BROADCASTS.com

Welcome to Day 2364 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to\xa0Wisdom Day 2364 \u2013 OUR LIVING HOPE \u2013 STAYING CLEAN IN A CORRUPT SOCIETY 1 PETER 1:22-2:3 \u2013 Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message \u2013 04/21/2024 Our Living Hope \u2013 Reasons for Pulling Together 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 Last week, we asked, and hopefully answered, \u201cHow can I stay clean in a corrupt society?\u201d This is crucial to have a Biblical impact on society as ambassadors for God's Kingdom. This week, we will investigate the Reasons for Pulling Together as Christians within a church setting and throughout our lives. Let me start today with a short story. Before Andrew Jackson became the seventh president of the United States, he served as commander of the Tennessee militia. During the War of 1812, his troops reached an all-time low in their morale. A critical spirit spread among them. They argued, bickered, and fought amongst themselves. Reportedly, Jackson called them all together on one occasion when tensions reached a breaking point and said, \u201cGentlemen! Let's remember, the enemy is not here; it is over there!" Our politicians today would do well to remember these words. What a sobering reminder for the church today! As we explore the next section in 1 Peter, we will learn \u201cReasons for Pulling Together.\u201d \xa0In John 13:35, Jesus said, \u201cBy this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.\u201d \xa0This verse is the basis for our closing hymn. To our shame, the world sometimes looks on Bible-believing Christians as self-seeking and factious, even unloving and argumentative. We aren't always known for our love and support for one another. Instead of being loyal and fiercely committed to each other, in some churches, they tend to look for ways to pick at each other, to put down rather than build up. How strange! Fortunately, this is not the spirit that we have here at Putnam. The frequent occurrences of brother bashing and sister smashing indicate that we need to remind ourselves of the reasons for pulling together. Let\u2019s begin our study by reading 1 Peter 1:22 \u2013 2:3 on page 1887 in your Pew Bibles. 22\xa0Now that you have purified\xa0yourselves by obeying\xa0the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,\xa0from the heart.[b]\xa023\xa0For you have been born again,\xa0not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,\xa0through the living and enduring word of God.\xa024\xa0For, \u201cAll people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0but the word of the Lord endures forever.\u201d[c] And this is the word that was preached to you. Therefore, rid yourselves\xa0of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander\xa0of every kind.\xa02\xa0Like newborn...