Sermons on Habit Formation:

Come To The Table - Thanksgiving Communion

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 23, 2006

Includes 7 things we ought to bring with us as we approach the greatest dinner table of all time. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

Come To The Table John 6; I Corinthians 10-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ComeToTheTable.html ----- On Thursday of this week we all had one thing in common: we couldn’t wait to be told: “Come to the table!” This morning, Jesus has set the table and is inviting us, “Come to My Table.” John ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Parable Of The Leaven Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 11, 2007

This ’most misunderstood’ parable is one of the most telling ones for our generation today. The parallels are powerful to consider! Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Parable of the Leaven Matthew 13:33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Leaven.html Just one verse is all it takes tonite to have a big spiritual spread to feast upon. How many have ever made homemade bread? What do you put in the dough to make it rise? Yeast. And what is the Bible word for yeast? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:33

Denomination: Baptist

Holy Day Or Holiday? Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 16, 2008

Understanding the principles of WORK and WORSHIP, and the comparison of the OT Sabbath and the NT Lord’s Day, and reasons to be faithful! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Holy Day or Holiday? Exodus 20:8-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/HolyDayHoliday.html 1st commandment = Worship the right and only God 2nd commandment = Worship God in the right way 3rd commandment = Worship God sincerely 4th commandment = Worship God regularly This 4th commandment is the ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Experience The Word

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 8, 2010

Which is more important - doctrine, or experience? The WORD is our authority, but shouldn't our experience corroborate the truth? Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Experience the Word Galatians 3:1-5 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ExperienceTheWord.html Paul now goes back to the experience of the Galatians. How were they saved? Were they saved by law or were they saved by faith in Jesus Christ? O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

War Of The Gods Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 14, 2008

10 PLAGUES and the SIGNIFICANCE of each. This showdown is not just between Moses & Pharaoh, but between Jehovah God and the gods of Egypt. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

War of the Gods Exodus 5:1-2 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WarOfTheGods.html Moses the deliverer is God’s selected man to lead His people to freedom. He made every excuse he could think of, and finally surrendered to do God’s will. Moses says, “Let my people go.” Pharaoh refuses, and this ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 5:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Lessons From The Pearl

Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 18, 2014

Because of the pearl’s unusual characteristics, they are symbolic of many deep spiritual truths. Two examples might be the formation of the nature of Christ in us or as a symbol of the resurrection body.

LESSONS FROM THE PEARL Matthew 13:45-46 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR 1. JOKE # 1 a. A mechanic accidentally swallowed some brake fluid and really liked the taste. Before he knew it, he had polished off a whole bottle of the stuff. b. His buddy George caught him sneaking a swig the next day. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:45-46

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Harvest Time Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 14, 2006

Most will never ’Come’ to Jesus until they are ’Brought’ to Jesus. The COMPASSION of the SAVIOR, the CONDITION of the SHEEP, & the COMMISSION of the SAINTS. Link included to formatted text version and PowerPoint Presentation.

Harvest Time Matt. 9:35-38 When Jesus walked this earth 2,000 years ago, it was in a physical body. He laid aside His omnipresence and was only at one place at a time. For this reason He spent His time moving about, going where people were and meeting their needs. v. 35 This is the Messiah ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Denomination: Baptist

Different Men Who Made A Difference Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 21, 2006

"Meet the Apostles"--unique message presented in first person. Each one was different, but each was used to make a difference! Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Template.

Different Men Who Made a Difference Matthew 10:1-4 [To be delivered in 1st person, direct address] Hey you twelve. What a motley crew you were. Not the “Dirty Dozen” necessarily. Just ordinary people. Nothing special. Twelve different men you were…but Jesus chose you to make all the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

Four Anchors That Will Hold

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 9, 2006

Facing shipwreck, Paul and all on board cast out 4 Anchors that saw them thru the storm safely. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

Four Anchors That Will Hold Acts 27:29 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/4Anchors.html There will be a time in the life of most Christians that you will come upon a real storm. How you handle that storm will determine a great deal as to how you live the remainder of your Christian life. We are living ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:14-44

Denomination: Baptist

The Hypocrite's Triple Judgment

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 11, 2011

God looks on the heart, and sees through all of those things that we outwardly decorate ourselves with. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

The Hypocrite's Triple Judgment Romans 2:1-16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TripleJudgment.html Howard Carter discovered the tomb of old King Tut back in the early twenties and when he finally broke in to the tomb of one of Egypt's richest kings, he went in and found the casket, the sarcophagus, ...read more

Scripture: Romans 2:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

God Vs. Humanity

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 17, 2011

Paul is the prosecuting attorney bringing an indictment in the case of God vs. Humanity. Evidence is presented, and the Verdict is read. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

God vs. Humanity Romans 3:1-24 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GodVsHumanity.html There’s something terribly wrong in the world. Something terribly wrong. You don’t even need a Bible to tell you that. But God did not make a world with something wrong. When God created the world he said, That’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:9-23

Denomination: Baptist

Sanctity Of Human Life And The Gospel

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 23, 2012

A sermon on the sanctity of human life and the gospel (Outline and thoughts taken from the book, Life in the Spirit: Spiritual Formation in Theological Perspective, chapter 12 by David P. Gushee)

HoHum: Francis Schaeffer said that “cultures can be judged in many ways, but eventually every nation in every age must be judged by this test: How did it treat people? Our own is not exception. Those who regard individuals as expendable raw material do battle on many fronts with those who ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Time Out, Time In Series

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 24, 2003

After vacation -- time out -- it would be ridiculous if there were no "time in", engagement. God calls us to full engagement with Himself, which in turn calls us to live in newness and not in old habits. There is no time for anything that is not a serio

There are certain intense situations in which the best answer, maybe the only answer, is to take a “time out”. Time out, to get perspective; time out, to get emotions under control; time out to back off and take a better look. There are certain serious situations in which your instincts tell you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Ash Wednesday: Confronting Sin

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Mar 10, 2011

A talk given at our evening Ash Wednesday service. Jesus's death on the cross has paid the price for our sins but our bad habits, bad behaviour and the things that trip us up still need to be confronted.

A young man once visited the great German preacher Martin Luther to ask for his advice. He said that he was constantly plagued by wrongful desires and lustful thoughts and did not know what to do. Martin Luther’s reply was typically blunt and to the point. He said, “You can’t stop ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

The Causes And Management Of Crisis In Marriage

Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Jul 24, 2012

God has clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of the husband and the wife for a peaceful and happy co-habitation. However, neglect of one’s responsibility and failure to meet up with the required expectation often lead to one or more crisis in

THE CAUSES AND MANAGEMENT OF CRISIS IN MARRIAGE Study Text: 1 Peter 3: 1-7: Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the Word, they may also be won without the Word by the conduct of the wives, 1Pe 3:2 having witnessed your chaste ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal