Giving a Reason for Your Faith
Notes
Transcript
Giving a Reason for Your Faith
I started thinking about this topic a few weeks ago and had several ideas about how I wanted to approach it. Then I came across a clip from Wes Huff, and a lot of what he was saying lined up with where I was already headed. So I used many of the ideas from that interview and built tonight's message around them, along with what Scripture teaches about sharing our faith.
As Christians, we should be ready to explain what we believe and why we believe it. But we do it with gentleness, respect, and love—not by trying to win arguments.
Hook (The Mechanic Illustration)
Imagine your car breaks down on the side of the road.
A mechanic stops and asks:
"What's wrong?"
You say:
"It won't start."
Now imagine he immediately starts replacing parts without asking any questions.
He changes the battery.
Then the starter.
Then the alternator.
But the problem was you were simply out of gas.
The parts weren't bad.
The diagnosis was.
A lot of Christians do the same thing in conversations.
Someone asks:
"Why does God allow suffering?"
And we immediately jump to answers.
But what if the real question isn't suffering?
What if the real question is:
• "My dad died."
• "My parents got divorced."
• "Someone hurt me."
Before we answer questions, we need to understand people.
Ask
• Have you ever seen a debate clip online where someone completely destroys another person?
• Why do those videos get so many views?
• What usually gets more attention online: humility or controversy?
• Have you ever been nervous to talk about your faith?
• Why do you think people fear talking about faith?
Transition
Most Christians think they need to hit a home run every time they talk about Jesus.
They think they need to know every answer.
They think they need to win every argument.
But most conversations are not home runs.
Most conversations are simply getting to first base.
Sometimes success is asking a good question.
Sometimes it's listening.
Sometimes it's planting a seed.
Sometimes it's saying, "I don't know, but let's figure it out together."
Let's see what Peter says.
Prayer
God, we come to You right now and thank You for this time together.
Thank You for bringing us here tonight.
As we open Your Word, help us to learn not only what to believe, but how to talk to others about what we believe.
Give us wisdom.
Give us humility.
Help us to listen well.
Help us to love people well.
And help us to represent Jesus faithfully.
We ask that Your Spirit would teach us tonight and help us grow.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Main Text
1 Peter 3:15-16
"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."
Point 1: Apologetics Is Not About Winning Arguments
Have you ever noticed what gets attention online?
The videos that go viral are usually not the ones where people listen to each other.
They are the ones where someone gets embarrassed.
Someone gets "destroyed."
Someone gets dunked on.
Wes Huff points out that social media rewards controversy.
Because of that, Christians can start thinking evangelism works the same way.
If I can just win the debate...
If I can just prove I'm right...
If I can just corner somebody...
Then I've done my job.
But that's not how Jesus interacted with people.
Jesus did not shame people into the kingdom.
He challenged people.
He confronted sin.
But He also showed compassion, patience, and grace.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13 that even if we speak powerful truth, without love our words become noise.
The goal is not to win arguments.
The goal is to win people.
If we win an argument but lose the relationship, we probably haven't accomplished much.
Ask
• Why do people confuse confidence with aggression?
• Why is humility sometimes more powerful than debate?
• Have you ever stopped listening because someone came across as arrogant?
Key Point
People are more likely to listen when they know you care.
Point 2: Jesus Often Responded With Questions
One of the most interesting things about Jesus is how often He answered questions with questions.
People were constantly trying to trap Him.
One example is found in Matthew 22.
The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked:
"Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
At first, it sounds like a question about taxes.
But it wasn't really about taxes.
It was a trap.
If Jesus said yes, people could accuse Him of supporting Roman oppression.
If Jesus said no, the Romans could accuse Him of rebellion.
It was a lose-lose question.
But Jesus looked behind the question.
He asked:
"Whose image is on the coin?"
When they answered, "Caesar's," Jesus said:
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Jesus completely changed the conversation.
The coin bears Caesar's image.
People bear God's image.
The deeper question became:
Are you giving yourself to God?
Jesus wasn't just answering the question.
He was answering the question behind the question.
And that's something we need to learn to do.
Many people today ask:
• Why does God allow suffering?
• Can we trust the Bible?
• Science disproves God.
• Christians are hypocrites.
Sometimes that's the real question.
Sometimes it isn't.
Good apologetics listens before speaking.
Good apologetics asks questions.
Good apologetics tries to understand what is really going on.
Ask
• Why do you think Jesus asked so many questions?
• Have you ever answered someone's question only to realize later they were asking something deeper?
Key Point
Before you answer a question, make sure you understand the person asking it.
Point 3: Not Every Question Is Really About The Question
Think about an iceberg.
You only see a small part above the water.
The biggest part is hidden underneath.
People's questions are often the same way.
Above the water:
• Why does God allow suffering?
• Can we trust the Bible?
• Science disproves God.
• Christians are hypocrites.
Below the water might be:
• Hurt
• Fear
• Anger
• Pride
• Guilt
• Disappointment
• A bad church experience
• Fear of giving up control
Sometimes people have head problems.
Sometimes people have heart problems.
Most people have both.
Head Problems
Head problems are intellectual questions.
Examples:
• Can we trust the Bible?
• Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
• Does science disprove God?
• How do we know God exists?
These questions deserve answers.
God is not afraid of questions.
Heart Problems
Heart problems are deeper.
Examples:
• Hurt
• Anger
• Fear
• Pride
• Guilt
• Disappointment
Someone may ask:
"Why does God allow suffering?"
But what they really mean is:
"My grandfather died."
"My parents got divorced."
"I've been hurt."
"I'm angry."
Those conversations need compassion before they need arguments.
A Helpful Question
Wes Huff suggests asking:
"If Christianity were true, would you believe it?"
That's a powerful question.
If they say:
"Yes."
Then they may just need answers.
If they say:
"No."
Then something deeper may be going on.
Sometimes the issue isn't evidence.
Sometimes the issue is surrender.
Key Point
If we answer a heart problem with only facts, we may completely miss the person.
Point 4: You Don't Need To Know Everything
This should be encouraging.
You do not need to be a Bible encyclopedia.
You don't need every answer.
It is okay to say:
• "I don't know."
• "That's a great question."
• "Let me look into that."
• "Let's figure it out together."
People respect honesty.
Sometimes saying "I don't know" builds more trust than pretending you do.
Key Point
God is not asking you to know everything.
God is asking you to be faithful.
Point 5: God Changes Hearts
This takes a lot of pressure off.
You are not responsible for saving people.
You are responsible for loving people.
Only God changes hearts.
Only God opens eyes.
Only God saves.
Your job is:
• Listen well
• Love well
• Share truth
• Live faithfully
• Plant seeds
God handles the results.
Illustration
A farmer cannot force a seed to grow.
He plants it.
Waters it.
Cares for it.
God makes it grow.
Conversations are the same way.
You may never see the harvest.
But that doesn't mean God isn't working.
Point 6: Make Christianity Beautiful
Blaise Pascal once said:
"Make good people wish Christianity were true, and then show them that it is."
I love that.
Many people today are not only asking:
"Is Christianity true?"
They are also asking:
"Is Christianity good?"
"Does it bring hope?"
"Does it actually change lives?"
Our lives should help answer those questions.
Jesus said in John 13:35:
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
People should see Jesus in us before they hear about Jesus from us.
Ask
Would people see Jesus in the way you treat others?
Would your classmates know you're a Christian by the way you act?
Key Point
Christianity isn't just something we argue for.
It's something we live.
Bring It Together
So what do we do?
When someone asks a hard question:
Don't panic.
Don't argue.
Don't feel like you have to know everything.
Ask questions.
Listen.
Understand what is really going on.
Some people need answers for their head.
Some people need healing for their heart.
Most people need both.
Remember:
You don't need to hit a home run.
Just get to first base.
Take It Home
1. Ask More Questions
Before giving answers, learn their story.
2. Listen More Than You Talk
People want to be heard.
3. Don't Be Afraid To Say "I Don't Know"
Honesty builds trust.
4. Pray For One Conversation This Week
Ask God to give you an opportunity to talk naturally about your faith.
5. Focus On First Base
You don't have to save someone in one conversation.
You may simply be planting a seed.
Final Question
When someone disagrees with your faith...
Do you try to win the argument?
Or do you try to win the person?
Final Line
People need answers for their minds.
People need healing for their hearts.
As followers of Jesus, we should be ready to offer both truth and grace.
Listen well.
Love well.
Speak truth graciously.
And trust God with the results.
Closing Prayer
God, thank You for Your Word tonight.
Thank You that You call us to share our faith, but You don't ask us to do it alone.
Help us to listen before we speak.
Help us to care about people more than winning arguments.
Give us wisdom when questions come.
Give us humility when we don't know the answers.
And help us to trust You with the results.
Use us this week to point people to Jesus.
May people see Your love through our words, our actions, and our lives.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
