Adventures in Student Ministry

But Why? – Why we can share our faith without fear

◦

,

TEXT: 1 Peter 3:8-17

CIT: Peter encourages early Christians to be intentional in their conduct towards each other and towards pagans, so that when people come against them for preaching the gospel, they will speak no evil of them.

CIT: As we become active in presenting the gospel, we need to be intentional about maintaining Godly conduct to our fellow believers and to unbelievers.

Intro 1 Peter 3:15 tells us the following:

“…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…”

We are told that we need to be prepared to make a defense for why we believe what we believe. Some have leaned into this vocabulary to create an almost militant mindset of “I need to defend God!” But neither the attitude nor the idea is Biblical. The word used here for defense, “apologia,” simply means to have an answer. A better way to express this portion of the scripture, “be ready to answer the ‘why questions’ people ask you when they ask why you believe what you believe.

It’s interesting to note that in a 2020 poll, 41% of individuals asked said they don’t share the gospel for the following reasons.

  1. Fear
  2. Feeling unequipped
  3. To shy
  4. Afraid of being pushy
  5. Afraid of making Christianity look Bad

All of this is wrapped up in the struggle of having confidence in what they believe and how to explain it. As a result of people being fearful of expressing their faith, there’s no reason for people to ask “why?”

Today, we are beginning a series designed to help build your confidence in your understanding of what we believe and why. Not so that you can become some sort of expert debater who’s out “defending the faith.” But so that you can operate confidently as son and daughter in Christ.

To kick off the series, we are going to talk about the reason we stand in that position to share our faith and why it’s important to be in that position.

  1. Caring for Each Other 
    1. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. – 1 Peter 3:8
    2. We need to take care of each other.
      1. One Mind – Working together for one goal
      2. Sympathy – Rejoice with each other when there needs to be rejoicing, weep with each other when there needs to be weeping.
      3. Brotherly Love – Keep in mind that in Christ we are family, meaning we need to take care of each other as family should
      4. Tender heart (compassionate) – take each other’s emotions and needs into mind when we deal with each other. 
      5. Humble Mind – Don’t inflate how you see yourself. Does’t mean you put yourself down, but it also means you don’t make yourself more important than others.
  2. Care for those who aren’t Christians
    1. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing – 1 Peter 3:9
    2. We are told that if someone does something evil, or insults us, or abuses us, we should not respond with the same kind of action.
    3. We are told to bless people.
      1. Speak well of them
      2. Actively pray for God’s Grace to be on them.
  3. 3 Areas we need to be mindful of
    1. ‘For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’ – 1 Peter 3:10
      1. Mindful of our words
    2. ‘They must turn from evil and do good;’  – 1 Peter 3:11
      1. Mindful of our actions
    3. ‘they must seek peace and pursue it.’ – 1 Peter 3:11
      1. Mindful of our mindsets
    4. But why should we do this?
      1. ‘For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:12
      2. Because if we don’t, we are closing off our access to the Lord
  4. This is the backdrop of the verse about being prepared to give an answer about your faith. If you’re operating in these things, then this is what we are encouraged with
    1. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,  – 1 Peter 3:13-14
    2. Even if someone gets mad at you, you shouldn’t be worried, because God will care for you.
  5. How should we present the gospel then?
    1. yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 1 Peter 3:15-16
    2. When we give an answer for our faith, we need to be intentional about being gentle and speaking with respect.  When we do this two things take place
      1. It shows people Christ in a proper manner.
      2. If their hearts are hardened and take issue with the truth, then they can’t attack you for what you’ve actually done because you’ve acted and spoken above board.