From Paul...

Paul wrote letters long before emails and WhatsApp. This Sunday we start a series dipping in to two of them.

They were hand-delivered messages full of encouragement, advice, and the occasional challenge — the kind of thing you’d want to read more than once. This Sunday, we look at two of them - both written for personal friends rather than whole churches. 

Philemon is Paul’s shortest note, but it packs a punch. On the surface, it’s about a runaway slave — but underneath it’s really about friendship, forgiveness, and what it means to see people through new eyes.

1 Timothy, on the other hand, is a pep-talk to a young leader finding his feet. Paul gives practical tips, wise warnings, and plenty of reassurance that faith is about living well, not just believing the right things.

Together, these letters show Paul at his most personal. They carry warmth, humour, conviction, and hope — sometimes all within a few lines.

These are words from Paul, but they’re also words for us: for anyone trying to work out faith, relationships, and leadership in the ups and downs of today’s world. Think of them as ancient mail with a surprisingly modern message.