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INTRODUCTION
QUESTION: Have you ever made an apology for being a Christian? Because if you haven’t you should!
TEXT: 1 Peter 3:15
Have you ever made an apology for being a Christian? English is a strange language, word usage and definitions change over time.
Sometimes words are easier to understand in the Greek language, this is one occasion.
A key word in KJV/NIV “answer” NASV “defense.”
Greek word = “apologian” - ancient root word for apology, apologize.
The American Heritage Dictionary “apology”
- A statement of... expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense. “I am so sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
- A formal justification or defense in speech or writing.
The second meaning is how the ancient Greeks and Latin languages primarily used the word “apology” - apo = defense;
“logoy”/logos = words, speech. A defense with words.
Christian theologians revived the historical meaning and use the word “apologetics” as a discipline of
study that makes defenses of Christian faith.
ILLUS: Two Books I recommend on this subject: Know Why You Believe by Paul Little, and The New
Evidence Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. There are two films series, the first back in the mid 1970’s
Francis Schaeffer How Should we Then Live - an historical apologetic of the Christian faith. Now another
30 years later video series The Truth Project creatively helps answer our faith questions.
It is timely that we are doing The Truth Project on Sunday evenings. We need to know what we believe and why we
believe - again. We need to know the evidences of our faith. We need to be able to make a defense of our faith. One does not need
to be a theologian, academic egghead, just a disciple of Jesus studying the Bible.
1. The Center of our Apologetics
- “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” - all about Christ the Lord.
- “sanctify” = set apart, make sure the Christ is Lord of your heart, the center of your life. The
authority for your life is in your heart - who is seated on the throne of your heart, who is seated at the key board?
- Christ is the center theme of the Bible, the focal point of apologetics. He is the Son of God, God in the flesh. He is
the Savior who went to the cross for our sins. He is the resurrected Lord who gives us His new life.
- Lordship of Christ: All our life is to be under His authority, all we think, say or do is to be for His glory and
pleasure: our possessions, family, friends, jobs, education, what see TV/computer, what we read, how we play/have fun,
how we use our time, talents and treasures. “Does this________ please You, Lord?”
- Thus we worship Him with reverence, obey His Word with conviction.
ILLUS: Luther facing trial “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I will not recant anything for to go
against conscience is neither honest nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me.”
ELCA recently made a step in abandoning the Word of God that Luther held firmly, by opening up the clergy to same
sex relationships. Interesting as the debate was taking place in Minneapolis, a tornado hit the host church steeple
and cross and blew away the beer tent, the speaker on the platform right after that tornado said: “We trust
that the weather is not a commentary on our work.”
2. The Curiosity of our Apologetics
- “always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account.”
- If we live boldly as Christian in this world, people are going to be asking us what we believe. We will raise curiosity.
- There will be natural open doors for us to give a witness, testify of the gospel truth of Christ, truths of the Bible.
ILLUS: At work, walking in neighborhood, around a dining table, in a store. Special occasions: Christmas, Easter.
Movies “The Passion,” ”DaVinci Code“
- “always be ready” - when inquired on the spot, we should have a ready response. THUS be prepared -
deliberate study, research. 2 Tim. 2:15
- We should be able to present a logical, personal response. Not have to be great oratory, just simple testimony.
Don’t have to be a used car salesmen, don’t have to argue - just simple answers. Carry a small NT.
- This text is an example that we need to reread this in its historical context. 63-64 AD Christians were minority, they
were persecuted, threatened - their worldview was not acceptable.
ILLUS: Actually the ILLUS is Christians arrested, standing trial, defending their faith firmly - then imprisoned or
murdered.
- Today our worldview is not very acceptable, we are getting closer to persecution but not like it was then. We have it a
bit easier. What holds us back? Do we live different? The world is curious, do we have answers?
3. The Comfort of our Apologetics
- “for the hope that is in you”
- Hope refers to a personal expectation especially in hopeless situations - like standing trial for your faith. When
things are hopeless around us, we have a hope that not only our sins forgiven, but that we have salvation and all its
benefits, and we have a home in heaven with our Savior. This life is just temporary, sufferings only last for a moment,
our eternal future is brighter than day. A time of crises is an opportunity for witness...
ILLUS: What crises are people facing today? Wars, radical Islam, economic, health care, global warming/climate
change. Personal sin - drugs, alcohol, marriage and kids problems, immorality. Disease like cancer... Death.
- Peter is the apostle of hope - 1 Peter 1:3
4. The Courtesy of our Apologetics
- “yet with gentleness and reverence/respect”
- No trace of harshness, bitterness or flippancy when we speak about our Savior and Lord, not arrogant, forceful,
argumentative, holier-than-thou, know-it-alls. We treat people with respect. We are witnesses, not a prosecuting
attorney - don’t have to grab sinners by collar and threaten.
ILLUS: Philip traveling with the Ethiopian in Acts 8 witnessed just by “and beginning from this Scripture
he preached Jesus to him.” We want people to believe in Jesus the Son of God, the Savior, their Savior.
Direct the conservation back to Jesus Christ.
ILLUS: We can best illustrate what Peter is saying in v. 15 by using Peter as the illustration. Peter knew
what this meant negatively and positively.
Negatively - remember in the courtyard the night of Jesus’ arrest? He failed to give a defense of the hope.
When asked by three people he denied each time, finally even with a curse. He was a close disciple, failed.
Positively, on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2, with a huge crowd gathered, he was put on the spot and marvelously
gave a ready defense of the hope in him, the hope of Jesus Christ - the resurrected Lord. He preached probably the
best and most powerful sermon in history - 3,000 people were saved that day. He succeeded in practicing what he
wrote in this verse.
- Maybe you can identify with one or both those examples of Peter - failure and success. I can.
APPLICATION
Apologetics - giving an answer for the hope of our faith that in IN YOU...
What are some basic things you should know about your faith?
- What is unique about the Bible? - God’s inspired, infallible written Word
- Who is God? - trinity, eternal power and authority
- Who is Jesus? - deity, life on earth, sacrifice for sins, resurrection, return
- Who is Holy Spirit? - dwell, give us gifts, give us fruit, fill us with power.
- Origins - How did we get here? Created or evolved?
- What is mankind’s biggest problem? What is wrong with the world?
- What happens after death? Heaven or Hell?
- What about the Bible and science?
- How is Christianity different from other religions?
- Personal testimony
- What does being saved means to you? - explain hope that is in you
- Why pray, and how do you pray?
- Why and how you study your Bible?
- Why you attend a church?
- What is your God given purpose in life?
- How to make Godly wise decisions?
- How do you deal with problems?
- Can you quote a favorite verse or two
Everyone believer can make a defense - simplest way is tell what God is doing in your life. Sometimes when tough questions come
“I will get back to you”
The Truth Project can help you. Join us tonight. This is going to be different, not traditional evening service. One of the best
ministry tools available today. We want you to be able to stand firm in your faith. How are you doing? How can we help you?
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