Sermons on Billy Joel:

The Potential Of An Unlimited Life Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2006

To Christian "in Christ" an invitation is given to unlimited life. Unlimited life is a gift from God -- Grace, Unlimited Life comes from the presence of God -- Peace, Unlimited Life comes from our position with God -- Place (standing)

Intro: Life unlimited has Christ as its center. The false teachers in Colosse are trying to move the church from its center. Paul is teaching them how to deal with the false teachers. Colossians 2.20 “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why as if you were ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Identity Of A Carpenter

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2006

Most important question of our day and our life is who is this man Jesus? Three biblical answers, He is Sovereign, He is Savior, His is Shepard

Intro: It is the most important question of our day. Movies like the Da Vinchi code, Discovery specials, and time magazine articles are all saying who is this man? Are you ready to give them and accurate and timely response? Paul said we should always be ready to give a reason for the hope ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16

Denomination: Baptist

Pattern Of An Unlimited Life Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 23, 2006

The apostle Paul prays a wonderful prayer for the Colossians in Colossians chapter 1. In this prayer we see the pattern for living life unlimited. It is a life that is filled, faithful, fruitful, fearful, and forceful for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Intro: As the pastor’s wife lets out the dog: “Remember, Beauregard, you’re the pastor’s dog; all the other dogs will be watching you.” —Cartoonist Rob Suggs The pastor’s dog will impact the way people see the pastor today and relate to him tomorrow. God’s church will impact the way people see ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-9

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

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

God's Promises For The New Year

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 9, 2005

New years resolutions are promises most often broken. We as human beings do not in ourselves have the power to keep all our promises. But God as the ever true, just, creator keeps His promises to others and us, always.

Intro: New Year’s resolutions are promises that are more often broken than kept. We as human beings do not in ourselves have the power to keep our promises or covenants. But God as the ever true, just creator, always keeps His promises to others and us. So let us focus on the promise of God on ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9, Philippians 4:19

Denomination: Baptist

Dispelling Discouragement

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 9, 2005

Losing Heart today is easy. What is loosing heart, we today know it better as discouragement. Jesus speaks some things to us to despell discrouagement. Jesus speaks peace, Jesus speaks encouragement, Jesus speaks triuph.

Losing heart in today’s world can be easy. We know losing heart better as discouragement. Discouragement often will come from listening to someone else’s wrong view of reality. Discouragement can also be brought on by ourself. Discouragement is like a disease that can infest our lives. The ...read more

Scripture: John 16:33

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

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

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

A Call To Worship

Contributed by Billy Noel on Dec 4, 2006

This a challenge to believers to bring God Back to the center of our lives

A Call to Worship I Chronicles 15-16 Create/Prepare a Place for worship 1 After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. He acknowledged the presence of God For the first time the service of praise was now ...read more

Denomination: Christian Church

The Garments Of Righteousness

Contributed by Billy Noel on Dec 4, 2006

The garment of Righteousness protects us from the tactics of the evil one

The Garment of Righteousness Ephesians 4: 17-32 Syrianna……Arabs Righteousness Position-State of being Rom.4:6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Christian Church