Sermons on Billy Joel:

Perspective: The Destructive Power Of Sin Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 14, 2011

God never planned for defeat to be the rule of the Christian life. God planned for the Holy Spirit to be the ruling principle of our life. Victory is to be the rule defeat the exception. When sin is ruling in our life God called for us to deal with it.

Intro: What does God want from the people that make up this local body of believers called Immanuel? Does he want new buildings, more children for VBS, more bible study classes, what does He want? First he wants us to get our perspective right about we exist for the purpose of God living in us ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Positional Thinking: Victory From Defeat Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 14, 2011

The world wants us to think positive. This leads to separation from God and others. God wants us to think positionally. We are seated in Christ Jesus according to His finished work. Joshua and his generals were positive they could take AI. However, t

Intro: An interesting way to begin this morning is to talk about Ai and its meaning. I believe last week I informed you that Ai means heap of stones or heaping ruin. It was first mentioned in Genesis 12.8 and 13.3 in regard to the place that Abraham chose to pitch his tent. We are told that ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 8:1-35

Denomination: Baptist

Finances Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 14, 2011

Proverbs gives us the proper context for giving. Without saying the word Tithe it reveals to us that we are to honor God with the first and best of all our increase, substance, weath, money. Your faithfulness will never be an issue of percentage it will

Intro: Why should we spend time studying what the Bible says about finances? Because the way we handle our resources is one of if not the clearest indicators of our hearts spiritual condition. Of the 38 parables that Jesus taught 16 are about how we handle our money. So why should we study ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Promise Of The Father Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 16, 2011

The world offers life at its best through what you own, wear, the way you look, the more you get, this selfish mentality promises life at its best but never delivers on the promise. God offers life at its best and it begins with a promise of power. Lear

Intro: A web search or general browsing of TV commercials tells us that life at its best is found in anything from nutrition to air fresheners. Culture tells us that life at its best is looking a certain way physically, wearing certain clothes, having a particular attitude. We are told that life ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

The Ministry Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 22, 2011

The Holy Spirit is vital to everything we do as followers of Christ. We as God

Intro: Hosea 6.6 gives us a glimpse from the Old Testament into the heart of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God through Hosea says, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” This book tells the story of Hosea and Gomer. God tells Hosea ...read more

Scripture: John 16:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

The Dynamic Presence Of The Holy Spirit Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 28, 2011

What follows the Holy Spirit taking up residence in those that believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ?

Intro: What follows the Holy Spirit taking up residence in those that believe and follow the Lord Jesus Christ? To find out we turn to the book of Acts. The Acts of the Holy Spirit show us the working of God’s holy Spirit in indwelling, empowering, enabling, and pressing the Apostles and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 11, 2011

Paul said in Gal 2.20 that the life he lived Christ lived in him. He was telling us that we are to allow the Holy Spirit to incarnate Jesus' life in us. Our life is not our own it was bought with a price. If Jesus is living in us then His life should b

Intro: Jesus came into the world at a time similar to ours. The social setting was very complex due to the conflicting religions and philosophies of the day. This led to a very pluralistic social structure in which you could justify anything in the name of a personal god (small g). In other ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Agents Of Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 15, 2011

We see in Paul's prayer of thanksgiving for Philemon the reality of a forgiven childe of God. He was not only forgiven but Paul points out He is an agent of forgiveness.

Intro: Today across America there will probably be many sermons based around the theme of love. How appropriate that Paul in this personal letter to Philemon commends him for his love having feet and hands. If you remember from last week that Paul was calling Philemon to forgive his run away ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:4-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection Isn’t Just For Easter Sunday

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 24, 2011

The resurrection happened so that acts 2 could happen. Not just forgiven people but transformed people. We are forgiven so that we can have with God in Jesus Christ and be remade in Jesus’ image.f

Intro: Someone asked me are we having anything special today? I said no. I have thought about that all week. We are having something special today we are celebrating the resurrection of our savior, Lord, Master, King, friend, and God. Jesus Christ. We do not have to have pageants or special ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Denomination: Baptist

Faith Of A Mother In The Face Of A Struggle

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2011

The family today is in desperate need for parents with faith that can face the struggles of uncertainty, unkindness, and ungodlyness. In Hannah we get a glowing example of a mother that faced her struggles with faith.

Intro: Bill Most of the scholars that you read will look over Hannah and move straight to the last judge of Israel. His name is Samuel in Hebrew means heard of God or God hears. But you cannot bypass one of the most important reasons that Samuel had the relationship with God that he had. ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

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