Some scholars believe 1 Peter reflects the early Christian church’s baptismal teaching. Those newly-baptized early Christians faced mockery and threats in the Roman Empire. Peter urged them to live lives of true compassion, humility and love. When others ask you to speak about your hope, he said, be ready to give them an answer, not argumentatively, but with respectful humility.

• How many of the “Christian” comments you see (or post) on Facebook, under YouTube videos or in other places on the Internet live up to Peter’s command to speak of our hope “with respectful humility”? Does a lack of gentleness and respect for those you disagree with run counter to the message of God’s love and mercy? In what ways?
• Before he launched The Church of the Resurrection, Pastor Hamilton prayerfully answered three questions: 1) Why do people need Jesus Christ? 2) Why do people need the church? and 3) Why do people need this church? How would you answer those questions in ways that could respectfully communicate your hope and faith to a non-religious or nominally religious friend?