Sermons on Justifying The Text:

Aftershock

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 14, 2010

The earthquake in Haiti measured 7.0 – the death toll will be measured in the tens of thousands – but character is measured in our response to tragedy. 5 WAYS TO RESPOND. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

AfterShock Matthew 14:22-33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/AfterShock.html How do we respond? What should our reaction be? When our world shakes, when we are in shock – after it happens – after shock has gripped our being – what we do next is absolutely vital. The earthquake in Haiti measured ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Crown Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 15, 2009

Dynamically interesting content! Summary of the period of the kings, w/ a special contrast of Saul, David, and Solomon. Wonderful visuals enhance a very helpful outline. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Crown I Samuel 8 2 part sermon on Saul and David during the times of the Kings. Both parts are here: http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Crown.html Pt.1-Saul Israel decided they wanted to be a monarchy, not a theocracy. They wanted a king, not to be led by God. They wanted a visible leader. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Spring Into Action

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Mar 29, 2009

Our text tells us that we must "spring" into action for our faith to be meaningful. 1- Be quick to listen 2- Be slow to speak 3- Be slow to anger 4- Be quick to rid 5- Be quick to act

INTRO.- ILL.- On July 2, 1982, Larry Walters, a 33-year-old man who decided he wanted to see his neighborhood from a new perspective. He went down to the local army surplus store one morning and bought forty-five used weather balloons. That afternoon he strapped himself into a lawn chair, to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-25

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Believing In The Resurrection Of Christ

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Apr 5, 2009

From our text on the resurrection of Christ, there are three important points that we need to take with us. We need to believe them and live them. 1- Fear not 2- Come see 3- Go tell

INTRO.- ILL.- Lee Strobel was an atheist who turned to Christ. He was the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC’s 20/20, Fox News, and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, Matthew 28:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Wait For It ... And, Go!

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 16, 2010

Nehemiah not only knew how to watch and pray and weep and pray...but also how to WAIT and pray. How to have success in impossible circumstances. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Wait for it ... and Go! Nehemiah 2:1-6 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WaitForIt.html Nehemiah is the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes, the most powerful man on earth at that time. He and his people the Jews are in captivity in Babylon, and their home town of Jerusalem is burned and destroyed, and ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Nehemiah - Master Delegator

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 20, 2010

Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. But it is a very important chapter full of principles of leadership and delegation. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Master Delegator Nehemiah 3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MasterDelegator.html Last time we saw Nehemiah's vision, and now it must become reality beginning in chapter 3, and that's gonna take a lot of help. Many people skip over this chapter because it reads like a Hebrew phone book. It's all ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 3:1-4, Nehemiah 7:1-73

Denomination: Baptist

The Goal Of God’s Command Series

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Nov 13, 2010

Paul spells out the specific goal in this text and some problems we might encounter. 1- The goal - God’s command 2- The problem - men’s controversies 3- The truth - God’s law

INTRO.- Goals in life. Do you have any? Did you have any when you were young? I wanted to be Superman but that didn’t work out and the role of King of the Cowboys was already taken! More than likely you were like most of us; you just wanted to be able to make a living and raise your kids to be ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:3-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Confession

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Dec 3, 2010

God's first choice is to use goodness to lead us to Him, but if we insist, He will use judgment to bring us back to Him in repentance. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Confession Nehemiah 9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Confession.html Confession leads to Consecration, and ultimately to Celebration. If you were in Jerusalem at this time in our text you would have seen some very unusual sights, and heard some very unusual sounds. Like people in the streets ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 10:1-38

Denomination: Baptist

This Old House

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Mar 3, 2010

I'm going to have a glorified body [house] someday that will make a mansion look like a shack, and my God has already paid for it in full! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

This Old House 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ThisOldHouse.html At Christmas we visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to live in a house like that. Then I thought about the bills! But I'm going to live in something ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Death Of Osama Bin Laden

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 4, 2011

I take no pleasure of anyone going to hell - but God's justice is satisfied, and today UBL's knees bow and his tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord! Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

Death of Osama bin Laden http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/binLaden.html We rejoiced at the news, as did much of the world. Many sang and danced and partied. Patriotism was renewed and partisanship again went by the wayside much like it did on 9/11. If only we would continue longer in our lessons ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 24:17

Denomination: Baptist

Ten P's For Your Pod

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 5, 2007

Overview in one message of what the Bible is all about ’in a nutshell’ with a helpful outline that makes life, God, and salvation easier to comprehend. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Ten P’s for Your Pod http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/YourPod.html 1. The People • God created man Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, [even] my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

Anchors For The Storm

Contributed by Ben Peak on Jan 3, 2008

Storms… they are part of life. And here in our text, Paul faces some storms. And through this time in Paul’s life we can find the anchors which held him firm during those storms.

You know, the Bible is packed full of some really great stories. Stories that tell us history like the creation story. Stories of love like the one we find in the book of Ruth. Stories of war are scattered all over the Old Testament. Stories with drama like the lives of Joseph and David. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 27:13-34

Denomination: Holiness

Super Sunday, Super Tuesday, & Satan's Superman Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 31, 2008

Jesus rode into town on Sunday, and He rose on the next Super Sunday, but He gave these super teachings about the end of the world on Tuesday. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Super Sunday, Super Tuesday, & Satan’s Superman Mt. 24:24; II Thess. 2 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SatansSuperman.html It was a super Sunday when Jesus rode into town as King, but the ‘superest’ Sunday of all was a week later when He rose from the dead! I don’t know how super this Tuesday will ...read more

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Coming Down The Mountain Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Oct 19, 2007

It’s nice to have a bright, shining, mountaintop experience, but what happens when we descend back to regular life? [Post-transfiguration teaching] Link inc. to formatted text, audio, & PowerPoint.

Coming Down the Mountain Matthew 17:14-21 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ComingDown.html This great chapter shows us Jesus in His glory [last time], as well as Jesus in His power. It’s nice to have a bright, shining mountaintop experience, but what happens when we descend back to regular life? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 17:14-21

Denomination: Baptist

We've Got Mail

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Sep 21, 2007

Hezekiah founded an early Bible Post Office, and now God sends us to ’deliver the mail’ and carry His message to the ends of the earth. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.

We’ve Got Mail II Chronicles 30:1-6 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/GotMail.html When I was a little boy my dad was a mail carrier, before he entered the ministry. And from that day to now I have had much respect for those who go door to door and street to street, carrying the mail for us. They ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 30:1-6

Denomination: Baptist