Graduate Recognition

Notes
Transcript
1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

In your hearts

Heart and mind are intricately connected
Heart emotions feelings
Desires
What are you seeking after?
What is your desire?
What do you want?
Your desires will dictate your actions, your path
Matthew 6:21 NIV
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
James 1:14 NIV
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Matthew 15:18–20 NIV
But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

Revere

set apart as holy, distinct
do not make Christ into your image

Revere Christ

He is the promised One
He is the anointed One
Scripture points to him from first to last
The Old Testament is not irrelevant, nor unnecessary
He is the One we need, our Savior
We do not save ourselves, we need to look to Him
Psalm 1 NIV
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Revere Christ as Lord

He is the Master
He makes the rules
He sets the standards
He is the One we need to obey
Isaiah 8:13 NIV
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.

Always be prepared

Be ready
It could come at any time
Understand what you believe
Understand who Jesus is, what he has done
Understand the basics of the teachings of scripture

To give an answer

How can you explain this to someone else
write out your answers

To give the reason for the hope you have

hope
what the world wants
what we have

Gentleness and Respect

trust God to change their thoughts and attitudes
2 Timothy 2:25 NIV
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
Respect - fear

Keeping a Clear Conscience

Acts 24:16 NIV
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
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