Sermons on Billy Joel:

Ten Percent Is Not Enough

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 23, 2007

The Story of the widows mite shows us what it really means to give. It is not some percentage that we are required to give. Instead the widows meager offering shows how we are to give all to our Great God.

Intro: One Sunday in church a little boy took off his tie and put it into the offering plate. “What are you doing?” asked his mother. “The preacher told us to give our ties and offerings.” It is apparent that the young boy misunderstood what the preacher said. It is also apparent today in ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Denomination: Baptist

God's Power In Christian Living

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 16, 2005

Christian living 101. The essence of our life, knowing God the father through God the Son, in the power of God the Holy Spirit, should cause the effort and effect of our Life to Glorify God.

Intro: In a “Peanuts” comic strip, there was a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been; and some place it so they can see where they are at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-19

Denomination: Baptist

Gifts Of Recognition

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 21, 2007

The wise men came to Jesus bearing gifts. The gifts recognize who Jesus was. They recognized him as divine, king, with their gifts. How do you recognize Jesus with what you give to Him and others?

ntro: The background of this story would make any modern day soap opera, or prime time drama writer drool. The wise men meet with a self-absorbed, psychopath by the name of Herod the Great. He was a level headed, friend of the Romans who brought stability to the economy of Judea and built for ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Ready For Great Things

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 29, 2007

Are you tired of merely making it. Do you wish to do great things? We must realize that Jesus said we would do great things. He clearly tells us in John 14 that great things come from a personal, practical, patterened, powerful faith in a great God.

Intro: This is a wonderful passage. It is a passage that is full of Jesus. Jesus is comforting His disciples who are just beginning to realize he is going to die. Thomas says we don’t know the way Lord and Jesus says I am the way. Philip is looking for a spectacular sign and Jesus just wants ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The God Of The Beginning

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 11, 2007

God is revealed even in the first verse of the Bible. He is revealed as Creator, As Redeemer, and Sustainer.

Intro: Genesis is a book of beginnings. Of the heaven and earth, of light and darkness, of seas and skies, land and vegetation, moon and stars, sea and air and land animals, of human beings, of sin and redemption, of life and death, of blessing and cursing, of marriage and family, and the list ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Denomination: Baptist

The Church That God Will Bless

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 11, 2007

God wants to bless His church so that Others will see his greatness. The Church God will bless has the proper foundation, the proper fromation, and perservering faithfulness.

Intro: Jesus as the most important question anyone can ever ask. Who do you say that I am? Peter who normally suffers from foot in mouth disease gets a chance to shine. As the spokesman of the disciples he stands up and says you are the Christ the Son of the living God. Jesus not only tells ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Markings Of A Missionary

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 10, 2005

All Christians are commissioned at conversion. It is a look at the marks missionaries should have as seen in the Life of Paul.

Intro: The apostle Paul was not always a missionary for Christ. Before he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus he was a mercenary for the Sanhedrin. When the apostle Paul became a missionary for the Lord Jesus he became sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as a missionary. Much like ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

A New Life

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 14, 2005

Our life if it is “in Chirst” can and should be of better quality than it was before we met Christ. Why? If we are “in Christ” we have a New Outlook, a New Outpost, and a New Outcry.

Intro: Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthians due to the apparent influence of worldly values on the congregation. The worldly values that are seeping in due to teaching of rival missionaries are affecting their judgment 5.12, and behavior 12.20-21. Paul tells the corinthians their way ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Four Stops On The Way To A Christ Centered Christmas

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 20, 2005

It seems that Christ is not the center of the festivities. It takes an effort in our culture today to keep Jesus front and center at this time of the year. It is amazing how much Christmas is not about Jesus Christ to many. Most people do not have one s

Into: The picture in Luke chapter nineteen should be familiar to us at this time of year. No matter where Jesus went he drew a crowd. This time of year we see crowds as well. But it is not necessarily because Jesus is at the center. The Christmas season malls, stores, Wal-Mart, even many ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

God's Answer For Anxiety

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 5, 2006

The biblical answer for Anxiety. Seek first God’s Kingdom. Be anxious for nothing by being prayerful about everything.

Intro: How many of you woke up today and said to yourself, “Today self I think I will have a hot cup of anxiety, some fried anxiety as well as a piece of toasted anxiety.” Well of course probably none of you! But the reality is that anxiety as we commonly use the term is a part of many Americans ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

Living In Thanksgiving

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 28, 2005

A heavenly perspective on attitude. Paul shows us in the letter to Colossians that an attitude of thanks giving is important for a complete life.

Living In Thanksgiving 11/27/05 Colossians 2.6-7 Intro: Scottish Minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Do You Crown Jesus On His Birthday?

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 31, 2005

This is the time of year to remember we are to decorate our heart with the love of God. We can crown Christ king of our hearts.

Intro: How do many crown Jesus today? Many crown him with the title teacher, prophet. We don’t think much this time of year how we should crown the Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. In this time of presents and pageantry, family and friends, gifts and giving do ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Praying In The New Year

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 1, 2006

If we fail to pray we fail to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We miss out on one the greatest privileges of our life. Connecting with the creator of the Universe! So we know prayer is a privilege but I also want to look at it’s purpose, pattern, an

Intro: Is our church looking to have a purposeful, powerful year for the Lord Jesus Christ in 2006? As your pastor I am expecting great things from this New Year. Shall we go to seminars to find out how to be purposeful and powerful for the Lord? Shall we have guest speakers that will encourage ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Biggest Loser

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 15, 2006

The path in the Christian life to gain is loss. Up is down, and down is up. To know Christ we must look at other things in our life as rubbish, dung, loss.

Intro: The Biggest loser is one of the hottest new reality shows. This is what TV.com had to say about the show, “this compelling new weight-loss reality drama in which two celebrity fitness trainers join with top health experts to help overweight contestants transform their bodies, health and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Repentance: The Forgotten Fruit Of God's Grace

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 31, 2008

People look at the church and cry superficial. Why is that? I believe because it is we have forgotten that saving faith leads to repentant lives. One fruit that has fallen off the faith tree is repentance.

Intro: There are people that look at the church today and cry hypocrites. One reason is they don’t understand we are sinners that are saved by grace. It is the grace of God that makes us saints not the acts of men. Another reason is that the church has become superficial! Paul told timothy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:17

Denomination: Baptist