Christian Witness

Introduction:

Modern evangelism and evangelistic methods have Christians approaching non-Christians and starting up Gospel conversations

Peter seems to see it differently

Non-Christians were coming up and asking questions of the Christians.

This is what started up Gospel conversations.

What Makes non-Christians ask Questions?

1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Question:

How does Peter describe Christians?

Alive

Living Hope

Guarded

Those who rejoice

even though they Face trials

They love Jesus

They believe in Jesus

They rejoice in Jesus

Does your life look like this?

Ferguson mentions that they had:

Hope

Power

Love for Jesus

Peace

We will naturally look different than the world when we look like Jesus

We look like we don’t belong here

How then are we to respond when others ask about those differences?

Answers

In our Words

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.

Verse 15 is a verse that always stands out when you think about evangelism and apologetics

1 Peter 3:15 “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,”

What does it mean to “honor Christ the Lord as holy?”

It means that your primary focus, whether in evangelism, or apologetics, or politics, or education, or anything that you are involved in - the primary goal is to honor Christ as holy - to set him as the pinnacle of all your pursuits.

What is the first catechism question?

What is the chief end of man?

Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever

So our goal is to honor Christ as set apart and holy

Always be prepared to make a defense…

Once you have set Christ apart as holy, you are ready to answer the one who asks you a question

This is one of the hardest parts of Christian ministry isn’t it?

Being ready to answer any question that arises.

I would say, we don’t have to have all the answers - but we should have the foundation to all the answers

and that is the Gospel.

The Gospel:

God

Man

Jesus

Response

Yet do it with gentleness and respect…

Our words should be bold and firm, would should not be to tear down the individual.

It should absolutely be to tear down their worldview.

I would say that this is the reason for apologetics - to destroy every argument brought against Christ

But our attacks should be leveled on ideas, and the people must be called to repentance

Evangelism and Apologetics should never be divorced

Apologetics without evangelism destroys a person and leaves them with no hope

But the 2 together tears down arguments and builds up what the answer is

Proverbs 26:4–5 ESV

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

What are these verses saying?

4. Don’t assume the same things that the unbeliever assumes. Set Christ apart as holy. If you assume that you are starting in neutral territory, you’ve already lost the battle. The unbeliever hates God and you love him. Don’t give that up, or you’re actually arguing like an unbeliever

5. Use the unbeliever’s argument to show the absurdity of their position. Step into their worldview and show them all of the inconsistencies

This is what Peter means… 1 Peter 3:15 “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,”

So we answer with our words…

In Our Actions…

What does this not mean?

You know the popular quote that’s often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi…

“Preach the Gospel always, if necessary, use words…”

Well we do not hold to this because to Preach the Gospel requires words.

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

The preaching of the Gospel requires words, so we’re not saying that the ultimate answer of what people need is found in our actions.

What we are saying is that the way we live our lives… with gentleness and respect, with conviction and boldness adorns the gospel that goes out from our mouths.

There’s nothing worse that someone who preaches the Gospel and lives like hell.

It’s like someone who tells you all the steps of how to prepare and 5 course meal and how great it is for you, then orders Little Caesars.

The actions don’t match the words

But Paul tells us in his letter to Titus

Titus 2:1–10 ESV

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

How much emphasis does Paul put on our actions?

A ton.

From here, Ferguson moves into talking about personal evangelism vs group evangelism