For a review of this week’s study, read I Peter 3:13-17:
1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV) – 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
In studying this passage, we see six aspects of Peter’s apologetic method (i.e. how to answer objections to the faith…):
1) Do not fear man (v. 14, cf. Matt 10:28.)
2) Sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart (v. 15.) (Note: This is the controlling verb in this passage. Everything else flows from this aspect of the Christian life.)
3) Demonstrate hope (“… make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…” – v. 15.)
4) Always be prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in you by sharing your faith (v. 15.) (Note: The ground of our hope is our faith. Without faith in Christ… we have no hope.)
5) Give a defense with gentleness and respect (v. 16, cf. II Tim 2:24-26.)
6) Live a godly and righteous life so that those who slander you will one day be ashamed (v. 16.)
We will examine how to apply this method to various objections to the Christian faith next week!
Homework for Week # 12:
- Memorize I Peter 3:15-16 and review your Scripture memory verses (Luke 10:2 and I Corinthians 15:1-4.)
- Spend some time each day going over the 4-point outline of the gospel (i.e. God, Man, Christ, and Response) and the 4-point outline of redemptive history (i.e. Creation, Fall, Redemption and Recreation) either out-loud or in writing. Be prepared to share the gospel next week in class.
- Engage in at least 1 gospel conversation this week with an unbeliever.
- Read Romans 9:1-5.
- Describe Paul’s attitude toward unsaved Jewish people.
- How does this compare to our attitude toward those who are lost around us?
- Spend some time meditating on this in preparation for class.
- Review the homework assignment from Week # 11 regarding answering objections to the authority of the Bible and rejection of the exclusivity of Christ.
- Spend some time reviewing the material we have covered over the past 11 weeks:
- What have you learned?
- What do you still need to learn?
- What questions do you have regarding the gospel and evangelism?
- How will this course affect your evangelism in the future?
- Be prepared to discuss this in class next week.
