PODCAST · religion
The Sterling Sermons
by Sterling United Methodist Church
Welcome! We are glad you are listening along with us! Sterling United Methodist is a church in Sterling, Virginia, dedicated to inviting and nurturing others to a relationship with Christ. If you are local to our church home, we would love to meet you on Sunday morning! If you aren't "from around here", we are thrilled you found us and invite you to join us online for worship! This channel currently hosts the Sunday messages that our pastor, Rev. Bert Cloud, delivers to our church body. These sermons are recorded live and are perfectly imperfect!www.sterlingumc.org
Episodes
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Lessons from the Parables: The Mustard Seed
Pastor Jenny uses the Parable of the Mustard Seed to explore how even the smallest faith can yield extraordinary results, drawing a vivid parallel between the mustard seed's surprising power and the transformative potential of our own belief. Just as the mustard seed grows into something far...
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God Never Said That: Does it really?
Pastor Jenny concludes her series God Never Said That by unpacking the popular phrase "everything happens for a reason," challenging its accuracy while affirming something far more hopeful. Scripture doesn't promise that every painful circumstance has a tidy explanation, but it does promise that...
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God Never Said That: More Than Happy
Pastor Jenny offers that while happiness is a gift from God, it has never been God's highest goal for our lives. Drawing from passages like John 15 and Philippians 1:6, she makes clear that God is after something far deeper — our transformation, our holiness, and a joy rooted not in favorable...
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God Never Said That: God helps.
Guest preacher Rev. Katherine Malloy unpacks the popular saying "God helps those who help themselves," revealing that it has no Biblical foundation and actually contradicts the character of God revealed in Scripture. Drawing from the Israelites' struggle at Rephidim in Exodus, she shows that God...
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God Never Said That: Forgive, Don't Forget
God never commanded us to "forgive and forget" — forgiveness doesn't require spiritual amnesia or pretending the pain never happened. What God does call us to is a grace-empowered choice to release bitterness and entrust justice to Him, even while healthy boundaries remain intact. True…
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God Never Said That: Too Much to Handle
In this opening message of her series God Never Said That, Pastor Jenny tackles one of the most common—and most damaging—phrases in Christian culture: "God won't give you more than you can handle." Drawing from her own season of devastating loss and from Paul's raw honesty in 2 Corinthians 1, she...
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Stand in Prayer and Perseverance
Pastor Jenny closes out a series on standing in faith by revealing that the surprising final piece of spiritual armor isn't a weapon at all — it's prayer. Drawing from Ephesians 6:18, she reminds us that all the armor in the world is powerless without staying connected to the One who gives it.…
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Stand in Preparation
In week three of her series on spiritual armor, Pastor Jenny walks through the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit — showing that God equips us not just for protection, but for preparation and active resistance. The battle is…
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Stand in Truth & Righteousness
Pastor Jenny continues her series on Ephesians 6, focusing on the Belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness as daily essentials for the Christian life. Truth, rooted in God's eternal Word and the person of Jesus, holds our spiritual life together, while righteousness — both the assigned...
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Hard to be Humble
Pastor Jenny draws on the beloved song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to remind us that, unlike the lion in the song, the devil never rests — he prowls constantly, seeking to devour those who falter in their faith. Through the words of the apostle Peter, she outlines three essential defenses against...
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What's in a Name?
Pastor Jenny uses the names given to Hosea and Gomer's three children — Jezreel, Lo-ruhamah, and Lo-ammi — to show how deeply Israel's unfaithfulness had fractured their relationship with God. Just as Gomer wandered from Hosea, we too wander from God, yet like Hosea reclaiming Gomer at any cost,...
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Sour Grapes
Pastor Jenny uses the imagery of fruit - both good and sweet and bad and bitter - to explore what it means to live as a follower of Christ. Drawing from Galatians 5, she calls believers to examine the fruit they produce in their daily lives, recognizing that their words and actions may be the…
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Such a Time as This
In her first sermon at Sterling United Methodist Church, Pastor Jenny Day draws on the story of Esther to remind the congregation that God's plans are always greater than our own. Just as Esther was placed in her royal position "for just such a time as this," God has orchestrated this new chapter...
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Spirit in Partnership
Pastor Bert explores the mystery of the Trinity on Trinity Sunday, acknowledging that while no metaphor fully captures the nature of God, the dynamic of three is woven throughout creation and human relationship. Using the contrast between destructive triangulation and life-giving triangles, he...
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Spirit Unbound, God Poured Out
On Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Bert draws a vivid parallel between the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts and the surprising moment in Numbers when God's Spirit fell not just on the elders gathered with Moses, but on Eldad and Medad right there in the camp. Just as Moses declared, "Would that all the...
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Plans
This Sunday was Confirmation Sunday as well as Youth Sunday at Sterling UMC. Drawing from Jeremiah 29, Pastor Bert reminds the congregation that even in the middle of life's messes — personal, communal, or generational — God's word remains the same: "I know the plans I have for you, plans for...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this Sunday at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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God Cares
Pastor Bert reminds us that while life is full of trouble and heartache, God is not a distant clockmaker who winds up the world and walks away — He is a compassionate Father who enters intimately into our suffering. Drawing from 2 Corinthians, Pastor Bert highlights that God comforts us in all…
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Astounded Us
Pastor Bert uses the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus to explore the theme of astonishment — those disorienting "what the heck just happened" moments in life. Even in their confusion, Jesus walked alongside the disciples, opening their hearts and minds to a deeper truth than they...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a brief reflection on what to expect in worship this Sunday! We also feature a special interview with our incoming pastor, Rev. Jenny Day, as she introduces herself!
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Unless I See
Pastor Bert explores the story of Thomas doubting Jesus's resurrection, arguing that Thomas gets an unfair reputation as "doubting Thomas" when doubt is actually a necessary and helpful part of faith. He emphasizes that the opposite of doubt isn't faith but certainty, and that faith can coexist...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this week at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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So...what's next?
Pastor Bert explores Jesus's Great Commission given to his disciples despite their natural doubts and uncertainty. Jesus commands his followers to go into all the world, make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Trinity, and teach them to follow his commandments, promising that he will be...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect this Sunday in worship at Sterling United Methodist Church
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Miracle of Life
Pastor Bert begins this Easter sermon with a joke about a resurrected rabbit, following the ancient tradition of Easter laughter, before exploring the paradox of resurrection joy found in the Gospel of John. The central message focuses on how true Easter joy isn't simple happiness that erases...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect at Sterling UMC this Easter weekend!
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Miracle: The Resurrection and the Life
Pastor Bert explores the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead in John 11, emphasizing that while Lazarus had his life handed back to him as a gift from God, this miracle points to something greater. He challenges the congregation to consider how Jesus offers to hand our lives back to us...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect this Sunday at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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Miracle: Light of the World
Pastor Bert explores the healing of the man born blind in John chapter 9, focusing on how the question "who sinned?" gets turned upside down by Jesus. While the religious authorities become spiritually blind by rejecting Jesus' miraculous work because it happened on the Sabbath, the formerly…
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his preview of what you can expect this Sunday at Sterling United Methodist Church
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Miracle: The Great I Am
Pastor Bert explores Jesus walking on water from the Gospel of John, emphasizing how Jesus comes to us in the midst of life's storms rather than waiting for us on the other side. Using personal anecdotes from a recent trip to Cape May and his own struggles with rowing, Pastor Bert connects the...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his weekly preview of what you can expect this Sunday at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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Miracle: Complete Fulfillment
Pastor Bert uses childhood memories of indestructible lunchboxes from the 60s and 70s to introduce the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 from the Gospel of John. He emphasizes that God can take our small offerings—like the boy's bread and fish—and do the impossible, challenging us to trust God...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares a preview of what you can expect in worship this week at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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Miracle: Movement of Freedom
Pastor Bert continues the Lent series on "zoe" (abundant life) by examining Jesus's healing of a man who couldn't walk for 38 years at a pool in the Gospel of John. Jesus initiates this miracle without conditions, telling the man to pick up his mat despite it being the Sabbath, demonstrating that...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his forecast for what you can expect in worship this week!
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Miracle: Life-Giving Word
Pastor Bert explores the second miracle in John's Gospel, where Jesus heals a royal official's son from a distance, demonstrating both the power of faith and Jesus's ability to restore life. This miracle follows a pattern of context, need, miraculous response, and faith that will repeat…
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Miracle: Divine Exchange
Pastor Bert delivers an Ash Wednesday sermon focusing on the wedding at Cana, emphasizing the theme of "divine exchange" where Jesus transforms our brokenness into something beautiful. Using the miracle of turning water into the finest wine, he reminds the congregation that even as we confront…
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See Jesus With the Woman at the Well
Pastor Bert explores the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well from the Gospel of John, emphasizing how Jesus disrupted her ordinary routine and challenged social taboos by speaking with her. He encourages the congregation to be open to miracles that go beyond what seems reasonable,...
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Overhear the Conversations between Jesus and Nicodemus
Pastor Bert explores the nighttime encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus, using the powerful metaphor of gathering around a campfire to illustrate how Jesus draws us from darkness into light. He emphasizes that John 3:16-17 reveals God's love and salvation rather than judgment, calling us to be...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his reflections on this season and this upcoming Sunday at Sterling UMC!
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See Jesus Clean the Temple
Pastor Bert explores Jesus cleansing the temple from John's Gospel, emphasizing that Jesus had righteous anger and passion for what is morally right, not just religiously acceptable. He challenges the congregation to consider what tables Jesus might flip today, calling believers to stand with...
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The Sunday Forecast
In this Sunday forecast, Pastor Bert speaks with our own Randy Ashby (who has a lot of experience in forecasting!) about preparing for an upcoming snowstorm, drawing parallels between weather forecasting and spiritual preparation.
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert Cloud offers his reflections and a preview of what you can expect in church this Sunday.
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The Stories We Tell
Guest preacher Rev. Katherine Malloy explores how the stories we tell ourselves have tremendous power to shape our lives and communities. Using her personal journey from being cut from sports teams to eventually finding joy in fitness again, she illustrates how negative narratives can limit us…
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Fear Doesn't Stop Us
Pastor Bert explores the Epiphany story of the Magi visiting Jesus, emphasizing how their journey represents a bold political act that defied empire and chose love over fear. He connects this ancient narrative to contemporary fears and uncertainties, calling the congregation to follow God's light...
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his weekly forecast, including what you can expect for Sunday worship at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his forecast for what you can expect in worship this week at Sterling United Methodist Church!
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Even in our fear, we are called forward.
Pastor Bert explores how fear serves as information in our lives, encouraging us to "go scared" rather than letting fear paralyze us. Drawing from Jeremiah's call story and Mary's response to the angel, he demonstrates how God doesn't say "go and good luck" but rather "I'm going with you,"…
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The Sunday Forecast
Pastor Bert shares his weekly reflections and offers a preview of what you can expect this week at Sterling United Methodist Church.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome! We are glad you are listening along with us! Sterling United Methodist is a church in Sterling, Virginia, dedicated to inviting and nurturing others to a relationship with Christ. If you are local to our church home, we would love to meet you on Sunday morning! If you aren't "from around here", we are thrilled you found us and invite you to join us online for worship! This channel currently hosts the Sunday messages that our pastor, Rev. Bert Cloud, delivers to our church body. These sermons are recorded live and are perfectly imperfect!www.sterlingumc.org
HOSTED BY
Sterling United Methodist Church
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Sterling Sermons have?
The Sterling Sermons currently has 204 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Sterling Sermons about?
Welcome! We are glad you are listening along with us! Sterling United Methodist is a church in Sterling, Virginia, dedicated to inviting and nurturing others to a relationship with Christ. If you are local to our church home, we would love to meet you on Sunday morning! If you aren't "from around...
How often does The Sterling Sermons release new episodes?
The Sterling Sermons publishes regularly with 204 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Sterling Sermons?
You can listen to The Sterling Sermons on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Sterling Sermons?
The Sterling Sermons is created and hosted by Sterling United Methodist Church.
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