Sermons on Billy Joel:

Learning To See God's Way Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 21, 2012

Vision comes from clearly seeing what God has planned from the foundation of the world in Jesus. He calls us to develop fully devoted followers, those that do what He says because they love Him. We must have eyes only for Jesus if we are to succeed.

Intro: The entire message of Hebrews seems to be that there is something better. What we find is that faith in Jesus doesn’t take away from our lives actually it brings better things. As I like to say, “The longer you know Jesus the gooder life gets.” Hebrews is a letter ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

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

The Resurrection: It’s Reality And Our Response

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 14, 2015

The resurrection shows us the overwhelming grace of God and the overwhelming humaneness of man. The disciples were afraid and confused after the death of Jesus. Look deep in the tomb and see the reality of the resurrection and the response it requires

Intro: I heard about a church organist who overslept one Easter morning. She said, "The service was scheduled for 6:30. At 6:31, the minister called to see if I was coming. Since I live near the church, I was at the organ by 6:45. Then, a year later on Easter morning my phone rang at 5:45. When I ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

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

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 Benefits Of Thanksgiving

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 22, 2013

There are benefits to accepting God's invitation to be grateful. If we live with a grateful heart we are living in God's will, in God's presence and we will live above our circumstances. True thankfulness comes only from love of God.

The Benefits of Thanksgiving Intro: Thankful Video. We are told to give thanks always but what exactly does that mean? Do we lay everything down and just say thank you 24 hours a day 365 days a year? Ephesians 5:17-20 (read) 5:20 “giving thanks always for everything to God the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:17-19

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

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