Youths · About 15 minutes

Family Bible Time: How to Read an Epistle

In about 15 minutes, read Philemon 1-25 and explore this big idea: A New Testament letter addresses real people and circumstances before it is applied to later readers.

Connect
Read
Understand
Play
Respond

Step 1 of 5 · about 2 minutes

Connect

Recall where How to Read an Epistle fits in the Bible story.

The 15-minute flow

2 min
Connect
Recall where How to Read an Epistle fits in the Bible story.
5 min
Read
Read or retell Philemon 1-25 and notice two details.
3 min
Understand
Ask what the passage directly says and what meaning follows from it.
3 min
Play
Use the How to Read an Epistle Evidence Grid orally or on paper.
2 min
Respond
Choose one voluntary response and pray together.

Talk about it

What happened or what was taught?
What does this show us about God, Jesus, or faithful life?
What is one response we can practise?

This week

Action: Choose one concrete response connected to this lesson and practise it this week.

Prayer: Thank God for what is clear in the passage; ask for wisdom to respond faithfully without claiming more than the text supports.

Note for parents: Questions are welcome. Do not force disclosure, certainty, public prayer, baptism, or another public religious decision.

Print the parent guide