Sermons on Formation:

The Greatest Physician

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 1, 2006

A balanced understanding of God’s healing power, and the different ways He has used it in the lives of His children thru the ages. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Template.

The Greatest Physician Psalm 103:3 Does God still heal? Is it always God’s will to heal a Christian? Why do Christians get sick? What about the faith healers? These are not simple questions to answer. This is not a simple subject…it’s complicated. It’s impossible to put into one basket all ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:3

Denomination: Baptist

Salvation - Plain And Simple

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 25, 2006

Past Guilt, Present Grace, & Future Glory. Answers questions--Who Saves? When? Why? How? and Where does that leave us? Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

Salvation: Plain and Simple ["But God..."] Eph. 2:1-7 v. 1-3 Past Guilt 4-6 Present Grace 7 Future Glory H.A. Ironside followed R.A. Torrey as pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. One day he rode a passenger train/gypsy woman sat down beside him, and said, sir, if you cross my palm w/ some ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-6

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

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

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

Three Homes

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 16, 2007

Everyone needs a Heavenly Home, a Christian Home, and a Church Home. How to have a Happy Heart, a Harmonious Household, and a Healthy Church. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Three Homes http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/3Homes.html 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Every person ought to have: • A Heavenly Home • A Christian Home • A ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

I Know A Secret

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 2, 2013

Paul reveals the mystery: "A divine, sacred secret that is hidden in the heart of God, and cannot be understood unless God chooses to reveal it to man." Link included to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

I Know a Secret Ephesians 3:1-13 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/130505pm.mp3 "Paul, you keep calling yourself a prisoner of Jesus and this is confusing to us," said the Ephesians. Is it confusing to you as well? Of course, he was literally a prisoner in many jails and prison cells, and yet he ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

A Separate Message

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 7, 2010

Separation. What is it? What does it mean? How do I become separated? Separated from what? Unto what? And why? Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

A Separate Message 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SeparateMessage.html Separation. What is it? What does it mean? How do I become separated? Separated from what? Unto what? And why? These are some heavy questions to ponder, and this passage does not answer all these ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

Denomination: Baptist

Samson: The High Cost Of Low Living

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 9, 2010

He dishonored his parents, deserted his promise, distorted his purpose, defiled his purity, and deluded his power. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

The High Cost of Low Living Judges 13-16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HighCostLowLiving.html Some are born to privilege, w/ many advantages, and can't seem to succeed, and then others are the opposite, born to nothing, and rise above it all to great success. Samson was an example of the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Hoop Of History

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 30, 2010

The hoop of history is a picture of human nature, the sin nature, and sinful man's history repeats itself. Israel's history is America's present! Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

The Hoop of History Judges 18-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HoopOfHistory.html The hoop of history has always been rolling, and it is still rolling. As a kid, I liked to play with hula hoops. And not just around my waist, but I would roll them. I would put a spin on them outside and throw ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah - Just An Ordinary Guy

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 4, 2010

In every church there are 3 kinds of people: 1. Destructionists 2. Obstructionists 3. Constructionists ... Nehemiah is the perfect example of how to be the latter. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Nehemiah-Just An Ordinary Guy Nehemiah 1:1-4 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/NehemiahOrdinaryGuy.html The Bible sometimes compares the building of a work of God [church] with the building of a building. Acts 9:31 31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

If Any Man Be In Christ

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 10, 2010

We may age and get old on the outside, but we can grow ever younger and more alive on the inside...if we are IN CHRIST! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

If Any Man be in Christ 2 Corinthians 5:10-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IfAnyMan.html This is the judgment seat, literally, the bema. There is still a bema in Corinth. This was the place where the judges of the city would meet the citizens and would judge them for certain things -- there was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:10-21

Denomination: Baptist

An Outline Of Acts 6:1-7

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jul 23, 2021

The apostles were becoming too busy to meet the needs of the disciples as well as being devoted to the ministry of the Word. This outline gives a "talking paper" format as to how the apostles handled this challenge.

Introduction: After the events of Acts 5, the apostles found themselves in a predicament. They realized they needed assistance and presented the facts to the multitude of disciples. Then the disciples themselves chose the men who assist in the situation at hand. Text, Acts 6:1-7, KJV: 1 And in ...read more

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

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