Joe White
Title: "A Questionable Lifestyle"
Text: 1 Peter 3:8-18

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For:

“Whoever desires to love life
    and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
    and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
    let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

1. Like a good song, evangelism has both melody and lyrics. The lyrics are the words of the gospel; the melody is a "thought-provoking life." What do you think of this understanding of evangelism?
2. This passage in 1 Peter gives some characteristics of a thought-provoking life. As you read the passage, what are some of the characteristics that you see?
3. One characteristic is "how we love." How is this love described in 1 Peter 3:8-12. 
4. Is there a situation in your life, with a non-believer, where you could show this kind of love?
5. A second characteristic is "how we suffer." What do we learn about suffering in 1 Peter 3:17-18?
6. A third characteristic of a thought-provoking life is "what we worship." What does 1 Peter 3:15 teach about this? Would you say that Christ is the "over-mastering passion" of your life?
7. The song of evangelism also has lyrics. What do we learn about the lyrics in 1 Peter 3:15?
8. Can you share an example of a recent conversation about faith with a non-believer? How did it come about? What went well in light of 1 Peter 3:15? Is there anything you'd change in light of 1 Peter 3:15?
9. What is your biggest takeaway from this passage?