2010.2.10(2) Woke Church

P & W is over, the lights will stay dimmed.

courageous conversations.

Transition to today our topic being “Woke Church”.

Play video produced by Essence.

Video transitions to the Woke Church title page…sermon lighting setting is resumed

Intro

This discussion is being had without the church sitting at the table. This is totally wrong. The Church should always be engaging society.

To refuse to be indifferent.

The proverbial ostrich has for a long time been akin to the church. We stick our heads in the sand and don’t speak into issues that matter to God. Usually it’s the harder harder social issues. Abortion, Racism, Homosexuality, Heterosexuality, Injustice, Debt, SIN

When we remain quiet, we do more damage. Ms. Eve Early - left a church when there was no position taken. Instead they referred to some policy “We don’t speak to issues concerning, politics.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Strength to Love 1963

God commands us to be “woke!”

Ephesians 5:12 NKJV

12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

Ephesians 5:14 NKJV

14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

ep

When are we going to wake up?

Truth of the matter is that we’re not living up to our potential. Even more so, we’re not being what we’re supposed to be.

W-Watchful

willing to say “that’s wrong.”

I think we don’t get involved is becuase we don’t want to be persecuted.

O-Open

Ill: I can get up and talk. Me and Q chat all the way to school. My wife…not til 9/930. She’s not “open”. Some folk aren’t open to talk because of tradition, personal pain and their own experiences, cultural grip,

Best way to be open and the best way to open someone up is to ask questions.

K-Kingdom

The blueprint of the Kingdom is seen thru OT, you never realized what you were seeing. The walls were important because they were designed to keep people out.

It’s strength would be compromised from within if issue weren’t dealt with immediately.

It’s strength would be compromised from within if issue weren’t dealt with immediately.

Ill: if David has dealt w his own children first Absoloam never would’ve happened.

David got put on the run not because of the Philistines but bc he didn’t deal w his family stuff. After Tamar was raped - he didn’t nothing

Pt: we are giving the enemy the leverage when we don’t deal with what’s happening behind the walls!

E-Encouraging

Sometimes when we can intend on being encouraging it can be taken as confrontational. You’ve gotta be wise.

Ill: Alecia not working out. The more I asked the more adamant she became.

Close

The phrase is supposedly birthed w Erica Badhu

Some say back to 70s with Black Panthers

Acts 10:9–23 NKJV

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. 17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” 21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.