Sermons on Billy Graham Crusade:

Gratitude Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 26, 2014

We live in a wrecked world politically, emotionally, family, mentally. However we don't have to live with a wrecked attitude. Ungratefulness will sabotage and strangle the full life that Jesus promises us. Begin with being grateful and you will be full

Intro: It is not hard to see that we live in a broken and wrecked world. God told us that this would happen. Jesus said in Matthew 24:12 He said that as the end draws near because lawlessness is increased the love of many will grow cold. It is very obvious we live in a wrecked world. Wrecked ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Baptist

Commitment Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 3, 2014

Jesus is calling the church to commitment. We are committed to our sports teams, hunting, fishing, pleasure and entertainment. Jesus calls for commitment and repentance. It is a call for being in the world but not of the world.

Intro: The words that Jesus share with the church in Laodicea are hard words. Sometimes it takes hard words to awaken those asleep. It will help us understand Jesus words if we know more about the city the church was in. The city of Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II in 253 B.C. It was named ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Baptist

Courage Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 16, 2014

Courage is not the absence of fear. Biblical courage is facing your fears with the power of God's word and the presence of God's Spirit. These are applied to our lives to give us freedom.

Intro: One summer night during a severe thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small son into bed. She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, "Mommy, will you stay with me all night?" Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, "I can't dear. ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 15, 2014

The Christmas season is a time of promise and expectation. God promises to be hands on involved and invest eternity into our lives.

Intro: The living God Yahweh revealed in Jesus Christ is a promise making and a promise keeping God!! In an article in Time Magazine dated 24th Dec 1956, it reads: The old legend that there are 30,000 promises in the Bible is a bit off, according to schoolteacher Everek R. Storms of Kitchener, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Plan Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 21, 2014

God had a precise plan for us that began before the first pebble was placed on the earth. It was designed to have a direct personal impact.

Intro: Do you remember the Looney Tunes cartoon with Wile E Coyote aka Ralf E Wolf and Sam the Sheepdog. Wile E is always planning and scheming to capture and eat the sheep. Wile E seems to always have the best plans, like the time he lulled Sam to sleep with sleep dog sleep music. But int the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-12

Denomination: Baptist

Purity In A Culture Of Idolatry Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 4, 2015

Daniels wisdom and prophecies are not given to satisfy our curiosity. They are shared with us to fortify our faith. Learn from this series to Look forward to the end with confidence and commitment.

Intro: What do you think of next when I say Daniel (Let audience fill in) in the Lions Den Shadrach, Meshach and (Let audience fill in) ____________ in the __________ So much has been written, spoken and filmed about the end of time. Theories, ideas and opinions about Zombie Apocalypse, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

God's Favor To Face Life's Pressures Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 11, 2015

What do we do when God works differently than we expect or understand? Find out in this sermon from the book of Daniel.

Intro: What do we do when God works differently than we expect or understand? Everything that we see in the book of Daniel is Daniel trusting God when life doesn’t make sense. Being carried off to captivity 900 miles from where he was born and raised. Placed in a foreign country and ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:9

Denomination: Baptist

Nightmares, Numb Skulls And Near Misses Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 18, 2015

Do you have questions that earthly wisdom cannot answer? Do you have an ominous feeling that something is wrong but you don't know. Find out in Daniel 2 that mans wisdom is never enough to answer the questions of life. God will answer if you will ask.

Intro: Before we jump into Daniel we need to hear a passage in Hebrews. Hebrews 1:1-2 “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” Before God sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

A Preview Of His Kingdom Come Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 28, 2015

Daniel gives a certain messages for our uncertain world. The Vision Nebuchadnezzar had was of the future and the downfall of all earthly kingdoms. For those that are part of the kingdom of God this is good news!

Intro: What comes to mind when I read Daniel 2:24 – 49 is certainty. Nebuchadnezzar was very uncertain about what the dream was and what it meant. However Daniel was sure that it was revealing certainty. Daniel 2:45 “The great God has told the king what will happen in the future. ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 2:23-49

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Relase Our Lives For The Glory Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 11, 2011

What we do with our money is decison of the heart and not the head. We are challenged by God's word to live by God's principles not our preferences. God's ways lead to blessing our ways lead to burderns. Which do you follow.

Intro: Last week we learned that God is lavishly generous. We know that the goal of God is to place in us the character of Christ. God’s generosity is not without purpose. Remember God is generous toward us and gives us gifts so that the body of Christ can be built up and others can ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Trust God's Principles And Promises Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 26, 2011

The principles of God's word point to God's person. So if we trust His principles it is because we trust Him. If we do not live by His principles we miss out on all there is found in His person.

Intro: Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope.” What truths are found in the Old Testament that will instruct and encourage us to a deeper trust with ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Macho Man Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 2, 2011

God calls us men to be men like Jesus. He doens’t call us to be action heroes full of attitude and anger. He calls us to answer the Question who do you say that I am and what difference does it make in our lives.

Intro: Who do people say that I am? That is the most purposeful question that you will ever be asked in your life. Some people say Jesus was a good teacher, a radical zealot, a miracle worker, a relgion starter. But Jesus never allows us to stay with the purposeful answer he always makes it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Building The City Of God In The City Of Man Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 18, 2011

Nehemiah is often used to encouarge congregations to build a building. What Nehemiah did was encourage the remnant to rebuild the people and the walls of the city.

Intro: Nehemiah has always been used by pastors/teachers to encourage church congregations to build new facilities and buildings. I believe that a major portion of what is going on in Nehemiah is missed if we focus on building physically and miss out on building spiritually. Jesus said in ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

This Is The Way Walk In It

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 3, 2015

Sermon preached before VBS 2015

Intro: This passage comes from a promise to the people of Judah (The southern kingdom of the nation of Israel) they are told that when they were comfortable they would not hear God’s word or the voices of their teachers. God knew the tendency of the heart of the Children of Israel. He ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21

Denomination: Baptist

Choose The End Is Near Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 9, 2015

God has his hand firmly on history. Prophecy calls us to choose what we trust in. Do we trust the God of money, such as retirement, investment. Do we trust the God of comfort etc. We are called by the still small voice of God to trust and obey Him.

Intro: Bob Deffinbaugh tells a funny memory about chapter 11. He opened up an old Bible he had from Bible college and was reading notes in chapter 10 and finally got to 11 and one of his daughters had scribbled all over the pages of chapter 11. He wondered when the Lord returned if all of the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 11:2-45

Denomination: Baptist