Sermons on Billy Joel:

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

Strategy: Learning God’s Way To Win Spiritual Warfare Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 8, 2014

We are at War! When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we are commissioned to stand in a battle. Victory only comes when we know who and how we face the battle.

Intro: Video intro from sermon Spice – Spiritual Warfare What are the three biggest mistakes you can make in warfare? 1) Not knowing you enemies strategy 2) Not having a strategy of your own 3) Not knowing you are at war. Paul has told us about riches of being in God’s family and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Best Defense The Breastplate Of Righteousness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 21, 2014

The breastplate of righteousness. Faith our trust in God and love our choosing to share with others the hope of the gospel. Paul says, Put it on!!! We find out why and how it protects us from the advances and attacks of the enemy in this message.

Intro: When you read about the breastplate of righteousness you find a discussion and disagreement about whether the righteousness that Paul is speaking about is imputed righteousness or imparted righteousness. Imputed righteousness is what we get when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior and are ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Spiritual Warfare The Belt Of Truth Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 26, 2014

Government says taxation, environmentalists say population, politicians say legislation, taxation and education. All of their strategies are wrong. The gospel and truth of Jesus says the solution to our problems is transformation.

Intro: The government is looking for ways to save entitlement programs and the only place they look is more taxation. The environmentalists are looking for ways to save the planet and the only thing they can come up with is lower population. Politicians are looking to solve our illegal alien ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Baptist

Shield Of Faith Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 7, 2014

Faith is taking God at His Word! When you believe what God says is true you behave how God tells you. When we live as like God is telling the truth not one fiery dart of the devil can find its mark! We are protected by our faith and trust in Jesus!

Intro: A preacher an evangelist and a priest went out in a boat fishing on the lake. The preacher needed to go to the bathroom so he got up got out of the boat walked on the water to shore and walked back the same way. The evangelist also had to go relieve himself got up out of the boat and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:16

Denomination: Baptist

The Helmet Of Salvation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 14, 2014

The devil gets to us most effectively through the gateway of our minds. On the battlefield of life we must have our heads protected to ward of our enemies deadly blows. The helmet protects our thoughts but it also perfects our thoughts.

Intro: Do you ever think about what you think about? No. Usually we just think. Turn to a friend and tell them the last thing you thought about last night before falling asleep and the first thing you thought about this morning. Sometimes we have very little control over our thoughts; they ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Denomination: Baptist

Let Jesus Build Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 3, 2016

Jesus promised to build His church not out of brick and mortar but out of flesh and blood. He builds HIs using living stones. What tools does Jesus use in order to build His Church. Are we helping or hindering the master builder. Find out inside.

Intro: Jesus promised to build His church. Matthew 16:13-18 He made it clear that He would build His church. He builds it on the confession that He is Lord. But what type of building is He building and what type of materials is He using? Jesus is building a spiritual temple and a holy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Denomination: Baptist

Let Jesus Build Part 2 Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 14, 2016

Part 2 of Jesus promising to build His Church. We are dead dirt what tools does Jesus use to make us living stones?

Intro: A little bit of review. The big thing we were told last week is that Jesus made a promise. We already know that Jesus is a promise keeper. Our God is a promise keeping God. He promised in the moment that you chose to rebel and sin you will die. Every single day almost every minute that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:5

Denomination: Baptist

Disarming Our Fears Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 1, 2016

Fear has a way of consuming and controlling our lives as humans. Perfect love is the only thing that casts out fear. When we discover that we were chosen by God in Christ fear may be real in our lives but it will never rule our lives.

Intro: Fear has been a part of the human struggle since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God in the beginning. The first thing they did when God called them was to hide. Genesis 3:10 I hid because I was afraid! Everyone that is honest is afraid of something. Our fears may be reasonable or ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9

Denomination: Baptist

Contentment The Solution For Our Fears Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 6, 2016

Hebrews tells us that Jesus is better. When we are content in Jesus our fears fade and our faith is fortified. Find out what amazing results happen when we learn to be satisfied with Jesus!

Intro: A man said to his wife just before an important engagement, "I'm so nervous, I've got sweaty palms and a dry mouth." His wife replied, "Then why don't you lick your palms?" - See more at: http://hotsermons.com/sermon-illustrations/sermon-illustrations-fear.html#sthash.TkVMYHyc.dpuf That ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Confidence: God's Replacement For Our Anxiety Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 21, 2016

God wants to replace our anxiety with confidence. God wants us to trust Him more than we fear people or circumstances.

Intro: According to the February 10, 2015 Huffington Post blot Valentine’s Day is big business. It grosses 17 Billion dollars. That is somewhere near 140.00 per person. I am so glad that God didn’t just buy us chocolate and flowers to show that He loved us. When we hear the most ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Sword Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 20, 2014

The Sword of the Spirit is the personal and precise words of Jesus to us. It is the gospel but it is more. It is part of the living words that Jesus speaks to us as we abide and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

Intro: Have you ever heard, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me?” Maybe the devil was the one who coined this phrase. You and I both know the power that words have. What we are going to find in Spiritual warfare the only thing that will harm the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 1:17

Denomination: Baptist

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