Sermons on Billy Joel:

Preparation Day Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2016

What does God prepare us for? He prepares us to worship, work, witness and walk.

Intro: We are told that when John Huss was arrested and informed that he would be burned to death for his faith, he purposely practiced holding his hand over fire to prepare for his final test. He burned himself in preparation. He wanted to be faithful to the end. Moody Monthly, April, 1990, p. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:11-25

Denomination: Baptist

Just Another Day In The Desert Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2016

Moses is about to find out what we all need to find out, God uses broken things!!

Intro: Exodus chapter 3 is the continuing journey of God to set His people Israel free. Moses failed in his own power to set his people free. He fled to the desert and seems to be leading a normal life. Remember failure does not disqualify you for being used of God. Only men determine that you ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

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

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

This Is The Way Walk In It

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 3, 2015

Sermon preached before VBS 2015

Intro: This passage comes from a promise to the people of Judah (The southern kingdom of the nation of Israel) they are told that when they were comfortable they would not hear God’s word or the voices of their teachers. God knew the tendency of the heart of the Children of Israel. He ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 30:21

Denomination: Baptist

Choose The End Is Near Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 9, 2015

God has his hand firmly on history. Prophecy calls us to choose what we trust in. Do we trust the God of money, such as retirement, investment. Do we trust the God of comfort etc. We are called by the still small voice of God to trust and obey Him.

Intro: Bob Deffinbaugh tells a funny memory about chapter 11. He opened up an old Bible he had from Bible college and was reading notes in chapter 10 and finally got to 11 and one of his daughters had scribbled all over the pages of chapter 11. He wondered when the Lord returned if all of the ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 11:2-45

Denomination: Baptist

The Point Of Prophecy Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 26, 2015

The point of prophecy is to point us toward God. The point of Daniel's prophecy isn't necessarily profound but it is very practical. No matter what happens go you way until the end. It is a call to be faithful in the face of all circumstances in Christ

Intro: When we began this study on Daniel you were encouraged that because God is in control you can live righteously or Godly in this wicked world. You should also remember that the prophecies were written not to satisfy your curiosity but to strengthen your faith. God is in control and ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 12:1-13

Denomination: Baptist

Emotional Freedom Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 26, 2015

There is a great disconnect today between faith and a vital relationship with Jesus. You don't have to look far to see the results. Riots, rage, racial division. When our emotions control us we miss out on the freedom Jesus promised.

Passion: The Holy Spirits Power to Handle your Emotions Emotional Freedom Intro: What do you think of to fill in the blank when I say, Emotions are out of __________ today. In 2002 George Barna conducted various studies that showed how much Americans identified faith as a key factor in their ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:3

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

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