Sermons on Ancestral Links:

Water Walking 101 Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 25, 2007

Sadly, many ’boat people’ in the church will never step out in faith and see what God can do thru them, but all can look to Jesus during storms and learn how to rise above. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Water Walking 101 Matthew 14:22-33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WaterWalking.html This is the second storm we’ve come to in our Matthew study. The first was in chapter 8 when Jesus was asleep in the boat and the disciples woke Him up crying, “Master, we perish!” That message was called “The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Revelation - The Blessing Of Reading And Heeding

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 13, 2011

1st in series [which is complete in its entirety] - The Lord took John away from his busy life as Pastor of the church at Ephesus that he might write down heavenly visions revealed unto him. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

“THE BLESSING OF READING AND HEEDING” REVELATION 1:1-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ReadHeed.html True Title: What does it say in your Bible? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” Year: 96 AD John is up in years, perhaps in his 80’s. About 65 years previous, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

Mountain Shopping Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 22, 2008

A study of Joshua the man is not complete without looking at his friend Caleb. 40 years earlier they were young men, and 2 of the 12 spies sent to check out the land of Canaan. Now comes their reward. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Mountain Shopping Joshua 14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MountainShopping.html Ironic it is to talk on this subject from central Illinois. I was raised where you could spot a mountain in nothing flat. Here, ‘flat’ is the key word. But God made the mountains, God moves mountains, and so does ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Dying For The Cause

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 2, 2009

The name Smyrna comes from the word for myrrh…which is known for releasing its wonderfully delightful fragrance…when crushed! This suffering church is symbolic of the 10 Great Persecutions from the 1st-3rd C. Link inc. to text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL Dying For the Cause of Christ Rev. 2:8-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DyingForCause.html Many years ago, when communism still held the Soviet Union in its iron clench, a little group of Christians met behind closed doors in the underground. This was a secret ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Valley Of Decision Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 8, 2008

1.) God forgives sin. 2.) God judges sin. 3.) He allows us to choose: Pardon or Punishment - God gave both Jericho and Ai to Israel, but He did it in very different ways. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

The Valley of Decision Joshua 8 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ValleyOfDecision.html [read vv. 1-3] The children of Israel are in the process of claiming their Canaan, or Promised Land. But their biggest challenge is that people already live there, and they are wicked. God has given them claim ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 8:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Truth Or Tradition? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 30, 2007

Guess who’s come for a visit? It’s the big whigs from denominational headquarters. Isn’t it sad that Jesus had more problems w/ the religious than the lost? They made it all an outward matter and not an inward experience. Link inc. to text, audio, and Ppt

Truth or Tradition? Matthew 15:1-20 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TruthOrTradition.html Guess who popped in for a visit? It’s the scribes and Pharisees … the big whigs from denominational headquarters in Jerusalem. They are likely part of the Sanhedrin, the heavy hitters if you will. They have ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Take Advantage

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 31, 2007

Can you believe it? God wants us to take advantage of Him and His Church! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Take Advantage Ecc. 2:24, 3:13, 5:18-19 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TakeAdvantage.html Can you believe it? God wants to be taken advantage of! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ of someone it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. The book of Acts shows God moving among the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Judas Revealed-Defects Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 21, 2019

Judas name has been linked to treason for over 2,000 years as a result of his betrayal of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Judas did not act alone for we are told that at “The Last Supper” the devil entered into him. Is Judas responsible for what he did?

Tom Lowe Date: Thursday of Jesus final week. Location: Jerusalem (Upper Room) Title: Judas Revealed-Defects Scripture: MATTHEW 26:21-25, MARK14:18-21, LUKE 22:21-23, JOHN 13:21-30 (FOCAL PASSAGE) Prophesy Fulfilled: Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:21-30

Denomination: Baptist

Let All Creation Sing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Dec 26, 2021

In this sermon, I link Psalm 98 with the Isaac Watts' hymn "Joy to the World." The Advent theme is joy, so I ask: Do you want to have a merry Christmas? Do you want to have a joy-filled Christmas? Then look to Jesus.

T-minus 6 days, amen? Christmas is next Saturday … it’ll be here before we know it, amen? How many of you have all your Christmas shopping done? How many of you have all your presents wrapped and under the tree? How many of you still have to put up your tree, amen? Over the past few weeks ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9, Micah 5:2, Micah 5:4-5, Luke 2:10-11, Romans 8:18-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

They Turned It Right Side Up - Troublemakers - World Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 25, 2005

Christians are accused of turning this world upside down...but it’s the other way around. Those who think the world would be better off without us will one day get their wish! Link included to Formatted Text version and some great visuals in PowerPoint.

They Turned it Right Side Up! Acts 17:1-6 A man was shoveling snow in his driveway when 2 boys came along w/ shovels and said, “Hey Mister, can we shovel your driveway…only $2!?” He said, “can’t you see I’m doing that?” “Yes sir, that’s why we asked…we get most of our business from people who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When You've Lost Your Cutting Edge

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 4, 2007

We are quick to ‘fly off the handle’. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things ‘surface’ when we return to where we lost our cutting edge and reclaim it! Link included to formatted text, audio & video, & PowerPoint Presentation.

When You’ve Lost Your Cutting Edge II Kings 6:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/CuttingEdge.html We are so quick to ‘fly off the handle’ these days. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things will ‘surface’ if we will return to where we lost our cutting edge and reach out ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

How Big Is Your God? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 11, 2008

We must not only worship the right God, but we must worship Him in the right way. Accept no substitutes. Don’t try to reduce God to a material object. Don’t try to localize the One Who is infinite! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

How Big is Your God? Exodus 20:4-6 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HowBigYourGod.html One day a little girl was drawing a picture, and even skipped recess because she was so focused upon it. Her teacher asked what she was doing and she said she was drawing a picture of God. “Oh honey, you can’t ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:4-6

Denomination: Baptist

Consenting Adultery Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 1, 2008

Don’t just roll over on this one and say w/ the masses, “Just be safe.” Or, “If you can’t be good, then be careful!” There is no sex safer than sex within God’s plan, marriage! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Consenting Adultery Exodus 20:14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ConsentingAdultery.html The 1631 edition of the KJV had a misprint. Some would call it minor...just one little word accidentally missed by the typesetter. He left out the word ‘not’ in our text today, reading “Thou shalt commit ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

Denomination: Baptist

When Things Go Wrong

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004

Although we know we can have joy in trials and God works all together for good…sometimes we don’t see it. Some days faith wanes, and we wonder where God is. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

When Things Go Wrong Matthew 11:2-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhenThingsGoWrong.html It is a blessing to be a Christian, but this world is under a curse. Things go wrong. Plans fail. The outcome of our goals sometimes isn’t what we had hoped. Tragedy strikes. Death takes its toll. Pain ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

Rahab's Rehab Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 15, 2008

From call girl to convert-This was much more than a rehabilitation. She wasn’t reformed or conformed-she was transformed! An added benefit: she became part of the line of Christ-a Greeeaaat G’ma of the Messiah! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, P’pt.

Rahab’s Rehab Joshua 2:1-21; Hebrews 11.31 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Rahab.html God rewards faith with His salvation...even in the guiltiest sinner. This woman went from being a call girl to being converted by just believing. And she went from ‘zero’ to ‘hero’ in nothing flat! Truly this ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-21

Denomination: Baptist