Sermons on Billy Joel:

Genereous: Discovering The Generous Character Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 4, 2011

If you examine the Bible from Genesis to Revelation we find that again and again God is giving. He is generous in creation, salvation, and sanctification. If His character is so generous shouldn't ours be? God is lavishly generous as we identifiy with

Intro: What is it that will cause us as Christians, followers of Christ to give in a manner that glorifies God? It will not be capital campaigns, it will not be gimmicks. Instead it will be when we understand the depths of God’s character and His goal to spread His kingdom by seeking and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:11

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

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

Learning That Service Is Satisfying Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 13, 2012

Oswald Chambers spoke over 100 years ago prophetically of the time we are living in today. He said, “We are moving into a more spiritual but less Godly time.” There is a desperate need for the church today to surrender their life to Jesus. He tells us

Intro: Oswald Chambers spoke over 100 years ago prophetically of the time we are living in today. He said, “We are moving into a more spiritual but less Godly time.” God clearly tells us to be born again in John 3, we are told by Paul if we are in Christ we are a new creation. More people are ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

Learning God’s Idea Of Greatness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 16, 2012

We as the Church, the called out body of believers, have been distratced from God definition of greatness. God has designed a broom for every believers hands. Your broom my be children’s ministry, homeless ministry, marriage, etc. God as a broom shappe

Intro: There are many things that are fought for in the church today. The type of music that is used during the worship service, the way we use money, the length of time we have a worship service, the way we organize and we could go on. The one thing that usually isn’t fought over is the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:35-45

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To See God's Way Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 21, 2012

Vision comes from clearly seeing what God has planned from the foundation of the world in Jesus. He calls us to develop fully devoted followers, those that do what He says because they love Him. We must have eyes only for Jesus if we are to succeed.

Intro: The entire message of Hebrews seems to be that there is something better. What we find is that faith in Jesus doesn’t take away from our lives actually it brings better things. As I like to say, “The longer you know Jesus the gooder life gets.” Hebrews is a letter ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

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

Character Trait: Seeing And Living The Supernatural Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 22, 2013

The supernatural is not always spectacular. Sometimes God works supernaturally in the natural. Some examples are marriages restored, addictions undone, attitudes remade. Character and conduct are conformed to Jesus.

Intro: The supernatural is not always spectacular. Sometimes God works supernaturally in the natural. Some examples are marriages restored, addictions undone, attitudes remade. There is something that is very dangerous today. The supernatural has become twisted to be vampires, zombies, and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-43

Denomination: Baptist

Character Trait: Unity Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 26, 2013

One accord does not mean the early church was traveling in a Honda. They were moving together as one because they were moved by the same Spirit. Unity in the body of Christ is serious business. Because unity in the church springs from the heart of God

Intro: One accord does not mean the early church was traveling in a Honda. They were moving together as one because they were moved by the same Spirit. Acts 2:44 “Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.” Remember 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I have a ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-46

Denomination: Baptist

Character Trait 9: Joy Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 25, 2013

Joy is one of the essential marks of God’s Spirit ruling and reigning in us. Read this sermon to find out how joy will grow in us as we apply the principles taught in God's word about Joy!

Intro: Joy is not syrupy or sappy, sentimental or seasonal. Joy is not happiness, because happiness depends on what happens to you. Joy is also not the absence of sorrow. Joy is a vivid emotion of pleasure or state of being highly delighted. Where does this state or emotion come from? Joy is ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:41-46

Denomination: Baptist