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…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…

1 Peter 3:15

When I was a kid my dad told us bedtime stories. When we were really young, he read to us from Dr. Seuss’ Sleep Book. It was funny when the book worked on him first and he would be asleep before the final page. But when we were a little older he would turn off the lights and tell us stories. There were stories about young men and women out seeking their fortunes. Stories about dragons, treasure, and good triumphing over evil. When I got older, I realized that for years my dad had been, from memory and in his own words, telling us the stories He had fallen in love with: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He shared with me and my siblings the stories that he had fallen in love with as a kid.

How quick are we to tell the stories of the things we love? See a movie, read a book, eat at a delicious restaurant. We are often quick to share those things that make an impact on our lives. Jesus invites us to do the same thing with His story. The life of a Christian doesn’t just involve learning the story of Jesus, it is learning to become a storyteller.

Jesus doesn’t save you simply from sin, death, and the devil, He saves you for His Kingdom. Throughout the Gospels Jesus tells us what His kingdom will be like. He uses earthly stories, parables, to explain Kingdom realities. In that kingdom Jesus invites us not only into His story, but also to tell it wherever we go!

In 1st Peter 3:15 we are called to honor Christ and be prepared to give a defense for the Hope that is in us. That hope is simply this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us. The call is to tell this story with gentleness and respect, not to use it as a weapon against others. A good storyteller learns how to share their story in winsome and engaging ways, this is the defense that Peter writes about. As Christians follow Jesus throughout their lives, they will be those who share and spread the Gospel of the savior!

This might seem overwhelming, but it isn’t as complicated as it seems. At times we try to make it that way, “I have to say the perfect thing to this person so that they will believe in Jesus.” But that’s not your job, you just give a defense. Share WHY you have hope! Jesus died for you. The Holy Spirit will do the heavy lifting. Learn to become a kingdom storyteller: share what Jesus has done and what He is doing in your life!

Prayer

Lord, thank you for inviting me to share your story. Help me to tell that story to the people in my life who need to hear it. Give me the words to share the good news of Jesus to those around me. Amen.

Journaling Questions

  1. How would you tell your favorite story?
  2. How is Jesus at work in your story? Seeing Jesus at work in your life helps you to share that good news with others!