"The Mantle and the Question" (July 26, 2026 Sermon)

Send us Fan MailPreaching: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. FearingText: 2 Kings 2:1-15Someone leaves, and the room gets quiet in a way you can feel in your chest. We start with prayer and a reading from 2 Kings 2:1–15, then step into the story of Elijah and Elisha as it becomes a mirror for real life: mentors who shaped us, loved ones who “loved us into being,” and the hard truth that goodbyes still come even when we are not ready. We pause to remember someone we miss, because grief is not a problem to solve, it’s a reality to tell the truth about. From there, we follow Elisha through a season of spiritual transition. He refuses to be left behind, asks for a double share of Elijah’s spirit, and then faces the moment so many of us fear: the mantle is in your hands now. The Jordan stands in front of him, and when he strikes the water the first time, nothing happens. That detail matters. It captures the doubt, frustration, and “what now?” feeling that can hit after a funeral, after a leadership change, or in any liminal season where you’re trying to carry forward what someone taught you. The turning point is a single question that reframes everything. Elisha doesn’t ultimately ask, “Where is Elijah?” He asks, “Where is the Lord?” We talk about why that shift moves us from the past into discernment, and how it helps a church in transition and individuals who are learning to live with both grief and gratitude. If you’re navigating change, loss, or a new responsibility, press play and walk with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your answer: where do you see God moving right now?Follow us on Instagram @guilfordparkpresbyterianchurchFollow us on Facebook @guilfordparkpcFollow us on TikTok @guilfordparkpreschurchWebsite:  www.guilfordpark.org