Sermons on Ancestral Links:

Pergamos: The Compromising Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 17, 2009

Like Pergamos, today’s church seems to keep only a moderate distance from the world, but both the world AND the church are moving downhill in tandem, and further away from Jesus. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Pergamos: The Compromising Church Rev. 2:12-17 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Pergamos.html [map] Before 1974, there was a huge portion of land in the northern part of Australia that belonged to the superstitious Aborigines. That land was covered w/ green ants. The Aborigines believed that ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Baptist

Corrupt Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 23, 2009

Thyatira is a corrupt church. They do many great works, but God does not even address them as His children. It’s still here today and is key to the end of the world. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Thyatira: The Corrupt Church Rev. 2:18-29 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Corrupt.html [map] In the 1700’s there lived a mighty evangelist that was greatly used of God to shake this country…his name was George Whitfield. Years before, at the age of 16, he came under ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Baptist

The Church That Made God Sick

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 11, 2009

If it’s possible for a set of conditions to exist which make God sick, then we need to know about them, so we can avoid them at all costs! Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Laodicea—The Church that Made God Sick Revelation 3:14-22 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Laodicea.html Have you ever been so disgusted with someone’s attitude that you said, You make me sick! You meant, I don’t feel good about you, I don’t like to be around you, you ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

Exodus 11 - 12 - Get Out Of My Life! I’ve Had Enough! Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Dec 25, 2009

What happens when God is on your case and wants you to repent? Pharaoh shouts "Get out!" to God as well as Moses. Egypt shouts "Get out!" to God as well as Israel. The Passover is forever linked with that night of grief and the ensuing exodus.

Exodus 11,12 - Get out! In Exodus 11 the biggest plague comes to Egypt with the death of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. Warning is given, but Pharaoh’s heart is hardened. It all occurs as Israel observes what is known as the Passover. At that time they sprinkled the blood of a lamb on the ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Gospel According To Abraham

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 27, 2011

Paul spends a lot of time on justification because our nature tries to clothe ourselves with righteousness in the form of fig leaves, but we are not truly clothed with righteousness until God does the clothing. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoi

The Gospel According to Abraham Romans 4:1-8 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GospelAccordingAbraham.html 3:31 asked if the OT was void because of saving faith? God forbid! Now look at how he illustrates that saving faith is in the OT. vv. 1-8 Paul spends a lot of time on justification because ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Lying Tongue [let Me Be Honest] Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 16, 2008

Here’s 3 Truths about Lying, inc. 7 ways we lie, often w/out even thinking about it. Also: How to OVERCOME it! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

The Lying Tongue Exodus 20:16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LyingTongue.html I’ve never once heard an entire message on lying. I have heard a few that contained some lies, however. I’ve also had some people lie while I’m preaching...usually on their side or back! Many Christians do not look on ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:16

Denomination: Baptist

The Shining - From Guilt To Grace To Glory Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 27, 2008

1. Fellowship Removed 2.Fellowship Restored 3. Glory Revealed! A lesson about God’s absence, His presence, and how our faces can shine like Moses’! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Shining From Guilt to Grace to Glory! Exodus 33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GraceToGlory.html [read vv. 1-3, 13; ch. 34:29-35 God actually gave 3 things to Moses on Mt. Sinai: • The 10 Commandments—the revelation of God’s Law. • The Book of the Covenant—the regulation of God’s Law. • The ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:10-11

Denomination: Baptist

Walk The Talk

Contributed by Wayne Lawson on Oct 26, 2007

So often, there is a huge disparity between what we say, and what we actually do. The Bible makes the connection or links “believing” to “behavior.” The two appear to be inseparable. When we try to divorce these two terms (as they relate to Christianity),

Title: Walk the Talk Scripture: St. Matthew 15:7-8 So often, there is a huge disparity between what we say, and what we actually do. The Bible makes the connection or links “believing” to “behavior.” The two appear to be inseparable. When we try to divorce these two terms (as they relate to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:7-8, Matthew 15:7-15

Denomination: Baptist

Saved To Serve Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 27, 2008

The Parable of the Talents reminds Christians that we weren’t saved to sit, soak, and sour...we were saved to serve! Just like in tennis-Service begins w/ ’Love’. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Saved to Serve Matthew 25:14-30 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Saved2Serve.html This is a parable found in the context of Jesus’ teaching on the end of the world. So far we’ve been challenged to be watching because Jesus is coming...now we’re told to be working. Not just looking for Him, but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Baptist

Who Wants Seconds On Bread?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 7, 2013

From the loaves and fishes to our text today where He offers Himself as the very bread of life. Jesus begins by meeting the needs of the physically hungry and ends with meeting the needs of the spiritually hungry. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, Powe

Who Wants Seconds on Bread? John 6:26-35 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Seconds.html Food is one of the strongest desires we have. "Is that really what you're preaching about today, Pastor?" People will do almost anything for food if they get hungry enough. Rob, steal, kill, rent out their ...read more

Scripture: John 6:26-35

Denomination: Baptist

Much More

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 22, 2011

From the first Adam to the last Adam [Christ] we see all we lost in sin and all we gained thanks to our Savior! One man makes all the difference. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Much More! Romans 5:15-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MuchMore.html From the first Adam to the last Adam [Christ] we see all we lost in sin and all we gained thanks to our Savior! One man makes all the difference. What do we gain? "Much more" it says, over and again...we gain much more in ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:15-21, Romans 5:9-21

Denomination: Baptist

Consecration And Celebration

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 3, 2010

Confession leads to consecration and celebration! When we get right w/ God we cannot help but rejoice. It's time God's people got back to singing on the wall. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Consecration and Celebration Nehemiah 10-12 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ConsecrationCelebration.html Chapter 9 was all about confession as the people got right with God. ill.--one day a lady approached CH Spurgeon and asked for prayer for her problem with exaggeration. He said, sure, I'll ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Proof Is In The Pudding

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 27, 2010

I think you can tell when someone has been with Jesus…the proof is in the pudding, and you can see it all over their face! Taste and see that the Lord is good! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Proof is in the Pudding 2 Corinthians 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ProofInPudding.html The world wants proof, and we have it, I believe. And I rejoice in sharing proofs from science, archaeology, medicine, history, etc. But I don’t need those proofs personally anymore, because I’ve ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Church Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 18, 2009

What is the purpose of the church? It’s 3 fold: • To magnify the Lord thru worship and the Word. • To move believers to maturity and ministry. • To make Jesus known to our neighbors and the nations. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint

Church Ephesians 3:1-5 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Church.html Now we enter the church age, the “Dispensation of Grace.” What is a dispensation? It is a time period. In the Bible it is a specific period of time during which God administers His rule over the world in a certain way. And over ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Though I Be Absent

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 22, 2008

Pre-Vacation Message. Paul shows the church how to follow God and not man. We should see a summer surge, not a summer slump. No more, "When the cat’s away the mice will play!" Link inc. to text, audio, PowerPoint.

THOUGH I BE ABSENT Col. 2; Phil. 2; I Cor. 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ThoughIBeAbsent.html One of the Apostle Paul’s greatest joys was to hear about one of his churches continuing to grow and serve God…one of his deepest fears was that they would backslide in his absence. Col. 2: 5 For ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:5

Denomination: Baptist