a holy person’s witness to others. i peter 3:8-10 finally, all of you, live in harmony with one...

A HOLY A HOLY PERSON’S PERSON’S

WITNESS TO WITNESS TO OTHERSOTHERS

I Peter 3:8-10I Peter 3:8-10

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. from deceitful speech.


He must turn from evil and do good; he must He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. hearts set apart Christ as Lord.


Always be prepared to give an answer to Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

I. It’s to Be a Reasonable Witness.I. It’s to Be a Reasonable Witness. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to Always be prepared to give an answergive an answer to to everyone who asks you to give the reason everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect . . . - v15gentleness and respect . . . - v15

A. This is the A. This is the explanationexplanation you you present.present.

I. It’s to Be a Reasonable Witness.I. It’s to Be a Reasonable Witness.

B. B. Give an answer Give an answer ((ἀπολογίαἀπολογία) = ) = a speech in defense, a plea, a a speech in defense, a plea, a reasonable explanation.reasonable explanation.


B. B. Give an answer Give an answer ((ἀπολογίαἀπολογία) = ) = a speech in defense, a plea, a a speech in defense, a plea, a reasonable explanation.reasonable explanation.1. 1. WordWord ( (λόγοςλόγος) = an ) = an expression expression of an idea. of an idea. ((John 1:1 & John 1:1 & 1414))


B. B. Give an answer Give an answer ((ἀπολογίαἀπολογία) = ) = a speech in defense, a plea, a a speech in defense, a plea, a reasonable explanation.reasonable explanation.1. 1. WordWord ( (λόγοςλόγος) = an ) = an expression expression of an idea. of an idea. ((John 1:1 & John 1:1 & 1414))

2. 2. LogicalLogical comes from this word. comes from this word.


B. B. Give an answer Give an answer ((ἀπολογίαἀπολογία) = ) = a speech in defense, a plea, a a speech in defense, a plea, a reasonable explanation.reasonable explanation.

3. “Apologetics” = the facts & 3. “Apologetics” = the facts & proofs of Christianity.proofs of Christianity.


C. You need to know what you C. You need to know what you believe & why you believe it!believe & why you believe it!

How can the church help you?How can the church help you?



1. Sermons each Lord’s Day.1. Sermons each Lord’s Day.




2. Bible School.2. Bible School.





3. Ask the elders about their faith.3. Ask the elders about their faith.






4. Have a daily quiet time.4. Have a daily quiet time.






4. Have a daily quiet time.4. Have a daily quiet time.

5. Seek prayer support for your 5. Seek prayer support for your spiritual journey.spiritual journey.



II. It’s to Be a Gentle Witness.II. It’s to Be a Gentle Witness. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with for the hope that you have. But do this with gentlenessgentleness and respect . . . - v15 and respect . . . - v15

A. This is the A. This is the wayway you present it. you present it.

II. It’s to Be a Gentle Witness.II. It’s to Be a Gentle Witness.

B. B. GentlenessGentleness ( (πραύ̈�τηςπραύ̈�της) = meek, ) = meek, humble.humble.



1. Meek does not mean weak!1. Meek does not mean weak!




2. Meek means using restraint 2. Meek means using restraint when appropriate.when appropriate.





Numbers 12:3 - Now Moses was Numbers 12:3 - Now Moses was a very humble a very humble manman, more humble than anyone else on the , more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.face of the earth.





Matthew 26:53 - Do you think I cannot call on Matthew 26:53 - Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of disposal more than twelve legions of angels?angels?


C. C. MeeknessMeekness is a definite aid in is a definite aid in teaching the truth!teaching the truth!

II Timothy 2:25 - II Timothy 2:25 - Be humble when you are Be humble when you are trying to teachtrying to teach those who are mixed up those who are mixed up concerning the truth. For concerning the truth. For if you talk meekly if you talk meekly and courteously to them, they are more and courteously to them, they are more likelylikely, with God’s help, to turn away from , with God’s help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and their wrong ideas and believe what is truebelieve what is true..




III. It’s to Be a Respectful Witness.III. It’s to Be a Respectful Witness. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and gentleness and respectrespect . . . - v15 . . . - v15

A. This is the A. This is the attitudeattitude you have you have towards the people you present it towards the people you present it to.to.

III. It’s to Be a Respectful Witness.III. It’s to Be a Respectful Witness.

B. B. RespectRespect ( (φόβοςφόβος) = “to fear”, ) = “to fear”, probably means here a respect probably means here a respect for people’s dignity.for people’s dignity.


B. B. RespectRespect ( (φόβοςφόβος) = “to fear”, ) = “to fear”, probably means here a respect probably means here a respect for people’s dignity.for people’s dignity.

1. The opposite of the arrogant, 1. The opposite of the arrogant, haughty attitude some have.haughty attitude some have.


B. B. RespectRespect ( (φόβοςφόβος) = “to fear”, ) = “to fear”, probably means here a respect probably means here a respect for people’s dignity.for people’s dignity.1. The opposite of the arrogant, 1. The opposite of the arrogant, haughty attitude some have.haughty attitude some have.2. Remember who you are!2. Remember who you are!

Isaiah 64:6 - All of us have become like one Isaiah 64:6 - All of us have become like one who is unclean, and who is unclean, and all our righteous acts all our righteous acts are like filthy ragsare like filthy rags..


C. It is possible to be steadfast & C. It is possible to be steadfast & faithful with your witness & still faithful with your witness & still be be humblehumble & & respectfulrespectful!!



1. “We are beggars showing other 1. “We are beggars showing other beggars where to find food!”beggars where to find food!”


C. It is possible to be steadfast & C. It is possible to be steadfast & faithful with your witness & still faithful with your witness & still be be humblehumble & & respectfulrespectful!!1. “We are beggars showing other 1. “We are beggars showing other

beggars where to find food!”beggars where to find food!”2. You have the responsibility to 2. You have the responsibility to know God’s word & the Lord it know God’s word & the Lord it reveals.reveals.



3. Constantly learn more.3. Constantly learn more.



3. Constantly learn more.3. Constantly learn more.

4. You are the expert on what the 4. You are the expert on what the Lord has done in your life!Lord has done in your life!





IV. It’s to Be a Conscientious Witness.IV. It’s to Be a Conscientious Witness.. . . . . . keeping a clear consciencekeeping a clear conscience, so that those who , so that those who

speak maliciously against your good behavior speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. - in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. - v16v16

A. Your behavior is to be A. Your behavior is to be consistentconsistent with what you say so you can with what you say so you can have a clear conscience.have a clear conscience.

III. It’s to Be a Conscientious Witness.III. It’s to Be a Conscientious Witness.

B. B. ConscienceConscience ( (συνείδησιςσυνείδησις) = ) = being aware of, having a moral being aware of, having a moral consciousness, having a sen-consciousness, having a sen-sitivity.sitivity.



1. 1. HypocriteHypocrite = professing a Chris- = professing a Chris-tian life but not living it.tian life but not living it.



2. So try to at least live a semi 2. So try to at least live a semi consistent life with what you consistent life with what you profess to make it difficult to profess to make it difficult to use use that excuse.that excuse.


C. Principles for Living a Semi C. Principles for Living a Semi Consistent Holy Life:Consistent Holy Life:



1. Live in harmony with your 1. Live in harmony with your Christian brothers & sisters.Christian brothers & sisters.

Finally, all of you, Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one live in harmony with one anotheranother . . . - v8. . . . - v8.



2. Respond to evil treatment with 2. Respond to evil treatment with good.good.

Do not repay evil with evilDo not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, or insult with insult, but with blessingbut with blessing, because to this you were , because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. - called so that you may inherit a blessing. - v9v9



3. Be serious about the Lordship 3. Be serious about the Lordship of Jesus in your life.of Jesus in your life.

But in your hearts But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lordset apart Christ as Lord. - v9. - v9

“ “Make the Lord ChristMake the Lord Christholy in your hearts!”holy in your hearts!”


So - make your witnessSo - make your witnessreasonablereasonable

gentlegentlerespectfulrespectful

conscientious.conscientious.You will then have the kind of You will then have the kind of

witness God really wants!witness God really wants!

a holy person’s witness to others. i peter 3:8-10 finally, all of you, live in harmony with one...

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