Sermons on Billy Washington:

Seven Significant Signs Of Spiritual Growth

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 23, 2010

Have you ever been told to grow in grace and knowledge of God but not given practical steps to do so? Seven signs or steps to spiritual growth

Intro: From Jeff Hana; the TOP TEN WAYS TO TELL IF A CHURCH IS SPIRIT-FILLED 10) You have to assign numbers to people who want to share their testimony in worship 9) As the pastor closes the sermon, the chant of “We want more! We want more!” erupts. 8) The ushers have to empty the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Apathy Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 26, 2010

The devices of the Devil are desined to distort, destroy, distract and defeat the follower of Jesus Christ. One of his most powerful devices is the vice of apathy. The devil will put you in it and slowly tighten until you are cold to the things of God.

Intro: Rollo May, “Hate is not the opposite of love – Apathy is.” One of the most powerful devices of the devil is apathy. Of all the attitudes that are given to the seven churches in the book of Revelation this is the one that makes Jesus sick to His stomach. What is the ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 1:1-15

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Anger Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 6, 2010

There are two words translated anger in the New Testament one carries the idea of passion and energy, the other irritation and agitation. Anger is sinful when it leads us to a loveless response. There are symptoms of dangersous anger given along with th

Intro: Last week in our study we covered Apathy. Apathy is possibly the second most powerful device of the devil. It is a vice that slowly or tightens its grip on us and causes us to be cold and unconcerned with the things of God. If apathy is the vice that slowly pinches off our emotion or ...read more

Scripture: James 1:20-21

Denomination: Baptist

Devices Of The Devil: Apprehension Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 17, 2010

The devil wants us to be afraid. He does not want us to have healthy fear of events and our environment around us. He wants us to be debilitated by fear of life and living. What will set us free from this. Realizing that God does not give a spirit of

Intro: We began our study of the devices of the Devil with deception. Satan is the father of lies and wants to keep you from the truth of salvation in Jesus finished work on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Deception is his chief device and he has had at least thousands of years to ply ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Timothy 1:7

Denomination: Baptist

Getting Focused And Going Forward

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Aug 24, 2010

What is the Kingdom of God? It is the place where Jesus is King! This is the main purpose of the Church to be a place where Jesus is King. Jesus Messiah, what a wonderful song. Messiah is the annointed King of Israel. The annointed King is Jesus.

Intro: In the past few weeks we have studied some of the lethal weapons that the devil will direct at us. I have said that these devices or schemes are designed to destroy, divide, distort what God has for us as believers. Jesus offers us life full. The devil offers life fractured. Our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Relase Our Lives For The Glory Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 11, 2011

What we do with our money is decison of the heart and not the head. We are challenged by God's word to live by God's principles not our preferences. God's ways lead to blessing our ways lead to burderns. Which do you follow.

Intro: Last week we learned that God is lavishly generous. We know that the goal of God is to place in us the character of Christ. God’s generosity is not without purpose. Remember God is generous toward us and gives us gifts so that the body of Christ can be built up and others can ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Learning To Trust God's Principles And Promises Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Oct 26, 2011

The principles of God's word point to God's person. So if we trust His principles it is because we trust Him. If we do not live by His principles we miss out on all there is found in His person.

Intro: Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope.” What truths are found in the Old Testament that will instruct and encourage us to a deeper trust with ...read more

Scripture: Malachi 3:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

Macho Man Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 2, 2011

God calls us men to be men like Jesus. He doens’t call us to be action heroes full of attitude and anger. He calls us to answer the Question who do you say that I am and what difference does it make in our lives.

Intro: Who do people say that I am? That is the most purposeful question that you will ever be asked in your life. Some people say Jesus was a good teacher, a radical zealot, a miracle worker, a relgion starter. But Jesus never allows us to stay with the purposeful answer he always makes it ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

Building The City Of God In The City Of Man Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Nov 18, 2011

Nehemiah is often used to encouarge congregations to build a building. What Nehemiah did was encourage the remnant to rebuild the people and the walls of the city.

Intro: Nehemiah has always been used by pastors/teachers to encourage church congregations to build new facilities and buildings. I believe that a major portion of what is going on in Nehemiah is missed if we focus on building physically and miss out on building spiritually. Jesus said in ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Sufferings Purpose Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 12, 2011

Is there a purpose in suffering? The earthquake and subsequent tsunami make us ask many questions especially if we have not trusted Jesus. Suffering reveals the good that we ignore before disaster. Suffeing calls us to examine the shortness of our life

Intro: Just three weeks ago we began the suffering portion of this study called incarnate. Today as we draw to a close on our teaching of suffering it is in the face of large scale disaster in Japan that will cause an extended period of suffering for many. If you remember we talked about the ...read more

Scripture: Job 36:15, Job 36:15-16

Denomination: Baptist

Are You A Follower Of Jesus Christ Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 1, 2011

Pray this, take this class, give this much money. Christianity has been minimized to a one time prayer, an occasional Bible study, and a regular monetary donation. What did Jesus really invite us to? Radical discipleship. Radical commitment. He dindn

Intro: With Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Michigan and his seemingly Universalist claims that everyone will be saved. It seems more and more the Gospel message is being muddled and what it really means to be a believer is misunderstood. From the time I was young I remember hearing just ...read more

Scripture: John 10:27

Denomination: Baptist

The Missionary Heart Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 4, 2010

From the beginning God was a missionary God. Creating and man and coming down to walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden. In this message there is God's intiative in missions, God invitation in missions. Finally there is a prayer included to ask God to gi

Intro: What is the one thing missing in most churches today? Is it lively soul moving worship music? Is it powerful spirit filled and led preaching? Is it wise council and wonderful leadership? Is it conferences and confession? Can I make a suggestion to you today? It is the Missionary ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Baptist

The Missionary Hope Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Dec 18, 2010

Hope is not wishful thinking. Our confidence is Jesus. He is our anchor that connects us to God. This sermon deals with how that confidence or joyous expectation changes us and charges us to love God and love people until His return. This is why Jesus

Intro: The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and various others. But in religions entire galaxy of gods, there never was one called “god of ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:13

Denomination: Baptist

The Significant Life Losing All To Gain Christ

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jan 1, 2011

Paul's letter to the Philippians has many themes but one of the most important is that of joy. 17 times joy is mentioned and 51 times Jesus. Joy comes in connection with close personal relationship with Jesus. Our churches are called to a hope and a fu

Intro: What a wonderful letter. What a note to begin the New Year on. Rejoice in the Lord! Seventeen times in this letter Paul speaks about joy. In relation to this joy he speaks personally about Jesus Christ at least 51 times. The source of Joy is an ongoing growing relationship with Jesus. ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

Praise: Raising Stones Of Remembrance Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Jul 3, 2011

The preists always led the children of Israel in praise of the living Lord. In chapter 4 they lead in praise to His glory. We are called and challenged to set up memorial stones so that children, and others will ask what does this mean in your life.

Intro: It was always the priests who led in Praise to the living God of Israel. In chapter 3 the priests were the first to step foot into the turbulent waters of Jordan. What do the waters of the Jordan represent to the followers of Joshua or Jesus? It is apparent as God commands Joshua and ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-24

Denomination: Baptist