The Sterling Sermons

In her sermon on stewardship, Linda Budzinski, chair of the finance committee, challenges the congregation at Sterling UMC to move beyond merely tithing 10% to giving God control of everything. Referencing the widow's offering in Scripture, she explains that Jesus spoke about money frequently not because money matters to Him, but because He knows how much it matters to us—often keeping us tied...

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this week!

Rev. Kirk Nave's sermon on Sterling United Methodist Church's 150th anniversary focuses on Jesus "setting his face toward Jerusalem" in Luke 9 and the challenge to look forward rather than backward. Using Satchel Page's quote, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you," Rev. Nave urges the congregation to honor their church's history while focusing...

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this week at Sterling United Methodist Church!

In this sermon celebrating Sterling United Methodist Church's 150th anniversary, Pastor Bert uses Isaiah 58 to illustrate how the church has been setting an expanding, imperfect table with Jesus for a century and a half. He contrasts superficial religious observance with God's true "table manners" - breaking chains of injustice, feeding the hungry, and welcoming the stranger - wh...

Pastor Bert offers a forecast of what you can expect in worship this Sunday, October 12th!

In his sermon celebrating Sterling United Methodist Church's 150th anniversary, Pastor Randy Duncan challenges the congregation to consider whether they are creators or consumers of faith. Drawing from Isaiah 58 and other scriptures, he reminds the church that just as others sacrificed to create faith spaces for them, they too are called to expand the table by giving of themselves so others ca...

Pastor Bert shares a preview and a reflection on what you can expect in church this week - the first weekend of our anniversary month!

Pastor Bert uses Fatbear Week as an analogy to explore Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish," emphasizing how vision provides essential direction in uncertain times. He contrasts the church's founding in 1875 with today's challenges, urging the congregation to follow Jesus as their true North Star rather than false visions, and concludes by inviting member...

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in church this Sunday (9/28/25)

Pastor Bert explores how Christians are both followers and leaders, explaining that while we follow Jesus, we also lead others through both formal positions and informal influence. He challenges us to find our courage in God, carry our "candle" of light forward, and avoid wasting time trying to extinguish the light of others as we fulfill our calling to love, serve, and lead.

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect this Sunday at Sterling United Methodist Church!

Pastor Bert continues his three-week series on United Methodist identity by focusing on "serving joyfully," the second part of their mission statement. Using Jesus washing His disciples' feet in John 13 as his central example, Pastor Bert emphasizes that true service requires forming genuine relationships rather than treating people as objects of charity, reminding us that we are all...

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in church this weekend!

Pastor Bert explores the United Methodist Church's mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, focusing specifically on loving boldly. He teaches that loving boldly means taking "one step beyond caution" in our relationships with God and neighbors, even when facing resistance or discomfort.

Pastor Bert Cloud shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this week at Sterling UMC!

Pastor Bert explores intercessory prayer not as a way to change God, but as a transformative practice that changes us by aligning our hearts with God's will. He emphasizes that prayer isn't merely offering "thoughts and prayers" but should be "meddlesome," prompting us to action as James 2:15-17 teaches, "faith is dead when it doesn't result in faithful activit...

Pastor Bert Cloud offers a preview of this Sunday's worship service!

Pastor Bert explores Jesus's baptism in Luke 3:21-22, explaining how baptism was rooted in Jewish cleanliness practices before becoming a Christian sacrament of adoption into God's family. Through baptism, God claims us as beloved children just as He claimed Jesus, saying "You are my son, whom I dearly love," initiating us into Christ's universal church not through our merit...

Pastor Bert Cloud offers a preview of what you can expect this Sunday, August 24th, in worship.

Pastor Bert explains the meaning and practice of Holy Communion in the United Methodist tradition, emphasizing its deep historical roots and theological significance. He walks through the Great Thanksgiving liturgy, highlighting how communion represents thanksgiving to God, remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, the spiritual presence of Jesus, and anticipation of God's future kingdom.

Pastor Bert Cloud shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this Sunday, August 17th!

Our guest pastor this morning, Rev. Dr. Ryan LaRock, explores the transformational journey of Saul (later Paul) from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle, highlighting how God's grace can unravel our misguided convictions. Through stories of Saul's encounter on the Damascus road and a modern neo-Nazi's redemption, the sermon reminds us that the church is called to embrace all peopl...

Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in church this Sunday, August 10th!

Pastor Bert explores how we can have a genuine relationship with Jesus while still wrestling with questions and uncertainties. Using the Pentecost story from Acts, he demonstrates how questions like "what does this mean?" can become doorways to deeper faith rather than signs of faithlessness. The sermon concludes by encouraging believers to bring their difficult "why" questions...