Sermons on Format:

Can I Be In Charge? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 16, 2007

Their mommy spoke for them. Jesus answered that the way up is down. His PASSION PREDICTED, the PATHWAY PRESCRIBED, the POWER PROVIDED. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Can I Be in Charge? Matthew 20:17-34 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/InCharge.html The Historian Josephus writes that every year at Passover 3 million Jews would ascend upon Jerusalem with 250,000 lambs. You and I know that each and every one of those lambs was a picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:17-34

Denomination: Baptist

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

Pharaoh, Pharaoh Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 16, 2008

It’s Satan’s old, deceptive trickery: Mingling truth with error...meeting us halfway...desiring that we be compromisers! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Pharaoh, Pharaoh Exodus 8-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Pharaoh.html [to the tune of Louie, Louie] “Pharaoh, pharaoh—oh baby, let my people go!” This was a tune heard at times in my college dorm halls. And sadly, Moses had to rehearse it over and over again because of the hard hearted ...read more

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

The Life Line (2018, Fifth Sunday Of Easter)

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 28, 2021

Sin is perhaps the biggest of the obstacles because it is connected with all of the other obstacles in our lives that hinder God’s will. Sin has many forms and formats that make deadwood in our lives, but sin has one purpose and that is our destruction.

THE LIFE LINE Text: John 15:1- 8 Just recently my daughter Lilly looked at the bushes of the parsonage that had been trimmed back. She expressed her concern that the bushes might not grow back. I assured her that that the pruning that had taken place was good for the bushes because ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Spiritual Manure - It Helps A Body Grow

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Mar 14, 2019

This sermon focuses on how God can use the stinky stuff in our lives to help us grow

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8 (Call to Worship) Theme: Lent/Growth Title: Spiritual Manure – It Helps a Body Grow INTRO: Grace and peace from God our Father, Son and Holy Spring. You can tell that it is getting closer to Spring Time – you can smell it in the air. You can smell the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

"you Bring Me Great Joy"

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jan 5, 2022

This sermon shares with us how to live a life pleasing to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22; Psalm 29 Theme: A Well Pleasing Life Title: “You Bring Me Great Joy” INTRO: Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I want to talk to you today about what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God. That is to say, a life that brings ...read more

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22

Denomination: Nazarene

Parable Of The Drag-Net Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 25, 2007

We live in the days of ’invitation’, but there is coming a day of ’separation’ as God examines all those pulled up in the net. Link included to entire series with formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Templates.

Parable of the Drag-Net Matthew 13:47-50 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DragNet.html Of all of Jesus’ parables He has now given to His disciples, I’m sure this is the one they could relate to the best because it uses an illustration from the fishing world, and most of these guys had backgrounds ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:47-50

Denomination: Baptist

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

The Gospel Of Jesus: Swordfight In The Desert Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 23, 2006

Jesus didn’t just defeat sin for us on the cross...it started early in His ministry when He was tempted. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Gospel of Jesus – Swordfight in the Desert Matthew 4:1-11 A three-year-old entered the kitchen when his mother was busy elsewhere in the house. She had told him not to get into the cookies. But in her absence he pulled a kitchen chair over to the counter and climbed up on it. Then he took the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

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

Will You Pray For Me?

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 3, 2007

New year message to encourage the people of God to hold up the hands of the man of God as he lifts high the Word of God. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Will You Pray for Me? Exodus 17:9-13 [general outline only…please see sermon audio for many illustrations and other content that make this message tick] http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WillYouPrayForMe.html Moses is the man of God. He delivered God’s people from Egypt, led them thru the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 17:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Parable Of The Mustard Seed Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 17, 2007

Oh the power of the little seed which became the greatest plant...but then comes the aberration into a tree for the devil’s dirty birds! Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Parable of the Mustard Seed Matthew 13:31-32 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MustardSeed.html Apostate churches are made up of people who have turned away from the fundamentals of the faith. Constant diligence must be given to keep the church true to the Bible and its teachings. Just as God’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:31-32

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

10 Ways America Is Under Attack - Supreme Court - Commandments - Pledge

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 29, 2005

Our courts are slowly banning the 10 Commandments. Do they know they are breaking the first one, and stomping on our Christian heritage? Link included to Formatted Text version, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

10 Ways America Is Under Attack Exodus 20:1-17 America was again attacked this week, and in grander scale than on 9/11. Our brave soldiers in the Middle East are attacked daily, and we need to hold them up in prayer, but this week, it happened again…on our own soil…and this time, it was not by ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Denomination: Baptist