Sermons on Habit Formation:

The Ideal Servant Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 4, 2009

Spiritual power, perseverance, purpose, and parenting made Paul the ideal servant to those he was leading. And we are all called to be servants. Link inc. to formatted text and PowerPoint.

The Ideal Servant I Thessalonians 2:1-12 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealServant.html Being a servant is a calling. And you have that call. Preachers are called, but you are called as well. Preachers go ‘calling’. Once a minister went to call on one of the elderly widows of the church. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

How Do Hope Filled People Live? Series

Contributed by Mark Haines on Dec 29, 2001

A deductive exposition of the text calling individuals prompted by the Holy Spirit to indicate their commitment to replace one habit in the next 6 months by signing a response card and placing it on the altar rail.

Introduction: What does HOPE mean to you? I’m afraid that too often we use HOPE to mean a futile wish or an ineffective dream. When people talk of HOPE they usually do so with a feeling of resignation or despair. But real HOPE is a much stronger idea. In "The Lord of the Rings", one character is ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Denomination: Wesleyan

Suffering Reduces Sin Series

Contributed by Peter Loughman on Mar 7, 2007

The Apostle Peter shows us that when we work through suffering in a godly way, those habits and sins we cannot rid ourselves of, start to fade away.

What is the thing that Americans fear the most? It is not taxes, or speaking in public, or even death…no. What Americans fear the most is – suffering. It can all be summed up when a loved one dies and death comes quickly to them. What do we say? At least they didn’t suffer….. Americans fear ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Down To Racing Weight

Contributed by Joseph Smith on Apr 2, 2010

Delivered March 1986. To run this race of life and faith, you need worthy role models, you need to rid yourself of destructive habits, and you need the pacesetter, Christ.

Beneath this bulky middle-aged body and especially beneath the generous folds of this preaching robe, there beats the heart of a runner, a racer. Surprise, surprise, you never knew that, did you? But it's true. Inside this fleshy disgrace to the human race there lies buried somewhere the soul of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Entrance Of The Bride Series

Contributed by Ken Henson on Jan 12, 2019

There is a great contrast between the Prostitute and the Bride, the City of God and Babylon, this world, where we feel so distant from God, and the New Jerusalem, where we will be the habitation of God.

CHAPTER 21 1. And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth are gone, and the sea no longer exists. 2. And the holy city, New Jerusalem, I saw coming down out of heaven from God, having been prepared as a bride clothed for her husband. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-2

Denomination: *other

The Power Of The Secret Closet

Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 13, 2015

What is the “Secret Closet?” It's the Habit of shutting yourself in God, Seeking God, calling on Him, and Intimacy with God. Prayer is transfiguring, refreshing, and can alter the future.

THE POWER OF THE SECRET CLOSET Mt. 6:5-6 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. Some things really changed between the former generations and the kids of the last generation. 2. At a grandma was keeping/ babysitting her grandson Dirk. Dirk followed her into the bedroom as she puts up things away in the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Remove All The ‘hagar And Ishmael

Contributed by Bala Samson on Nov 6, 2021

We all got to shed away our old habits and life just like the way the caterpillar sheds its skin in order to evolve into a stunning, astounding and beautiful butterfly!

Remove all the ‘Hagar and Ishmael’ Genesis 21:9”Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking…” Many of us feel that life would be hunky-dory after we receive answers to our prayers and when the miracle happens, but hang on there, with the arrival of the great ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:9

Denomination: Pentecostal

Forget Not All His Benefits

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Sep 15, 2020

If we don’t get into the habit of thanking God for what we DO have we’ll soon become ungrateful because of what we DON’T have.

MELVIN NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK Text: Psalms 103:1-22; Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ILL. Thinking about his childhood, Chuck Swindoll wrote: "I recall, as a ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-22, Ephesians 5:19-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Little Foxes That Destroy The Vine

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Jul 11, 2025

The vine of the Lord is holy, fruitful, and meant to flourish. But when little foxes are allowed in—small sins, secret habits, tolerated attitudes, and spiritual negligence—they ruin the vine.

LITTLE FOXES THAT DESTROY THE VINE By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Song of Solomon 2:15 Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9; Ecclesiastes 10:1; Matthew 13:25; Hebrews 12:15 INTRODUCTION: In many cases, great destructions do not begin with obvious explosions or visible ...read more

Scripture: Song of Songs 2:15

Denomination: Assembly Of God

These Necessary Things - Life Change Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 20, 2005

Salvation...Cause and Effect...The chicken and the egg. This is about how we are saved and how we should live as a result of being saved. Link included to formatted text, Powerpoint, and handout.

These Necessary Things Acts 15:28 In our last message from ch. 15 it was settled once and for all by Christ’s disciples in council: salvation is by grace alone, thru faith alone, in Christ alone…plus nothing, minus nothing…and good works have no part in our receiving of salvation. v. 11 Only 1 ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:28

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of Jesus: Go Fish [fishing / Fishers Of Men] Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 31, 2006

Jesus’ analogy of fishing helps us understand our job as His disciples. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Gospel of Jesus – Go Fish Matthew 4:12-25 Jesus must have liked fish and fishing, for He spoke of it often…he ate fish several times in the Bible, He called these fishermen to be His disciples, and when it came time to feed a bunch of people, like a true child of God He chose very wisely…fish! ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25, Matthew 4:12-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Napkin Is Still Folded - Easter

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 4, 2006

The significance of the folded napkin in the Jewish culture makes some powerful points in considering the resurrection. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

THE NAPKIN IS STILL FOLDED JOHN 20:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/NapkinFolded.html [Please see link above for more info. on this matter. Concept for this sermon originally preached by Dr. Clyde Box. I receive many questions as to the historicity of the "Napkin Legend"...Dr. Box reportedly ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

All Things New

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 23, 2006

A New Creation, A New Covenant, A New Command, & A New Kingdom to Come! Link included to formatted MS Word text and PowerPoint Template.

All Things New II Cor. 5:17 The concept of reincarnation imagines the dead being born again as someone else or something else, making a new start from a new perspective. Poem by Wallace McRae: "What does reincarnation mean?" A cowpoke asked his friend. His pal replied, "It happens when yer life ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

The Few, The Proud, The Disciples Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 21, 2006

Forsake the Fears, Forget the Foes, and Follow the Family of Friends that make up this special group. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Template.

The Few, the Proud, the Disciples Matthew 10:1-42 In 8th grade I joined Boy Scouts and I received a book…a manual that would guide my journey from the rank of Tenderfoot 2nd class all the way to Tenderfoot 1st class! As a freshman I went out for the football team and just barely made it. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-42

Denomination: Baptist

Just One More Hour To Live

Contributed by James May on Jul 25, 2004

A sermon presented in story format that stresses the importance of witnessing for Christ even in times when we can’t see a result. (Ficticious Story)

Just One More Hour to Live by Pastor Jim May All alone, in a dark, quiet room of a hospital a patient laid upon the bed from which he would never arise again. He was dying of a dreaded disease that had wracked his body with pain and sapped his energy so that he had not even the strength to lift ...read more

Scripture: James 4:14

Denomination: Independent/Bible