Sermons on Ancestral Links:

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

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

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 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

An Empty Celebration - Easter

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 13, 2006

Jesus made 3 ’Empty Promises’ which give more ful’fill’ment than anything else to mankind today. Link included to Formatted Text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

An Empty Celebration Philippians 2:5-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/EmptyCelebration.html Opening ill.--Jeremy was not a normal child. He had a terminal illness which affected both his body and his mind. Still, his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to a ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, Philippians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Will You Pray For Me?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 3, 2007

New year message to encourage the people of God to hold up the hands of the man of God as he lifts high the Word of God. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Will You Pray for Me? Exodus 17:9-13 [general outline only…please see sermon audio for many illustrations and other content that make this message tick] http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WillYouPrayForMe.html Moses is the man of God. He delivered God’s people from Egypt, led them thru the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:9-13

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

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

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

Becoming As One Series

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 26, 2021

This is the first of four sermons introducing Band Meetings in a new way for today. Here is a link for more information - “Discipleship Bands: A Practical Field Guide” (download a free copy at https://discipleshipbands.com/ )

Series: “Bringing Back the Bands” “Becoming as One” John 17:20-23 A sermon for 1/24/21 Pastor John Bright John 17 “20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they ...read more

Scripture: John 17:20-23, James 5:16, Jeremiah 16:19-21

Denomination: Methodist

Working Together Series

Contributed by John Bright on Apr 26, 2021

This is the third of four sermons introducing Band Meetings in a new way for today. Here is a link for more information - “Discipleship Bands: A Practical Field Guide” (download a free copy at https://discipleshipbands.com/ )

Series: “Bringing Back the Bands” “Working Together” Ephesians 3:16-19 A sermon for 2/07/21 Ephesians 3 “16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:16-19, Psalm 119:1-12, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Colossians 4:2, Ephesians 5:20, Hebrews 10:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Holy Discontent Series

Contributed by John Bright on Mar 22, 2021

This is the second of four sermons introducing Band Meetings in a new way for today. Here is a link for more information - “Discipleship Bands: A Practical Field Guide” (download a free copy at https://discipleshipbands.com/ )

Series: “Bringing Back the Bands” “Holy Discontent” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 A sermon for 1/31/21 Pastor John Bright 2 Corinthians 3 “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, John 8:31-34, John 14:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

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

The Vision, The Venture, & The Victory - Gospel In Europe Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 11, 2005

Catch the vision and hear the "Macedonian Call". We are in debt to Paul and Silas who let God turn them around and into Europe. Link included to free formatted text version, handout, and PowerPoint.

The Vision, The Venture, & The Victory Acts 16:6-15 ----- This is part 1 of a 3 part message from this chapter. The 3 people saved were Lydia [A TENDER heart--this sermon], the possessed slave girl [A TORMENTED heart], and the Philippian jailer [A TOUGHENED heart]. Please see all 3 sermons and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:6-15

Denomination: Baptist