Sermons on Billy Joel:

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

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 Road To Forgiveness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 20, 2011

Paul is directing Philemon, Onesimus and you and me down the Road to forgivenes. We find that unforgivness impacts your physical, and mental health. God is not a fuddy dud but a compassionate father wanting only whats best for us. Forgivenes is the roa

Intro: In the past two weeks we have studied the personal yet powerful letter from Paul to Philemon. It is very interesting to note the word forgiveness is never mentioned in this little letter. However much is said about forgiveness by the apostle Paul. Don’t forget the call to put flesh on ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:8-18

Denomination: Baptist

Suffering Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 27, 2011

Is there an aswer to the cause of suffering? The worlds philosophys either deny the reality of suffering or say it must be dealt with until the release of death. The Christian worldview provides neither denial of evil nor disability in dealing with its

Intro: There are supposedly more Christians in the world today than ever before. There are more churches, Christian organizations, and ministries. Is our world the better for it? Morally, spiritually, socially it seems every place you turn the world is getting worse. Libya, Egypt, the Middle ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:10

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Invitation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 5, 2011

Adam and Eve invited suffering into the world. By disobeying God's direct command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they asked for discipline from God. The discipline "I will greatly multiply your pain." Both for woman and man.

Intro: Gianna Jensen is a survivor of a later term abortion. Her mother was in the third trimester of pregnancy when a saline abortion was performed. Through the grace of God she survived and was taken at 2lbs to a hospital and an incubator. Because of this botched abortion she was not supposed ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Purpose Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2011

Is there a purpose in suffering? The earthquake and subsequent tsunami make us ask many questions especially if we have not trusted Jesus. Suffering reveals the good that we ignore before disaster. Suffeing calls us to examine the shortness of our life

Intro: Just three weeks ago we began the suffering portion of this study called incarnate. Today as we draw to a close on our teaching of suffering it is in the face of large scale disaster in Japan that will cause an extended period of suffering for many. If you remember we talked about the ...read more

Scripture: Job 36:15, Job 36:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Live Out Loud Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 29, 2010

James tells us that faith without works is dead. He is not saying Paul is wrong. Paul spoke about becoming a believer and follower of Christ, James is talking about behaving as a believer and follower of Christ. Out loud faith is not merely, words, thi

Intro: What does your faith say? That is the question you should ask yourself this morning as you listen to this message. What does your lifestyle say about the God you say you serve? James is clearly pulling no punches as He deals directly with living, abiding full life generating faith. Does ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Tongue: The Power And Purpose Of Our Words

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 13, 2010

James is presenting practical Christianity. He has told us faith without works is dead. In other words a prayer that doesn't change our practices is powerless. Meeting Jesus changes us permanently and continually. This impacts our works and our words.

Intro: We dive in again to the depths of James practical teaching. He has given us tests and teachings on practical faith in a personal Jesus. Remember that James and Jesus want us to not only be born again of the word but have it to take root in our lives and cause us to trust God more fully ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Hot Dog Song

Contributed by Billy Blackmon on Feb 19, 2010

We must get excited about worshiping God

Pastor Tom Wallace shares an event that took place in his church, Bible Baptist Church in Elkton, Maryland. "The Sunday morning service was just ready to begin when in came a man who had never attended our church before. He looked around with awe and amazement at the great number of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

The Joy Of The Lord

Contributed by Billy Blackmon on Feb 19, 2010

Four occasions when the Joy of the Lord is my strength

A young couple arrived in Kenya as newly appointed missionaries, and very quickly, the wife found out that the comforts of home were non-existent there. They lived in a village hut with no running water or electricity. They had to take a bath in a nearby creek. There was no air conditioning. ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:10

Denomination: Baptist