Sermons on Billy Joel:

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

The Biggest Loser

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 15, 2006

The path in the Christian life to gain is loss. Up is down, and down is up. To know Christ we must look at other things in our life as rubbish, dung, loss.

Intro: The Biggest loser is one of the hottest new reality shows. This is what TV.com had to say about the show, “this compelling new weight-loss reality drama in which two celebrity fitness trainers join with top health experts to help overweight contestants transform their bodies, health and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

God's Answer For Anxiety

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 5, 2006

The biblical answer for Anxiety. Seek first God’s Kingdom. Be anxious for nothing by being prayerful about everything.

Intro: How many of you woke up today and said to yourself, “Today self I think I will have a hot cup of anxiety, some fried anxiety as well as a piece of toasted anxiety.” Well of course probably none of you! But the reality is that anxiety as we commonly use the term is a part of many Americans ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

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

Dramatic Change On The Road To Damascus

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 31, 2005

When God comes on the scene or into your life He makes dramatic changes. What a great example Saul is of this. From persecutor to preacher. God’s still has the power to change lives today.

Introduction: from an unknown source: A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

"Next" Series

Contributed by Billy Noel on Aug 12, 2007

The burden and Joy of the next season

The Next Season John 5: 1-14 I. Jesus Intends to Bless You The season is no accident / it is intentional II. There Must Be Determination vv.6 You must want it as much as He wants to give it Christ calls us to honest and spontaneous devotion to spiritual ends, its risks, but its reality, and purity, ...read more

Scripture: John 5:1-15

Denomination: Christian Church

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

The Markings Of A Missionary

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 10, 2005

All Christians are commissioned at conversion. It is a look at the marks missionaries should have as seen in the Life of Paul.

Intro: The apostle Paul was not always a missionary for Christ. Before he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus he was a mercenary for the Sanhedrin. When the apostle Paul became a missionary for the Lord Jesus he became sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as a missionary. Much like ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-22

Denomination: Baptist

A New Life

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 14, 2005

Our life if it is “in Chirst” can and should be of better quality than it was before we met Christ. Why? If we are “in Christ” we have a New Outlook, a New Outpost, and a New Outcry.

Intro: Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthians due to the apparent influence of worldly values on the congregation. The worldly values that are seeping in due to teaching of rival missionaries are affecting their judgment 5.12, and behavior 12.20-21. Paul tells the corinthians their way ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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

Living In Thanksgiving

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 28, 2005

A heavenly perspective on attitude. Paul shows us in the letter to Colossians that an attitude of thanks giving is important for a complete life.

Living In Thanksgiving 11/27/05 Colossians 2.6-7 Intro: Scottish Minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the ...read more

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

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

God's Power In Christian Living

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 16, 2005

Christian living 101. The essence of our life, knowing God the father through God the Son, in the power of God the Holy Spirit, should cause the effort and effect of our Life to Glorify God.

Intro: In a “Peanuts” comic strip, there was a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been; and some place it so they can see where they are at ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:10-19

Denomination: Baptist