Sermons on Habit Formation:

Five Firsts

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 4, 2007

New Year message from the Book of Beginnings showing the first mention of Satan, Sin, the Saviour, the death Sentence, and the first Sacrifice...all in the same passage. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

FIVE FIRSTS Genesis 3:1-15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/FiveFirsts.html This is the first Sunday service of 2007. As we begin a new year many of us are trying to make a new start in different areas…from our waistlines to our finances, to how we spend our time. We’re right at the beginning and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Parable Of The Sower Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 5, 2007

75% in this parable didn’t truly get saved. Was the problem the Sower, the Seed, or the Soil? 25% did get saved, and we can see how! Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Parable of the Sower Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Sower.html Sow what? The Word of God! Sow when? All the time! Sow where? Everywhere…but hopefully on good ground! This parable answers the question, “Why doesn’t everybody get saved?” As tremendous as salvation is, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Super Bowls Of God's Wrath Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 1, 2007

7 Vile Vials of Judgment fall on the earth during the Great Tribulation. [The field, the officials, the spectators, the winners and losers on this game day.] Link included to formatted text for this and entire Revelation Series, audios, PowerPoints.

The Super Bowls of Wrath Rev. 16 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SuperBowlsWrath.html Tonite, two sides will do battle… (In our text the 2 sides are Good & Evil) There is going to be a Field of Battle: (Valley of Megiddo) There will be a game plan…a plan of attack. An official will be on the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 16:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

911: When Buildings Fall & Waters Rise - Storms - Tragedy - 9/11 - 9-11

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 7, 2005

In Case of Emergency--Have FAITH, not FEAR; PRAY, don’t PANIC; BELIEVE, don’t BLAME; RESPOND, don’t RUN. Link included to free formatted text version, handout, and PowerPoint Presentation.

911: When Buildings Fall & Waters Rise Matthew 14:22-33 ----- Link at bottom... ----- We all know where we were and what we were doing 4 years ago today. We remember how we felt because to some degree we have felt that way ever since, and events like Katrina and anniversaries such as this one ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Walking On Water - Extraordinary Steps Of Faith

Contributed by Robert Fox on Jan 8, 2006

We are all rowing through life comfortably ensconced in our own little boat, but Jesus has sent us into the storm and asks us to have extraordinary faith in Him. Student ministry PowerPoint format.

[Walking on the Water – Extraordinary Steps of Faith] Slide Graphic – Jesus looking at Peter, who is wearing an inner-tube with a duck head {Note - drop me an email if you would like any or all of the original graphics. Go to the box at the top of this page and click on "Contact"} Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Let Go Of The Vine

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 15, 2007

You don’t have to be Tarzan to learn to hold on to the Vine. Practical outline on abiding in Christ and how to ’branch out’ and bear fruit for the Father, our Husbandman. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint.

Don’t Let Go of the Vine John 15 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DontLetGo.html Sometimes it may seem we are spinning our wheels and going nowhere. What are we supposed to do then? We live in an age where we feel we must always be busy and be doing something. We are restless [and young!] and ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel Of Jesus: Life Swap Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 16, 2006

Baptism of Christ--The carpenter trades in His woodworking tools and becomes a rebuilder of human hearts, as He carves out a way of escape for hell bound mankind. Link included to formatted text and PowerPoint Presentation.

The Gospel of Jesus – Life Swap Matthew 3:13-17 In our first 2 messages in this new series we’ve looked at Jesus ‘Before There Was Time’ and ‘BC to AD’ [Jesus in the OT]. Of course, at Christmas each year we look into His birth and this year we studied His childhood with a children’s sermon: ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Baptist

How To Gain A Few Pounds Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 13, 2007

The Parable of the Pounds - We are each entrusted with the weighty matter of carrying the gospel. But how well are we bearing the burden God has placed in our pack? Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

How to Gain a Few Pounds Luke 19:11-27 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GainFewPounds.html “I don’t need anyone telling me how to do that…I’ve got it mastered!” The parable of the pounds reminds us of the parable of the talents in Mt. 25, which we’ll study in a couple of weeks. But they are quite ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Baptist

Death Of A Conscience

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 18, 2007

Resurrecting that little voice we have laid to rest is not impossible, but succeeding in life without it is! [Story of Herod, the lap dance, and the death of John the Baptist] Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template

Death of a Conscience Matthew 14:1-12 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/DeathOfAConscience.html What a tragic story. John the Baptist is murdered by King Herod Antipas in cold blood. Jesus said John was the greatest man born of natural means, and yet he was snuffed out before his time. But worse ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Altar Of Incense Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 19, 2008

How do you smell to God? This altar inside the Tabernacle proper is beautifully contrasted to the brazen altar out in the courtyard. The symbolic aromas in the air cannot be ignored. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Altar of Incense ‘How Do You Smell?’ Exodus 30:1-10 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AltarOfIncense.html It has been a wonderful study of the Tabernacle so far, and the best is yet to come as we enter the Holy of Holies next time. But as of now, we have looked at the first 5 articles of ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 30:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Claiming Our Canaan Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 11, 2008

Most said, we have absolutely no chance of possessing this Promised Land. But where they saw only giants, the ’minority report’ of Joshua and Caleb saw God! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Claiming Our Canaan Joshua 1:1-13 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ClaimingOurCanaan.html We’ve come “Out of Africa” now into the wilderness. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a picture of our salvation. We were slaves, in bondage to sin, the toughest master you’ll ever serve. Sin takes us ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

The Ideal Discipleship Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Feb 11, 2009

Win ’em, wet ’em, & wean ’em. That last step is the big one of discipleship - "Teaching them to observe all things..." Often forsaken, but so important! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Ideal Discipleship I Thessalonians 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealDiscipleship.html Chapter 2 had a nursing mother, and a teaching father doing spiritual parenting of these new believers. It leads perfectly into this chapter about grounding new believers. v. 2 “to establish you” v. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Back Against The Wall - Red Sea Crossing Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 13, 2008

Moses was a great leader and yet took a great deal of abuse. For those who insist on believing salvation is the end to problems--it’s the FRONT end! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

Back Against the Wall Exodus 14:5-31 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BackAgainstWall.html Have you ever felt like your back was against a wall? Ever been between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to turn? Or maybe you’ve put in a lot of time going down a winding avenue of life only to find it ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 14:5-31, Exodus 14:10-31

Denomination: Baptist

Bringing America Back To God

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 17, 2009

The parallels of America and Israel are staggering - both denied the Lord, defied the law, and defiled the land. Is God about to judge us like He did them? Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Bringing America Back to God Judges 1-2 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/BringingAmericaBack.html This book records the history of the nation of Israel for 305 years after the death of Joshua. Israel declined, backslid, and got away from God. And in this new study we will see many frightening ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Only Sin

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 2, 2011

The only sin today is to call sin "sin." If you do, you are labeled as intolerant. An expose of homosexuality and other sexual perversions from God’s perspective. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

The Only Sin Romans 1:18-32 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/OnlySin.html The only sin today is to call sin "sin." If you do, you are labeled as intolerant. A man may be sick but he’s not sinful, he may be weak but he’s not wicked, he may be ill but he’s not evil, and even if he were to tell people ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32

Denomination: Baptist