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 not help, what will happen to them?"

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 immediately see.

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.