52 Prayers from the Bible

A Prayer of Thanks for Faithfulness

⁴ I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. ⁶ [I pray] that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for [the glory of] Christ. ⁷ For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. (Philemon 4-7)

1. Who are the characters in Philemon?
2. Who is Paul writing to?
3. What is he thankful for?
4. How does participation in the faith become “effective?”
5. What does that mean?
6. What is Paul ultimately asking for in the letter?
7. Why does he appeal to his faith?
8. How can this story inform our prayers today?

Scripture courtesy of BibleGateway.com. All Scripture text is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved. "52 Prayers from the Bible" is Copyright © 2009 by Kevin Binkley and Emmanuel Baptist Church of Rochester, Minnesota.