Sermons on Spirtual Formation:

Greatest Investment Advice Ever Given

Contributed by Eric Kramer on Feb 26, 2005

Investment advice, in a long story format, edit according to your needs, not copywrited, bible quotes taken from internet bible quotes, feel free to add to or edit this paper any way acceptable to God. I am no expert and dont claim to be, no formal theol

The Greatest Investment Advice Ever Given The king held vast amounts of gold in his treasury, so risk another investment, especially in a foreign country. It was far to travel; over 1,000 miles away, and 2 countries buffered him between his well-defended lands and the Italian peninsula’s Roman ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-15

Denomination: Catholic

How To Win Your Kin Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004

It’s hard to witness to them "cuz" we have to live with them. But if we don’t we’ll have to live without them forever, and until you do it will be hard to live with yourself. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.

How to Win Your Kin John 1:35-42a http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WinYourKin.html Every time we see Andrew in scripture he is bringing someone to Jesus...he was a great soul winner. But who was his first convert? His own brother. Naturally, our hearts are more burdened for our lost family ...read more

Scripture: John 1:35-42

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Worry, Be Happy! Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 20, 2006

It’s easy to say, "Don’t Worry," but it’s better to give someone the tools Jesus provided here to win the war over worrying. The FATHER FACTOR, the FOCUS FACTOR, and the FUTURE FACTOR. Link included to formatted text, handout, and PowerPoint Template.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Matthew 6:25-34 "Don’t worry about it." Have you ever had those words said to you? Did it work? Probably not! Easy words to say, but hard to put into practice. In essence that is what the Scripture says in verse 25. [read] But it goes on to tell us how not to worry. It ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

Denomination: Baptist

Bible Proofs From Archaeology

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jun 13, 2006

True faith doesn’t require science to agree, but we shouldn’t be surprised that so much of it DOES! Here’s a look at some of what man has ’dug up’ in recent years. Link included to formatted text and a very necessary PowerPoint Presentation.

Bible Proofs from Archaeology Acts 1:3 ----- [Please go to the link at the very bottom in order to see the ’very necessary’ PowerPoint slideshow used to present these facts with.] ----- Jesus’ existence and resurrection can be proven, and we’ve looked at that in other messages. So what about ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

3 Who Won't & 1 Who Will Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 1, 2007

“God has no grandchildren, only children” - “To be 99% sure is 100% unacceptable” - “The only thing longer than life is eternity” - Whatever keeps you from getting saved...CUT IT OFF! Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint Presentation

3 Who Won’t & 1 Who Will Matthew 18:8-9 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/3Wont1Will.html Three out of four people here won’t be in heaven. And when I say ‘here’ I mean in our text, not here in this room. But wait a minute, the people in our text represent all people everywhere, so I suppose ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:8-9

Denomination: Baptist

Take Advantage

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 31, 2007

Can you believe it? God wants us to take advantage of Him and His Church! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. Link included to formatted text, audio & video, and PowerPoint Presentation.

Take Advantage Ecc. 2:24, 3:13, 5:18-19 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TakeAdvantage.html Can you believe it? God wants to be taken advantage of! Usually when we think of ‘taking advantage’ of someone it’s a bad thing, but not necessarily w/ the Lord. The book of Acts shows God moving among the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Mountain Shopping Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 22, 2008

A study of Joshua the man is not complete without looking at his friend Caleb. 40 years earlier they were young men, and 2 of the 12 spies sent to check out the land of Canaan. Now comes their reward. Link inc. to formatted text, audio/video, PowerPoint.

Mountain Shopping Joshua 14 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/MountainShopping.html Ironic it is to talk on this subject from central Illinois. I was raised where you could spot a mountain in nothing flat. Here, ‘flat’ is the key word. But God made the mountains, God moves mountains, and so does ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 14:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Valley Of Decision Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Nov 8, 2008

1.) God forgives sin. 2.) God judges sin. 3.) He allows us to choose: Pardon or Punishment - God gave both Jericho and Ai to Israel, but He did it in very different ways. Link inc. to formatted text, audio & video, PowerPoint.

The Valley of Decision Joshua 8 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ValleyOfDecision.html [read vv. 1-3] The children of Israel are in the process of claiming their Canaan, or Promised Land. But their biggest challenge is that people already live there, and they are wicked. God has given them claim ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 8:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Water Walking 101 Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jul 25, 2007

Sadly, many ’boat people’ in the church will never step out in faith and see what God can do thru them, but all can look to Jesus during storms and learn how to rise above. Link included to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Template.

Water Walking 101 Matthew 14:22-33 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WaterWalking.html This is the second storm we’ve come to in our Matthew study. The first was in chapter 8 when Jesus was asleep in the boat and the disciples woke Him up crying, “Master, we perish!” That message was called “The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Denomination: Baptist

Revelation - The Blessing Of Reading And Heeding

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 13, 2011

1st in series [which is complete in its entirety] - The Lord took John away from his busy life as Pastor of the church at Ephesus that he might write down heavenly visions revealed unto him. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

“THE BLESSING OF READING AND HEEDING” REVELATION 1:1-3 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/ReadHeed.html True Title: What does it say in your Bible? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” Year: 96 AD John is up in years, perhaps in his 80’s. About 65 years previous, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-3, Revelation 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

What Is Not Of Faith

Contributed by Michael Brown on Nov 1, 2020

Romans 14:23 had been unclear to me when I heard it. It says that what is not of faith is a sin. I did a Bible Study on it using the H.E.A.R.T. (Highlight, Explain, Apply, Respond, Thanksgiving) format & this sermon is that study.

Highlight - Highlight the verse that speaks to you Romans 14:23: “But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith, and everything that is not from faith is sin.” Explain - Explain what this passage means The word translated as faith in this verse is the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:23

Denomination: Baptist

We Owe ... Others Series

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on May 11, 2020

This is part of a three sermon series - We Owe ... This sermon focuses on what We Owe Others - a. A Personal Encounter with God b. To be An Example of Holy Living 3. To Share a Positive Message

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13; John 7:38-39; Luke 19:11-27 Title: We Owe Others Proposition: There are three things that We Owe Others 1. An Encounter with the LORD 2. An Example 3. The Message of Good News* Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! N. T. Wright made ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13, John 7:38-39, Luke 19:11-27

Denomination: Nazarene

When Things Go Wrong

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004

Although we know we can have joy in trials and God works all together for good…sometimes we don’t see it. Some days faith wanes, and we wonder where God is. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, PowerPoint.

When Things Go Wrong Matthew 11:2-11 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhenThingsGoWrong.html It is a blessing to be a Christian, but this world is under a curse. Things go wrong. Plans fail. The outcome of our goals sometimes isn’t what we had hoped. Tragedy strikes. Death takes its toll. Pain ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-11

Denomination: Baptist

They Turned It Right Side Up - Troublemakers - World Series

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Aug 25, 2005

Christians are accused of turning this world upside down...but it’s the other way around. Those who think the world would be better off without us will one day get their wish! Link included to Formatted Text version and some great visuals in PowerPoint.

They Turned it Right Side Up! Acts 17:1-6 A man was shoveling snow in his driveway when 2 boys came along w/ shovels and said, “Hey Mister, can we shovel your driveway…only $2!?” He said, “can’t you see I’m doing that?” “Yes sir, that’s why we asked…we get most of our business from people who ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

When You've Lost Your Cutting Edge

Contributed by Jerry Shirley on May 4, 2007

We are quick to ‘fly off the handle’. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things ‘surface’ when we return to where we lost our cutting edge and reclaim it! Link included to formatted text, audio & video, & PowerPoint Presentation.

When You’ve Lost Your Cutting Edge II Kings 6:1-7 http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/CuttingEdge.html We are so quick to ‘fly off the handle’ these days. But God has a way of sharpening dull Christians…and good things will ‘surface’ if we will return to where we lost our cutting edge and reach out ...read more

Scripture: Judges 6:1-7

Denomination: Baptist