Sermons on Formation:

Herose To Save Us All

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 11, 2009

From our missionaries to our military, we call them heroes because they go in our place, sacrificing all for a great cause! They know what they have to do. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

HeRose to Save Us All John 15:13 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HeRoseToSaveUs.html Our servicemen / women are our friends, laying their lives down for us. They know what they face going in, they know what they have to do. They are heroes to save us all. So did Jesus...and He Rose to save us ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13, John 15:12-13

Denomination: Baptist

Embodying A New Life Part 2 Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jun 10, 2009

There is a new way of life… it is the life of Christ… who has come and in his death and resurrected life… inaugurated the start of a new humanity… which we can enter and begin to embody. Our spiritual formation involves connecting with the new life that

Embodying a New Life – Part 2 Series: The Liberated Life (Colossians) Brad Bailey - May 31, 2009 Intro – The search for a new means of life that can save us from our own divide. Two of the big early summer films that just came out are the new Terminator and Star Trek films. Like so many science ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Gideon’s 300 - Just A Few Good Men

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 15, 2010

God’s people are so ravaged by the Midianites that they are hiding in dens and caves. They cry out to God and God gives them...Gideon. 4 Principles from his life. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Just a Few Good Men Judges 6- http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/JustaFewGoodMen.html Chapter 5 ends with these words: "And the land had rest forty years." Chapter 6 begins: "And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord..." The cycle continues for God’s chosen nation. It’s the same ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Distraction

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 16, 2010

Nehemiah saw right thru the devil's attempt at distraction and compromise. He said, the valley of Ono? O No! Aren't you glad he said no no to Ono? Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Distraction Nehemiah 6:1-4 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Distraction.html So far the devil has tried to use these tools to keep them from rebuilding the wall: Ridicule-we will be laughed at but we shouldn't back up or back down. Discouragement-We sometimes get tired IN the work, but never OF the ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

Fear

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 30, 2010

The devil is the sinister minister of fear. It's the opposite of faith, which is what pleases God. Fear Degrades our Lord, Destroys our Lives, and Delights our Enemy. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Fear Nehemiah 6:9-19 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Fear.html In chapter 6 it's the devil's last ditch effort to stop the good work on the wall. We have seen him use distraction and slander, and now fear - [worry, anxiety, nervousness.] Twice in our passage we see 'afraid' and also 'fear.' The ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:9-19

Denomination: Baptist

Arabian Nights

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 11, 2010

Paul trained in the desert of Arabia. It was a long night in his life. He now tells about those Arabian Nights and how they helped make him who he is. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Arabian Nights Galatians 1:11-24 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ArabianNights.html Where did you go to seminary? Or Bible college? This question is asked often of those in ministry. What they really mean, usually, is, "What camp are you in?" Paul trained in the desert of Arabia, and I'm sure ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 1:11-20

Denomination: Baptist

Swing Wide The Gates!

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 29, 2010

The names of the gates of the old city of Jerusalem have rich spiritual meaning, full of powerful truths that will take us 3 sermons to cover. Parts 1 & 2 are here. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Swing Wide the Gates Nehemiah 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SwingWideTheGates.html The walls of Jerusalem stood for something. They were more than just protection. They stood for the glory of God. Unbelievers of that day looked at the broken down walls and would mock believers. The ruins of ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-32

Denomination: Baptist

Justified Freely

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 6, 2011

Ask me why I love my wife and I'll have laundry list of reasons she's lovable. But Jesus loved me while I was yet a sinner. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Justified Freely Romans 3:24 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/JustifiedFreely.html Justified = just as if I'd never sinned A one time event that happens at the moment of salvation. Sanctified = an ongoing process of growing in the Lord. Righteousness breaks down along the above lines... Imputed ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:24-31

Denomination: Baptist

When The Pastor Makes A Hard Decision

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 14, 2010

Pastors have a difficult job in many ways, contrary to the 'He only works on Sundays' mindset many in the church have. Spiritual stress is unlike stress of any other kind. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

When the Pastor Makes a Hard Decision 2 Corinthians 7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HardDecision.html Pastors have a difficult job in many ways, contrary to the 'He only works on Sundays' mindset many in the church have. For one thing, spiritual stress is unlike stress of any other kind, and it ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Commended Church

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 26, 2009

Of all 7 churches of Asia Minor, here’s the one we want to emulate -- Philadelphia: 1. Highly commended 2. Deeply challenged 3. Greatly compensated - Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

READING SOMEONE ELSE’S MAIL PHILADELPHIA, the Commended Church Revelation 3:7-13   http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Philadelphia.html Yazoo, MS…in the 1930’s…the Great Depression.  People didn’t have extra money / children especially had no extra money for candy / people would go to general store and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Power Of Foolishness Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 29, 2009

The cross divides men. The lost see it as foolishness. But it unites those of us who have been born again. Jesus called Himself a divider of men, and the dividing line is the cross. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Power of Foolishness I Corinthians 1:18-2:16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Foolishness.html The cross divides men. The saved from the lost. But it unites those of us who have been born again. Jesus called Himself a divider of men, and the dividing line is the cross. The cross is wisdom ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Denomination: Baptist

From Bad To Worse

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 26, 2010

Corrupt Leadership: America in her prosperity has been given much but done so little with it...and now it appears God may be taking the prosperity away. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

From Bad to Worse Judges 9-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Bad2Worse.html We began last week looking at Abimelech, a truly bad leader, and we continue with more about him and the next 2 judges after him, and it goes from bad to worse...not because they were more evil than him but because God ...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

Israel Under Attack Series

Contributed by Stephen Smith on May 24, 2019

An account of how demonic angel-princes came to control the nations of the earth. The story of Yahweh's formation of Israel, its rebellious decline into idol worship, its separation from God and it's ultimate restoration.

Spiritual warfare Israel under attack In our previous messages, we discussed the origins of Satan, the fallen Lucifer, and the war he's been waging on God and on the human race ever since he was summarily ejected from Heaven as a result of his hubris and vaulting ambition. We saw that ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

Stay Out Of The Poo

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on May 2, 2002

Sometimes we christians are attracted to what we see in the world. We see the bright lights and the big city, but beneath the veneer is danger

Keeping your feet out of the Poo The call of the barnyard by the19th Century Danish Theologian and philosopher, Soren Kirkengard A flock of wild ducks were flying in formation, heading south for the winter. They formed a beautiful V in the sky, and were admired by every one who saw them from below. ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 19:4-17

Denomination: Christian Church