Sermons on Conscience Formation:

Lazy Bones Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 1, 2009

Several jokes and illustrations on how to know if you are lazy--then what the Bible says about it and how to be diligent as a servant of the Lord. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Lazy Bones II Thessalonians 3:6-18 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LazyBones.html If a problem is not dealt with is usually doesn’t go away...instead it gets worse. Ill.—small splinter in finger is just irritating at first, but eventually it will become infected and much more serious over time. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Lost And Found Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 23, 2007

3 stories, 1 parable, many great truths! The Lost SHEEP, the Lost SILVER, the Lost SON, and the Lost SIBLING. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Parables: God’s Lost and Found Luke 15 [Get formatted text, audio/video, and great PowerPoint now by pasting this link into your browser.] http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/LostAndFound.html The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

7 Things Jesus Left Behind [ascension] Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 24, 2006

40 days after the resurrection is the ascension. We should never forget 7 things Jesus remembered to leave behind. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

What Jesus Left Behind Acts 1:6-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/7ThingsLeftBehind.html Goodbyes aren’t easy, especially if the one leaving will be gone long. Ill—Babe Ruth said goodbye at Yankee Stadium, eaten up w/ cancer, and w/ tears he said goodbye. Ill—Watergate hearings, Nixon said ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Help For The Hopeless - Hope For The Helpless

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 8, 2013

I challenge you today to rise up out of that comfort zone, and not accept that situation any longer, and decide to walk away. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Help for the Hopeless - Hope for the Helpless John 5:1-9 [pt. 2 just added, below pt. 1] Get it all with PowerPoint here: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HelpHope.html Bethesda= “House of Mercy” The “House of Mercy” was a house of misery for many. This pool was situated where there were ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Pray For The Impossible

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 10, 2010

Continuation shows how Nehemiah rebuilt the walls thanks in part to his prayer of contrition, concern, confession, confidence, and commitment. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Pray for the Impossible, pt. 2 Nehemiah 1:5-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PrayImpossible2.html We have begun to talk about one of the shortest men in the Bible. Not Zacchaeus, this is "Knee High Miah!" Shorter than him was Job's friend, Bildah the Shuhite [shoe height!] Anybody know the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:5-11

Denomination: Baptist

Responding To Ridicule

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 18, 2010

When reason fails, some turn to ridicule. They choose laughter over logic. Should the Christian respond? If so, how? Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Responding to Ridicule Nehemiah 4:1-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Responding2Ridicule.html Sanballat has always lived in every time, and taken form in every church. He and others like him believe if God's kingdom is built up it will hurt their cause. They don't want to see it happen. They ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Understanding God’s Will

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 6, 2005

SEEK it, SURRENDER to it, and STAND in it. It’s REAL, can be REFUSED, but it’s always RIGHT! Link included to formatted text, audio/video, and PowerPoint.

Understanding God’s Will Romans 12:1-2 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/God’sWill.html We usually look at this passage and talk about surrender...but surrender to what? The will of God in the end of v. 2! Or we talk about separation...but separation unto what? The will of God! And that should be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Thanksgiving

Contributed by Robert Fox on Dec 19, 2005

The Last Supper was not just an ordinary meal, where Christ made extraordinary claims - it was the Passover meal with important sybolism. This meal is the foundation of a Christian Thanksgiving. Student ministry PowerPoint format.

[JESUS’ THANKSGIVING DINNER] Slide Graphic – Norman Rockwell painting of family at Thanksgiving Dinner Slide Verses – It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1

Denomination: Baptist

Battling And Building

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 19, 2010

They had a tool in one hand and a sword in the other. They had to multitask and keep one eye on the work and the other eye on the enemy. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Battling and Building Nehemiah 4:11-23 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BattlingBuilding.html Building is a battle. Just finding good weather is tough for roofers. It's too hot or too cold, it's raining or there's frost and it's too slippery. It's too steep!! Or the Pastor is too demanding!!! ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:11-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Benefits Of Fearing God

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Apr 20, 2003

The Holy Spirit gives us greater peace of mind, purity of thoughts and an upright conscience when we fear the Lord. Paul wrote, "Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." (2 C

Illustration:We fear men so much because we fear God so little. William Gurnall. 1. The Holy Spirit helps us maintain a reverential trust in God with a hatred for evil by teaching us more about God’s holy attributes. John wrote, "Who will not fear You, O Lord and glorify your name? For You alone ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1-5

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Refuge Of The Righteous Series

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 21, 2025

Drawing from King David's passionate prayer in Psalm 7, this sermon offers a powerful guide for navigating a world of lies by making God your first refuge, your clear conscience your foundation, and His perfect justice your ultimate hope.

The Refuge of the Righteous: Finding Justice and Peace in a World of Lies Introduction: The Weight of a Lie There are few burdens heavier than the weight of a lie. I'm not talking about the "little white lies" we might dismiss, but the calculated, character-assassinating falsehoods ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Under Pressure - Sardis Series

Contributed by Graham Kettle on Dec 7, 2017

Churches can refuse to face the reality of their spiritual condition before God. Styles and traditions can become so fixed that they continue and become empty of Holy Spirit power. Good works and a nice church format are not what God is seeking.

THE CONTENT CHURCH - SARDIS READING Rev 3:1-6 INTRODUCTION Churches can refuse to face the reality of their spiritual condition before God. Styles and traditions can become so fixed that they continue and become empty of Holy Spirit power. Good works and a nice church format are not what God ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

World War Won! - Memorial Day - Independence Day Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 25, 2003

Good for this time of continuing war...Eye-opening scriptures to help lay people understand why war is sometimes necessary, and sometimes even recommended by God. Link included to Formatted Text and Powerpoint.

World War Won! Prov. 14:34 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WarAndFreedom.html Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. We take our freedom for granted. Here we sit today, praying, singing, fellowshipping, worshipping God together, reading His Word…w/out fear of ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 14:34

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

The Greatest Of All Miracles Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 7, 2006

The whole place went thru the roof after this man was let down thru it and met Jesus! The PARDON, the POWER, and the PRAISE. Link included to formatted MS Word text and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Greatest of All Miracles Matthew 9:1-8 In Matthew chapters 1-4 we see the PERSON of Jesus Christ. We are told of His virgin birth, childhood [Luke 2], baptism, and temptation. And it’s a blessing that Christ truly put on human flesh, becoming a real person, to do for all us other people what ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:1-8

Denomination: Baptist