Sermons on Billy Joel:

Patience: Waiting On The Activity Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 24, 2011

There is constant spiritual conflict. There are spiritual foes that fight with untruth, half-truth, distraction, division, apathy, etc. In the challenge and conflict we face there is a loud and clear voice of God telling us of the ultimate reality. We

Intro: “You are a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting and suppose you can have the crown without conflict.” These words were spoken by Syrian preacher John Chrysostom (647-407 AD) He was loudly and clearly stating what Paul said hundreds of years ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 6:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

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

Genereous: Discovering The Generous Character Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 4, 2011

If you examine the Bible from Genesis to Revelation we find that again and again God is giving. He is generous in creation, salvation, and sanctification. If His character is so generous shouldn't ours be? God is lavishly generous as we identifiy with

Intro: What is it that will cause us as Christians, followers of Christ to give in a manner that glorifies God? It will not be capital campaigns, it will not be gimmicks. Instead it will be when we understand the depths of God’s character and His goal to spread His kingdom by seeking and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:11

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Relase Our Lives For The Glory Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 11, 2011

What we do with our money is decison of the heart and not the head. We are challenged by God's word to live by God's principles not our preferences. God's ways lead to blessing our ways lead to burderns. Which do you follow.

Intro: Last week we learned that God is lavishly generous. We know that the goal of God is to place in us the character of Christ. God’s generosity is not without purpose. Remember God is generous toward us and gives us gifts so that the body of Christ can be built up and others can ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Trust God's Principles And Promises Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 26, 2011

The principles of God's word point to God's person. So if we trust His principles it is because we trust Him. If we do not live by His principles we miss out on all there is found in His person.

Intro: Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope.” What truths are found in the Old Testament that will instruct and encourage us to a deeper trust with ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Macho Man Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 2, 2011

God calls us men to be men like Jesus. He doens’t call us to be action heroes full of attitude and anger. He calls us to answer the Question who do you say that I am and what difference does it make in our lives.

Intro: Who do people say that I am? That is the most purposeful question that you will ever be asked in your life. Some people say Jesus was a good teacher, a radical zealot, a miracle worker, a relgion starter. But Jesus never allows us to stay with the purposeful answer he always makes it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Identity: Live Like You Mean It Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 8, 2009

After having learned who we are in christ in the first three chapters now we know right belief. Paul begins the last three chapters of Ephesians with right behavior. It begins with unity and leads to maturity.

Intro: Bruce Howell tells of “I Can’t Change Jesus” Bill Irwin, a man who is blind, has a talking computer he uses to study the Bible. He’s had a few chuckles over some of the pronunciations. "For a long time," Bill says, "the computer pronounced Holy Bible as ’holly bibble’ until I figured out ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Cross: Where Jesus Died

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 6, 2009

Has the cross become too cultural. Is it more popular than powerful. The cross is where jesus died.

Intro: Is it possible that we have become too familiar with the cross? Is it possible that it has become more popular than powerful? Is it possible that the cross is more cultural than critical to the salvation of people separated by from the life of God? The cross doesn’t seem to be as ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Curse: Why Jesus Died Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 6, 2009

We see in the Bible that the curse is why Jesus died. To remove the curse of sin and death. We will also see the cross where Jesus died and the Crown why Jesus lives.

Intro: Paul’s letter to the Galatians is addressing what man seems always to do. Either add to or take away from God’s word. It began in the garden with Adam and Eve. Adam disregarded God’s word and Eve added to it. I’ve got to quote John Piper, “Satan is continuously at work tempting us to ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 3:9-14

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

The Peace Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 14, 2012

There is a great misunderstanding of true peace. Peace is not the absence of problems. It is instead God's power to live through and above those problems. God gives us wholeness when He indwells believers with His Holy Spirit.

Intro: A therapist told their patient the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what they start. So far today, they finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake. They said, “I feel better already.” There are lots of people giving advice and writing books about peace today. ...read more

Scripture: John 14:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Joy Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 17, 2012

There is a misunderstanding of joy. Joy is not giddy or goofy Christians. Instead Joy is the pleasure of the presence of God in your life. The world may work against but if God is for you the Joy of the Lord is your strength! Explains what is needed f

Intro: Joy is not syrupy or sappy, sentimental or seasonal. Joy is not happiness, because happiness depends on what happens to you. Joy is also not the absence of sorrow. Psalm 16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal ...read more

Scripture: John 15:11

Denomination: Baptist

Selfcontrol: The Discipline Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 25, 2012

We are told that we are more than victorius through Christ. If that is so then why do so many Christ followers seem to have defeat and not victory. Because the only place victory comes before work is in the dictionary. A forgotten or ignored fruit of t

Intro: Have you ever looked for victory in your spiritual life but had it vanish like a mist of fog? Are you searching for what it means to be more than a conqueror but feel conquered most of the time? Do you sing victory in Jesus and really don’t believe that it’s possible. If you ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Baptist