Sermons on Billy Joel:

First Steps Of Freedom Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2016

Exodus is a continuation of the creation story. The emphasis in Genesis is creation while the emphasis in Exodus is redemption. God takes the first steps to set Israel and all people free from sin!

Intro: Exodus is a continuation of the story of Genesis. In Genesis we see the constant and consistent failure of man. It is the creation story In fact in the Hebrew the word and or now begins this passage. However if the emphasis in Genesis is creation then the emphasis in Exodus is ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Desperate Faith Of A Mother Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2016

This portion of scripture shows how God's grace affects the hearts of people

Intro: We began last time talking about the exodus as a continuation of Genesis. We see that the creation story did not end it just continued into its fulfilment in the redemption story. Last week we saw a lot of hands involved. God’s hands that placed Israel right where He wanted them. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 2:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

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

Hope Begins Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 10, 2016

The beginning of an Easter sermon series. There is so much messed up in the world. Why? Hopelessness. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope!

Intro: On December 17, 1927 a US Submarine was patrolling off the Atlantic Coast when it accidentally collided with a Coast Guard Cutter. The submarine was so severely damaged that it sank and came to rest on the floor of the Atlantic about 100 feet down. A rescue ship was dispatched to the scene ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:5-6

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Dies Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 10, 2016

Hopelessness comes from misunderstanding the cross. There is no beauty in the cross to the carnal man. Once conviction of sin and confession of Jesus as Lord happens there is hope.

Intro: Our world seems hopeless in many ways. Economically, politically, racially, stock market woes, natural disasters. From a purely worldly standpoint there seems to be no reason to hope. The disciples of Jesus felt much the same way. Even though Jesus had told them again and again what ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:17

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Waits Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 10, 2016

When Jesus died the disciples had to wait for the promise of the Father. None of us like to wait. If we are willing to wait we will discover hope waits in order to develop us!

Intro: How many of you like to wait? I will just be honest I don’t like it at all. In fact I do everything I can to keep from waiting. I try to calculate in my non-mathematical head which Wal-Mart line will be the quickest and in my hurry I end up choosing the wrong one. I don’t ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:31

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Reigns Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 10, 2016

Despite the wickedness of our rulers hope reigns. God wants us to trust Him enough that we look to Him for direction in choosing our leaders. He also want us to trust Him when those leaders don't appear to do His will.

Intro: Something has been weighing heavily on me as November quickly approaches like a growing storm. It is often said that this is the most important election of our nation’s history. What we have to do is look at the elections that are upcoming with a fresh and new set of eyes. The ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 29:2

Denomination: Baptist

Hope Growing Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 10, 2016

Victory in Jesus comes from being crucified with Christ. What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?

Intro: I have a question for you to answer this morning. I don’t want you to answer it out loud. Are you enjoying the Christian life are you enduring it? Jesus made some pretty powerful statements about being saved and following Him as disciples. In the presence of God is fullness of ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 2:20

Denomination: Baptist

Betrayal Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 11, 2021

A persons last words seem to be ones of transparency and clarity. The Famous Last Words of Jesus speak powerfully to us still today. Famous last words reveals God's heart and mans needs

Intro: Someone’s last words seem to echo in our ears, don’t they? Whether famous or infamous, their last words tend to be ones of transparency and often clarity. I want to share some famous last words from history and see if you can identity them. 1) This famous chap said, ‘I’m bored with it ...read more

Scripture: John 17:12, John 13:21, Matthew 26:47

Denomination: Baptist

Final Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 11, 2021

Jesus was and is the master of Famous last words. "It is Finished," is a single word in Greek. When we allow Jesus to have the final word on anything, painful things become beautiful things.

Intro: Ben Zander, in his 2008 TED talk, shared a story about last words and how what we say and how we say it really makes a difference. This was a story of a woman, one of the survivors from the Auschwitz concentration camp: "She went to Auschwitz when she was 15 years old and her brother ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Denomination: Baptist

Is Evangelism Impossible While Working From Home? Series

Contributed by Billy Paul on Jun 15, 2021

The dreadful Covid-19 virus has fast-forwarded human history by a good 10 years by converting our “physical” world into a “virtual” one. So, is evangelism impossible in this world—especially while we work from Home?

The great commission of Jesus Christ begins with the word “Go.” Traditionally, Christians have come to realise this commandment by gladly packing their bags to a faraway land as “missionaries” and “evangelists.” But how is one supposed to fulfil this commandment when everyone is forcefully locked ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:16, James 2:17, Proverbs 22:29

Living By A New Standard Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 3, 2014

Paul called the Ephesians to put off the old and put on the new. He is calling us to live by the new standard of Christ.

Intro: We learned early on of the riches we have in Jesus. We are adopted and sealed as sons. No one can take away our inheritance because God sealed it with His precious Holy Spirit. We have every heavenly blessing in Christ. We are now continuing to learn about our responsibilities in Christ ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Denomination: Baptist

A Foreign Mother Full Of Faith

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 16, 2014

In the passage today we see a mother determined to get to Jesus on behalf of her afflicted child. We need mothers like this in our world. We also need to honor the mothers we have like this.

Intro: When Robert Ingersoll, the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?” The other ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Pattern For Powerful Personal Relationships Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 28, 2014

If you have ever wanted to know what it looked like to live a resurrected life Paul gives the pattern here. God not only redeems and restores our relationship with Him but also with others. Live this pattern to powerfully display Jesus.

Intro: Tomorrow is Memorial Day. We will celebrate those that have served in the United States Military because their service and many their sacrifice purchased the freedom to stand or sit or sing or speak today. There are many ways we could come up with to honor their memory, service and ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-28

Denomination: Baptist