Sermons on Billy Joel:

Battlefield Communication: Prayer Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 13, 2014

Prayer is personal constant communication with our heavenly Father and holy Commander in chief. We cannot stand as Paul tells us unless we are connected in communication by prayer.

Intro: A man’s wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to our six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," she replied. "Just say what you hear mommy say," the wife said. The daughter bowed her head and said: "Dear ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:18-20

Denomination: Baptist

All To The Glory Of God

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 15, 2014

The biggest problem in churches today is not personnel, property, potential or financial. It is that we are too self consumed that we are not consumed and concerned with the Glory of God.

Intro: Dr. S.M. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego CA from 1953 - 1993. He entered heaven in 2000. He is well-known for a passage out of his sermon titled “He’s My King”: “He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31

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

The Centrality Of Christ Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 7, 2014

Second week of the Ephesians Series. God designed the Church to Be Christ centered. If we are Christ centered we will speak well of God and fulfill our purpose.

Intro: We said last week that the culture is opposed to the person and principle of Jesus Christ. We must remember that we are chosen in Christ to please and praise God. We are continuing to clear our thoughts about the church with this powerful theology that encourages us to keep our lives ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-5

Denomination: Baptist

Knowing God Personally Living For God Powerfully Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 7, 2014

Fourth week of this series. God offers a personal relationship that leads to a powerful life for His glory.

Intro: Andy Stanley tells the story of when he was 13 and learning the meaning of the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words." His dad was the Associate Pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach on Sundays until a suitable ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-19

Denomination: Baptist

Get Together Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 20, 2014

God's purpose in redemption and reconciliation was to make a new race, the human race! It seems discouraging that so many churches are divided. Why is that so and is it possible to become what God designed. Yes find out what hinders and what helps unit

Intro: We began by hearing that this life is not about us. Our life is to be controlled and conformed to the person and principle of Jesus. The church, the body of people that trust Jesus is to be centered on Jesus. We are also called to be holy, different, set apart for God’s purpose on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Prayer For God's Control Of You Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 23, 2014

Paul as we say in the south chases a rabbit of huge importance. He tells of the central importance of the church in God's plan to reveal His wisdom in the Gospel. Then Paul prays that the church will practically live what God has divinely designed.

Intro: Paul was just getting ready to pray for the Ephesian church when he was reminded of the importance of the church and as preachers are often known to do he chases a rabbit. What an important rabbit to chase today. The church would probably not make it into a list of the 50 most important ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Pattern For Powerful Personal Relationships (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 2, 2014

Paul begins this section of scripture with since you have received all that Jesus purchased and assuming you learned of Him by experience you should have a different lifestyle than the lost. Your life should be characterized by hard work and helpful words

Intro: This week we continue the second part of Pattern for Powerful Personal Relationships. We continue to see the pattern that reveals the resurrection life in us. This is the explanation of John 13:35 “by this they will know that you are my disciples.” If we love the Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Fatherhood Of God Displayed In Earthly Daddies

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 12, 2014

God commands us to train our children. We see in this command a blueprint and recipe for changing our families and our city. The Spirit empowers us to love and discipline our children as a loving Father like God.

Intro: A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

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