Sermons on Billy Washington:

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

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

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

Get Together Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 20, 2014

God's purpose in redemption and reconciliation was to make a new race, the human race! It seems discouraging that so many churches are divided. Why is that so and is it possible to become what God designed. Yes find out what hinders and what helps unit

Intro: We began by hearing that this life is not about us. Our life is to be controlled and conformed to the person and principle of Jesus. The church, the body of people that trust Jesus is to be centered on Jesus. We are also called to be holy, different, set apart for God’s purpose on ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22

Denomination: Baptist

Paul's Prayer For God's Control Of You Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Mar 23, 2014

Paul as we say in the south chases a rabbit of huge importance. He tells of the central importance of the church in God's plan to reveal His wisdom in the Gospel. Then Paul prays that the church will practically live what God has divinely designed.

Intro: Paul was just getting ready to pray for the Ephesian church when he was reminded of the importance of the church and as preachers are often known to do he chases a rabbit. What an important rabbit to chase today. The church would probably not make it into a list of the 50 most important ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

United For The Growth Of The Church And The Glory Of God Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on Apr 8, 2014

Paul has finished telling the Ephesians about their riches and inheritance in Jesus and now begins teaching them about their responsibility to Jesus. True understanding of correct biblical teaching should lead to correct Christian living

Intro: The Christian life is not based on ignorance but knowledge. Knowledge of Jesus! We are never taught the Bible nor do we study the Bible merely to learn what it says but instead we learn it to live what it says. True understanding of correct biblical teaching should motivate us to ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-14

Denomination: Baptist