Every now and then I spend a day or so pondering a single verse of scripture. The cogitation for today is "always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks, the reason for the hope you have within you." 1 Peter 3:15 Not to answer every question. But to have an explanation for the hope you have within you. Stands to reason then that if you have no hope within you, it doesn't really matter how many questions you can answer. I believe over the years we have taken this to mean that we ought to have all our ducks in a row as far as the apologetics are concerned. Come up with all of the answers before the questions are asked so that you appear to know what you're talking about. In doing this you will demonstrate the illusion of intelligence, appear to be the expert, intimidate the inquisitive, and relieve the skeptic of the need for personal study, after all, since you already have all of the answers you must have already asked the questions. But the second part of this verse gives the hint as to the question they should be prompted to ask. "What is the reason for the hope that you have?" So then, our lives ought to be lived in such a way as to display the kind of hope that provokes such a question. So then, your intimacy with Jesus Christ, from which flows the hope that lies within, is of paramount importance. You can't give what you don't have. This is why anyone, of any age, can witness to the reality that is the saving power of God in Jesus Christ. He doesn't extend hope to merely the crusty intellectual. He holds out hope to everyone.