EP 3 - 1 Peter 3:15 - Our Christian Blueprint

Sent 315 Podcast - Episode 3

1 Peter 3:15 - Our Christian Blueprint

Kevin Miller: 00:02

Welcome to Sent 315. We're here to encourage and equip Christians to engage in the adventure of sharing Jesus, those that God puts into their life. And we're so glad you're here. Hey, everybody, this is Kevin Miller, your host for Sent 315. And of course, I am with Sara Mayne. Hello.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 00:23

Hello. How are you, Kevin?

Kevin Miller: 00:25

I'm too excited. And you're going to have to watch me. Okay.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 00:28

And Matt is here, our Sound Engineer. Matt, you want to say hello?

Matt Hall: 00:33

Yeah. Good morning. What a pleasure.

Kevin Miller: 00:35

Yes, we're very glad you're here. Because without you, no one would hear this ever. So, thanks.

Matt Hall: 00:40

I'm sure somebody would do it.

Kevin Miller: 00:43

Not like you Matt. Not like you.

Matt Hall: 00:45

Thank you.

Kevin Miller: 00:46

Hey, so I had a really exciting week. It was thrilling. Anything new and exciting with you?

Sarah Marie Mayne: 00:53

Well, yeah, as Kevin's in this very excited state, which is great. I'm excited to be here too. But I'm just in a weirder place. It's been a good week of the Lord revealing things and bringing things together. But it's kind of that awkward place where you're like, oh, I feel like I'm falling apart as I'm also getting healed and coming together. So, today should be interesting.

Kevin Miller: 01:17

Yeah, we'll be an interesting blend. Won't we?

Sarah Marie Mayne: 01:19

Yes.

Kevin Miller: 01:21

One of the reasons why I'm so excited, is because we are getting to the 315 part of Sent 315. And it's so cool and so foundational to everything that goes from here. That I'm glad we are here. So, would you mind if I just read 1st Peter 3:15. We'll start there.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 01:40

Yeah. Let's get into.

Kevin Miller: 01:40

Okay, so it says, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence. And in another version, it says or respect. And that one changed everything about, quote evangelism, for me, really did. That kind of impact. So, I'm excited about digging into it, tearing it apart a little bit. You're going to expand on it a little bit.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 02:15

Yeah, I'm excited to dig into it. I think it's a common verse. I remember the first time I was like, whoa, what a verse. Where it was highlighted to me was in high school when I took an apologetics class. And this verse was our memory verse. And so, we learned some things about it. But I'm excited that we're breaking it down in details, because it's really a rich verse. Sometimes it feels like, oh, this is the verse that we always use, and we talk about. But do we really understand just the rich layers of it?

Kevin Miller: 02:49

Yeah. It's interesting, because really, what we're doing is, part of it is turning to the Word of God and seeing what he's got to say to us. And then another main foundation for us, is really, really, really practical stuff. Where we talk to people that do some things really well and learning from them. And so, it's all about encouraging and equipping. And this time we get to dig into the Bible and see how Peter was equipping us. So, I want to take the first part of that,

Sarah Marie Mayne: 03:18

Yeah. Sanctify Christ in your heart as [inaudible: 03:23]

Kevin Miller: 03:22

And what does that mean to me? The way it makes more sense to me is from a Mark Hoffman sermon. And it was a secret life with God, your secret life with God. And he's Lord, and that sets the tone for everything. But if we don't spend time with him, if we don't nurture that relationship, and get to know him and get to know his heart, having his compassion for the lost just might not ever ever happen. I really think that you become like who you hang out with.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 03:58

Definitely.

Kevin Miller: 03:59

And hanging out with Jesus is a really good idea. Something happened a couple of nights ago.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 04:04

Yeah. You were talking about this, that you felt really tied into this key.

Kevin Miller: 04:09

Yeah. I think it's a good illustration. I was going over to speak to a group of young people about having compassion for the lost, and how to acquire that. Imagine that. And on the way over, I was lugging a case of books over that I was going to share with them and invite them on a journey through this devotional with me. And I ran into a guy in the parking lot that I did not know. At least I thought I did not know him. I said hi to him, and he said hi to me, and when he turned around, I saw his face. And it was the face of a guy that I dreamed about the night before.

And so of course, I'm going hey, this is going to sound really weird, but I dreamed about you last night. And his facial expression was yeah, that's weird. What did you dream about me? Because we didn't know each other. And I said we were walking by each other. And we looked at each other. And with the meanest expression that I've seen on somebody's face, we said, yeah, we don't know each other, and let's keep it that way. And it was all weird, because I'm not that kind of guy. And he didn't seem to be that kind of guy either. And it happened twice in the dream.

n the Bible, [unintelligible:: 05:50

So, the Lord stopped me in the parking lot, showed me this guy that I didn't know. And he said to me, well, I got to tell you something. So, I don't know how weird this one was going to get but he said, when you were on stage a few weeks ago, you said something that impacted me so much, that I turned to my dad and said, I've got to read this guy's book, because he gets me. And it resonated with him. And I went, well, I haven't written a book.

But if we're talking about books, I got a case here, I'm inviting a group of people to devotional journey, to have intimate friendship with God, you're invited, and I handed him a book. So anyway, I thought...

Sarah Marie Mayne: 07:04

And then you were saying too, you got to share that with the kids. And it really made an impact. So, it even got bigger than this one moment.

Kevin Miller: 07:13

Yeah, it connected, because something weird. And, to me, a divine encounter really, obviously, got their attention. And then they were connected with it. And the night went really, really well. And we're going to have, I don't know, maybe a bunch of young people going through devotion to find intimacy with God, about sanctifying Him as Lord in their life.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 07:39

And I think this is a good lead into the next part of it, which is always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks. So, you start with that, with sanctifying the Lord in our hearts. So, just like you're talking about having intimacy with him, spending time with him, getting to know him, getting to know his heart for yourself, and then for other people, and flowing out of that place, and allowing him to be the Lord over you and over your emotions and helping you with just all the stuff that you're going through.

And that is part of that preparation as you were talking about this dream that you had where there was this animosity between two humans that is not normal to you. In our preparation, sometimes we get caught up in the knowledge preparation side. And I think that's usually how we see this verse. It's like, oh, I've got to know all this stuff. I've got to have all the answers. I need to do this.

And for me, I think the preparation for me starts more in am I seeing people as the Lord sees people? Am I seeing people more as enemies, which we've talked about before here, or as I phrased it the other day as seeing people as the Lord's before they look like the Lord's. And that's part of that preparation. Because when it comes to that moment where you have an opportunity with someone to share the Lord with them, if you're coming out of God's heart and how God sees them, and you're coming at them as a human who's broken just like you and in need of redemption and reconnection to God, their Creator. It's going to change how you speak, it's going to change what you share.

You're going to be more connected, and asking the Holy Spirit, what do I say in this moment? Instead of responding out of a defense if they say something offensive, because people when you're talking about the Lord, they're going to say some stuff and it's going to be like, oh, that hurts. And if you're not connected to God, and seeing them as the Lord calls us to and the way he sees them, then you're going to be all defensive, and it's going to be a fight and just a mess.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 07:57

Well, and that word defense, some people can define that one the wrong way and make it into a boxing match and [crosstalk: 10:17]. But really, the tone of it is much more to give an answer. And you're right, it doesn't have to be a wrestling match. In fact, that encounter in the parking lot, probably fits more here. Because you're talking about one the verses that go before 1st Peter 3:15, about not being fearful. Share that, because that was powerful when you shared it with me.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 10:41

So, it was funny, we had some jokes here that we're going to change our name to 313 through 16.

Kevin Miller: 10:49

Yeah. I think Matt was against it. I think that was the final vote.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 10:53

It just doesn't quite flow the same. But we do encourage those of you who are listening to us right now go and read that. Because as I've been studying it, it talks about in verse 14, it says, to have no fear of them, nor be troubled, and then it goes into but honor, Christ is Lord in your heart. And I love that because I like to get into the Greek and I use Blue Letter Bible app and kind of just break it down. There's so much richness in that, because the Bible wasn't written in English.

So in doing that, I found this word for troubled and fear. And I was just looking through that. And really what it's talking about is the fear that is over mankind. And the fear sometimes that comes from them. So you could say, the fear of man, but I think it's bigger than that. When we look at people outside of Jesus, there's so much fear, there's so much worry and just trouble everywhere. And you don't really know anything else. And there are people that they're trying for goodness, they're trying for hope, because they have eternity in their hearts, as the Word says. They know that they're supposed to be in life a different way, because God made us in His image. But there's just this oppression of fear over people.

And so, part of how we're able to share the Lord is because us being in the Lord, we're outside of that system of fear. The Lord has taken us out of that. And so, we don't have to share those same troubles and fears that are in our mind. And we have to work through those things. It's not like a magic thing that's like, boom. It is that we are in a different kingdom. And we are not ruled by those things. Unless we choose to be. That's a whole other.

Kevin Miller: 12:55

That's another podcast.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 12:56

But I think it's just very encouraging because we get to live under the Lord's goodness and under his mindset. And that's one way that we stand out to people is in bringing that hope, and living from that hope above the fear that we all have to deal with and experience. Whether you're a believer or not a believer. But we get to be above it, we get to share that with people. And it causes people to ask and to wonder, who are you? And I think that leads into our next part.

Kevin Miller: 13:33

It really does perfectly, because you're giving an answer, first of all, to everyone who asks. And why would anybody ask, unless you were living a life that demanded answers? Why are you this way? For example, if you're saying you're going through some stuff, and you're trying to figure it out, and it could be troubling or something like that, and somebody knows you well enough, and you have such proximity to them, you're going well, you're still hopeful, there's still something, you still have that light in your eye. When I'm going through hard times. It's not that way. They're asking you about it.

And what's cool, too, about this one that really hits me, it says to everyone who asks you. So, there are some people and people listening they may know people like this at their school, at their office, when we used to be together a lot more that beat them over the head with the Bible, and are always in people's faces. And they're the kinds of people that people run away from. They don't ask them anything. Because they're telling everybody, everybody, everybody all the time.

And that word really as I dug into it, when I was first studying it. The tone of it to me is every sort of person, every type of person, it's a little bit of relief that you don't have to tell everybody. That's good. But number two, it puts a little pressure on you as well. Because there are sorts of people that you might not want to talk to, that you might have a prejudice against. Or you might go no, no, not that one, Lord. And whenever you say that, it's probably that one that he's calling you to. We don't have to go around the world to speak to different cultures. We can walk across the street to speak to different cultures, especially where you and I live. There's a lot of diversity and culture there.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 15:27

I have something to add on that with the all sorts is, I'm a church kid, I grew up in church. I came to the Lord when I was two, I really did. I don't remember my life without him. And I've had some struggle in the past not so much anymore, because the Lord has helped me with it, of how can I reach somebody who's never been to church? How can I reach somebody that's never got Jesus at all, or heard the Bible?

And I remember being in high school and doing some evangelistic ministry things. And I ran into a guy, and he'd never heard of Jesus in America. And I was like, what? And I got to share the gospel with him. And he was way older than me.

And so, this verse really encourages me, because my experience doesn't define who I can share the gospel with. Because I'm connected to God, who is God of the universe, creator of all things, creator of all people, he's omnipresent, knows everything, knows everybody's experiences, and is able to meet people in all of those places. And I'm connected to him. And so in a moment, if he says, hey, go talk to this person or share with this person, he'll show me how to speak to them, he'll do the connection, part, human to human. And I don't have to worry about the fact that I've never done drugs or slept around or gotten drunk, whatever. It's just so encouraging to know that. And that really set me free.

Kevin Miller: 17:08

Yes, it does.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 17:09

And I think that that's good for us to remember is that even though someone is so different from us, in everything, the Lord is the one who does the connection, and we just have to be open to it.

Kevin Miller: 17:23

It is such a relief, and it gets rid of guilt and shame. I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it. I can't do it. I'm not up to it. Because the Holy Spirit draws people. And you're right, he already knows them. So, you lean on him. There's an old story about some guy that scored two points in a basketball game, it was the same game that Michael Jordan scored 70 points in the game. And after the game, they interviewed him and he goes, “I'll always remember this night, Michael Jordan and I combined for 72”. And we're the two pointers, okay.

And that just brings a relief in we still have responsibility. But it's all up to the Lord, what's going to happen. And we just have to be obedient and share what it says. It says, to give an account for the hope that is in you. And the deal with that the account of the hope that's in you is really you sharing your story. I was reading 1st John today. And John is so full of love. We've talked about John before. I love those epistles. And he says, I'm sharing what we know, what we felt and what we know to be true with you

f the miracles you're feeding: 5000

Kevin Miller: 17:51

I think we should hit the gentleness and respect part.

Kevin Miller: 19:13

When I said there's two things you could walk away with. That's the other thing. That might be if we were going to drive home a point, sanctify Christ as Lord in your heart. Yep, get it. If you bumble around in the middle of the verse and you don't get all of that and can't remember it, don't memorize it like Sarah has. Get gentleness and respect. You said something the other day, I think it was in another episode. And I'm all about Ephesians 2:10 and being God's workmanship, created for good works in Christ, which he's prepared for us to walk in. And you said Kevin, not only are we his workmanship, but that person that needs him so desperately that you don't want to have a mean face and tell him you don't want to know him in the parking lot, is his workmanship too. So, why on earth would we not treat somebody made in the image of God, why wouldn't we treat them with gentleness and respect? We would.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 20:14

I think sometimes we forget that we're all made in the image of God, because we're focused on more outward things. And there's that hard thing sometimes where it's like, we have to be about God's truth. And we have to do this stuff. We have to start with the truth of, hey, we're all in God's image, and God's heart is that all men would be saved, even though that's not what happens. We know that. That is his heart. That is his desire.

Even in Ezekiel, God talks about the wicked, and he talks about, he hopes that they live longer, so that they can repent and come to him. It's just so amazing to think about that, that is God's heart, and we need to remember that and put that in the forefront and bring that forward first, as we're bringing God's truth. And as we're sharing him with people.

Kevin Miller: 21:18

We were talking with Matt earlier, we were talking about love first, lead with love. So love not only first in order, but love being primary, and being the most important part. I've shared a conversation I had with the Lord where I didn't hear him audibly, but I heard him.

And he said, Kevin, I'll tell you what, man, you get love down, you love these people, I'll take care of the conviction. But if you get the love down, then maybe you can move on to something else. Once you've got that complete, and that figured out and that perfected, then you can move into other things. And it certainly doesn't mean that you're not telling people the truth, especially if they ask you to give an account, right? But you do it with what?

Sarah Marie Mayne: 22:06

With love.

Kevin Miller: 22:07

And gentleness and respect because you love them. You got it.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 22:12

A story that I have is I had someone over a year process I was friends with, met her at work. And it was kind of weird, because the Lord didn't have me share the full gospel with her until one night and she got saved that night. Which was just really crazy. But I talked about the Lord because I'm very open that he's a part of my life. And so, we had plenty of conversations about that. But after she had gotten saved, she was kind of like, not really following the Lord yet, kind of like, there was obvious transformations going on. She wasn't ready for discipleship, so she kind of fell off in certain ways. And I don't think she's with the Lord at the moment. I know that He has her. And that's his job. But there was one point and it was very powerful for me in this whole love and truth conversation.

So, about a year after she accepted the Lord. And she moved in with her boyfriend, she had invited me and another one of our friends at the time over to their house. And so, we went over there, and both me and my other friend who's a Christian as well. We're just like, this is weird, we want to be a part of her life. But also we don't approve of this. This is not the best for her. But we went over and we had dinner and we hung out with them. And it was fine. It was good. And then she came to church with me a couple days later. And I knew that I had to say something. And it was hard because I knew she was kind of in a weird place with the Lord and God. But I knew I had to say something.

And so, we went out to Chipotle and we got burritos had a good time. And then in the car, right at the last minute I was shaking on the inside. I just had to tell her and I just did it very simply. I was just like, hey, my friend, used her name. And you know I love you and I care about you. And I just want you to know that I'm with you. But I really don't think that you moving in with this guy is God's best for you. I think the Lord has better for you. And she started crying and I was crying.

And this is what she said. She said, Sarah, thank you for telling me that because if you didn't tell me that, you wouldn't have been the friend I thought you were.

And she didn't change. Nothing of that happened. But she felt so loved in that moment because she knew who I was. And she knew that. I was a person that really cared about her and when was willing to tell her something that was potentially a.... But I was able to do it with the Lord's wisdom and do it very softly. And it was this beautiful moment. And it really revolutionized the way that I learned to love and it worked out.

Kevin Miller: 25:16

Yeah. And you can tell just by how you tell the story that it was done with gentleness and respect. It really reminds me with a story probably we'll wrap it up with. This Ephesians 4:29 verse. That's an example. We didn't even share this. But this is what you did. In Ephesians 4:29. It says, let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. But only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment so it will give grace to those who hear. And that's what you did in that story. And that's what we encourage people to do. And imagine what the world would be like if more of Christ's followers took this approach and intentionally did this. They'd be sent.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 26:11

Yes.

Kevin Miller: 26:13

As we wrap it up, there's this really mysterious thing that people who are listening can do, which I don't completely understand. But I know how important it is because every podcast says it at the end of the podcast. So, tell them and me, what would you like people to do that would help get the word out and more people get about this, and hopefully bless and encourage and equip people? What could they do, Sarah?

Sarah Marie Mayne: 26:38

I don't know, maybe rates and review.

Kevin Miller: 26:42

That's it.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 26:44

Yes. But really, we would love for you to rate and review. Because we want to know how we're doing. If you're getting something out of this we'd like to know. If you hate everything we say we want to know that too.

Kevin Miller: 26:58

No, I might get hurt feelings. But okay.

Sarah Marie Mayne: 27:02

We might be hurt, but we can handle it. But yes, please do that. And also get on our Instagram, which is @ sent_315. And that's a way that you guys can engage, you can easily share our content. We're going to put excerpts from podcasts up there, you can share it to your stories so your friends see it. And also DM us, ask us questions. We're going to do episodes periodically where we answer your questions and just get to hear and engage from you. And then our website is sent315.org and the resources that Kevin talks about, they're all on there. There's other stuff on there. You can get on our email list because we have plans for the future of building community with our listeners.

Kevin Miller: 27:52

Very, very exciting and great to be with you on this adventure. You and Matt and obviously thousands of people who are listening to this right now. God bless you guys just remember you're sent.