Sermons on Ancestral Links:

Heroes - Memorial Day

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 23, 2007

INCLUDES FREE DOWNLOADABLE MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE VIDEO! What is a true hero? Many have given their lives so that we might live ours more abundantly! Link included to formatted text, audio & video, & PowerPoint Presentation.

Heroes Ephesians 3:20-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Heroes.html What is a Hero? Say amen when you see a picture of a hero, and ‘boo’ when you don’t. [one-by-one slides of Britney Spears, 9/11 firefighters, American Idol judges, our military, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, President Bush, Jerry ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Storm Before The Calm Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 24, 2006

[Hurricane Katrina--1 year later.] Jesus and His disciples are on a stormy sea, and we can learn much about our voyage thru life by way of this passage. Link included to formatted MS Word text and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Storm Before the Calm Matthew 8:23-27 1 year ago this week a powerful storm and devastating surge came to the Gulf Coast. Though it’s calm now and the waters receded, left in the wake is devastation still to this day. Oft in literature life is compared to a voyage at sea. The same is so in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:23-27

Denomination: Baptist

Decision 2012 - Election - Vote

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 2, 2006

God doesn’t tell us WHO to vote for, but He does tell us HOW to vote, and He’s not afraid of losing His ’tax exempt status!’ Link included to formatted text version and PowerPoint Presentation.

How to Vote Proverbs 29:2 Outline only...full sermon, illustrations and PowerPoint available at: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HowToVote.php ----- "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." We can all reckon with the last ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:2

Denomination: Baptist

Mission Possible

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 27, 2006

We need an expanded program. We have to pay an expected price. There’s an explicit promise. It’s for an exalted purpose. How to see God’s explosive power! Link included to formatted text version and PowerPoint.

Mission Possible John 14:12 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MissionPossible.html You read this verse and it looks like Mission Impossible! [theme music] Good morning, Mr. Phelps!…your mission, should you choose to accept it… Just before Jesus returned to heaven He charged us to do something which ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of John The Baptist Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 13, 2006

He prepared the way of the Lord, pioneered soul winning, and was the greatest man ever born, acc’d to Jesus...but even he had his doubts, which Christ satisfied! Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

JOHN THE BAPTIST John 1:19-37; Matt. 11:1-11 This series is “The Gospel of Jesus”, but no study of Christ is complete without understanding His forerunner, the human who introduced Him to the world. John the Baptist is the first soul winner of whom we read in the New Testament, and he was a ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-37, John 1:19

Denomination: Baptist

God's Ultimate Daylight Savings Program

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 14, 2004

God created time, and will someday end it, and in heaven time will be no more. In the meanwhile, we shouldn’t be surprised at the fact that God can stop time if He so desires. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Ultimate Daylight Savings Plan Joshua 10:8-14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DaylightSavings.html God created time, and will someday end it, and in heaven time will be no more. In the meanwhile, we shouldn’t be surprised at the fact that God can stop time if He so desires. Sometimes I wish ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 10:1-25, Joshua 10:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Reconnecting To The Call-Part 1

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Dec 31, 2002

Part 1 of a 3-part sermon. Prophets, with the bittersweet message of God, stand in need of re-connecting to their call. How does the prophet of God get back on task? 9 links to get us re-connected to our prophetic call.

RE-CONNECTING TO THE CALL-I —Revelation 10:1-11 Re-commissioning the Prophet or Your Need: Ironically, our celebrations of Christmas may take us away from those things most important to God. We are pulled away from our moorings in Christ because our ’discipline schedules’ are off thrown off ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 10:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Angels: God's Heavenly Warriors, Pt. 1 Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 30, 2006

ANGELS: They don’t play harps and they don’t play outfield. They are God’s army, and we can learn much about ourselves from their warfare. Link included to entire series in formatted text, w/ handouts, and PowerPoints.

God’s Heavenly Warriors, pt. 1 Colossians 2:18 With 273 verses in scripture dealing with angels, you have to wonder why most preachers don’t deal with the subject anymore. 3 reasons many churches don’t talk about angels: 1. Reaction against speculation. Theologians are often guilty of dealing w/ ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 14:12-15

Denomination: Baptist

Angels: God's Heavenly Warriors, Pt. 2 Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 6, 2006

Several things we need to know about ’fallen angels’ and our enemy, Satan, and what we can learn from all this about God, HIS angels, and ourselves. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

God’s Heavenly Warriors, pt. 2 Matthew 8:16 There is a mighty angelic conflict being fought--because Satan, and a multitude of other angels chose to rebel against God. Last time we said, ’We are never more like Satan than when we rebel against authority.’ 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 8:16

Denomination: Baptist

Men Behaving...godly! - Father's Day

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 16, 2004

Can be used anytime of the year. I. ACKNOWLEDGE THE POWER OF YOUR INFLUENCE II. AVOID THE PITFALLS OF YOUR MASCULINITY III. ARRANGE THE PRIORITIES OF YOUR LIFE IV. ASSUME THE PLACE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES...Includes link to Formatted Text and PowerPoint

MEN BEHAVING...GODLY (Psalm 112) [note: Can be presented in 2 parts am and pm, or condensed as 1 sermon.] http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MenBehavingGodly.html Note: We love people, and try to show it on a holiday such as this more than ever, and yet the Lord has clearly led that if I really ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 112:1-10, Psalm 112:1

Denomination: Baptist

Back To School Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 22, 2007

’Tis the season, and we can see 3 schools God took Saul thru before he graduated as ’Paul.’ The schools of Solitude, Suffering, & Seasoning. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation w/ graphics and animations.

Back to School Acts 9:21-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackToSchoolForSaul.html ILL.- Teacher to student, “What are you – animal, vegetable or mineral?” The boy replied, “Vegetable. I’M A HUMAN BEAN.” ILL.- It was the little girl’s first day at school and the teacher was making out her ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:21-30

Denomination: Baptist

Construction Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 22, 2009

Anytime the people of God say let us rise up and build the devil and his forces rise up in opposition. Rebuilding Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Walls, and the coming reunification of Israel. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Construction Ezra / Nehemiah http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Construction.html Last time we looked at the Captivity of Israel. Now the 70 years are up and they are returning home...in 3 stages: · Under Zerubbabel – 536 BC · Under Ezra – 455 BC · Under Nehemiah – 445 ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Cross Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 4, 2009

Jesus exposed the darkness in the hearts of men, but rather than stepping into the light, they decided to snuff out the Light. Summary of the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life w/ focus on 7 sayings on the cross. Link inc. to audio/video, PowerPoint.

Cross Matthew 26 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Cross.html Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus The Jewish leaders had become very hostile toward Jesus and His supposed authority, so they took counsel to kill Him. Matthew 26:1-4 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:1-75

Denomination: Baptist

Laying Down The Law Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 3, 2008

What would happen if we got back to the basics and tried to live by the 10 Commandments? Oh, the revival that would sweep our nation, our churches, and each of our hearts! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Laying Down the Law Intro. to the Ten Commandments Exodus 20 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LayingDownLaw.html In The Gospel and the American Dream, historian Bruce Shelley writes, “In one hand Liberty holds the torch of freedom and in the other the tablet of law. The torch challenges the forces ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Prescription For An Achan Nation Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 31, 2008

It’s not the Jerichos that defeat most Christians...it’s the Ais. What Christian America must do to keep from following the path Israel took in our text. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Prescription for an Achan Nation Joshua 7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AchanNation.html Have you ever noticed the similarities between Israel and Christian America? Both bountifully blessed by God, having great victories and claiming powerful promises of God. And both flirting with defeat by ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Baptist