Living in Grace

We can feel sapped of our hope by the trouble, sadness, and difficulties of our lives. But our God is a God who works in hopeless situations to give us hope, faith, and life that only he can. This sermon based on Ezekiel 37:1-14 was preached on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 29, 2020.

Many in our world probably wouldn't call life "great" right now. But in Christ, life is great, because of his life FOR us, and our life WITH him. This sermon based on Matthew 20:17-28 was preached for an online service on March 22, 2020, the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

Jesus opens up our spiritual eyes to see all that is ours by his grace and it changes the way we look at our lives here and now. This sermon based on John 9 was preached on the Third Sunday in Lent on March 15, 2020.

We attempt to fulfill our desire to be loved, accepted, and valued in what we do or what others think of us. It's only in Jesus that our desire to be loved, accepted, and valued is truly satisfied, because it's based on him and not us. This sermon based on John 4:5-26 was preached on the Second Sunday in Lent, March 8, 2020, at Heritage Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Arizona. 

Satan so easily deceives and defeats us as he leads us from temptation to sin. Christ came to do what we cannot: to take our enemy and defeat him in every temptation and on the tree of the cross. This sermon based on Genesis 3:1-15 was preached on the First Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2020.

Our first inclination is to compare ourselves to others to make ourselves feel better about ourselves and try to justify ourselves before God. Jesus turns that idea upside down in his parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. This sermon, based on Luke 18:9-14, was preached on Ash Wednesday, February, 26, 2020

Through Christ, we are different than the world around us. And that's good. We stand out and we're different so that we can point others to the amazing grace of our God.   This sermon, based on 1 Peter 2:9-12 was preached on February 23, 2020, and is the fourth and final sermon in a series called, "God's Amazing Grace."

We love because he first loved us. His love for us moves us to serve with the gifts he has given us. All this results in praise for our God of grace. This sermon based on 1 Peter 4:8-11, was preached on February 16, 2020. This is the third sermon in a four week series called, "God's Amazing Grace."

God desires that we grow up in our salvation and mature in our faith. But how do we do this? Why would we want to do this?    This sermon based on 1 Peter 1:23-2:5, was preached on February 9, 2020. This is the second sermon in a four week series called, "God's Amazing Grace."

God had a vision, full of grace, to claim us as his own from eternity, right now, and into eternity. This defines who we are and gives us the motivation for all we do.   This sermon based on 1 Peter 1:1-5, was preached on February 2, 2020. This is the first sermon in a four week series called, "God's Amazing Grace."

God chooses to work in unlikely ways and through unlikely people so that his grace might shine to all. This sermon, based on Isaiah 9:1-4, was preached on the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, January 26, 2020, for a series called, "Promises Made, Promises Kept."

It's too small a thing for God to save just a few. He provided salvation for all through Jesus. This sermon, based on Isaiah 49:1-6, was preached on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 19, 2020, for a series called, "Promises Made, Promises Kept."

Jesus was called in righteousness and clothed with power to carry out the work of saving us. In our baptisms, we are called into the righteousness of Christ and clothed with his power to go and live for him. This sermon, based on Isaiah 42:1-7, was preached on the Baptism of Our Lord, January 12, 2020, for a series called, "Promises Made, Promises Kept."

We have been called out of spiritual darkness and into the light of Christ, who has been revealed to be our Savior, and the Savior of all people. So, arise and shine as you live your life in the Light. This sermon, based on Isaiah 60:1-6, was preached on the Festival of Epiphany, January 5, 2020, for a series called, "Promises Made, Promises Kept."

In a world filled with bad news, Christmas means good news for us and for all people. This sermon, based on Isaiah 52:7-10, was preached on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019.

The birth of this baby we recognize at Christmas is not just a nice story, it's the beginning of a rescue mission. The words of the angel to Joseph who this child is and what he came to do for us. This sermon, based on Matthew 1:18-25, was preached on the Fourth Sunday in Advent, December 22, 2019, for a series called, "What do you want for Christmas?"

What we expect from God is often not reality. But through Christ, God does better than meet our expectations. This sermon, based on Matthew 11:2-11, was preached on the Third Sunday in Advent, December 15, 2019, for a series called, "What do you want for Christmas?"

Need some R&R? While the busyness of December might be the farthest thing from rest and relaxation, there is a different R&R that Advent is the time for.    This sermon, based on Matthew 3:1-12, was preached on the Second Sunday in Advent, December 8, 2019, and is the second in a series for Advent and Christmas called, "What do you want for Christmas?"

We can get so busy this time of year, and in life, and so easily fall into spiritual complacency, forgetting that Jesus is coming back. He longs for you to be waiting and watching for his return with certainty. This sermon based on Matthew 24:36-44 was preached on the First Sunday in Advent, December 1, 2019, by Pastor Aaron Bublitz at Heritage Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Arizona.

He sure doesn't look like a king - bloody, suffering, wearing a crown of thorns. But he is. He is your King who died for you so that paradise might be opened to you. This sermon based on Luke 23:35-43 was preached on Christ the King Sunday, November 24, 2019, by Pastor Aaron Bublitz at Heritage Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Arizona.

There are so many things in this life that make us feel sad and afraid. We grow tired of dealing with sin, suffering, and death, But God promises to make all things new and give us joy, life, and peace forever - for all the saints. This sermon based on Isaiah 65:17-25 was preached on Saints Triumphant Sunday, November 17, 2019, by Pastor Aaron Bublitz at Heritage Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Arizon...

The idea of Judgment Day can make us afraid for many reasons. But we have nothing to fear since the Judge is also our Substitute and Savior.    This message, based on 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, was preached on Last Judgment Sunday, November 10, 2019, and is the fourth message in a series called "Welcome Home" as we focus on the blessings of Christian family that gathers as the Church.

You are free. Free from sin, free from the power of Satan, free from guilt, shame and regret, free from the need to earn God's love, free from pretending like you have it all together, free from a joyless life, free from the fear of death. You are free because the Son has set you free. This sermon was preached on the Commemoration of the Reformation of the Church. It is also the third message in a...

Jesus' plan to rescue us was to love us enough to come and seek and find us and to give the angels in heaven a reason to rejoice. His plan is our plan as a church too - to love enough to seek and find those who are lost and without hope and to rejoice with the angels as they are welcomed home by our heavenly Father.    This is the second message in a series called "Welcome Home" as we fo...

God says that family matters. He makes us a member of his family and unites us together as a family of faith.    This is the first message in a series called "Welcome Home" as we focus on the blessings of Christian family that gathers as the Church. It was preached on October 20, 2019, by Pastor Aaron Bublitz at Heritage Lutheran Church in Gilbert, Arizona.