Sermons on Billy Joel:

The Favor Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 3, 2012

God gives us grace to forgive our sins. But how many of us miss out on His favor for daily living because we ignore His promises and principles revealed in the Bible. We need to see God clearly and apply His truths daily.

Intro: I remember my brother in law Curtis coming up with the best app of all time. There was a bug on the wall and he grabbed his phone and said “I got an app for that,” and proceeded to smash the bug with his phone. With the introduction of the I Phone, I Pad and all the smart phones and ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

God Wants Your Heart Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 25, 2012

The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God in the heart of His people. God wants your heart. It is from the heart that the issues of life flow.

Intro: Jesus told a group of people if I force or cast out demons by the power of God then the kingdom of God has come to you. What is the kingdom of God? It is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ over all areas of life. Jesus doesn’t just wish to rule over the fallen angels. He desires ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 23:6

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Of Faith Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 25, 2012

God desires us to live by faith. The only way to please God is to live by faith. Faith is not a blind leap of faith it is instead a walk in the light.

Intro: What does God want from us? Whether we are successful like the general or a servant like the young girl, or a prophet who shares the Word and will of God in this story God wants us to live a life of faith. Seasons 2 Episode 9 of Bones. Dr (bones) Brennan gives a completely false ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

A Life Of Thanksgiving Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 25, 2012

That is the basis of thankfulness - to remember that we got here with the help of God, & that He is the provider of every blessing we have.

Intro: Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Denomination: Baptist

Seeking To Live Godly In A Spiritual World Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 25, 2012

Sold Out, two of the most powerful words that can describe our life in Christ. It means we are no longer available to be bought by anything. We are not our own.

Intro: Some of the most terrible words that shoppers can hear on black Friday or any day in this shopping season “Sold Out.” What does that mean? It means it is no longer available to be purchased and unavailable to another buyer. That is exactly what Paul is telling his 1 Corinthians ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 2, 2012

Faithfulness has Jesus as it object, obedience as its joy, and eternity as its goal. Faithfulness is the proper response to all of God's gracious giving.

Intro: What is the proper response to the manger which was the doorway for God to be with us? What is the proper response to the cross where God suffered for us? What is the proper response to the ascension where Jesus intercedes for us? What is the proper response to the gift of the Holy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10

Denomination: Baptist

The Purpose Of Christmas: God’s Glory Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 31, 2012

Our goal should be to reveal and reflect the person and reputation of God in everything we do. To live for God’s glory is to live our lives in such a way that His reputation is enhanced among men. Christmas is about God’s Glory!

Intro: When we think of the birth of Jesus it would be best to think of His entrance into this world as History. Why? It is His story of how God came entered the world and paid for the penalty of mans sin for His glory. Look at Luke 2.14 as the Angelic host proclaimed the theme and ending of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of Christmas: Salvation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 31, 2012

During a time of great pressure during Ahaz reign over Judah God promised a sign of deliverance. That sign has its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Christmas promise. Immanuel, God with us.

Intro: God has a promise for every pain, pressure, and problem we face. Ahaz and the southern nation of Judah was in a very pressing situation in this passage. The northern kingdom of Israel ( Ephraim) and the kingdom of Syria (Aram) had formed an alliance to resist Assyria to the northeast. ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 7:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection Isn’t Just For Easter Sunday

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 24, 2011

The resurrection happened so that acts 2 could happen. Not just forgiven people but transformed people. We are forgiven so that we can have with God in Jesus Christ and be remade in Jesus’ image.f

Intro: Someone asked me are we having anything special today? I said no. I have thought about that all week. We are having something special today we are celebrating the resurrection of our savior, Lord, Master, King, friend, and God. Jesus Christ. We do not have to have pageants or special ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Of A Mother In The Face Of A Struggle

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2011

The family today is in desperate need for parents with faith that can face the struggles of uncertainty, unkindness, and ungodlyness. In Hannah we get a glowing example of a mother that faced her struggles with faith.

Intro: Bill Most of the scholars that you read will look over Hannah and move straight to the last judge of Israel. His name is Samuel in Hebrew means heard of God or God hears. But you cannot bypass one of the most important reasons that Samuel had the relationship with God that he had. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardship Means More Than Dollars And Cents

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 4, 2008

So we come to the truth Stewardship Means more than dollars and cents. Stewardship is recognizing God’s ownership and our position. It is also realizing our responsibility as managers of what God has given us.

Intro: 1 Peter is a wonderful letter written to no one specific person or church. It is instead written to all the churches in Asia Minor or modern day turkey. It is written to churches that are experiencing suffering at the hands of others. So some would say this does not apply to the church ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:7

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Still Rolling Stones Away

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 18, 2008

The stone that covered the garden tombs entrance was not the only stone God removed that faithful sunday morning. He removed the stone of death, the stone of doubt. However God will never remove the stone of unbelief. Come see that God is still rolling

Intro: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not only the cornerstone of our Christian faith it is the capstone. It is the all important center stone in the archway of faith that makes all of Christianity stand. If you remove the capstone from the archway our faith crumbles into a pile of useless ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

The Masterpiece Of The Gospel: The Resurrection

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 18, 2008

The only true masterpiece of man is sin, God’s masterpiece uses the centerpiece (the cross) to paint over the ugly and unacceptable work of man. God’s masterpiece is still the good news. It is still the greatest story ever told.

Intro: A masterpiece is the greatest work of an artist, or something superlative (the best of) its kind. Michelangelo had his Sistine chapel, Leonardo DaVinchi had the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, and Van Gogh had his self portrait. There is no work of art that compares to God’s masterpiece the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Seeds Of Stewardship

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 1, 2008

From the beginning of creation man was placed under God’s authority and given responsibility. That responsibility was to be a caretaker of the resources God had provided. Learn where the seeds of stewardship are planted.

Intro: Was stewardship made up by the early ministers of the church? Did they merely preach it to fill the coffers or offering plates? Is stewardship simply the way that pastors and other “ministers” multiply their earnings? Many of you know that is not the case. However there may be as much ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Ten Commandments: Ten Words The World Needs To Hear Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 12, 2008

Ten Words. The Ten most powerful words ever spoken. Ten simple but profund words that give divine direction for our relationship to God and man. Right response to God and man is the way to a whole and well life.

Intro: A gray haired lady, long a member of her community and Church, shook hands with the minister after the service one morning. “That was a wonderful sermon, she told him, just wonderful. Everything you said applied to someone I know.” What is often missed is that God’s word applies to ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

Denomination: Baptist