"Steady As We Go" (May 17, 2026 Sermon)

Send us Fan MailPreaching: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. FearingText: Philippians 4:1-9A Dave Matthews Band lyric open a door into one of the most quoted and most misunderstood passages in the Bible: Philippians 4. “Stand firm” can sound like stubbornness, but we hear it as something closer to a helmsman’s call in rough water: hold your heading, keep moving, trust the vessel is sound.We sit with the real tension behind Paul’s words, including a conflict between Euodia and Syntyche, and we trace how Paul refuses to take sides. Instead, he calls the church to help, to practice gentleness, and to stay united. That leads us into the Presbyterian idea of mutual forbearance: accepting differences, respecting conscience, and continuing to work together for church unity even when agreement feels impossible.Then we take seriously the hard lines: “Do not be anxious,” “Rejoice,” “the peace of God will guard your hearts.” These are not empty slogans from comfort. They come from a writer in chains. We talk about what it means to believe “the Lord is near” when the news cycle is relentless, our hearts are tired, and joy feels out of reach. Finally, we explore Paul’s surprisingly practical counsel for spiritual formation: train your attention toward whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, and worthy of praise, and let worship become a counter-liturgy to the endless scroll.If you’ve been craving steadiness without denial, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs peace, and leave a review with the phrase that helps you stay steady.Follow us on Instagram @guilfordparkpresbyterianchurchFollow us on Facebook @guilfordparkpcFollow us on TikTok @guilfordparkpreschurchWebsite:  www.guilfordpark.org