07/27/2025 – “Called to Love, Bless, Be Blessed” / 1 Peter 3: 8 – 12 / Parkside Church, Cleveland, Associate pastor Dan Larson
https://www.parksidechurch.com/learn/resources/media-center/sermon/called-love-bless-be-blessed
Soli Deo Gloria!
Just some takeaways from this sermon:
To follow Jesus’ example is messy and uncomfortable at the very least.
So, Dan admonished us not to stop in a middle ground, which looks like this:
- Be sociable; 2) Social, but not substantive; 3) Slip into truth over warmth and tenderness; and 4). Make sure they understand you before you understand the other person. Note – somehow I missed one for there were five points.
I resonated with the beginning with the note on the podcast that spoke to how special forces are trained to avoid the pattern of our natural reflexes. “Fight or flight” being one example.
There is that reminder verse for me again, by God’s grace:
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospels will save it.” Mark 8:35 (also see Luke 9:24 and Matthew 16:25) What a confounding paradox to the world, but it speaks to His Truth!
Soli Deo Gloria!