1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
In the past I would have turned away any of the JWs and the Mormons who showed up at our house with their message. In the last few years, I have used such visits as opportunities to engage them in conversations, reasoning with them by scripture on who the true God is and His gospel. I needed to be always be ready.
Peter’s charge for believers is that of sanctifying the Lord God in their hearts. This means to have a holy fear and total trust in God’s wise providence in appointments and the grace to speak. We have heaven’s backing in speaking with nonbelievers regardless of their sects. The instruction is, ”Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2Ti 2:15). This is how by scripture we become ready to give a defense/answer to all the hope that lies within us. Paul was right when he penned these words in Rom 1:16-17 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, … 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; ..” Paul declared that gospel is the power of God because it carries with it the omnipotence of God, whose power alone is sufficient to save men from sin and give them eternal life. It is to turn the lion loose to defend itself and do the work of softening the hearts.