Sermons on Billy Joel:

The Blessing Of The Ascension Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 15, 2010

Why did Jesus bear the burden of the cross, why the resurrection the breakthrough? So that we coud experience the blessing of God. The best definition of the Holy Spirit is Christ in us. Easter is over but the word and work of Jesus are still ongoing.

Intro: Thus far we have examined the burden of the cross, the breakthrough of the resurrection, now we come to the blessing of the ascension. How can it be that I would say that Jesus, the embodiment of God leaving this planet would be a blessing? Because the bodily incarnation of God cannot ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

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

Steps To Victory Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 21, 2011

Joshsua the hebrew form of Jesus Christ's name. We are shown that God has given us victory. However as with the Israelites we must step in obedience to the direction and will of God. Merely taking the steps does not gurantee victory. Taking the steps

ntro: Joshua is a book about victory. It is not victory through superiority but through surrender. Surrender to the presence, promises and provision of God. Deuteronomy and Joshua have divisions between them but are written more like a part 1 and 2 of the same story. In Deuteronomy the Children ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Preparation Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 8, 2011

There are steps of preparation for every victory. As the church we must prepare for God to do something, prepare with unity, prepare for conflict. It will take action on our part to take steps to vicory that God purchased for us in christ.

Intro: Paul warned and encouraged the Church that Jesus was coming again. Peter warned and encouraged the church that Jesus was coming again. John warned and encouraged the Church that Jesus was coming again? If you have been saved by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and sealed by the ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Providence: The Active Hand Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 13, 2011

The key to success and significance as a Chrisitan, a Church, part of the Kingdom of God is God active working in your life.

Intro: Remember that the book of Joshua is not about a group of people that were really good at conquering. They were instead at times really good at following the commands of the Living God. They learned to live with God active in their lives. What have we discovered so far? God did not ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 2:1-24

Denomination: Baptist

Praying For God's Intervention

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 7, 2013

Have you ever known someone who needs an intervention to prevent damage or destruction? This describes what will happen if God's people in America do not wake up from our sleep and repent of our wicked ways. We need an intervention.

Intro: This is an excerpt from the Daily Chronicle December 13, 1904 William Stead reports, “Employers tell me that the quality of the work the miners are putting in has improved. Waste is less, men to go their daily toil with a new spirit of gladness in their labour. In the long dim ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

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

How Not To Respond To God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Sep 22, 2013

Be careful when you read the story of Jonah that you are not distracted by the big fish, the big city, or the popular prophet. The story ks about the God who is bigger and above yet completely involved in the story of grace.

Intro: Top 10 THINGS TO DO INSIDE A BIG FISH 10) “Can you hear me now?” 9) Pray the fish is ….. bulemic 8) Bonfire and a fish fry! 7) Open a sushi bar 6) “Consider it pure joy” 5) Floss . . . the whale 4) Finally get motivated to read Moby Dick 3) Listen to tapes of ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Result Of Worship Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 1, 2015

Worship is bowing down our lives before Jesus. This bowing of our lives before Him should make us like Him. Find out how.

Intro: We learned a few weeks ago that the chief business of the church is to worship God. I want to remind you that the main words used to speak of worship in the New and Old Testaments carry the idea of bowing down. Our lives as individuals and as a whole as a church body are to be bowed down ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Baptist

The Worship Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 1, 2015

Prayer is an ultimate way to bow down before God.

Intro: Johnny had been misbehaving and was sent to his room. After a while he emerged and informed his mother that he had thought it over and then said a prayer. "Fine", said the pleased mother. "If you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you." "Oh, I ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6-7

Denomination: Baptist

God Is Seeking Worshipers Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 20, 2015

What an amazing passage. Jesus uses the most unlikely of persons to teach us and His disciples true worship. Come and learn what worship is and that God is seeking those that will bow and serve.

Intro: We come to John four and we find Jesus exhausted. The word translated worn out means to work until totally spent or exhausted. Jesus came in His worn out state to the woman at the well to teach us all what worship really is. A good question to ask ourselves is why this woman? Why this ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

The Fragrance Of Worship Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 20, 2015

Jesus shows us clearly the result of forgiveness is love and worship. The woman who anointed Him anointed him with her future and her singleness. Ask yourself what is your fragrant oil.

Intro: If you remember from last week Jesus went to place He shouldn’t be to talk to a woman He shouldn’t talk to. He used that woman to teach us what true worship is. Here we go again! It seems like Jesus is completely happy to tear down our ideas and presumptions about who should ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

Stewardship Of The Body Are You Building Or Breaking Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 22, 2009

Paul is chastizing the Corinthians for thinking they are spiritually mature when in fact they are still in need of the milk or basics of God’s word. The question this should cause us to ask ourselves is are we building or breaking!

Intro: Why did Paul write this letter? He wrote it because the conduct of the Corinthians did not match their confession of Christ. Division, strife, incest it sounds like a soap opera gone bad. We have to remember many of the Christians that Paul minister came out of a corrupt and selfish ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-22

Denomination: Baptist

What Does It Mean To Be A Christian

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 10, 2009

What does it really mean to be a Christian? Is it fancy buildings and great music? Or is there something more, deeper, better? Here is 3 of the most basic truths of what it means to be a Christ follower.

Intro: Vince Lombardi Head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959-1967. What was it that Lombardi did to spur his team on to greatness? He got back to basics. What is the famous quote from Vince Lombardi? “This is a football.” From the condition of churches around the United States and ...read more

Scripture: Acts 11:26

Denomination: Baptist