DON’T BE SCARED! Close the tabs & GO SIT DOWN!

Main message: The sermon challenges the cultural and church-driven belief that worth equals constant provision and availability, exposing how that expectation makes rest feel irresponsible and leads to self-erasure. It calls attention to the underlying fear of disappointing others or losing value when we stop producing.

Key points:

• Black men and church communities are often taught to measure worth by provision and availability.
• Constant availability is praised until it quietly erodes a person's identity and well‑being.
• Rest begins to feel like irresponsibility because of internalized expectations to always be serving or fixing.
• A common, private fear drives people to keep every commitment open: Who will be disappointed if I choose myself?
• People maintain unnecessary obligations ("open tabs") not because they must, but because they're afraid closing them will reveal who they are when not producing.

Scriptures mentioned: none