classmate who once embarrassed you
    • A relative who stole your favourite jumper
    • A previous bully who says they’ve changed
    • A famous footballer
    • A person with a reputation for lying
    • Someone with zero sense of humour
    • Your best friend’s ex

Instructions:

  1. Divide into smaller groups, each with a leader.
  2. Ask: Would you welcome them into your friendship group? Why or why not?
  3. Ask each group to sort the character cards into two piles: Yes or No.
  4. Once complete, pose a follow up discussion question: What would need to happen for you to include someone from the ‘No‘ pile?

Passage Link: Some people are easy to welcome. Others are harder. In Philemon, we read about a former criminal who had been transformed by Jesus and brought into the church family. This is an incredible example of God’s reconciliation.

Call Back: Later in the session, return to this activity as you explore how Christianity is countercultural. Sinful people can find forgiveness through Jesus and be fully reconciled  to God and to others.

Discussion Starter: Life Changes

Purpose: To introduce the theme of transformation found in Jesus, by reflecting on our small life changes.

Instructions:

  1. Divide into smaller groups, each with a leader.
  2. Ask groups to discuss:
    • As you moved from Primary School to Secondary, and onto Sixth Form, how have you changed?
      • What were you into back then?
      • What happened to cause those changes?
    • What changes do you expect as you move onto adulthood?

Passage Link: We all change as we grow – through age, maturity, and life experience. But in our passage from Philemon, we’ll meet someone whose life was completely transformed by Jesus.

  • Conversation Chat 2 Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Teaching Outlines
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Choose one of the following Teaching Outlines

Opening Illustration: My family through Jesus

  1. Begin by showcasing your church community:
    • In preparation, take quick photographs of individual Christians from your church.
    • Display them as a visual celebration of one of the benefits of being a Christian – belonging to a family.
    • Name a few people and briefly share how they’ve encouraged and built you up.
    • Explain that being in Christ means being united with a church family. Not just attending a service, but belonging to a people.
  2. Introduce the letter to Philemon:
    • A short letter written by Paul to a church community.
    • He celebrates their love and unity, and wants them to fully grasp how incredible it is to be united in Jesus.

Transformation through Jesus

  1. Refer back to the photos and reflect on your own story:
    • You weren’t always part of this family – what was life like before Jesus?
    • How did Jesus transform your life?
    • Share brief moments of how others in your church were transformed and included.
  2. Introduce Onesimus (v10-11, 18):
    • Paul writes about a man who was similarly transformed and brought in.
    • He had committed a crime against this church, it is likely he stole from them and ran away (v18).
    • But now Paul describes him as a “son” (v10) and having gone from useless to useful (v11).
    • He has been transformed – brought in, forgiven, made new.
  3. Read Colossians 1:13-14,
    • Written to the same church Philemon is a part of.
    • Paul explains how Jesus rescues and forgives, bringing people from darkness into God’s kingdom. From outsider to family.
    • This has been Onesimus’ experience – rescued, forgiven, and brought in.
  4. Crystallise the connection to your own story:
    • How Jesus rescued and forgave you.
    • How you were brought into His Kingdom, His family.
  5. Emphasise how this is a regular occurrence! It has happened thousands of times. It’s happening today. It is an incredible transformation worth celebrating.

Reconciliation through Jesus

  1. Explain how Paul presents Philemon with a surprising and difficult challenge:
    • Onesimus is reconciled to God (rescued, forgiven, brought into God’s family), but now Paul is asking Philemon to be reconciled with him too.
    • Paul asks Philemon to forgive, include, and live united with him.
    • Explore how difficult this must be.
  2. Refer back to the pictures and a hypothetical situation:
    • What if someone in those photos had stolen from you, is then transformed by Jesus, and welcomed into the church family?
    • How would you feel?
  3. Explain how the Christian life is countercultural:
    • Every Christian has been transformed through Jesus and brought into His family.
    • We are called to mirror what we have received – forgiveness, inclusion, unity.

The Challenge

  1. Celebrate and marvel how incredible the gospel is:
    • Forgiveness for anything we’ve done.
    • Rescue from darkness.
    • Transformation into someone new.
    • Reconciliation with God and others.
    • A family to belong to.
  2. Share how thankful you are for what you have received in Christ, and for your church family.
  3. Leave them with a clear challenge:
    • This was available to the criminal Onesimus.
    • It’s available to you – whatever your story.

Preparation

  • Arrange your youth space into small group areas, each with access to Philemon.
  • As your teaching session begins, encourage your young people to spread out across the groups, with a leader in each group.

Introduction (v1-7)

  • Introduce the letter:
    • Written by Paul to a church leader named Philemon in Colossae
    • Paul is writing from prison, where he’s being held for publicly speaking about Jesus
  • He begins with encouragement, celebrating the church’s:
    • Love for one another (v5)
    • Faith in Jesus (v5)
  • He shares his desire that they grasp how amazing it is to be united in Jesus (v6).
  • Showcase your church community:
    • In preparation, take quick photographs of individual Christians from your church.
    • Display them as a visual celebration of one of the benefits of being a Christian – belonging to a family.
    • Name a few people and briefly share how they’ve encouraged and built you up.
    • Explain that being in Christ means being united with a church family. Not just attending a service, but belonging to a people.

Small Group Discussion 1

  1. What has your experience of church been like?
  2. Do the words love, faith, unity, and family reflect your experience?

Transformation through Jesus (v8-16)

  • Introduce Onesimus:
    • The reason for Paul’s letter is a surprising one. He writes about Onesimus, a man who has wronged Philemon.
    • We learn:
      • He was a slave (v16)
      • He committed a crime against Philemon (v18)
      • Paul says he was once useless (v11).
    • But something has changed. Onesimus has been transformed through Jesus.

Small Group Discussion 2

  1. Scan verses 10-16: What three new words does Paul now use to describe Onesimus?
    • Answer: Son (v10), Useful (v11), Brother (v16)
  2. How would you expect Paul and Onesimus to feel about this transformation?
  • Read Colossians 1:13-14,
    • This letter was written to the same church Philemon is part of.
    • Paul explains how Jesus rescues and forgives, bringing people from darkness into God’s kingdom. From outsider to family.
    • This has been Onesimus’ experience – rescued, forgiven, and brought in.
  • Apply it personally:
    • Share how Jesus has rescued, forgiven, and brought you in.
    • Emphasise how this is a regular occurrence! It has happened thousands of times. It’s happening today. It is an incredible transformation worth celebrating.

Reconciliation through Jesus (v15-19)

  • Explain how Paul presents Philemon with a surprising and difficult challenge:
    • Onesimus is reconciled to God (rescued, forgiven, brought into God’s family), but now Paul is asking Philemon to be reconciled with him too.
    • Paul asks Philemon to forgive, include, and live united with him.
    • Explore how difficult this must be.

Small Group Discussion 3

  1. How might Philemon be feeling as he reads Paul’s challenge?
  2. Imagine a scenario where a transformed former criminal joins our church community. How would that affect your view of the church?
  • Celebrate how the Christian life is countercultural:
    • Every Christian has been transformed through Jesus and brought into His family.
    • We are called to mirror what we have received – forgiveness, inclusion, unity.
  • Share personally again:
    • Refer back to your church photos and your own story of being brought in.
    • Share a moment when your church family made a real impact in your life.

The Challenge

  1. Celebrate and marvel how incredible the gospel is:
    • Forgiveness for anything we’ve done.
    • Rescue from darkness.
    • Transformation into someone new.
    • Reconciliation with God and others.
    • A family to belong to.
  2. Share how thankful you are for what you have received in Christ, and for your church family.
  3. Leave them with a clear challenge:
    • This was available to the criminal Onesimus.
    • It’s available to you – whatever your story.

Small Group Discussion 4

  1. How do Paul’s challenge and my story compare with your own experience of church?
  2. The two big words today are transformation and reconciliation. Are those stories you want to experience too?
  3. Take time to pray in your groups to close
  • Arrow Double Right Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Going Further
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Choose from any of the following Going Further activities

Purpose: To give young people an opportunity to actively reflect and respond to the themes of forgiveness, transformation, and Christian community.

Materials Needed:

  • Marker pens or sticker dots in four different colours.
  • A roll or large sheet of paper.

Set Up

  • Draw a very large horizontal scale (0-10) on the paper.
  • Above the scale, write the following four questions, each assigned a different colour:
    1. How convincing is Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, relationship with God, and transformation?
    2. How appealing is the idea of a loving church community?
    3. How likely are you to revisit church?
    4. How likely are you to explore more about Jesus?
  • Set out the colour coded markers or sticker dots for individuals to respond.

Instructions:

  1. After the teaching, invite individuals to take a moment to reflect on each question.
  2. Ask them to place a mark or sticker on the scale (0-10) to represent their personal response to each one.

Purpose: To continue exploring how Jesus transforms believers and reconciles them to God.

Instructions:

  • Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
  1. Focus on verse 17: Repeat it and recap what you’ve previously explored about gospel, particularly through the story of Onesimus.
  2. Discuss: What benefits of being a new creation do the rest of the verses describe?
    • Answers: Reconciliation to God (v18), Forgiveness of sin (v19), Jesus taking our place (v21), Being made righteous (v21).
    • Note: Take time to define or unpack these ideas. Let the group ask questions or offer their own explanations.
  3. Discuss: How would you expect someone to feel or act if they’ve experienced this kind of transformation?
  4. Discuss: Where do you see yourself in this passage? How does it describe you? How do you feel as you read it?

Purpose: To create an intentional opportunity for your young people to connect with your church family, reinforcing the themes of transformation and belonging from Philemon.

Instructions:

  1. Identify the next opportunity for your young people to engage with your church community, perhaps a Sunday Service, small group, or special event.
  2. Invite a few adults from outside your usual youth team to be ready to welcome and chat with them.
    • Consider asking the individuals you mentioned during your Teaching Outline.
  3. Encourage these adults to share simple stories of:
    • How they became part of the church family
    • Times they’ve been encouraged or built up by others in church life
  4. Let your youth group know about the opportunity. Frame it as a way to explore what being part of the church family really looks like.
  5. Afterward, follow up individually, helping young people reflect on the experience and how it made them feel.
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Choose a series

Verdant offers three types of series to fit your setting:
  1. Evangelism: Designed for youth club settings, where you’re looking to spark interest in Jesus and explore the gospel together. Each series includes an interactive talk and group discussion outlines, along with games, crafts, discussion starters, and Going Further activities for diving in deeper.
  2. Discipleship: Ideal for small groups or Sunday school, with Bible study outlines that encourage conversation. Each session includes smaller games, illustrations, discussion starters, and Going Further activities to extend discussion and build on application.
  3. Mentoring: Tailored for one-to-one discipleship, with Bible study outlines that support personal growth and accountability. These guides include discussion based starters and Going Further activities that dig into specific topics from the study.

Plan the Series

Before diving into each session, the series homepage provides a quick summary of each session, along with helpful elements to keep your series flowing seamlessly. You’ll find activities or projects that span the length of the series, ideas for keeping parents involved and informed, and practical ways to apply what’s being taught. The series homepage also provides series downloads and links to additional external resources.

Build the Session

Create a custom session for your youth group using our range of ‘Intros & Starters,’ ’Teaching Outlines,’ and ‘Going Further’ activities.

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Create a custom session for your youth group using our collection of ‘Intros & Starters,’ ’Teaching Outlines,’ and ‘Going Further’ activities.

Each option is graded as Simple , Intermediate , or Advanced , allowing you to tailor the session to your group’s needs. All downloadable files are available at the bottom of this page.