Sermons on Ancestral Links:

Bible Proofs From Archaeology

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 13, 2006

True faith doesn’t require science to agree, but we shouldn’t be surprised that so much of it DOES! Here’s a look at some of what man has ’dug up’ in recent years. Link included to formatted text and a very necessary PowerPoint Presentation.

Bible Proofs from Archaeology Acts 1:3 ----- [Please go to the link at the very bottom in order to see the ’very necessary’ PowerPoint slideshow used to present these facts with.] ----- Jesus’ existence and resurrection can be proven, and we’ve looked at that in other messages. So what about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:3

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

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

3 Who Won't & 1 Who Will Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 1, 2007

“God has no grandchildren, only children” - “To be 99% sure is 100% unacceptable” - “The only thing longer than life is eternity” - Whatever keeps you from getting saved...CUT IT OFF! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint Presentation

3 Who Won’t & 1 Who Will Matthew 18:8-9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/3Wont1Will.html Three out of four people here won’t be in heaven. And when I say ‘here’ I mean in our text, not here in this room. But wait a minute, the people in our text represent all people everywhere, so I suppose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

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

Don't Worry, Be Happy! Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 20, 2006

It’s easy to say, "Don’t Worry," but it’s better to give someone the tools Jesus provided here to win the war over worrying. The FATHER FACTOR, the FOCUS FACTOR, and the FUTURE FACTOR. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Template.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Matthew 6:25-34 "Don’t worry about it." Have you ever had those words said to you? Did it work? Probably not! Easy words to say, but hard to put into practice. In essence that is what the Scripture says in verse 25. [read] But it goes on to tell us how not to worry. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

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

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

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

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

Reaching Your Full Potential Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 6, 2008

There are 3 people sitting in your seat right now. [not a fat joke!] 1-The person you are today. 2-The person you could be for evil. 3-The complete person you could be for God. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, Powerpoint.

Reaching Your Full Potential Joshua 17:12-18 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ReachingFullPotential.html There are 3 people sitting in your seat right now. [not a fat joke!] There’s the person you are today. Then there’s the person you could be for evil. And then there is the complete person you ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 17:12-18

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