Sermons on Billy Joel:

Gifted For Growth Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 15, 2012

If you are sealed by the Spirit then you are gifted by God to help the body grow in Christ. This is an introduction to a study on the gifts of the Spirit discussing their source, significance, and stewardship of the gifts.

Intro: Ephesians 4:8 quotes Psalm 68:18 which says “You received gifts from men.” Paul is saying something that would have been understood by people in His day. You gave gifts to men. Paul is using this under the idea of a King who has conquered his enemy coming back into the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Gifted People Week 2 Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 19, 2012

The gifts of the Spirit Operate best in the atmophere of Love. They are used to build the lives of believers to the glory of God and good of all people.

Intro: In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, threatening him with her fist if he didn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they’re nothing but when I curl them together like this ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:25-26

Denomination: Baptist

Authority Of The Servant King

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 2, 2012

The Gospel of Mark presents Jesus as the Greatest Servant. This servant has the authority to forgive sin, free people of disease, force demon to flee. Most of us have some type of reistance to authority. Jesus made it clear the real and eternal life is

Intro: Illustration about “God is watching you.” My first thought was an old angry man in the sky pointing His finger at me saying look out I’m going to get you. My second thought was of the heavenly father I know. Jesus is the only one capable of watching over me, you, every ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-23

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Apathy Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 26, 2010

The devices of the Devil are desined to distort, destroy, distract and defeat the follower of Jesus Christ. One of his most powerful devices is the vice of apathy. The devil will put you in it and slowly tighten until you are cold to the things of God.

Intro: Rollo May, “Hate is not the opposite of love – Apathy is.” One of the most powerful devices of the devil is apathy. Of all the attitudes that are given to the seven churches in the book of Revelation this is the one that makes Jesus sick to His stomach. What is the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Anger Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 6, 2010

There are two words translated anger in the New Testament one carries the idea of passion and energy, the other irritation and agitation. Anger is sinful when it leads us to a loveless response. There are symptoms of dangersous anger given along with th

Intro: Last week in our study we covered Apathy. Apathy is possibly the second most powerful device of the devil. It is a vice that slowly or tightens its grip on us and causes us to be cold and unconcerned with the things of God. If apathy is the vice that slowly pinches off our emotion or ...read more

Scripture: James 1:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Apprehension Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 17, 2010

The devil wants us to be afraid. He does not want us to have healthy fear of events and our environment around us. He wants us to be debilitated by fear of life and living. What will set us free from this. Realizing that God does not give a spirit of

Intro: We began our study of the devices of the Devil with deception. Satan is the father of lies and wants to keep you from the truth of salvation in Jesus finished work on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Deception is his chief device and he has had at least thousands of years to ply ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Focused And Going Forward

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 24, 2010

What is the Kingdom of God? It is the place where Jesus is King! This is the main purpose of the Church to be a place where Jesus is King. Jesus Messiah, what a wonderful song. Messiah is the annointed King of Israel. The annointed King is Jesus.

Intro: In the past few weeks we have studied some of the lethal weapons that the devil will direct at us. I have said that these devices or schemes are designed to destroy, divide, distort what God has for us as believers. Jesus offers us life full. The devil offers life fractured. Our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Grace Grants Gratefulness

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 18, 2008

Ephesians is a letter from Paul that tells about all we have as part of the Family of God. In it seven times he talks about our walk. As God’s children our life should be charactirized by a walk of gratefullness/thanksgiving. Grace is what grants a gra

Intro: Ephesians is a wonderful letter written by Paul that talks about us being part of the family of God. One of the main themes of the letter is the Lordship or headship of Christ. The only way the body will ever be truly united in missions, evangelism, praise, and thanksgiving is to be under ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:20

Denomination: Baptist

Gods Christmas List

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 3, 2008

Here in what is called the Gospel in a verse we find that God also has a Christmas list. This list was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus the perfect gift.

Intro: Everyone has a list for Christmas. Here in John 3.16 we see Jesus tell Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of God. In this wonderful verse called the Little Gospel we see God’s shopping list for all those who would receive the gift of His Son Jesus. Why did ...read more

Scripture: John 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

A Witness In Times Like These

Contributed by Billy Noel on Dec 4, 2008

These are times that try men’s souls and God needs His children to be witnesses

I Peter 4-11 The climate of our culture is becoming increasingly more secular All you need to do is turn on CNN It’s not just in the United States it is all over the world Dafar , Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Russia, Venezuela, and on and on the list goes. There is hate everywhere; there are ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-11

Denomination: Christian Church

Lessons From The Angels Lyrics

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2008

In this saying of praise in Luke’s birth narrative the angels share with us great truths of the gospel. The Gospel is about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospel and the birth story display God’s glory offer God’s peace and deliv

Intro: The more Christmas’ I experience the more I believe we are distracted by the details. The census of Caesar, the worship of the wise men, the marveling of Mary, no room in the inn, all are part of what we read in the gospel birth story. What do the details direct us to? What did the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:14

Denomination: Baptist

Farewell

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 22, 2008

This is a farelwell sermon to the faithful and loving people of Perche. A challenge to ministry and encouragement of love. Using the Apostles farewell to the Ephesian church.

Intro: What can be said that is adequate in a farewell sermon? There are not enough words of thanks or enough words of love that I could share. However I will try my best to leave you with these last words of challenge, encouragement and love. We find as we study the New testament that the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-38

Denomination: Baptist

Waiting For The Christmas Promises

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 23, 2008

Everyone waits for Christmas. Christmas is the promise of gifts. In Simeon and Anna we see that finally the Christmas promise has arrived. The silence is over in these latter days God has spoken to us in His Son.

Intro: It has been 400 years since the Word of the Lord came to the prophets of Israel. Finally the still small voice whispers grace to those that will hear. In the 400 years of Gods silence Rome has risen to power and controls the Promised Land. A remnant of the people of Israel are still ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Worship Of Work Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 11, 2011

When our work is done unto Christ it becomes worship. Our entire lives are worship so our lives should characterize God's glory with our excellence.

Intro: The world often disregards the church today. They do the same that Sanballat and Tobiah did here in Nehemiah they say if God loves you so much why are you such a mess. Our church answer is we are forgiven not perfect. The world often disregards us because we focus so much on what is wrong ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And Planning Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 11, 2011

When God burdens us in our prayer life he is preparing us to do something about that burden in someone elses life. When our prayers connect with God's plans great things happen.

Intro: Tomas A Edison “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed up in overalls and looks like work.” I agree with Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington. “We need far less people criticizing and writing books about what is wrong with ...read more

Denomination: Baptist