Sermons on Billy Joel:

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

Introducing God's Desire For The Church Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 26, 2013

Paul's letter to the Ephesians is cram packed with powerful theology and practical Christianity. If we allow it to change us the church with grow spiritually and in every other way.

Intro: In light of the confusion about what scripture says and what the church is supposed to be and do this letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians is a great way to end 2013 and begin 2014. In this letter Paul gives clear teaching on how we can get our theology and thinking about the Church right. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Resurrection: It’s Reality And Our Response

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 14, 2015

The resurrection shows us the overwhelming grace of God and the overwhelming humaneness of man. The disciples were afraid and confused after the death of Jesus. Look deep in the tomb and see the reality of the resurrection and the response it requires

Intro: I heard about a church organist who overslept one Easter morning. She said, "The service was scheduled for 6:30. At 6:31, the minister called to see if I was coming. Since I live near the church, I was at the organ by 6:45. Then, a year later on Easter morning my phone rang at 5:45. When I ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Testimony Of A Pagan King Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 20, 2015

There is a great lesson to learn and live in this 4th chapter of Daniel. It is repeated at least 3 times. Heaven Rules! God is able to humble the proud. God gives warnings to offer grace but we must humble ourselves under His Rule.

Intro: Welcome back to Daniel. We are looking forward to the end. I pray that you are excited to someday see Jesus return in the clouds for His church. Some things to remember as we continue our study of Daniel. Daniel answers many questions for us about the past and the future. However, ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-37, Daniel 4:28-37

Denomination: Baptist

Daniel: Consistent, Confident And Courageous Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 1, 2015

Daniel teaches us be example how to live righteously for Jesus. His consistent life and confident trust in Yahweh should be a great encouragement to us as we live in an ever increasing Godless culture and world.

Intro: We are living in a culture that is much like Daniel’s today. Politically correct and privately motivated. Daniel is old possibly 80 or 90 years old. He has probably seen his family and friends grow old around him. His Hebrew accent is most likely gone and he wears the clothing ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Back To The Future Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 17, 2015

Daniel chapter 7 moves from the historical to the prophetic. The entire chapter moves us to ask the question, Have I invited Jesus to set up His throne in my life.

Intro: Theoretically, television may be feasible, but I consider it an impossibility--a development which we should waste little time dreaming about. Lee de Forest, 1926, inventor of the cathode ray tube. I think there is a world market for about five computers. Thomas J. Watson, 1943, Chairman ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

A Matter Of Life And Death Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 25, 2015

Belshazzar is confident and cocky. With the enemy at his gates he is throwing a party. Into this pride comes the hand of God. What is the message? You have been weighed and you don't measure up!

Intro: When we look at chapter 5 we are seeing the second part of a trilogy of pagan kings. Chapter 4 we see Nebuchadnezzar and his repentance after God’s warning. Chapter 6 we see Darius the Mede acknowledge Daniel’s God but not accept Him. Here in chapter 5 we see Belshazzar and ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 5:1-30

Denomination: Baptist

Profiles And Pictures Of The Anti-Christ Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 31, 2015

We see pictures and profiles of the anti-Christ in the kings Alexander the Great and Antochus IV Ephianes. Alexander the power and Antiochus the pure evil picture of anti-Christ. We can live in faith and not fear as we look to the rock Jesus.

Intro: Remember as we look at Daniel eight we have already established that Heaven rules. God is in control. Because God is in control we can trust Him and live pure and holy lives that honor Him. God has the answers to all our questions if we will look and ask. The book of Daniel answers many ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 8:1-27

Denomination: Baptist

God's Grace For Prisoners And Jailers

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 31, 2015

A sermon shared with prisoners of the England AR Jail. The pain and suffering of Paul and Silas were used to reach the prisoners and Jailer. If they had not be thrown into the Jail the prisoners and Jailer would not have heard the Gospel.

Intro: In 1993, Charles Colson received the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion. The $1 million prize is the largest prize for achievement in any field. It is ranked higher than the Nobel prizes in such fields as science and literature, in the belief that religion is more important. Colson, ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:16-34

Denomination: Baptist

Vbs Training Outline

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 31, 2015

Outline that gives the ABCs for adults to share Jesus with children during Vacation Bible School and Beyond

Why was VBS Started? Unofficially, it's possible to trace the roots of VBS as far back as the 1870s, when the Methodist Episcopal Church offered summer Sunday school institutes to the general public near Lake Chautauqua, New York. In 1873, Bishop John H. Vincent proposed the movement should ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

A Glimpse Of God In The Goodness Of Our Mothers

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 31, 2015

There are generations of children that need to be rescued from wrong ideas and attitudes toward motherhood and womanhood. That begins by recognizing that God has the right to rule and have the last word on every issue

Intro: Have you ever read some of the crazy warning labels there are out there today? Let’s take a look at a couple. This one says danger do not hold the wrong end of a chainsaw. The next one says of an Iron on application, “Do not iron while wearing shirt.” The last one says, ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

Remember

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 31, 2015

Why do we have the memorials of the Lord's Supper and Baptism? Because we have a tendency to forget.

Intro: Two middle-aged couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?" "Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques, such as visualization, association and so on. It ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Danger The Explosive Emotion Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 10, 2015

True Biblical knowledge married to a living spiritual relationship with Jesus leads to new creation behavior. Anger is an emotion given by God to respond to injustice and unrighteousness. Learn in this sermon to use anger biblically.

Intro: If you remember last week one of the most important things we can do is saturate our minds with God’s word. We do this so that the Holy Spirit can plant it deeply within our minds and give us something of the Spirit to think about. We don’t learn more of the Bible which ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:26

Denomination: Baptist

Anxiety: Fear Of Losing Control Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 10, 2015

Anxiety and worry come from trying to grab a hold of something that doesn't belong to us. Control of the situations that surround us. The Bible makes clear we are to control our responses to our environment and to others. We should seek self-control.

Intro: The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met, certain that ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Baptist