Your Thirty-Second Answer (1 Peter 3:15)

A test from his daughter

DeWayne's youngest was about to leave for college. She sat him down for advice and then called him out: "Dad, you haven't brought up any Scripture." So he gave her 1 Peter 3:15, and brought it to the call the next morning.

Always prepared

Peter wrote to believers being slandered for their faith. Always be prepared to give an answer, the Greek word apologia, a defense, for the hope you have. Preparation is work you do today for a conversation you may have tomorrow. DeWayne compares it to a sales script: there's a reason you know what you'll say before you say it.

Someone has to ask

Notice that Peter assumes someone asks. That only happens when your life looks different from theirs. And when they ask, they want a short, honest answer, not a 45-minute sermon.

Gentleness and respect

Gentleness is strength under control. "Turn or burn" may be technically true, but it doesn't win people.

Try this

• Write your testimony in two or three sentences tonight.
• Practice saying it out loud in under thirty seconds.