“Words of Hope”
1 Peter 3:13-16
Pastor John Bright
1 Peter 3 “13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
Today I am staring down a massive “sacred cow” in most of our churches. A 2020 survey of 1,600 Jesus Followers asked this question: “What prevents you from talking about spiritual matters with other people?” The top answers were “fear” and “lack of opportunity.” https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog/christian-evangelism-statistics/
Maybe that’s why evangelism has been turned over to the pastor and the vast majority (90%) of folks in the pews have never won a soul for Christ. What if God wanted every Jesus Follower to share words of hope with those who are hurting and broken?
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Peter has been sharing with the house churches during a time of great persecution between 62-65 AD. We have recently applied his teachings to our interactions with the government, our employers, and our spouse. I kept pointing you to a context for all these verses - THE WORLD IS WATCHING. Anybody sick of hearing me say this? 😊 Has anyone noticed that I never said it was a bad thing? Actually, we want them to see us – to watch us.
When they see us doing good, v. 13-14
“13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
These are verses written to folks facing true persecution. I often warn folks like us who live in a “cancel culture” to never confuse attempts to silence the Gospel message with bodily injury, imprisonment, or even death. Two weeks ago, International Christian Concern reported on the genocide in Sudan -
“According to reports, 165 churches have had to close since the war started in 2023. Some churches are used as bases for military operations in the war, with people sheltering there forced out or even killed to make way for soldiers. Members of the clergy have been targeted, with soldiers shooting or stabbing priests and others during their raids.” https://www.persecution.org/2025/02/11/genocidal-militia-continues-to-persecute-christians-across-sudan/
Peter is teaching them to do what Jesus taught Peter: Matthew 5:38-42 “38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Peter is teaching them to do what Jesus did: 1 Peter 2:21-23 “21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”
We teach children the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) When those children get out into the world, they learn a new rule – “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” We are taught to go on the offensive and keep a list of wrongs so we can fulfill the Klingon proverb from “Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan”: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
What if we do the opposite? When we respond with grace and mercy, it gets us a hearing.
Sharing your testimony, v. 15
“15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
I’m going to repeat something that I have told you before and you might hear it again in the future: learn to listen to others with the goal of understanding – NOT JUDGEMENT! Anyone of you can ask this question, “What’s the story behind that tattoo?” Then, just listen. Try to learn about that person you just met. Then, tell them thanks for sharing. Until you are ready to share your story of becoming a Jesus Follower, just listen. It’s good practice for listening to all the other folks around you at home or at work.
Let’s look at getting ready to share your story with another human being.
“Preparing Your Personal Testimony - Sharing how you came to know God personally is one of the most powerful ways you can help friends grasp how much God loves us. If someone asked you to share today, would you find it challenging to explain how you came to believe in God, or what he means to you?
If so, that’s okay! Try setting aside just 15 minutes to capture some key milestones in your journey with Christ below, and use this as a guide for sharing your story with others, whether in snippets over time or all at once over coffee. Remember, it’s your story, so the more authentic and personal it is, the better.
BEFORE
1 - Before you met Christ, what were some of your needs, what was lacking, or what was missing in your life?
2 - What methods for improving your life did you try that didn’t work?
HOW
1 - What were the circumstances that caused you to consider following Jesus?
2 - What has become your favorite Bible verse and why?
3 - Share about how you trusted Christ and give a brief explanation of the gospel. John 3:16 is a great verse to use.
AFTER
1 - Give an example of how God has met your needs—either physical or emotional—since you accepted Jesus.
2 - Share about what part of your relationship with God you’re most grateful for today.
https://www.navigators.org/resource/how-to-prepare-your-personal-testimony/
From those notes, write a brief (5 minutes or less) testimony. After you get that done, please share it with me. I want to be praying for God to show you a time to share that testimony. You can also be praying for God to show you how and where to share.
Let me share from an email I got from the Navigators about their summer outreach with college students: “This past summer, the students had over 700 gospel conversations with strangers. From those discussions, 22 people gave their lives to Christ and were connected with local churches. (talk about ration of 700 to 22)
For one student, Ethan, sharing his faith on the beach led to a renewed heart for evangelism back home. At the beginning of the summer, Ethan was nervous about sharing his faith with strangers. After sharing his feelings with Adam, Adam gave him a challenge: “Do it scared.”
His first day on the beach, Ethan was terrified. However, the Lord showed up, and Ethan ended up leading a man to Christ. Ethan went back to Northwest Missouri State University this fall semester with a new energy for sharing the gospel with his friends. Since then, he has led four guys on his cross-country team to Christ.” https://www.navigators.org/blog/how-to-build-boldness-sharing-the-gospel-in-jacksonville/
We can prove them wrong, v. 16
“16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
I think that God expects us to respond (not react) when the world pushes back like Jesus responded to the folks who were unable to see what He was doing. It won’t make sense. Here’s an example of what Peter’s teaching would look like in his day: “Peter is telling the Christian merchant in Bithynia who has just been publicly slandered and maligned because he follows Jesus to bless this person and pray for him and speak well of him in return. Then a neighbor asks this merchant why didn’t he defend himself against them for this malicious attack and is further confounded by the Christian’s stunning move to bless and not curse his enemy. Peter says to the maligned merchant, “This your moment. When they ask, be ready to tell them your secret (aka 1 Peter 3:15a). Oh, and one more thing, be respectful, even gentle about it.”
(J.D. Walt, “1 Peter: Surprised by the Church Jesus Is Building” 2024, p 99)
We can all learn this way of living in the world but not being of the world. We can also learn new ways to share the good news of hope that Jesus offers to every person today.
How to use a Gospel Tract
You are all receiving an envelope with a variety of gospel tracts from a ministry, Moments With The Book – www.mwtb.org You can go to their website and see all the different tracts and order any of them you like. Today, look over the ones that are in your envelope. Find one that is interesting to you. Now, I want you to “study that gospel tract.”
1 – Read it through several times. Do you understand the message?
2 – Look up all the scriptures in the tract. Dig into them and read the whole chapter – what is the context? You don’t have to know the whole Bible – just understand how the scriptures in the tract are being used.
3 – All these tracts have a website on the back – SeekLife.net Some of them have their own page on the site. Go look up the page or just go to the home page and look around. One option there is to chat with folks who can help people find answers to their questions but also lead a seeker to new life in Christ. You may only plant the seed by giving someone a gospel tract.
4 – Pray about who you already know that would also find this gospel tract to be interesting. When God gives you a name – don’t question it! Just keep praying for that person when you are reading over that tract for the 15th time😊 Right now – just consider giving one tract to one person you already know. That’s all. Later on, we will talk more about leaving tracts in public spaces and giving them to folks you don’t know – more training down the road.
5 – Take a deep breath and give the tract to that person and tell them if they have any questions, just give you a call or go to the website on the back of tract. Then, start over with another gospel tract.
Down the road, we are going to provide you with more gospel tracts. It would be wonderful for me as the pastor to ask anyone here at any time, “Which gospel tract are you praying over?” I would also like to have some testimonies on a Sunday morning from folks who have followed this process, handed a tract to someone they know, and are still living to tell the tale 😊
One more thing – if your brain is already screaming, “I CAN’T!” – take some time to change the narrative in your head to this, “I HAVE NEVER TRIED THIS BEFORE!” Amen.
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. When you get pushback from others, is your response humility and grace?
• There are many ways to make a difference for God in the world today. Please pray about attending the “Difference Maker” training on Wednesday, March 26 at 1:00pm or Thursday, March 27 at 6:30pm. Each person attending will receive a free book.
• Next week: 1 Peter 3:17-22 “Why Suffering?”
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TEACHING SHEET
“Words of Hope”
1 Peter 3:13-16
Teaching Sheet for 2/23/25
Pastor John Bright
When they see us doing good, v. 13-14
“According to reports, 165 churches (in Sudan) have had to close since the war started in 2023. Some churches are used as bases for military operations in the war, with people sheltering there forced out or even killed to make way for soldiers. Members of the clergy have been targeted, with soldiers shooting or stabbing priests and others during their raids.” https://www.persecution.org/2025/02/11/genocidal-militia-continues-to-persecute-christians-across-sudan/
Peter is teaching them to do what Jesus taught Peter: Matthew 5:38-42 Peter is teaching them to do what Jesus did: 1 Peter 2:21-23
We teach children the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) When those children get out into the world, they learn a new rule – “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” We are taught to go on the offensive and keep a list of wrongs so we can fulfill the Klingon proverb from “Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan”: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Sharing your testimony, v. 15
Preparing Your Personal Testimony
BEFORE
1 - Before you met Christ, what were some of your needs, what was lacking, or what was missing in your life?
2 - What methods for improving your life did you try that didn’t work?
HOW
1 - What were the circumstances that caused you to consider following Jesus?
2 - What has become your favorite Bible verse and why?
3 - Share about how you trusted Christ and give a brief explanation of the gospel. John 3:16 is a great verse to use.
AFTER
1 - Give an example of how God has met your needs—either physical or emotional—since you accepted Jesus.
2 - Share about what part of your relationship with God you’re most grateful for today.
https://www.navigators.org/resource/how-to-prepare-your-personal-testimony/
From those notes, write a brief (5 minutes or less) testimony. After you get that done, please share it with me. I want to be praying for God to show you a time to share that testimony. You can also be praying for God to show you how and where to share.
We can prove them wrong, v. 16
(J.D. Walt, “1 Peter: Surprised by the Church Jesus Is Building” 2024, p 99)
How to use a Gospel Tract
Find one tract that is interesting to you. Now, I want you to “study that gospel tract.”
1 – Read it through several times. Do you understand the message?
2 – Look up all the scriptures in the tract. Dig into them and read the whole chapter – what is the context?
3 – All these tracts have a website on the back – SeekLife.net Some of them have their own page on the site. Go look up the page or just go to the home page and look around.
4 – Pray about who you already know that would also find this gospel tract to be interesting. When God gives you a name – don’t question it!
5 – Take a deep breath and give the tract to that person and tell them if they have any questions, just give you a call or go to the website on the back of tract. Then, start over with another gospel tract.
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. When you get pushback from others, is your response humility and grace?
• There are many ways to make a difference for God in the world today. Please pray about attending the “Difference Maker” training on Wednesday, March 26 at 1:00pm or Thursday, March 27 at 6:30pm. Each person attending will receive a free book.
• Next week: 1 Peter 3:17-22 “Why Suffering?”
