Beyond the Weekend

January 9 | The Questionable Life

January 9, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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. 1 Peter 3:15b

Read: 1 Peter 3:15
Listen:
1 Peter 3

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The Apostle Peter writes a letter to believers in the early church urging them to be ready to answer why their lives look different from their culture. Peter knows when people follow Jesus—their lives should be so dramatically different from the world around them that people start to ask what’s going on.

People today are starving to see people live this differently. Yet they may not know how to ask the question. Often the start of a spiritual conversation may not sound like one. Instead, the question may come across as genuine confusion: “Why do you spend every Wednesday night hanging out with middle schoolers at your church?” “What do you do with that group of people who come to your house every week?” It may even sound like an accusation, such as, “I could never go to church because there are so many hypocrites,” or “I can’t believe you’re so nice to her.” However, part of being ready to answer for our changed lives is listening for how people question us.

Throughout this sermon series, we will look at our life as Jesus’s followers and how we live in a way that makes people want to ask about our faith. We will talk about our response, and being ready with a brief and gentle answer with an attitude that reflects Jesus. We can trust that when given the opportunity to answer for our new life in Christ, God will provide us with what we need to answer for our hope in Jesus.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Throughout this series, ask God to help you recognize when someone is asking a spiritual question. Then, ask God for the courage to answer and trust that he will give you what you need.


2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.

January is BIBLE READING. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES TIP: Take time to respond to God by writing in a journal or your mobile device. Record your thoughts, questions, what was new or surprising or something that challenged you.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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