Sermons on Billy Joel:

What Do These Stones Mean?

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 24, 2008

When God took the children of Israel across the river Jordan he called them to set up memorial stones. The stones caution us to remember, they challenge us to recount, and they call us to respond.

Intro: There was a rumor circulating in Washington some time ago that Osama Bin Laden had died and gone to Heaven. As the story goes, when he arrived in Paradise, Osama was greeted by George Washington who slapped him across the face and yelled, "How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

What Is The Big Deal About Worship?

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 2, 2008

The church culture of today has so allowed the culture around us to shape the way we do things. The customer satisfaction mentality has invaded our churches. We have to be sure not to offend anyone and worship is all about them. Here in Isaiah we see t

Intro: In Isaiah 6 we see the call and commissioning of Isaiah the prophet. We do not know but we assume that Isaiah was in the earthly temple. However, the temple described in verse 1 is the heavenly temple. In the year King Uzziah died. It would be like saying in the year Pearl Harbor was ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

Celebrating Our Independence By Imitating God

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 4, 2014

How should we celebrate our independence from sin? Paul gives us the way in Ephesians 5 as beloved children Imitate God." If this were our focus as churches we would see revival, lives filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and transformation in lives

Intro: This Friday was the Fourth of July. The Fourth celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 and freedom from the cruel rule of the British Empire. It is marked with Bar B Que, fireworks and going to the lake. Paul is calling us to a similar celebration in ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Spirit Filled Life Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 2, 2014

The Spirit filled life is not simply about spouting Spiritual garbage. It is about allowing the Holy Spirit to control every area of your life. Come and see how that works out practically

Info: Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Strategy: Learning God’s Way To Win Spiritual Warfare Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 8, 2014

We are at War! When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are commissioned to stand in a battle. Victory only comes when we know who and how we face the battle.

Intro: Video intro from sermon Spice – Spiritual Warfare What are the three biggest mistakes you can make in warfare? 1) Not knowing you enemies strategy 2) Not having a strategy of your own 3) Not knowing you are at war. Paul has told us about riches of being in God’s family and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Defense The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 21, 2014

The breastplate of righteousness. Faith our trust in God and love our choosing to share with others the hope of the gospel. Paul says, Put it on!!! We find out why and how it protects us from the advances and attacks of the enemy in this message.

Intro: When you read about the breastplate of righteousness you find a discussion and disagreement about whether the righteousness that Paul is speaking about is imputed righteousness or imparted righteousness. Imputed righteousness is what we get when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior and are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Warfare The Belt Of Truth Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 26, 2014

Government says taxation, environmentalists say population, politicians say legislation, taxation and education. All of their strategies are wrong. The gospel and truth of Jesus says the solution to our problems is transformation.

Intro: The government is looking for ways to save entitlement programs and the only place they look is more taxation. The environmentalists are looking for ways to save the planet and the only thing they can come up with is lower population. Politicians are looking to solve our illegal alien ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Introducing God's Desire For The Church Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 26, 2013

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is cram packed with powerful theology and practical Christianity. If we allow it to change us the church with grow spiritually and in every other way.

Intro: In light of the confusion about what scripture says and what the church is supposed to be and do this letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is a great way to end 2013 and begin 2014. In this letter Paul gives clear teaching on how we can get our theology and thinking about the Church right. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

Jonah's Song Of Repentance Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 29, 2013

We too often believe the lie that things are meant to destroy us. Whether a violent storm or big fish what we think is meant to destroy us is actually designed by God to develop us.

Intro: Think about this as we look at chapter 2 of Jonah. What did Jonah deserve? He deserved to be a man taco for a big fish. What did he get? God’s mercy. Jonah had already received God’s grace. God did not completely destroy Jonah or the Ship in the violent storm. God as a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Second Chances, Scars And Spiritual Transformation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 9, 2013

God's great desire is not to bring judgment to people but for people to repent. God's great desires if for believers and non-believers alike to turn to Him.

Intro: In this third chapter of Jonah we see God’s great desire for people to turn toward Him. It doesn’t matter the depth of their sin or the degree of their violence. What we discover in this chapter of Jonah is what John R Stott said, “The Gospel is good news of mercy to ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The School Of Grace Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 12, 2013

This is the final in a 4 week series on Jonah. God pursued Jonah, God developed Jonah, God used Jonah and now He is schooling Jonah. Jonah cannot see beyond himself in order to offer compassion to Nineveh.

Intro: All of us want to know that others are concerned about us. When people don’t appear to be concerned about our pain and problems we think they don’t care. What God is telling Jonah today is that He is concerned about all His creation. God is especially concerned about those ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Benefits Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 22, 2013

There are benefits to accepting God's invitation to be grateful. If we live with a grateful heart we are living in God's will, in God's presence and we will live above our circumstances. True thankfulness comes only from love of God.

The Benefits of Thanksgiving Intro: Thankful Video. We are told to give thanks always but what exactly does that mean? Do we lay everything down and just say thank you 24 hours a day 365 days a year? Ephesians 5:17-20 (read) 5:20 “giving thanks always for everything to God the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:17-19

Denomination: Baptist

The Voice Of Christmas

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 3, 2013

There are so many sounds and voices that bombard us during the thanksgiving and Christmas season. We need to make time to hear the voice of Christmas over the noise of daily life.

Intro: There are so many things we hear at this time of year. Good sayings like “Merry Christmas,” Good songs like “Silent Night,” “I’m Dreaming of a white Christmas,” “Joy to the World,” “Jesus is born today,” Then you come ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Shield Of Faith Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 7, 2014

Faith is taking God at His Word! When you believe what God says is true you behave how God tells you. When we live as like God is telling the truth not one fiery dart of the devil can find its mark! We are protected by our faith and trust in Jesus!

Intro: A preacher an evangelist and a priest went out in a boat fishing on the lake. The preacher needed to go to the bathroom so he got up got out of the boat walked on the water to shore and walked back the same way. The evangelist also had to go relieve himself got up out of the boat and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:16

Denomination: Baptist

The Helmet Of Salvation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 14, 2014

The devil gets to us most effectively through the gateway of our minds. On the battlefield of life we must have our heads protected to ward of our enemies deadly blows. The helmet protects our thoughts but it also perfects our thoughts.

Intro: Do you ever think about what you think about? No. Usually we just think. Turn to a friend and tell them the last thing you thought about last night before falling asleep and the first thing you thought about this morning. Sometimes we have very little control over our thoughts; they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Denomination: Baptist