CLIP OF THE WEEK: "I'M NOT READY FOR THE BENEDICTION" CALL TO WORSHIP TAG TEAM

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DATE: Nov. 15, 2015 TIME: 11 am Worship Service SCRIPTURE: Mark 5:21 – 24; 35-43 SERMON TITLE: I’m Not Ready For the Benediction Sermon detailed the story of an encounter between Jairus andJesus; Jairus pleaded with Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. Pastor Moss encouraged the congregation to read the entire fifth chapter of Mark as well as revisit last week’s sermon as it is connected to today’s sermon. Pastor Moss introduced his message with a word of caution; he cautioned us to be cognizant of folk who attempt to pronounce a benediction over your life and everything sacred to you. In essence, (Moss suggested) that we often give others permission to speak benediction over our life because we would rather suffer in silence than seek help. He spoke about the detriment of shame and fear as it relates to this issue; he shared that shame and fear threatens our health, healing and wholeness as well as an opportunity to be in deep relationship with God. Moss unpacked the sermon by giving us the backstory on Jairus. Jairus was a proud, strong man in a patriarchal community willing to admit to Jesus that he was in need of help. This action was no small feat for Jairus because in his mind, this act of submission and humility diminished his manhood. Yet, Jairus was willing to do so because he had done all that he could for his daughter. Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue – a synagogue in which the chief priest was not a follower of Jesus. It was common practice for someone of Jairus’ status to be in alignment with the chief priest, yet Jairus went against the grain and sought out Jesus on behalf of his daughter. Pastor Moss made the point that Jairus, a young Black brother, advocated on behalf of his child; Moss emphasized the rallying, triumphant cry from the community when brothers speak out. Moss reminded us that the role of the church is to speak up for the voiceless. Pastor Moss brought this message full circle as he reminded us to not be selective in our mourning and praying for the afflicted, but rather to be inclusive of ALL people who are suffering. “I know that there is a mourning across the world for those who have tragically died in Paris. And I mourn also, but we also must mourn those who died in Beirut; and mourn for those who died in the Congo; and mourn for those who died in Palestine; mourn those who died on the south side; mourn those who died on the west side; mourn for all of our children! It is not one life that matters, but it is the life of all children; when they die, God weeps! And they say there was a coordinated attack that killed all of these people – 153. But I have to tell you, there is a coordinated attack in America. Racism got together with poverty and poverty got together with miseducation and they’ve been setting off spiritual bombs in our community for quite some time! We must weep not just for some, but weep for all.” Rev OM3 Brother Pastor showed us in scripture how eager some folk are to bring bad news (v.35)and cautioned us to distance ourselves from these people, and stay attuned to God’s voice, for God does hear our cry. Moss contended that Jesus silenced the naysayers who pronounced Jairus’ daughter dead by denouncing their benediction and pronouncing a call to worship. In essence, what Pastor Moss was saying is that folk will attempt to count you out on their own authority, but only God has the authority to call the benediction over your life! Jesus gave the call to worship when he told Jairus’ daughter to get up. And finally, to further illustrate his sermon points, Pastor Moss shared a childhood story of his love for watching wrestling matches. He talked about a particular wrestling phenomenon known as tag-team wrestling. One rule of tag-team wrestling was that if you felt that your opponent was overtaking you, you were allowed to tag in someone outside of the ring for help. All throughout today’s sermon, Pastor Moss illustrated that there was nothing more that Jairus could have done on his own; Jairus needed to tag somebody in to help him. What our beloved pastor did next was not only brilliant, but also one of the most powerful praise and preaching moments I have ever witnessed! One by one, Pastor Moss “tagged in” each member of the pastoral team to deliver NOT the benediction, but instead the call to worship. To Purchase full sermon, visit: akibabookstore.org

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• Worship