Prepare(d) With Good News Sermon Guide

Prepare(d) With Good News Sermon Guide

Download the sermon guide to print here.

This sermon focuses on being prepared to share the gospel and our testimonies with others. Using 1 Peter 3:15 as the foundation, the message explores why and how Christians should be ready to give a reason for the hope within them. Through practical exercises and tools, you can prepare and learn how to pray for others, share your testimony, and walk through the gospel message — all with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Summary:

• Being prepared to share our faith is a biblical mandate for all believers, not just church leaders
• Research shows many Christians know sharing faith is important but feel unprepared or unsure how to do it
• There are four heart motivations for sharing our faith: love, joy, need, and stewardship
• Three practical tools were shared and practiced: praying with people, sharing personal testimony, and using gospel presentations
• Daily interactions can become divine appointments when we’re prepared to share
• The power to share comes not from our eloquence but from the Holy Spirit working through us
• Our personal stories of how God has brought comfort to us can bring comfort to others
• Even when we feel weak, afraid, or trembling (like Paul did), God’s power works through our willingness

Key Scriptures:

“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

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

“I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” Philemon 1:6

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12

Lifegroup Questions:

• What is a something God is doing in your devotional life this week?
• Break up into 2’s and 3’s and ask each other:
  • How is your devotional life going?
  • Is it both the time and quality you want?
  • How can we help each other?

Table Questions:

1. What feelings come up for you when you think about sharing your faith with others? What hesitations or fears might you need to overcome?
2. The sermon mentioned four motivations for sharing our faith: love, joy, need, and stewardship. Which of these resonates most with you and why?
3. What’s been your most meaningful experience either sharing your faith with someone else or having someone share with you?
4. Have you ever experienced something frustrating turn into an unexpected opportunity to share God’s love?
5. How might praying for others in everyday situations — like at work, school, or while running errands — create natural opportunities to share your faith?
6. Take a moment to share with your group: What was your life like before knowing Jesus, how did you come to know Him, and how is your life different now?
7. The sermon emphasized that our testimony includes how God has comforted us in difficult times. What’s a hard experience where you felt God’s comfort that might help someone else?
8. What specific people has God placed in your life who might need to hear about the hope within you? How might you begin that conversation?
9. The Apostle Paul said he shared the gospel “in weakness and fear and much trembling.” How does knowing that even Paul felt this way encourage you to share despite feeling inadequate?
10. What’s one specific step you could take this week to be more prepared to share your faith when opportunities arise?