Summary

This sermon from 1 Peter 3:13-22 challenges believers to be prepared to share their living hope in Jesus Christ with others. The pastor emphasizes that sharing our faith doesn’t need to be complicated or fear-inducing – it’s simply about telling others of our personal experience with Jesus and the hope He provides. Using analogies of sharing enthusiasm for hometown football teams or grandchildren, the message illustrates how naturally we share what we love. The sermon addresses three key points: fixating on our hope rather than our fears, sharing our faith with gentleness and respect, and understanding that Christ is victorious over all suffering and death. The passage also discusses water baptism as a public declaration of faith and cleansing from sin through Christ’s resurrection, not the act itself.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, as we gather together in this small group, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to what You want to teach us today. Help us to be receptive to Your Holy Spirit’s leading and to encourage one another in our faith journey. May we grow in our understanding of the living hope we have in Jesus Christ and be equipped to share that hope with others. Remove any distractions or preoccupations from our minds so we can focus on You and Your Word. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What’s something you’re genuinely excited about that you love telling other people about? (It could be a hobby, a favorite restaurant, a sports team, your grandchildren, etc.)

Key Verses

1. 1 Peter 3:15 2. 1 Peter 3:13-14 3. 1 Peter 3:18 4. 1 Peter 3:21

Questions

1. The pastor used the analogy of his wife sharing her love for Huntington Bearcats football. What parallels do you see between sharing enthusiasm for something we love and sharing our faith in Jesus?
2. Peter asks ‘Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?’ What fears do we often create in our minds about sharing our faith that may not be realistic?
3. What does it mean to ‘fixate on our hope and its source rather than our fear and its source’ when it comes to evangelism?
4. The passage emphasizes sharing our faith ‘with gentleness and respect.’ Can you think of examples (positive or negative) of how people have shared their faith with you or others?
5. How does having a ‘clear conscience before God’ impact our ability to share the gospel with others?
6. The sermon mentions that apologetics is about ‘forming our hearts to be like Jesus’ not just head knowledge. How do we balance being prepared intellectually while maintaining a Christ-like heart?
7. What role does water baptism play in our public testimony of faith, and why is it important even though it doesn’t save us?
8. Peter reminds us that ‘Christ is victorious’ even in suffering. How does this truth give us courage to share our faith despite potential opposition?

Life Application This week

Identify one person in your life who doesn’t know Jesus and pray specifically for an opportunity to share your personal testimony with them. Prepare by writing down 2-3 sentences about how Jesus has given you hope or changed your life. Practice sharing this with gentleness and respect, focusing on your personal experience rather than trying to argue or convince.

Key Takeaways

1. Sharing our faith is as natural as sharing what we love – it’s about telling our personal story of hope in Jesus
2. We should fixate on our hope in Christ rather than our fears about potential rejection or persecution
3. Our gospel presentation must be done with gentleness and respect, reflecting the character of Jesus
4. Christ is victorious over all suffering and death, giving us confidence to live and share our faith boldly
5. Water baptism is a public declaration of our faith and provides a clear opportunity to testify about our salvation

Ending Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for the living hope we have in You through Your death and resurrection. Help us to be bold yet gentle as we share this hope with others in our daily lives. Give us opportunities this week to tell someone about the difference You’ve made in our lives. Remove our fears and replace them with confidence in Your victory over sin and death. May our lives be a testimony to Your goodness and grace. Help us to live in such a way that others will ask us about the hope we have, and give us the words to share when those moments come. We commit to being prepared to give an account for our hope in You. In Your victorious name we pray, Amen.

Discussion Guide 11-9-25

Devotional 11-9-25