Sermons on Power Over Darkness:

Surviving Dark Valleys Series

Contributed by Timothy Smith on Oct 18, 2004

5th in a 6 part series on surviving stress. This series uses the popular "Survivor" TV show as a "hook" and Psalm 23 as the Biblical foundation.

SURVIVING DARK VALLEYS Psalm 23:4 INTRODUCTION: (Play 2:40 & fade of “Tears of Heaven” by Eric Clapton - lyrics on powerpoint) I am a fan of Eric Clapton’s music but until this week I didn’t know what motivated Eric to write the song we just heard. “Tears of Heaven” won Eric Clapton a 1993 ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 23:4

Denomination: Christian Church

The Dark Night Of The Soul

Contributed by Dr. John D. Wentworth on Jan 6, 2022

The phrase “dark night of the soul” comes from a poem by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591), a Spanish Carmelite monk. According to the poet, the “dark night of the soul” is synonymous with traveling the “narrow way” that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:13-14.

TITLE: THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL TEXT: 2 Cor. 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Dark Night Of The Soul Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 1, 2022

In this “Dark Night of the Soul” we see the relationship between prayer and action through three things: Through 1) His Sorrow Matthew 26:36–38), 2) His Supplication (Matthew 26:39–45a), and 3) His Strength (Matthew 26:45b-46).

Matthew 26:36-46. [36] Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." [37] And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, "My ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Denomination: Other

Three Hours Of Darkness Series

Contributed by Derrick Strickland on Feb 27, 2016

At noon something both extremely disturbing and awe inspiring took place…darkness covered the land, like a blanket.

INTRO: 1. I want to draw your attention to an oft overlooked event that took place at Calvary. 2. Jesus had already, in broad daylight, hung upon that cross for three hours—from 9 in the morning to noon. a. There can be no doubt of his crucifixion, countless witnesses testify to that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:45-54

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Light That Shines In Darkness

Contributed by Gerald Roberts on Mar 3, 2014

There is a light that shines in dark places.

The Light that shines in the Dark Places 2 Peter 1:16-21 1. This text is based on eye witness accounts of who the Light is. • This reading is convincing the non-believers of the Divinity of Christ as the Anointed one, the Christos, the Messiah Gods Son, and the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Dark Night Of The Soul Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2002

All people’s efforts to be right with God have failed, because people chose to exchange the truth about God for a lie. Their only hope is the Gospel of God’s grace.

You’d have to say that there’s nothing pretty about the picture of the world that we find in this passage from Romans ch1. Here we take off the rose coloured glasses and look, with a degree of reality, at the world we live in. I was talking to someone the other day about watching television and ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:16-31

Denomination: Anglican

The Power Of The Congregation

Contributed by Ian Johnson on Jun 10, 2004

There is so much talk among self appointed prophets that the day of the gathering Church is over. I can’t sit back and let these words go un-challenged. God is into unity and its impossible to have unity sitting at home by ourselves or cutting ourselves o

The power of the congregation There is so much talk among self appointed prophets that the day of the gathering Church is over. I can’t sit back and let these words go un-challenged. God is into unity and its impossible to have unity sitting at home by ourselves or cutting ourselves off from the ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 133:1-3, Malachi 3:16

Denomination: Pentecostal

Sermon On Dark Secrets

Contributed by William Meakin on Oct 15, 2023

A dark secret is defined as something kept hidden or unexplained.

Charlotte Brontë, an English novelist and poet once remarked: “The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.” Luke 8:17 reveals: “For nothing is hidden that will not be made ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:10, Proverbs 25:2, Daniel 2:28, Colossians 1:26

Prayers That Light Darkness Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Feb 29, 2020

The Psalmist of Psalm 88 expresses “Prayers that Light Darkness” with prayer as an: 1) Urgent appeal in Affliction (Psalm 88:1–9a), 2) Urgent appeal with No Answers (Psalm 88:9b–12), 3) Urgent appeal under Divine Wrath (Psalm 88:13–18).

Psalm 88:1-18 A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. 1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. 2 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! 3 For my soul is full of troubles, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 88:1-18

Denomination: Other

Hope Out Of Darkness

Contributed by Austin W. Duncan on Sep 26, 2025

At Cadillac Mountain, dawn hits that ridge before the rest of the country. Isaiah 9 speaks to a people in predawn darkness and promises a light that breaks in. Advent says that light has a name, Jesus, and His coming turns yokes into freedom, fear into joy, and night into morning.

You know, I recently had the chance to take a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine. And there's this place there, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park - where you can be the first person in America to see the sunrise. Imagine that. Wouldn’t that be cool to be able to say that you were one ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Son To Light The Darkness

Contributed by John Harper on Jan 2, 2009

God chose a child to bring light in the midst of utter darkness.

“A Son to Light the Darkness” Isaiah 9:1-7 December 14, 2008 Warden Assembly of God Pastor John L. Harper Introduction: “Unca Frank’s Christmas!” Isaiah 9: 6-7 Key verse(s): 6a: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Franklin Chaney was by all accounts what you would call a crank. For ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Denomination: Pentecostal

Rescued From Darkness Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on May 24, 2019

In Colossians 1:12–14. Paul sums up the doctrine of salvation in three great truths. He explains: 1) Inheritance (Colossians 1:12), 2) Deliverance (Colossians 1:13a), and 3) Transference (Colossians 1:13b-14) that are given to those Rescued from Darkness.

Colossians 1:12–14 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV) Years ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:12-14

Denomination: Other

In The Darkness Shines A Light

Contributed by Steven Davis on Jan 15, 2003

Considering the appearance of the Greeks who ask Philip to "see Jesus," the sermon reflects on this as an Epiphany story, and upon Jesus as the light of the world.

Words are interesting things. Sometimes all you have to do is look at a word and you can figure out within a few seconds what the word means, even if you’ve never seen the word before. “Christmas” is one of those words. Yes, I know we’ve all heard the word, but take a close look at it written ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-36, Ephesians 3:14-21

Denomination: Methodist

The Gospel Glows In The Dark

Contributed by Scott Carmer on Jan 2, 2006

Jesus has come, the Light that was promised for centuries. His gospel glows in the darkness of human sin and cannot be extinguished.

The Gospel Glows in the Dark Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2:1-12 January 1, 2006 I remember that afternoon very clearly. I had just begun my research for my doctoral project on clergy burnout and was interviewing a pastor from another denomination about the difficulties he was facing in his current ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Methodist

From Darkness Into Light

Contributed by Dennis Selfridge on Apr 16, 2004

What a difference the resurrected Christ means

"From Darkness to Light" Matt 28:1-8 1 Cor 15:1-8 I don’t usually begin a sermon on a sad note like this, but sometimes we need to pause and remember what life is all about. There was a great loss in the entertainment world when Larry LaPrise, the Detroit native who wrote the song "The Hokey ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Matthew 28:1-8

Denomination: Wesleyan