Notice the emphasis of the I Peter passage. The implied promise is that people will see the hope that grows out of this personal relationship with the Lord, and some will even ask about it. Such wisdom has the best chance of being received by inquirers and will keep us out of debates. A growing knowledge of the Scriptures is vital. Participation both in individual study and in small-group Bible study can be an invaluable benefit not only to our familiarity with and understanding of the Bible but also to our fluency in articulating what we have learned.
Additional study is important, too.
Though some people need only to hear a clear and simple presentation of the Gospel to receive Christ, others will not be able to respond so quickly. Knowing the kinds of questions and challenges we are likely to face in discussing our faith with these others and preparing responses to their questions and challenges can give us a sense of readiness that invites and encourages opportunities for discussion. So, we would do well to think about the needs of a wide variety of people. To us, that thinking means equipping ourselves with an array of apologetics tools provided by a variety of authors and teachers such as Francis Schaeffer, Josh McDowell, F. F. Bruce, J. P. Moreland, Hugh Ross, and many others. Whatever we have studied and prepared, however, will be worthless unless we combine our preparation with discernment and compassion.