Exiles – 1 Peter 3:15

Exiles – Week 7 – The Hope Within: Living Ready to Share the Gospel

1 Peter 3:8-16

⁸ Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,

⁹ not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

¹⁰ For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
¹¹ and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it,
¹² because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.

¹³ Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?

¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated,

¹⁵ but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

¹⁶ Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

Introduction

• Let me start with a question:
• If someone watched your life this past week,
• Would they have seen Jesus…
• In the things your said?
• Would they have seen Jesus
• In your actions?
• Would Jesus so visible by the way you are living
• That it would cause them
• To ask you about the hope you carry?
• 1 Peter 3…Peter assumes that they would.
• In fact, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
• He gives us a command in 1 Peter 3:15

to “always be ready” to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”

• To ALWAYS be ready
• And that “always be ready”
• Assumes that our lives look sooo different
• That people can’t help but notice.
• But here’s an honest question
• We have to face
• If no one is asking,
• Could it be possible
• That our hope isn’t visible?
• Could it be possible
• That we’ve blended in so much with the world arounds us
• That there’s nothing different to notice?
• Peter is saying to exiles like us:
• Live in such a way
• That your life demands a gospel explanation.
• Let your conduct,
• Your compassion,
• Your refusal to retaliate,
• Your courage in suffering
• Point people to Jesus.
• Then — when they ask — be ready to answer.
• That’s where we’re going today.
• We’re going to slow down on one verse,
• 1 Peter 3:15,
• And see what it looks like
• To live as a people ready to share the hope we have in the gospel.
• By answering four simple questions about sharing the Gospel:

What do we share?

Who do we share with?

When do we share?

How do we share?

Let’s start with answering the first one:

Question 1: Sharing the Gospel: What do we Share?

1 Peter 3:15 (CSB)
“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

• Peter makes it plain:
• When someone asks about our hope,
• We don’t share some vague idea or thought
• But we “give a defense”
• That word “defense” (Greek: apologia) means
• A reasoned explanation,
• Not an argument,
• But a clear answer.
• So, what is our defense, then?
• What is our reasoned explanation?
• What is our one clear Answer?
• It is the Gospel!!!
• We share the Gospel.
• Not just our story,
• Not just our church name,
• Not just what we believe about politics or morality
• But the good news of Jesus Christ.
• As I have shared with you before

Paul summarizes the Gospel this way in

1 Corinthians 15:3–4:
“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

• That’s the core of our message.
• That’s what we share.
• Here’s the breakdown:

Christ died for our sins.

• The problem is sin
• And the reality is that all the sin
• Isn’t just outside of us out there in the world
• It’s inside of us.
• Our sin separates us from God.
• And yet God loved us so much
• That He sent His Son to take the punishment we deserved.

He was buried.

• That means Jesus truly died in our place.
• He entered into the fullness of human death,
• Showing that He bore the full penalty of sin.

He was raised.

• The resurrection is the victory of God
• Over sin, death, and the grave.
• Jesus didn’t stay in the grave.
• He rose again,
• Proving He is Lord
• And offering new life to all who believe.
• That’s the Gospel!!!
• That’s the hope that Peter says we must be ready to explain.
• Now, someone might ask,
• “But what about my testimony?
• Isn’t that what I’m supposed to share?”
• Yes, your testimony is powerful.
• But your testimony only has power
• Because it connects to the Gospel.
• Your story is the evidence,
• But the Gospel is the foundation.
• If we stop at our story,
• We may inspire someone
• But we won’t save anyone.
• Only the Gospel saves.

Romans 1:16 says:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

• Do you see it?
• Not our eloquence.
• Not our clever arguments.
• Not even our good works.
• It’s the Gospel itself that carries God’s power to save.
• So, the first question is clear
• When someone asks about your hope,
• Share Jesus.
• Share the Gospel.
• But let’s get practical.
• If someone asks you about your hope in Jesus,
• How do you actually explain the Gospel?

One simple way is the 3 Circles tool. Here’s how it works:

(pull out papers)

1. Circle 1 – God’s Design

• God created the world good,
• With order and beauty.
• He designed us for a relationship with Him,
• To reflect His image.
• But we turned away from His design

1. Arrow 1 – Sin

• And chose sin.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23b For the wages of sin is death

• And that sin…
• Always leads to brokenness

1. Circle 2- Brokenness

• We live in a broken world.
• We see it everywhere
• Violence, addiction, divorce, injustice, hatred, pride.
• When we realize that life is not working
• We begin to look for a way out
• We try to figure it out on our own

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served something created instead of the creator

• But once we see that none of it works
• We realize we need something greater

1. Circle 3 The Gospel

• At this point, we need a remedy for our brokenness
• We need some Good news
• Because of His love
• God did not leave us in our brokenness
• Jesus, God in human flesh
• Came to us and lived perfectly according to God’s design.
• Jesus came to rescue us

John 3:16

For God loved the world in this way; He gave His one and only Son.

• To do for us what we could not do for ourselves
• He took our sin and shame to the cross
• Paying the penalty of our sin by His death.
• Jesus was then raised from the dead
• To provide the only way for us to be rescued and restored to relationship with God
• But just hearing this Good news is not enough

1. Arrow 2 – Repent & Believe

• We must admit our sinful brokenness and stop trusting ourselves
• We don’t have the power to escape the brokenness on our own
• We need to be rescued
• We must ask God to forgive us
• Turning from sin to trust only in Jesus

Mark 1:15b

Repent and believe in the good news

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved

• This is what it means to repent and believe
• Believing that we receive new life through Jesus
• And God turns our lives in a new direction

1. Arrow 3 – Recover & Pursue –

• When we believe in Jesus,
• God restores our relationship to him
• We begin to discover meaning and purpose in a broken world
• Now we can pursue God’s design in all areas of our lives
• Now even when we fall,
• We understand God’s pathway to be restored
• God’s spirit empowers us to pursue His design and assures us of his presence in this life and for eternity

That’s the Gospel in three simple circles: God’s Design → Brokenness → The Gospel

• It’s not complicated.
• You don’t need a theology degree.
• You just need to be ready
• To point people from their brokenness to Jesus,
• And to the hope of being restored by Him.
• So, when Peter says,

“Be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you,”

• This is what he means.
• Not vague inspiration.
• Not just personal preference.
• But a clear Gospel
• The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the call to repent and believe.
• Now let’s look at question 2

Question 2: Sharing the Gospel: Who do we share with?

1 Peter 3:8 (CSB):

Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble.

• Peter begins this section
• With a call to how we live together as Christians
• With unity, love, and humility.
• Why?
• Because the way we treat each other inside the church directly affects our witness outside the church.
• If our lives don’t reflect the love of Jesus,
• No one will ask about our hope in Jesus.
• But Peter doesn’t stop there.
• Look at verse 9:

1 Peter 3:9 (CSB):

Not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

• That’s a radical way of living.
• The world says, “Get even.
• Give people what they deserve.”
• Peter says, “Give them blessing instead.”
• Do you see the logic?
• If you only love those who already love you back,
• No one notices.
• That’s normal.
• But when you respond to hostility with blessing,
• People notice.
• When you forgive instead of retaliating,
• People notice.
• That’s what opens doors for the Gospel.

So, then who do we share with?

• Not just the people who are easy to love.
• Not just the people who already agree with us.
• But even those who mistreat us.
• Even those who oppose us.
• Even those who insult us.
• That’s why Peter goes on to say in verse 15:

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

• Notice that word: anyone.
• Not just close friends.
• Not just family.
• Not just people who look like us,
• Or think like us,
• Or treat us kindly.
• Anyone.
• If God puts someone in your path,
• They’re in your mission field.
• Think about Jesus.
• Who did He speak hope to?
• The rich young ruler, A religious insider.
• The woman at the well, an outcast.
• The Roman centurion, a Gentile soldier.
• The thief on the cross, dying in shame.
• Jesus didn’t play favorites.
• He shared the kingdom with whoever God placed in front of Him.

That’s our call too.

• Who has God already put in your path?
• The coworker who makes life difficult.
• The neighbor who seems uninterested.
• The family member who always pushes back.
• The classmate who mocks your faith.
• The stranger God brings across your day.
• Every one of them is an opportunity.
• Sometimes the most hostile people
• Are the ones God is preparing to hear.
• And let’s make this personal for a moment.
• Grab the sheet I gave you and look at the second half
• In that center circle, write your name.
• Now, begin to think:
• Who are the people God has already connected to your life?
• Who are the people He has put in your path?
• Start writing their names
• In the connected circles that branch out from yours.
• In each one, write a name.
• Maybe it’s your neighbor.
• Maybe it’s a family member.
• Maybe it’s a friend, coworker, or teammate.
• Maybe it’s someone who’s hurt you.
• (if necessary, draw more circles)
• This is what it looks like to see your life as a mission field.
• You don’t have to travel across the world to be a witness.
• You start right where you are
• With the people God has already put around you.
• And here’s the encouragement:
• You and I don’t need to reach everyone in the world.
• But we can begin with someone in our world.
• Hold on to that because we are going to do something else with it in a few moments
• So if the Gospel is what we share,
• And anyone God places in front of us is who we share with
• And you’ve even written some of those names down
• Then the question becomes:
• When do we share?
• Do we wait until the perfect moment?
• Do we wait until we feel fully confident?
• Or does Peter give us a different way forward?

That’s what we’ll see next.

Question 3: Sharing the Gospel : When do we share?

1 Peter 3:15 (CSB):

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

• Peter doesn’t say “be ready once in a while,”
• Or “be ready when you feel like it.”
• He says “be ready at any time.”
• That means
• Sharing the gospel is not about waiting for the perfect setup
• It’s about living with constant readiness.

When do we share?

• When the Spirit opens the door in conversation.
• When someone notices your peace in a storm.
• When someone sees how you love, even when mistreated.
• When someone asks why you’re different.
• That’s why Peter ties this verse back to our daily conduct (vv. 8–14).
• He knows that if our lives don’t match our words,
• No one will ever ask.
• But when we live in a way
• That makes people curious,
• It creates opportunities to speak.
• Let me give you a picture.
• Think about firefighters.
• They don’t wait until a call comes in
• To start looking for their boots
• Or filling up the truck with gas.
• No — they live in constant readiness.
• Everything is laid out.
• They’re alert.
• They’re ready to move the second the call comes.
• That’s what Peter is calling us to
• A life of gospel readiness.
• So, here’s the question:

Are you living in such a way that anyone would even think to ask about your hope?

• If not,
• Maybe the first step you need to take is not learning the words to share
• But in getting your walk right
• By spending time daily abiding with the Lord
• Where he can shape
• Your integrity, your joy, your peace, and your kindness
• And remember — “always ready” doesn’t mean “always talking.”
• You don’t need to force the gospel into every sentence.
• But it does mean your heart is anchored,
• Your mind is prepared,
• And your life is positioned
• So that whenever the door cracks open
• Whether it’s at work,
• With a neighbor, or at the store
• You’re ready to step through it.
• This week,
• I want you to ask yourself at the start of each day:

“Lord, if someone asks me about my hope today, am I ready?”

• That simple prayer of readiness
• Can change how you see your day.
• It can turn ordinary moments into gospel opportunities.
• Which brings us to our final question

Question 4: Sharing the Gospel: How Do We Share?

1 Peter 3:16 (CSB):
Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.

• Peter tells us clearly: with gentleness and reverence.
• Sharing the gospel is not about winning arguments.
• It’s not about proving we’re smarter, louder, or tougher.
• It’s about showing the heart of Jesus
• Grace, compassion, and humility.
• The Greek word Peter uses for gentleness (πραΰτης, prautēs)
• Means “strength under control.”
• It’s the same word used to describe Jesus’ meekness — not weakness,
• But a calm, steady strength that refuses to lash out or belittle.
• The word for reverence (φόβος, phobos)
• Points to a holy respect
• First for God,
• And then for people made in His image.
• It means we approach others not with pride or fear,
• But with a deep awareness that this moment matters eternally.
• So how do we share the gospel?
• Not arrogantly, as if we’re better.
• Not aggressively, as if we’re trying to win a fight.
• But humbly and clearly,
• As people who know we’ve been saved by grace.
• Think of it this way:
• Your tone matters as much as your words.
• If you share the truth but do it harshly,
• People may never hear your message
• But if you share with humility and kindness,
• Even those who disagree
• Will see something different in you.
• That difference is the gospel at work.
• Just use what I call “The Mirror Test”
• Before you share, ask yourself:
• Am I speaking to this person the way Jesus has spoken to me?
• Am I offering grace as freely as I’ve received it?
• Will my tone make Christ look big or just make me look right?
• Church, today we’ve seen clearly what Peter is calling us to:
• To know What we share — the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• To know Who we share with — anyone God puts in our path.
• To know When we share — at all times, ready.
• And to know How we share — with gentleness, reverence, and a clear conscience.
• But this isn’t just theory.
• It’s not just something to nod along with on a Sunday morning.
• This is how the church of Jesus Christ has always grown.
• From the book of Acts onward,
• Jesus added to the church

Acts 2:41 & 47

So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

• Meaning you don’t share it on your own
• The Holy Spirit gives power to
• Ordinary men and women,
• To boldly open their mouths and declare the hope of Christ
• And God drew people to Himself.
• Holy Spirit-empowered Gospel Proclamation leads to the church growing
• That’s how it started.
• That’s still how it works.
• And so, those names you wrote down earlier?
• They’re not just names on a page.
• They are people God has put in your life on purpose.
• And the most important step you can take with them today
• Is not strategy, not debate, not even the perfect words.
• It’s prayer.
• Because only God can open hearts.
• Only God can give new birth.
• Only God can turn curiosity into faith.
• So here’s what I want us to do:
• Obey what God has asked of New City Olathe
• What has he asked?
• Its time to pray!
• If you have not yet made it to our time of prayer
• I want to invite you back at 4:30 for our church-wide prayer gathering.
• We’re going to bring these names together,
• As a body,
• And ask God to do what only He can do
• To move in power through the gospel
• In our homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
• We will bring the names before Him,
• Asking that He would open doors for gospel conversations
• And prepare hearts to receive the good news.
• This is where it begins.
• Church,
• This matters because people are going to Hell without hope.
• And God has given us the only message that saves:
• The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• And I know we don’t want to keep it to ourselves
• But in order to carry it with boldness
• We have to pray for power to be witnesses
• Will you join me?
• I know there are a thousand things competing for your time
• But I can almost bet that none of them you can take with you to eternity
• He is not going to care about our leisure time, how much of the game we watched, or how we worked in our yard
• It is only going to matter who we helped bring with us
• Will you join me? Lets Pray!