Be Ready with an Answer

May 10, 2026

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3: 15, 16 (NIV)

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

Message: Be Ready With An Answer

Conversations about hope

Conversation about hope are few and far between these days

Probably because we are so prone to turn to negativity in our interactions

When were done talking about the weather, the negative topics are our go-to ones…

Trump, the war, tarifs, the economy, politics, potholes, even in church… the good old days…

But what if we can turn these negative conversations around?

Would it not be refreshing to choose not to engage in the negative despite having ample apportunities to go negative?

I believe that this where we are being challenged today…

To intensionally turn negativity to hope…

Not just when we talk with Christians, but in all our conversations

Reflection - where do you stand with hope?

This challenge starts with an internal conversation about hope?

We need to ask ourselves about hope first before we can turn negative conversations around

What do you believe about the hope in your life today?

What difference does your faith make in you life?

If your thinking is shaped by what you believe, how has your faith helped you to be more positive?

How do you see other people? (especially those who are different from you in personality, opinion, and actions)

What do you make of uncertainty? (Does you faith constitute trust in God when you are faced with uncertainty?)

What does your non verbal language communicate to those around you?

Would other people describe you with as someone with hope?

Be ready - intellectual preparedness

Taking up this challenge, and having taken the time to reflect on hope in my own life, we need to think carefully about responses of hope

We need to make plans - we need to have the answers ready…

If it is hard for you to talk about hope and faith, here’s a few practical suggestions - and maybe you should write some of this down… (introvert…)

Prayer - Simly saying: “I am praying for you” is a very simple way of communicating hope and encouragement… you can even ask: “Can I pray for you?” Or “what can I pray for?” Back it up by really praying and following up

Optimism - Just not giving in to negativity, brings a sense of hope… even questioning some of the negative statements with: “is it really that bad?” Or “I’m sure there’s more to it” or “Are alternative ways to think about this?”

Attitude - Your attitude tells a lot about the hope you have… Not allowing negativity to prevent you from doing things, helps a lot… Sometimes it is as simple as intensionally ignoring the negatitivity in your own mind

Resilience - People of hope are resilient… they get up when they are knocked down… they keep going when they experience setbacks… failure is just an opportunity for them to try again or to make some adjustments or a chance to improve

Reflect on hope in your life and make hope count in a way that it impacts the world around you

How to answer

And when you interact with others, Peter helps us with simple guidelines

Gentleness - Never be forceful, never feel intimidated by someone’s negativity, say your say with a gentle tone and without judgement and resentment

Respect - respect the feelings of others, even though they may be very negative, make people feel heard - don’t resent negativity or judge people for being negative, understand that there is something behind their negativity, help them

Clear conscience - never say something that you don’t believe, be genuine when you talk about hope, first believe before saying, if you say will pray for someone - pray for them,

Humility - never think that you have all the answers in the world, and don’t think you are required to have solutions to all the problems in the world, instead, be willing to stand alongside others and help them face their challenges

Do this so that other will obeserve and be inspired by the hope you share

Not because you’re so cute or smart, but because Jesus has changed your life

Because faith has made a difference in you life

Revere Jesus

Peter starts off our Scripture reading for today with: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.”

There’s a reason why we would share the hope of our lives with others

Because we love Jesus

Because we are grateful for what He had done for us

Because we believe in his teachings

Because we follow Jesus

There is nothing more positive in this world than living with faith in the One who is the Truth, the Way and the Life

Think about that today