Ghouls, Grace, and the Gospel

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Video: Sermon Bumper -Ghouls, Grace, and the Gospel

Title of the Message this

Morning is:

Ghouls, Grace, and the Gospel

Big Idea:

Evil is real, but Jesus has conquered sin, death, and darkness.

Because of the gospel, we can live with courage, hope, and confidence as children of light.

Prayer:

“Father, thank You that through Jesus, the light has already overcome the darkness.

Help us to walk fearlessly, shine brightly, and live as children of light, reflecting Your grace and truth to a world in need of hope.”

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-11, Colossians 2:15, 1 John 4:4

Introduction: Light vs. Darkness

Picture this:

It’s late October, and if you drive through almost any neighborhood, you’ll see it — the cobwebs stretched across bushes, skeletons perched on porches, glowing jack-o’-lanterns lighting up the sidewalk.

Some houses even have 12-foot-tall inflatable ghouls towering over the yard like silent sentries.

Halloween is everywhere this time of year.

For many, it’s just harmless fun — candy, costumes, and community.

Kids laugh as they run door to door, bags filled with chocolate bars and lollipops. Parents stand at the end of the driveway sipping coffee, swapping stories, enjoying the night.

But beneath the costumes and the candy, there’s something deeper going on

something our culture often avoids talking about, even as it decorates for it: our fascination with darkness, fear, and even death.

And if we’re honest, this season raises a tension for us as Christians.

We live in a culture that, at times, celebrates darkness.

We can’t avoid it — it’s everywhere.

The question is:

How do we live faithfully in a world fascinated by fear… without being consumed by it?

How do we navigate seasons like this… without falling into compromise?

That’s what today’s message is all about.

And we’re going to do it by looking at three things:

Ghouls — acknowledging the reality of evil.

Grace — resting in the victory of Jesus.

The Gospel — living as children of light.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just a sermon about Halloween.

- It’s a message about fear and faith. - It’s about darkness and light. - It’s about death and resurrection.

And it’s about how, in Jesus, light wins every single time.

Main Teaching

Point 1: Ghouls — Acknowledging the Reality of Darkness

Ephesians 6:12 — “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

If there’s one thing Halloween does well, it’s normalize the darkness.

It markets it.

It decorates it.

It turns ghouls, ghosts, and skeletons into lawn ornaments and sells fear as entertainment.

But while the plastic skeletons and inflatable zombies on our neighbor’s lawns aren’t real, spiritual darkness is real.

And Scripture refuses to let us ignore it.

There is an enemy who opposes God’s work in the world.

There is temptation that pulls at our hearts and minds.

There is brokenness, fear, and death that surrounds us.

Theologian C.S. Lewis once wrote in The Screwtape Letters:

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”

That’s where many people get stuck — they either deny evil completely or obsess over it entirely.

Scripture calls us to neither extreme.

Instead, it calls us to be alert and aware — but not afraid.

1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Notice what Peter doesn’t say: he doesn’t say “panic.”

He doesn’t say “run for your life.”

He says: “Be alert.”

Why?

Because evil is real, but its power is limited.

Pastor Tim Keller put it this way:

“Satan’s primary goal is not to make you wicked, but to make you forget the gospel.”

That’s why Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 to stand firm.

Not to hide.

Not to tremble.

But to remember who we are in Christ and walk in His strength, not our own.

Illustration (Use this if helpful)

Imagine the difference between being at a zoo and being on a safari.

At the zoo, you might stand just feet away from a lion — powerful, terrifying, majestic.

But there’s no fear because there’s a barrier.

At the safari, however, if a lion walks up to your jeep, every muscle in your body tenses.

As believers, we live in a world where the lions are real — but they are caged by the victory of Jesus Christ.

Evil exists, yes, but it’s been defeated at the cross.

Point 2: Grace — Standing Secure in Christ’s Victory

Colossians 2:15 — “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

This is one of the most hope-filled verses in the entire Bible.

Paul is reminding us that on the cross, Jesus didn’t just forgive your sins — He disarmed the powers of darkness.

He stripped them of their authority.

He took away their weapons.

Yes, evil is real.

Yes, there is an enemy.

But if you belong to Jesus, you are standing on the victory side of the battlefield.

Theologian John Stott said it this way:

“The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us.”

In other words — if you’re far from the cross, fear will always feel closer.

But when you live near the cross, the reality of Christ’s victory changes everything about how you see the world.

Grace Changes Everything

Evil wants you to believe you should live in fear.

Grace reminds you that you can live in freedom…Because of Jesus:

● Sin has no hold on you.

● Death has lost its sting.

● Fear no longer defines your story.

Romans 8:15 says: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.”

You are no longer a slave to fear.

You are a son or daughter of God.

And as His child, you stand under His protection, His authority, and His victory.

Grace Is Greater

Pastor Charles Spurgeon once said:

“The power of Christ is greater than the power of Satan, and His grace is stronger than your greatest fear.”

That’s the foundation of the gospel — you are not fighting for victory; you are living from victory.

Illustration:

Light Always Wins

Imagine being in a pitch-black room.

It’s so dark you can’t even see your hand in front of your face.

That kind of darkness can feel suffocating, overwhelming, and even frightening.

But then, you pull out a tiny flashlight — just a small beam of light.

What happens to the darkness?

It flees instantly.

No matter how dark the room is, light always wins.

It doesn’t have to struggle.

It doesn’t have to fight.

It simply shines, and the darkness is overcome.

That’s exactly what grace does.

The darkness around you may seem heavy, but it cannot overcome even the smallest spark of God’s light living within you.

The Bottom Line

Grace is not just God’s pardon for your past — it’s His power for your present.

You are free.

You are secure.

You are victorious — not because of who you are, but because of what Christ has done…

He Has brought you into His kingdom of marvelous light.

Point 3: The Gospel — Living as Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8-11 — “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

The gospel doesn’t just pull us out of darkness; it makes us light in the Lord.

Jesus saves us from sin and for a new way of life—one that is recognizably different in a world fascinated with fear and death.

C.S. Lewis wrote,

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

When the gospel opens our eyes, we don’t merely see the light—we see by the light.

Our relationships, our words, our choices, even our Halloween —everything gets reframed by Jesus.

What Living as Light Looks Like

Because of the gospel, we walk differently:

Not in fear — John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Not in compromise — Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed… but be transformed.”

But as witnesses — 1 Peter 2:9: “That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

We are not retreatists; or trick-o-treators

we’re ambassadors(2 Corinthians 5:20).

We don’t dim the light to be acceptable; we raisethe light to be helpful.

Dallas Willard

liked to say that discipleship is learning to live your life as Jesus would live it if He were you—on your street, with your neighbors, in your October.

Corrie ten Boom’s quiet courage reminds us: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” So we carry that love into places where fear usually sets the tone.

Wise Discernment (Especially Around Halloween)

Walking as light is not about paranoia; it’s about discernment:

Ask: “Does this practice celebrate fear or showcase hope?”

Aim: “Can I do this in a way that honors Christ and blesses others?”

Act: “Will my involvement create space for kindness, prayer, or gospel conversation?”

Philippians 2:15 pictures us “shining like stars” in a dark sky. Stars don’t compete with darkness; they simply shine.

Illustration: The Bright Porch

On Halloween night, some homes go dark to avoid the chaos.

Others turn on the porch light.

Imagine your home as a beacon: warm lights, friendly faces, hot cocoa for parents, allergy-safe candy for kids, a simple “How can we be praying for you this week?” card at the table.

No speeches. No pressure.

Just hospitality.

That porch becomes a small parable of the gospel: light, welcome, and grace meeting people where they are.

As Teresa of Ávila is often quoted:

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

Your smile, your welcome, your words—these become the candle that changes the room.

The gospel doesn’t call us to hide from the darkness but to outshine it.

We live in the world without being of it, resisting compromise, rejecting fear, and reflecting Jesus—so that, in a season obsessed with shadows, people encounter the warm, steady light of Christ.

Conclusion: Living Fearlessly in a World Full of Fear

Halloween thrives on fear.

The world markets it, celebrates it, even laughs at it — but for followers of Jesus, fear is no longer the final word.

1 John 4:4 declares:

“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

That means no matter how real the darkness feels, Jesus is greater.

Evil exists, but it’s defeated.

Death still tries to whisper, but it has lost its sting(1 Corinthians 15:55).

This season, you have a choice:

You can walk afraid of the shadows, or you can walk in the light.

You can live like darkness wins, or you can live like the victory is already secured.

You can be shaped by fear — or you can shine with hope.

Here’s the Truth We Carry

Evil is real, but it’s defeated (Colossians 2:15).

Darkness exists, but light always wins (John 1:5).

fear speaks loudly, but grace speaks louder (Romans 8:15).

The Call to Action

So as we head into this season, let’s live differently:

Be Alert — Know that there’s a battle, but don’t live in panic.

Be Wise — Discern where God is leading you and how you can reflect Him.

Be Hopeful — Stand secure in Christ’s victory.

Be a Light — Let your home, your words, your actions, and your life shine so brightly that others can’t help but notice the difference.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

That’s your calling — to outshine the darkness.

Not by yelling louder than the world, but by loving better than the world.

Let’s pray together.

Salvation:

The Word of God says in: John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 NKJV

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you’d would like to receive Jesus today, please pray this prayer with all of us:

Lord I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died On the cross for my sins and His resurrection from the dead gives me eternal life. I ask forgiveness of my sins, and I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Benediction Scripture

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Ephesians 6:12

Have a Great Week! Goodbye!

This is Pastor Doc and Lady Pepper signing off until next time we meet. Love you all!