Sermons on Billy Joel:

Stephen: Giving His Life And Death For Christ Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 1, 2005

Stephens character was shown by Dr Luke in Acts 6. In Acts 7 we see that character lived out as he lives for Christ and because of his witness becomes the first to die for Christ.

Intro: Last week we learned about the character of a Godly man. We learned about Stephen. Stephen was the first martyr for Christ and what an example to follow! Stephen was not only the first martyr for Christ, but many Scholars and preachers also credit him with being the first Christian ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Denomination: Baptist

Principles For Applying Our Freedom For God's Glory

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 2, 2005

We are created to give God glory. In the perfect law of liberty our ability to choose to give glory to God and honor Him or reject Him. A simple look at how we can use our liberty for His glory.

Intro: How many can remember Patrick Henry’s words? “Give me Liberty or Give me death.” There is much tied up in His words. Most often we think of liberty as something that allows us to choose to do the things we want. But we will find in the passage tonight liberty is also given to us so that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

Denomination: Baptist

Looking Death In The Eye

Contributed by Billy Short on Oct 6, 2005

We will all face death. How do we prepare for it.

ƒ²ƒâƒßƒßƒÛƒØƒÙƒÜƒÜƒnƒ²ƒÑƒàƒäƒÙƒãƒäƒnƒ³ƒØƒåƒâƒÓƒØ ¡§Looking Death in the Eye¡¨ Hebrew 9:27 Billy T. Short, Pastor ¡V October 9, 2005 Christopher Short was 2 months old when it happened to him. Kevin Lott was 7 years old, riding a bike with his sister in the yard when it happened to him. Mike Black, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Church Moving Forward With Its Mission

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 10, 2005

When a church is on mission for Christ there are three things the devil wants to do to its members and its body. Embarass, Imprison, and Embalm you. But God will do three things if we are on Mission for Him. Encourage, Empower, and Enrich our lives.

Intro: When a church has seen no one “won” or witnessed to the Lord Jesus Christ it will be left alone by the devil. However, if the church is not fulfilling its mission of sharing its faith with the lost the Lord Jesus Christ will correct it. Whether it is financial difficulty, terrible ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

False Faith/Counterfeit Christianity

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 15, 2005

Simon the sorcerer is an illustration of Counterfeit Christianity or false faith. It begins with a false self perception, and foolish pride. Trying to show folks that the rituals we use in the church do not save, instead it is the life changing presence

Intro: Online Encyclopedia, Wikipedia this to say about Counterfits “Today the finest counterfeit banknotes are claimed to be U.S. dollar bills produced in North Korea, which are used to finance the North Korean government, among other uses. The fake North Korean copies are called Superdollars ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:9-25

Denomination: Baptist

Philip Following Divine Direction In The Desert

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 23, 2005

God desires to direct His people through His Holy spirit living in us. In Philip you can see a person determined to follow the direction of God no matter where the direction would lead.

Intro: We see in our passage today that God greatly desires to direct His church by way of the Holy Spirit. You might ask, how does God direct and guide through His Holy Spirit living in us? God speaks, guides and directs His people in so many different ways. Imagine the many different ways ...read more

Scripture: Acts 8:26-40

Denomination: Baptist

Dramatic Change On The Road To Damascus

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 31, 2005

When God comes on the scene or into your life He makes dramatic changes. What a great example Saul is of this. From persecutor to preacher. God’s still has the power to change lives today.

Introduction: from an unknown source: A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Our Attitude For The Lord's Supper

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 5, 2005

There are disputes over how often we observe the Lord’s supper, disputes over what type of bread, what type of wine, or juice to use. But there should be no dispute that we should observe the Lord’s supper in a right attitude!

A.T. Pierson (A pastor in the 1800’s) The link between the cross and the crown is the Table of the Lord. Do not forget when you sit down at the communion, that the bread and cup point back to Christ’s accomplished work, and forward to your accomplished salvation. I. Our attitude should be one of ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:23-31

Denomination: Baptist

Valentine Dreams

Contributed by Billy Blackmon on Feb 14, 2005

This sermon provides five principles necessary to keep love strong in a marriage relationship

Valentine Dreams Philippians 2:1-2 Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and with love in the air, many couples have found themselves saying “I do” to each other. But unlike years gone by, few if any left their reception with a shower of rice. By the mid-1990s, it was common knowledge that the uncooked ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Eating Green Beans

Contributed by Billy Blackmon on Feb 17, 2005

We are commanded to be thankful for any difficulties (green beans) that come our way.

Thanking God for Green Beans Luke 17.11-19 Six green beans sat on his daughter’s plate, untouched. Mike Benson says that sort of thing usually didn’t bother him, but that night it did. “Eat your green beans,” he told the eight-year-old. “Dad, I’m full to the top.” “You won’t pop,” he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

Denomination: Baptist

Loving God's Way

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 20, 2005

Is it possible to describe the awesome character of God with one Word. All that he was, is, and shall be. Yes!!! 1 John 4.8 "God is love" This examines God as the source of love, our fruit of love, confidence in love, and conviction of love.

How in one word could you sum up all that is God? Can you this morning think of one word or a phrase that completely and adequately tells us who God is? Is it possible you say? Can you so simply state the totality of who God is? Is it possible to communicate the infinite unending; graciousness, ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

You Shall Be My Witnesses

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 16, 2005

Too often we ask God why don’t I have this or that, why is this happening, why, why, why. Instead we should be asking what God can you do through me? God answers with the voice like many waters, You Shall Be My Witnesses.

Vance Havner a very practical down home preacher said, “One day of green pastures and still waters is followed by dark valleys and miry swamps and a thousand whys lie unanswered, tabled for the future.” When it comes to unanswered whys from God we all too often ask more whys instead of what! In ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:6-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Priority Of Faithfulness

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Mar 20, 2005

God doesn’t require us to be intelligent, articulate, handsome or eloquent. He requires us to be faithful.

INTRODUCTION: Ø Paul had reminded the Corinthians that they served a faithful God (1:9). Ø He also declared that God can be depended on to be with them in any trial (10:13). Ø He further encouraged them to be zealous with the assurance that their labor will not go unrewarded (15:58). Ø Every ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Preparing The Way

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 23, 2005

It is in the Triumphal entry we see our preparation to move from sinner to saint, from overcome by sin to overcommer of sin, from beaten to blessed!!!! We can proclaim today these things because our redeemer prepared the way, and because he finalized the

All history (His Story of saving us from our sin) will hinge on the cross. In His triumphal entry (scholars have called it a-triumphal) we see the foreshadowing of His purchasing our pardon from sin and preparing for us the way called straight. His plan was prepared before the foundations of the ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 30, 2005

The resurrection is a reality. However, if the cross had not been a reality, the resurrection could not have been. What then is the relevance to our everyday life?

To become a Christian is to accept an extra dimension to life. From the Christian’s point of view the notable thing about the unbeliever’s world is how much smaller it is. The unbeliever is imprisoned in a decaying universe. Imagine you took a child to the theater to see some tragedy like, say, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-5

Denomination: Baptist