Sermons on Billy Joel:

Faithfulness Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 2, 2012

Faithfulness has Jesus as it object, obedience as its joy, and eternity as its goal. Faithfulness is the proper response to all of God's gracious giving.

Intro: What is the proper response to the manger which was the doorway for God to be with us? What is the proper response to the cross where God suffered for us? What is the proper response to the ascension where Jesus intercedes for us? What is the proper response to the gift of the Holy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:10

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

The Influential Mother Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2019

Jochebed the mother of Moses taught him 2 powerful principles that helped him become a great man of God.

Intro: It’s been said, if God wants to do a great work, He'll choose a man; if He wants to do an extraordinarily great work, He'll choose a woman When you read Hebrews 11:23-29 we see a striking picture of Moses. Moses made some difficult decisions. He chose to be a slave of God instead ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God's Call Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2019

Many remember Jonah as a book about Jonah and the big fish. This book is really about the relentless love and pursuit of God.

Intro: What do most people remember about Jonah if you have ever heard the story in VBS or Sunday School? You probably remember that it is a whale of a tale. There would be lots of talk about Jonah and his disobedience and reluctance to go where God tells him to go. The problem with remembering ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God's Call Part 2 Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2019

Part 2 this is not about you. This book is about God and His call and pursuit of man. Especially the pouting prophet, Jonah.

Intro: I want to remind you that this whale of a tale called the book of Jonah is not about a great big fish, a great big city or a grumpy old prophet. This book is about a Great big God that is willing to graciously deal with a disobedient, disgruntled, disgusted prophet. In this story of a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:2-17

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

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

The Pattern For Powerful Personal Relationships (Part 2) Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 2, 2014

Paul begins this section of scripture with since you have received all that Jesus purchased and assuming you learned of Him by experience you should have a different lifestyle than the lost. Your life should be characterized by hard work and helpful words

Intro: This week we continue the second part of Pattern for Powerful Personal Relationships. We continue to see the pattern that reveals the resurrection life in us. This is the explanation of John 13:35 “by this they will know that you are my disciples.” If we love the Lord Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Fatherhood Of God Displayed In Earthly Daddies

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 12, 2014

God commands us to train our children. We see in this command a blueprint and recipe for changing our families and our city. The Spirit empowers us to love and discipline our children as a loving Father like God.

Intro: A four-year-old boy was eating an apple in the back seat of the car, when he asked, "Daddy, why is my apple turning brown?" "Because," his dad explained, "after you ate the skin off, the meat of the apple came into contact with the air, which caused it to oxidize, thus ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

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

Daniel: Consistent, Confident And Courageous Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 1, 2015

Daniel teaches us be example how to live righteously for Jesus. His consistent life and confident trust in Yahweh should be a great encouragement to us as we live in an ever increasing Godless culture and world.

Intro: We are living in a culture that is much like Daniel’s today. Politically correct and privately motivated. Daniel is old possibly 80 or 90 years old. He has probably seen his family and friends grow old around him. His Hebrew accent is most likely gone and he wears the clothing ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Denomination: Baptist

Back To The Future Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 17, 2015

Daniel chapter 7 moves from the historical to the prophetic. The entire chapter moves us to ask the question, Have I invited Jesus to set up His throne in my life.

Intro: Theoretically, television may be feasible, but I consider it an impossibility--a development which we should waste little time dreaming about. Lee de Forest, 1926, inventor of the cathode ray tube. I think there is a world market for about five computers. Thomas J. Watson, 1943, Chairman ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 7:1-28

Denomination: Baptist