Sermons on Ancestral Links:

Parable Of The Mustard Seed Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 17, 2007

Oh the power of the little seed which became the greatest plant...but then comes the aberration into a tree for the devil’s dirty birds! Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Parable of the Mustard Seed Matthew 13:31-32 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MustardSeed.html Apostate churches are made up of people who have turned away from the fundamentals of the faith. Constant diligence must be given to keep the church true to the Bible and its teachings. Just as God’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

Denomination: Baptist

Two On Trial

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 7, 2008

Passion Week: A careful examination of the text reveals there were really 2 people being tried. Not only Jesus, but also Peter. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Two on Trial Matthew 26:57-75 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TwoOnTrial.html There were 2 phases to Jesus’ kangaroo court. There was the religious phase where He stood before Jewish religious leaders, and then there was the civil phase where He stood before Roman government leaders. But a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:57-75

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus In The City Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 17, 2008

We find Jesus throughout the OT, and today we find him in 6 special towns -- The Purpose, the Prophecy, and the Proximity of the Cities of Refuge. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Christ in the City Joshua 20:1-9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ChristCity.html We find Jesus throughout the OT, and today we find him in some cities: [vv. 1-3] The Jews are now in possession of the Promised Land. The 12 tribes divided up the land, but then there were 6 cities set aside as ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 20:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Let The Walls Come Down Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 25, 2008

From a human perspective it was an unconquerable city. Improbable? No, impossible! Impregnable. And each of us have a walled city in our lives. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Let the Walls Come Down Joshua 5:13-6:20 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LetTheWalls.html The children of Israel have moved: • From the wilderness of worry to the promised land of peace. • From the wilderness of wandering to the promised land of progress. • From the wilderness of despondency to the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Parable Of The Drag-Net Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 25, 2007

We live in the days of ’invitation’, but there is coming a day of ’separation’ as God examines all those pulled up in the net. Link included to entire series with formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Templates.

Parable of the Drag-Net Matthew 13:47-50 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DragNet.html Of all of Jesus’ parables He has now given to His disciples, I’m sure this is the one they could relate to the best because it uses an illustration from the fishing world, and most of these guys had backgrounds ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation - Plain And Simple

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 25, 2006

Past Guilt, Present Grace, & Future Glory. Answers questions--Who Saves? When? Why? How? and Where does that leave us? Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

Salvation: Plain and Simple ["But God..."] Eph. 2:1-7 v. 1-3 Past Guilt 4-6 Present Grace 7 Future Glory H.A. Ironside followed R.A. Torrey as pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. One day he rode a passenger train/gypsy woman sat down beside him, and said, sir, if you cross my palm w/ some ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

A Separate Message

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 7, 2010

Separation. What is it? What does it mean? How do I become separated? Separated from what? Unto what? And why? Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

A Separate Message 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SeparateMessage.html Separation. What is it? What does it mean? How do I become separated? Separated from what? Unto what? And why? These are some heavy questions to ponder, and this passage does not answer all these ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Samson: The High Cost Of Low Living

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 9, 2010

He dishonored his parents, deserted his promise, distorted his purpose, defiled his purity, and deluded his power. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

The High Cost of Low Living Judges 13-16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HighCostLowLiving.html Some are born to privilege, w/ many advantages, and can't seem to succeed, and then others are the opposite, born to nothing, and rise above it all to great success. Samson was an example of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Greatest Of All Miracles Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 7, 2006

The whole place went thru the roof after this man was let down thru it and met Jesus! The PARDON, the POWER, and the PRAISE. Link included to formatted MS Word text and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Greatest of All Miracles Matthew 9:1-8 In Matthew chapters 1-4 we see the PERSON of Jesus Christ. We are told of His virgin birth, childhood [Luke 2], baptism, and temptation. And it’s a blessing that Christ truly put on human flesh, becoming a real person, to do for all us other people what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

If Any Man Be In Christ

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 10, 2010

We may age and get old on the outside, but we can grow ever younger and more alive on the inside...if we are IN CHRIST! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

If Any Man be in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:10-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IfAnyMan.html This is the judgment seat, literally, the bema. There is still a bema in Corinth. This was the place where the judges of the city would meet the citizens and would judge them for certain things -- there was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Hoop Of History

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 30, 2010

The hoop of history is a picture of human nature, the sin nature, and sinful man's history repeats itself. Israel's history is America's present! Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

The Hoop of History Judges 18-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HoopOfHistory.html The hoop of history has always been rolling, and it is still rolling. As a kid, I liked to play with hula hoops. And not just around my waist, but I would roll them. I would put a spin on them outside and throw ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Discovering Genesis, Part 12 Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Nov 9, 2011

Part 12 of this series examines the rebellion at the Tower of Babel with a direct link to the same rebellion that we see in the faith today. Our desire must be to gather to worship the Lord, in everything that we do.

Discovering Genesis, Part 12 Genesis 11:1-9 Introduction - Last week we concluded the life of Noah and how he found favor with God - His life was one of total submission; and he lived FOR God, not himself - What we saw is that Noah lived and left behind him a legacy for his sons - IMP APP: ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

I Know A Secret

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 2, 2013

Paul reveals the mystery: "A divine, sacred secret that is hidden in the heart of God, and cannot be understood unless God chooses to reveal it to man." Link included to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

I Know a Secret Ephesians 3:1-13 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/130505pm.mp3 "Paul, you keep calling yourself a prisoner of Jesus and this is confusing to us," said the Ephesians. Is it confusing to you as well? Of course, he was literally a prisoner in many jails and prison cells, and yet he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah - Just An Ordinary Guy

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 4, 2010

In every church there are 3 kinds of people: 1. Destructionists 2. Obstructionists 3. Constructionists ... Nehemiah is the perfect example of how to be the latter. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Nehemiah-Just An Ordinary Guy Nehemiah 1:1-4 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/NehemiahOrdinaryGuy.html The Bible sometimes compares the building of a work of God [church] with the building of a building. Acts 9:31 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Building Blocks In God's Holy House

Contributed by Reuben Bredenhof on Jan 23, 2022

We are “living stones,” called to be linked with one another in Christ, tightly integrated like stones in a wall. This requires us to strengthen our connections with each other, in fellowship, mutual support, and prayer.

God has given us a real blessing in this church building. In many ways, it’s a hub for congregational life. It serves as a centre of our worship, our learning and study, and it’s a place for our communion together. It’s a good gift of God to us. Yet how does the Bible speak about our places of ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed