Sermons on Billy Joel:

The Worship Of Work Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 11, 2011

When our work is done unto Christ it becomes worship. Our entire lives are worship so our lives should characterize God's glory with our excellence.

Intro: The world often disregards the church today. They do the same that Sanballat and Tobiah did here in Nehemiah they say if God loves you so much why are you such a mess. Our church answer is we are forgiven not perfect. The world often disregards us because we focus so much on what is wrong ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

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

Living In The Will Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 22, 2012

Jesus said His food was to do the will of His Father. It is what moved, motivated and mattered to Jesus. God’s will was what engergized Jesus. If we are filled with His Spirit our desirses should be His. What is the will of God? We will learn for the

Intro: The centerpiece of the gospel is the crusifixion. It stands between life for ourselves and life surrendered to God. If we are to follow Jesus we must be crucified with Him. In this daily crucifixion that Paul talks about our will, emotions, and mind are no longer our own we were bought ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:50

Denomination: Baptist

The Will Of God For Individuals Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 22, 2012

God's will for each individual is to say yes to Jesus. How does that play out though. God's primary will for everyone is for each individual to konw Him. Read on to find out how that is practically lived out.

Intro: Many of us as believers can take a test and answer yes to questions like, did Jesus die for your sins, did he rise from the dead, is Jesus coming back to earth? Pastor and author Bruce Larson says that he grew up saying yes to these types of biblical doctrines. But eventually he sensed that ...read more

Scripture: John 17:3

Denomination: Baptist

The Will Of God For The Church Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 29, 2012

God's will for the church is for us to be the bride and body. As the bride we experience Him. As His body we exalt Him.

Intro: Paul was very clear that the redemption, adoption, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the church was to bring glory to God. Ephesians 1:6,12,14. (Read) Our main goal and vision is to 1 Corinthians 10:13 “whether then you eat or you drink do all to the glory of God.” That ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Will Of God For The Lost Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 6, 2012

Should we say "lost" is it another one of those words that are archaic and out of date? No the parable ofthe lost sheep, coin, and son show that God's heart is in seeking, desiring to find the lost. God's will for the lost is clear. His will for the c

Intro: God’s will for the lost is that none should perish that all should come to repentance. This is 2 Peter 3.9. God’s Word translation gives a wonderfully clear picture of God’s will for people that are separated from Him by sin. “The Lord isn't slow to do what he ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Bring The Reign Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 6, 2012

What results does the Lord ship of Jesus bring to the life of His followers? Are their priorities and practices that come from the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus' saints/disciples.

Mark Driscol “Men are prone to chauvinism or cowardice, too little or too much.” What we need to be prone to is Christlikeness. How do we do that? Make the kingdom of God, the reign of Christ your priority. Matthew 6:33 “but seek first His kingdom (reign/rule) and His ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Baptist

Seeing God In 3d Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 16, 2012

God clearly reveals Himself. We as those called to seek Him with all our hearts need to look for His clear revelation not our own personal opinion as to how He is revealed. Our biblical heart is made up of our intellect, emotions, and our will. We were

Intro: One of the greatest things about the Bible is that it never argues God. It clearly communicates and reveals the God of History. This God who is revealed in the Bible is bigger, more intelligent, more powerful, and definitely a lot better than we are. Augustine of Hippo said in his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26

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

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