The Message, October 11, 2026: "Keep Doing These Things," Philippians 4:1-9

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
October 13, 2026

 

“Keep Doing These Things!”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Philippians 4:1-9

            As you listened to the passage from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, did it seem to you that there were three distinct movements in those nine verses? It was almost as if Paul realized that he was running out of paper … or ink … and thought, “Oh, I had better wrap this up. Let me make certain that I covered everything. Okay … Euodia and Syntyche … check. Rejoice always … check. The virtues checklist … check!”

            Now … I promise that I will not spend an hour unpacking it all. I promise.

            But let us begin with the setting, the context. I know that parents are not supposed to have a favorite child. (Even though some of us know that we are.) We know that teachers are not supposed to have a favorite student. (Even though we know that some of us were.) And apostles should not have favorite churches, but if this one did … if Paul did … the church in Philippi might be his. He called them his beloved. They were his joy, his delight, his crown. He longed for them. Those are words and expressions of deep affection.

            The church in Philippi was the first church that Paul founded in Europe. You may recall that when he arrived in Philippi there was no synagogue there. There was a population of Jewish people, but no synagogue. However, he did find a group of women praying down by the river. He spoke with them, and one of the women, Lydia, a wealthy merchant of purple cloth, invited them to gather together in her home.

            The church maintained a deep, loyal partnership with Paul, repeatedly sending him financial gifts and support while he traveled or sat in prison. In fact, Paul wrote this letter to them while he was in prison to thank them, encourage their joy, and gently address minor issues of unity within the community. And that is where we are introduced to Euodia and Syntyche.

            Fred Craddock, in his commentary on this letter, pointed out that we are essentially reading someone else’s mail when we read this letter. We do not know the nature of their quarrel or their disagreement. We DO know that quarreling and disagreement can be very destructive in any community or organization. We DO know that Paul urged “his” churches to do whatever they can to solve their differences and seek a path toward reconciliation.

            I think that it is also important to recognize the significance of the role of women in the church in Philippi. It was counter cultural. In the Greek culture of the day, women were to remain in the background; they were to be seen and heard as little as possible. A “respectable” woman would never be seen on the street alone. But, in the church in Philippi the women were seen and heard. They had permanent leadership positions in the community and Lydia was first among them.

            It was also clear that Paul’s inclusion of this instruction in a letter that would be read publicly within the worshipping community, he wanted the community to be involved with the healing process. Our nature is often to choose sides when conflicts arise. Paul addressed that head-on. “You, my beloveds, are to love one another.”

            So, we can see why Paul would feel so strongly about repairing whatever breach had developed in that community. Not only did he love them dearly, but he wanted them to continue to grow and flourish. Even more, he wanted them to be a shining example of God’s beloved community. The church of Jesus Christ is a gathered community where love and grace are the foundation.

            With that issue addressed, Paul returned to his over-arching theme of praise and rejoicing. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” Sitting in prison, Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Because true joy does not depend on one’s circumstances, but rather on the presence of the Lord with us. “The Lord is near, therefor we can have permanent joy!”

            The word that we typically translate as “rejoice” may mean to us a feeling of happiness or joy that happens internally. It is a personal sense of joy that wells up inside of us. But in that world and culture, rejoicing would have meant a public display, a public celebration. The world around Ephesus, and Philippi, and Corinth … and elsewhere … organized great festivals, games, shows and pageants to celebrate their gods, their cities and their rulers. But how does a first century Christian “celebrate” God, celebrate Jesus Christ, in a world that is hostile toward them? How does one manifest or embody Christ in a world such as that? How does one let their “gentleness be made known?”

             We can rejoice, we can experience joy, we can celebrate because Jesus is with us. The Lord is near! But how do we practice or display gentleness?

            Actually, the Greek word for ‘gentleness’ (epieikeia) is difficult to translate. It can mean patience, or softness, or forbearance. The Greeks define it as “Justice that is something better than justice.” (If that makes sense.) It refers to those instances when strict adherence to the letter of the law is neither the most “just” or “fair” way. The Greek notion of gentleness refers to those times when one would relax justice and offer grace or mercy instead. We know that Jesus was often accused of breaking the “Law” in favor of offering grace … or gentleness.

            And bring EVERYTHING to God in prayer. Bring the big things and the small things. Bring your questions and your doubts. Bring your fears and your anxiety. Bring your joys and your struggles. Offer it all to God and allow God’s peace … God’s wonderful peace … to fill you. Bring it all to God … AND … remember that prayer is a two-way conversation. We bring it all to God and then we listen for God’s Voice, we listen for God’s Word, we listen for God’s direction, or correction, or encouragement.

            To be sure, there was plenty of worry and concern for the first century Philippians and all of the first century Christians. Paul was not saying, “And when you get scared … pray. Your prayer will take your fear away.” No, he was saying, “Pray in all things. Pray in all circumstances. Be steeped in prayer. Move your conversations with God, and with Jesus, to the center.” In that way we will experience God’s peace. In all things we will be assured that God is with us, that Jesus is with us. In all things we will know that they love us and care for us. That peace assures us that God desires only the best and the highest for us.

            God’s peace surpasses our understanding. We cannot comprehend the depth or the magnitude. We cannot possibly define it or place boundaries around it. Even more, it is beyond anything that we could devise, or create, or concoct on our own. It is beyond … It is something that only God can offer. It is peace in it purest and gentlest and most powerful and most comforting manifestation.

            And one more thing, my beloveds … you live in a world that can be ugly, and cruel, and hateful. You can be bombarded by words and actions that are vile, and evil, and deceptive. The world can try to corrupt you, and manipulate you, and convince you that there is no hope. Do not be consumed by those things. How can we rejoice, how can we celebrate God, how can we celebrate the Good News if we are always focused upon the dirt and the worst that the world has to offer?

            Instead, let us fill our minds with the good and the godly. Our prayers help us lift up and attune our hearts and minds to a God that is loving and gracious, kind and generous. Therefore, let us fill our minds with these things.
            The world can be deceptive. Think about things that are true.
            Think about things that are honorable and worthy.
            Think about things that are sacred, or holy. Set our minds upon things that are godly.
            Think about things that are just and gentle. Think about our duty and our responsibility to God. Be faithful.
            Think about things that are pure … rather than those things that are morally corrupt or defiled. Think about those things that are fit to be in the Presence of God.
            Think about those things that are lovely … winsome. Think about those things that evoke feelings of love and warmth … rather than those things that elicit feelings of bitterness or hostility.
            Think about things that are gracious and virtuous and praiseworthy.
            Think about things that build community … rather than those things that tear down or destroy, those things that build walls and divisiveness.

            Fill your hearts and minds with all of these things. Leave no room for the ugliness of the world.

            And then DO them. Faith in God, faith in Jesus Christ is a verb. DO these things.

            It is true that there is unimaginable evil in the world.
            It is true that hate and ugliness run deep.
            It is true that there are forces that seek to divide us and destroy us.
            It is true that there are those that enjoy inflicting pain and suffering upon others.
            It is true that the voracious appetites of greed and selfishness can never be satisfied. They will feed upon the health and the lives of everyone that they can.
            It is true that power is often wielded in the most vile and vicious and self-serving ways.

            And it is absolutely true all of that is antithetical to the Way of God and the Way of Jesus Christ.
            Let us not be dismayed or discouraged or overwhelmed. Let us celebrate Jesus. Let us celebrate a God of love and grace and mercy. Let us manifest gentleness for everyone to see and experience.
            Let us fill our hearts and minds with all that is true and pure, and sacred and just. And then let us DO those things … and keep doing those things … together as God’s beloved community. Amen.

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