Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Name: _____________

{Scripture}

Genesis 17: 1-7 CEB

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy. 2 I will make a covenant between us and I will give you many, many descendants.” 3 Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, 4 “But me, my covenant is with you; you will be the ancestor of many nations. 5 And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham. 6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.

The significance of Abraham’s Name Change

I. Spiritual

Vs. 1 “The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk with me and be trustworthy.”

· Personal relationship with God

· El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty

II. Emotional

Vs. 2 “I will give you many, many descendants…”

99 and No Children

· Why now?

· Why should I believe You?

· Why me?

III. Personal

Vs. 5 “And because I have made you the ancestor of many nations, your name will no longer be Abram but Abraham.”

· He lived as Abram for 99 years…

o A lot of experiences, relationships, conversations, and journeys…

· For the rest of his life, he had to introduce himself as Abraham

o Who is Abraham?

o Who are you now?

IV. Promise

Vs. 6-7 6 I will make you very fertile. I will produce nations from you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will set up my covenant with you and your descendants after you in every generation as an enduring covenant. I will be your God and your descendants’ God after you.

· I will make you fertile

· I will produce nations from you

· I will set up my covenant with you

· I will be your God

Closing Story:

· Richard Allen – Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Pastor: Paul Thibodeaux

Sermon Title: Who Are We? God’s Masterpiece!

{Scripture}

Ephesians 2: 4-10 (NLT)

4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus. 8 You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.[a] This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. 9 It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. 10 Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

A masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.

Masterpiece because of God’s love

Verse 4 5 4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us.

We are loved unconditionally

We are loved in spite of ourselves

We are simply loved

Masterpiece because of our history

Verse 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.

Masterpiece because of our faith

Not because of what we have

Not because of what we do

Because God created us to do GOOD thing

Believe you are God’s masterpiece

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Knowing and Waiting Part I

{Scripture}

Isaiah 40: 30-31 NRSV

30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;

31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Fly

• Like an eagle…

• Flyover and away…

• There are times when a flyover is necessary…

Run

• With perseverance…

• Your race and not your lane…

• It is difficult to wait and maintain hope when we are running in the wrong race…

• Show an image side by side of a runner in a cross-country race and a runner in a sprint race.

Walk

• With a purpose…

• Purpose and not speed…

• Show image side by side: People walking in different directions and one person walking in a single direction.

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Knowing and Waiting Part I

{Scripture}

Isaiah 40: 28-29 CEB

28 Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. God doesn’t grow tired or weary. God’s understanding is beyond human reach, 29 giving power to the tired and reviving the exhausted.

We Know God Is:

Everlasting (Everlasting God)

• The beginning and the end

• God’s people struggled with connection

• Stay connected in the middle

Creating (Creator of the ends of the earth)

• Beyond Genesis…

• Isaiah 43: 18-19 18 Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history.

19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.

• Pondering and Wondering

• God is developing your story

Understanding (Beyond human reach)

• God knows and God understands

• You are not alone

Renewing (Power to the tired and reviving the exhausted)

• God will renew your strength

• Congressman John Lewis

"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

Pastor: Orlando Evans

Sermon Title: Sabbath Solitude

{Scripture}

Matthew 14:23 NRSV

23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…

{Introduction}

“2 And on the 7th day God finished the work (the Lord) had done, and rested on the seventh day… 3 So God blessed the 7th day and hallowed it, because on it God rested… Genesis 2:2-3 NRSV

God desires for us to take sabbath to rest, get refreshed, and be restored

Key: Dismiss, Pray,  Alone

{Point #1: Dismiss}

Jesus dismissed everyone and created space to be alone

Before the Lord takes you higher, you must create space by dismissing some things.

{Point #2: Pray}

The precursor to public ministry is private devotion and engaging with God.

Lament and mourn.

Listen to the Holy Spirit

Rehearse God’s Word.

{Point #3: Alone}

v23 “When evening came, he was there alone…”

Solitude offers peace, clarity, and a forum to clear our heart and mind.

Greg McKeown (essentialism) encouraged us to escape to a place w/ no distraction to- "Figure out what really matters”- “Discern the essential from the trivial”“Encourage new ways of engaging and thinking”

Pastor: Paul Thibodeaux

Sermon Title: Eliminate

Scripture: Luke 10: 38 - 42 (CEB)

38 While Jesus and his disciples were traveling, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.

39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his message.

40 By contrast, Martha was preoccupied with getting everything ready for their meal. So Martha came to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to prepare the table all by myself? Tell her to help me.”

41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.

42 One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her

Essential intent

- Done right, an essential intent is one decision that settles one thousand later decisions

Be “really clear” not “pretty clear”

- Pretty clear is indecisive, unsure, wishy washy

- Really clear is concrete and meaningful

- Really cuts of the waste of time and brings focus

- Martha appears to be “pretty clear” about who came to visit

Be Decisive not Distracted

- Problem with Martha is that she was distracted

Martha is not “really clear”

- How many times are not really clear when we get a visit from God

Verse 41,42

41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. 42 One thing is necessary.

“Focus on the signal…not the noise!”

Be able to Know when to say No

We are tempted to measure our worth by how busy we are, our accomplishments, Jesus is concerned about us receiving his gracious presence in our lives, not what we do or how well we do it, but who we are in Christ Jesus.

Know when to say no to what is pulling you away from what’s essential

Know when to say no to the world’s standards

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Pivot Pray Persist

Scriptures:

Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

2 Timothy 2:3 “…endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

John 15:13 “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.”

Our Nation's Capital

Black Lives

True Freedom

Be Brave, Fight, Choose Joy

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Pivot: Delegate

Scripture: Exodus 18: 17-23 CEB

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing isn’t good. 18 You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can’t do it alone. 19 Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself. 20 Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do. 21 But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load. 23 If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier.”

Sermons Series Support Sources

Essentialism by Greg McKeown (Show picture of the book)

Coaching4Clergy.COM

• Doing: Delegate, Eliminate, and Simplify

• Being: Sabbath and Solitude

• What are my limiting beliefs?

Confrontation

Vs. 17-18 17 Moses’ father-in-law [Jethro] said to him, “What you are doing isn’t good. 18 You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can’t do it alone.

• Truth Tellers

• No Equity in the Deal

o Vs. 27 “Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, and Jethro went back to his own country.”

Reality

• Vs. 18 You will end up totally wearing yourself out, both you and these people who are with you. The work is too difficult for you. You can’t do it alone.

• Who is helping carry the weight?

Strategy

• Vs. 19-21 “19 Now listen to me and let me give you some advice. And may God be with you! Your role should be to represent the people before God. You should bring their disputes before God yourself. 20 Explain the regulations and instructions to them. Let them know the way they are supposed to go and the things they are supposed to do. 21 But you should also look among all the people for capable persons who respect God. They should be trustworthy and not corrupt. Set these persons over the people as officers of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”

Delegate

• “Is this the very most important thing I should be doing with my time and resources right now?”

• Four Questions to Consider:

o Do you have a team?

o Who is on your team?

o What are their assignments?

o What am I doing that someone else can do better and faster?

• Vs. 22-23 “22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times. They should bring every major dispute to you, but they should decide all of the minor cases themselves. This will be much easier for you, and they will share your load. 23 If you do this and God directs you, then you will be able to endure. And all these people will be able to go back to their homes much happier.”

Impact Church’s 4 Focus Areas in 2021

Worship

Imprint Groups

Impact Gives Back

Phase 2A

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: Share Christ

Scripture: Luke 2:14 CEB

Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.

Christmas is not an ordinary season

God is reminding us of hope.

Our hope is not in the world but in Christ.

The Greatest Gifts

· Our Joy

· Our Peace

· Our Savior

Share Your Gifts with the World

The Shepherds shared the gift of Christ.

Luke 2:20 “The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen…”

This Christmas Season, share Christ with the world.

Pastor: Olu Brown

Sermon Title: The Year 2021

Scripture: Luke 2:22 CEB

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life…"

Don’t Worry

· Luke 12:25 “Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?”

· We are more valuable to God than lilies in the field and God cares for them so God will care for us.

· Worrying is not about God’s ability to care for us but our ability to trust in God.

Don’t Fear

· Luke 12:32 “Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom.”

· All fear is not bad but fearing the future because of the past is not faith but doubt.

· Don’t let 2020 hinder your dreams, plans, and goals for 2021.

Stay Positive

· Luke 12:34 “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be too.”

· Attitude and Trust are Connected.

Stay Curious

· In these unsettling times, don’t lose your love for life and dare yourself to live boldly in the new year.

· “Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. It wasn’t always a choice; we were born curious. But over time, we learn that curiosity, like vulnerability, can lead to hurt. As a result, we turn to self-protecting—choosing certainty over curiosity, armor over vulnerability, and knowing over learning…Curiosity is an act of vulnerability and courage.” Source: Brene Brown, Rising Strong