Go! And Always Be Ready To Share Your Hope - 1 Peter 3:15 Series

Go! And Always Be Ready to Share Your Hope - 1 Peter 3:15

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT): “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

Introduction

What would you say if tomorrow, at work, at school, or in your neighbourhood, someone looked you in the eye and asked: “Why are you a Christian?”

Would you stumble for words? Would you feel unprepared? Or would you be ready to boldly and gently share the reason for the hope you have in Jesus Christ?

Church, in this Go! And… series, we are reminded that Christianity is not passive—it’s active. God calls us not just to gather, but to go. And here, in 1 Peter 3:15, we are commanded to go and always be ready to explain our hope.

Peter, writing to believers scattered and suffering in the Roman Empire, gives a clear instruction:

“Worship Christ as Lord of your life.” The Greek word used for Lord is ?????? (kyrios)—a title of absolute authority. To confess Jesus as Kyrios was dangerous in Peter’s day, because Caesar demanded to be called lord. To say “Jesus is Lord” was not merely spiritual—it was a declaration of allegiance, even if it cost your life.

“Always be ready to explain it.” The word translated “explain” in Greek is ?p?????a (apologia)—from which we get apologetics. It means a reasoned defence, not an argument filled with anger, but a thoughtful testimony.

Peter isn’t calling us to win debates. He’s calling us to be witnesses of Jesus.

Point 1: Our Hope Is Rooted in Christ

Peter says: “your hope as a believer”. Hope is not vague optimism. It’s not “I hope tomorrow is sunny.” Biblical hope is confident expectation rooted in the promises of God.

Hebrews 6:19 (NLT): “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”

In the storms of life, hope in Christ anchors us.

Colossians 1:27 (NLT): “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”

Our hope isn’t built on what we do, but on what Christ has done.

John Piper once said: “Hope is not just a wish. It’s a confident expectation in God’s future faithfulness.”

Church, Piper’s words remind us: our hope is living because our Saviour is living.

Imagine a man clinging to a piece of driftwood in the ocean. Every wave threatens to drown him. But then a lifeboat comes near, throws him a rope, and pulls him aboard. That rope is Jesus. That lifeboat is salvation. Our hope isn’t in our grip—it’s in the One who rescues us.

Point 2: Our Witness Must Be Prepared

Peter commands: “Always be ready.” That means readiness is not optional—it’s essential.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT): “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not.”

Readiness means seizing opportunities when they come—expected or unexpected.

Colossians 4:6 (NLT): “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”

Readiness isn’t just knowledge, it’s also tone—gentleness, humility, love.

Charles Stanley said: “God assumes full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.”

If you yield to Christ, He will give you the words, courage, and wisdom to be ready when the moment comes.

Think of a firefighter. They don’t wait until the alarm sounds to learn how to use their equipment. They train daily so they are ready when the call comes. Likewise, we must train ourselves in Scripture and prayer so that when God gives us the chance, we are ready to testify.

Point 3: Our Message Must Be Christ-Centred

Our explanation isn’t about philosophy or personal opinions—it’s about Jesus.

Acts 4:12 (NLT): “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Salvation is exclusive—Christ alone.

Romans 10:9 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Our message is simple: confess, believe, be saved.

Tim Keller wrote: “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

That’s the message we must share—truth about sin, but greater truth about grace.

The Gospel Presentation:

Friends, the good news is not about making bad people good. It’s about making dead people alive.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this world.

He lived a perfect life, without sin.