Sermons on Billy Joel:

Identity Unity Of The New Humanity

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Feb 27, 2009

You identity will determine your activity. Your identity will also determine you destiny. If we as the church find our identity in Christ we will be united as the new creation.

Intro: For the past five weeks we have talked about our identity. Your identity will determine your destiny. If you are a child of wrath you will spend this life and the next without God. If you are in Christ you will spend this life fulfilled. If you are dead in your trespasses, purposeful ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Identity: Live Like You Mean It Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 8, 2009

After having learned who we are in christ in the first three chapters now we know right belief. Paul begins the last three chapters of Ephesians with right behavior. It begins with unity and leads to maturity.

Intro: Bruce Howell tells of “I Can’t Change Jesus” Bill Irwin, a man who is blind, has a talking computer he uses to study the Bible. He’s had a few chuckles over some of the pronunciations. "For a long time," Bill says, "the computer pronounced Holy Bible as ’holly bibble’ until I figured out ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

Character Trait 10: A Healthy Church Is A Worshipping Church Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 30, 2013

Worship is announcing and affirming God’s worth. Why is Jesus worthy of bowing our lives before Jesus in worhsip? He is God and He alone died for our sins, defeated death, hell and the grave and invites us to worship Him alone!

Intro: Have you heard about the recent experience of a pastor who changed the order of worship so that the sermon was given before the offering was taken. This upset a four year old who asked her mother, "Why is he talking before he gets paid?" (The child had a misunderstanding of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:42-46

Denomination: Baptist

Character Trait 11: A Healthy Church Is Influential Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 9, 2013

Jesus Christ commanded His church to be influential. We have a commission to impact people, principles and culture for Christ and His kingdom. How do we do this. We respond to His call to follow Him and be salt and light.

Intro: The philosophies or ways of thinking of the world lead to a devaluing. The worldly philosophies of the 19th century led to the idea of a golden era with no more war or rumors of war. There were many that believed that a utopia would result from the right thinking of man. They really ...read more

Scripture: John 5:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

The Worship Of Work Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 11, 2011

When our work is done unto Christ it becomes worship. Our entire lives are worship so our lives should characterize God's glory with our excellence.

Intro: The world often disregards the church today. They do the same that Sanballat and Tobiah did here in Nehemiah they say if God loves you so much why are you such a mess. Our church answer is we are forgiven not perfect. The world often disregards us because we focus so much on what is wrong ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-20

Denomination: Baptist

Prayer And Planning Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 11, 2011

When God burdens us in our prayer life he is preparing us to do something about that burden in someone elses life. When our prayers connect with God's plans great things happen.

Intro: Tomas A Edison “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed up in overalls and looks like work.” I agree with Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington. “We need far less people criticizing and writing books about what is wrong with ...read more

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

Seeing God In 3d Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jun 16, 2012

God clearly reveals Himself. We as those called to seek Him with all our hearts need to look for His clear revelation not our own personal opinion as to how He is revealed. Our biblical heart is made up of our intellect, emotions, and our will. We were

Intro: One of the greatest things about the Bible is that it never argues God. It clearly communicates and reveals the God of History. This God who is revealed in the Bible is bigger, more intelligent, more powerful, and definitely a lot better than we are. Augustine of Hippo said in his ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 1:26

Denomination: Baptist

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

A Christian's Response During Covid19 Series

Contributed by Billy Paul on Apr 15, 2020

"When you are called to pray, don't act; And, when you are called to act, don't pray." At a time when our neighbours are groping in the dark, it is time Christians carry their lamp outside. Yes, with a lot of prayer backup too!

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say my recent video message (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVol_ke76M) has created some stir within the protestant community in India. It was a short and simple message on how Christians across the globe can be a light in a world which is groping in the dark ...read more

Scripture: James 2:26, Ephesians 2:10