TEXT:  1 Pet. 3:13-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      1 Pet. WRITTEN TO PREPARE CHRISTIANS FOR A TIME OF STRESS.

          1.       He has dealt with the great hope that sustains us.

          2.       He has told us how to prepare.

          3.       And given instructions how to live before others( 2:9, 11-12 ).

B.      INSTRUCTIONS NOT GIVEN TO HELP AVOID TRIAL - IT WILL COME!

C.      HOW WILL WE "GIVE ANSWER?"  HOW CAN WE?

I.      "BE ZEALOUS OF THAT WHICH IS GOOD"( vs. 13 ).

A.      GOD ACKNOWLEDGES RIGHT IN US( vs.12; 1 John 3:7, 10; Acts 10:34-35 ).

B.      RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OUR ID MARK( 2 Tim. 2:19 ).

C.      BUSY YOURSELF - OUR PREOCCUPATION( Titus 2:14;  3:1 ).

D.      Rom. 8:31;  Phil. 4:13;  1 Pet. 3:12-13.

II.     "FEAR NOT THEIR FEAR"( vs. 14 ).

A.      THE LAST ENEMY( Heb. 9:27 ).

          1.       Sorrow and hopelessness(1 Thess. 4:13;  John 11:33-35, 39 ).

          2.       Bondage( Heb. 2:14 ).

B.      DIE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE?( Matt.10:28;  1 Pet. 1:3 ).

III.    "SANCTIFY IN YOUR HEARTS CHRIST AS LORD"( vs. 15 ).

A.      DECIDE JESUS IS THE BOSS!( Col. 3:17 ).

B.      A COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED!

          1.       Jesus' example( 3:21-24;  4:1-2 ).

          2.       We have already decided!( 4:19 ).

C.      WE MUST BE READY TO SET ASIDE ALL DISTRACTIONS

          ( Heb. 12:1-2;  Matt. 6:24 ).

D.      THERE IS A COST( Luke 14:25-28 ).

          1.       Are we ready to pay it?

          2.       It is worth everything( 1 Pet. 3:17;  Matt. 5:10-12 ).

IV.   "BEING READY ALWAYS TO GIVE ANSWER"( vs. 15 ).

A.      "WHY?"  THE QUESTION WE MUST ANSWER.

B.      COMMITMENT DERIVES FROM CONVICTION( 2 Tim. 1:12 ).

C.      CONVICTION IS BASE ON EVIDENCE( Rom. 10:17 ).

          1.       What Jesus did( John 3:1-2;  20:30-31;  Acts 2:22-23 ).

          2.       What happened to him( Acts 2:23-24, 32 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD HAS GIVEN US A POWERFUL TOOL IN 1 Peter.

B.      ARE YOU SUFFERING?( 1 Pet. 3:13-15;  4:19 ).

C.      ARE YOU HEAVY LADEN?( Matt. 11:28-30 ).