The Sterling Sermons

Pastor Bert explores the Easter story as a journey from grief to hope, emphasizing how Jesus continues to act in our lives today. He reminds us that even in our darkest moments, "there is Sunday that is coming," and encourages holding onto the hope of resurrection that "changes everything."

Pastor Bert shares his Holy Week forecast!

Pastor Bert shares his weekly update for Palm Sunday and Holy Week!

Pastor Bert explores the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10, emphasizing Jesus' radical invitation to the despised tax collector. The sermon highlights God's mercy and grace extended to even the most unlikely individuals, challenging listeners to respond to this invitation with righteousness and to extend the same grace to others.

The Sunday Forecast with Pastor Bert Cloud. Here's what you can expect in worship this Sunday, April 6th.

Pastor Bert delivers a powerful sermon on the parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15. He emphasizes Jesus' willingness to seek out the lost and sinful, challenging the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. The pastor reminds us that God celebrates when even one lost person is found, highlighting God's relentless love for all.

Pastor Bert offers a quick update on what you can expect in worship this Sunday, March 30th!

Pastor Bert explores Jesus' parable of the fig tree in the vineyard, emphasizing the balance between fruitfulness and restfulness in the Christian life. He highlights God's patience and compassion, represented by the gardener in the story, who nurtures growth and potential in believers despite their current lack of fruit.

A first look at the conditions you can expect for worship this week at Sterling United Methodist Church!

Pastor Bert explores the story of Mary and Martha, emphasizing that both devotion to Jesus and active service are valuable. He encourages finding balance between our relationship with God and practical ministry.

Pastor Bert explores the concept of "in-betweenness" through Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan. The sermon challenges listeners to redefine their understanding of who their neighbor is and emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion in Christian faith. Pastor Bert illustrates this with a personal story of helping a stranger, urging the congregation to ask, "If I do no...

Pastor Bert explores Jesus' journey to Jerusalem in the Gospel of Luke, emphasizing the tension between intentions and actions. He challenges listeners to find a middle ground in their discipleship, urging them to match good intentions with meaningful actions as they enter the Lenten season.

Pastor Bert uses the analogy of the TV show "To Tell the Truth" to illustrate the importance of truly knowing Jesus. He emphasizes that appearances can be deceiving, and only by deepening our relationship with Christ can we recognize His voice and follow Him faithfully.

Pastor Bert concludes a series on "living well" by emphasizing the importance of disciplined walking with God. He uses personal anecdotes about overcoming physical challenges to illustrate spiritual growth, highlighting five core aspects of Christian discipleship: prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness.

Guest Pastor Jack Lee shares his personal journey of immigration and financial hardship to illustrate John Wesley's teaching: "Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can." He emphasizes the importance of building treasures in heaven rather than on earth, highlighting how our faith and stewardship can transform lives and contribute to God's kingdom in ways we may not imm...

Pastor Bert delivers a powerful sermon on the importance of connecting with others and our fundamental need for community. Through personal anecdotes and Biblical wisdom, he emphasizes that despite our differences, we are all created in God's image and called to love one another.

Pastor Bert discusses the importance of rest in our hectic lives, emphasizing that it's more than just taking breaks. He explores Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 to come to Him for rest, explaining that this involves exchanging our burdens for His yoke and learning from Him.

Pastor Bert emphasizes the significance of conversations, both with others and with God, highlighting that meaningful interactions can occur unexpectedly in everyday settings. He encourages listeners to be open to prayer anywhere, anytime, and to bring their worries, anger, and hopes to God, finding peace and joy in His presence.

Pastor Bert explores the concept of "living well is the best revenge" through the lens of forgiveness. He emphasizes that forgiveness is not about forgetting, but rather remembering key aspects such as our own need for forgiveness, the need to forgive repeatedly, and the possibility of reconciliation while maintaining healthy boundaries.

Pastor Bert addresses the anxiety of our times, urging the congregation to root themselves in faith like John the Baptist proclaimed. He emphasizes that while we stand at the edge of uncertainty, we must remember that the world revolves around God's love, not us. The pastor calls for a renewal in the church, comparing it to new wineskins from Luke 5:37-38, and encourages embracing God's new work l...

As we gather today, we reflect on the journey of the Magi—pilgrims on a long and unexpected path. Their story reminds us of a core truth: life is full of twists and turns, unexpected journeys, and new beginnings.  At times, we may find ourselves called to step onto unfamiliar paths, encountering detours and challenges along the way. Yet, even in these moments, God’s light guides us.  This morning,...

On Christmas Eve, we celebrate the moment when God’s boundless love broke into the world through the birth of Christ, changing history and our understanding of our place in it. This is not just a story of cosmic significance—it is deeply personal.  God’s love isn’t distant or abstract; it is a love that knows each of us intimately, calling us by name. The same God who placed the stars in the sky a...

Hope isn’t flimsy or fragile—it’s a force that propels us toward God’s presence and redemptive plan for all creation. Yet, hope can feel vulnerable, even risky. For those bearing the scars of a weary world, cynicism can seem safer, more straightforward. But cynicism doesn’t change the world—hope does.  Hope declares, “It can be better,” and empowers us to work toward that vision. In a world where...

Headline after headline, creation groans. Our world's labor pains seem compounding and never-ending. In the overwhelm of daily responsibilities and the barrage of global crises, it's easy to feel like anything we do or say is simply a drop in the ocean. Yet, in this liturgical season of expectant hope, we must remember that the good we do in the world has ripple effects beyond what we can see. We...

One of life’s most essential lessons is that we are never meant to go it alone. Yet, in a world that often isolates us, the story of Ruth reminds us of the power of commitment and community. When Ruth’s husband passed away, she didn’t follow the cultural norms of her time by returning to her family of origin. Instead, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Together, they formed a new fam...