25-0727p Transcript

Preacher: Scott Reynolds

(2:05) So we’re going to be discovering (2:07) the engagement project.

I thought I would go over the transformative journey with (2:12) Dr. Del Tackett. In a world that often feels chaotic and disconnected, where (2:20) cultural shifts challenge our faith and daily lives, many Christians are (2:25) searching for deeper meaning and practical ways to live out their (2:29) beliefs. Enter the engagement project, a groundbreaking small group series (2:36) created by Del Tackett, the visionary educator behind the love programs like (2:43) the Truth Project and is Genesis History.

And this sounds like a, what do you call that, (2:53) advertising blurb. Grok generated this for my inquiries and for the refinement (3:02) this afternoon. So this is all from this afternoon.

But it gives us a (3:13) great idea about what the engagement project is all about. If you ever (3:18) wondered why Jesus left after his resurrection or what God’s ultimate end (3:24) game is for humanity, this series promises to illuminate those questions (3:30) and more, equipping believers to engage the world around them with purpose and (3:38) love. In the engagement project, Tackett takes us on a quest to gaze upon the (3:46) face of God, specifically what he calls the crown jewel of his nature, his (3:52) profound sacrificial love.

This isn’t just any Bible study, it’s a call to (3:59) action designed to awaken the church to its role in God’s grand metaphysical (4:06) narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and engagement. We’ll look at an overview of the (4:14) engagement project, drawing from the series structure, key themes, and each of (4:19) its ten tours or lessons. The goal is to inspire us to dive in and by the end (4:26) you’ll see how this program could spark personal transformation and cultural (4:31) renewal.

So understanding the heart of the engagement project. The engagement (4:39) project is structured as a 10-week small group experience ideal for homes, (4:45) churches, or community settings. Each tour consists of a roughly 50-minute video (4:51) led by Dr. Tackett, blending teaching, storytelling, and visual elements to (4:57) make complex biblical concepts accessible and engaging.

The program’s (5:06) core purpose is to help us understand our ongoing mission on earth, why we’re (5:12) still here after redemption, and what God calls us to do. Tackett emphasizes that (5:20) God’s metanarrative doesn’t end with salvation, it extends into engagement, (5:27) where believers actively participate in restoring truth and love in a broken (5:33) world. As Tackett explains in the trailer, the engagement project’s ten tours will (5:39) again take us on a marvelous quest of seeking the face of God, and as best as (5:46) he will allow to gaze upon the crown jewel in his nature, a quest we hope and (5:53) pray will deeply transform the body of Christ.

This transformation, he believes, (6:00) will change everything by God’s grace. Unlike passive learning, the series (6:06) fosters community through discussion, prayer, and practical application, and (6:12) that’s something that we really didn’t do, and the truth project that I would (6:17) like to try to be more interactive in the auditorium. We’ll have to, the people (6:26) on the phone will have to do the best they can, but I will really want to (6:32) explore the interactive part of the class here in the auditorium.

So the host (6:46) receives simple training via four-minute commissioning video by Tackett, focusing (6:50) on three essentials, vision, prayer, and preparation. No prior experience is (6:57) required, though Tackett recommends starting with the truth project for (7:03) worldview context, which we’ve already done. At its essence, the project addresses (7:10) two pivotal questions.

Why did Jesus leave, and why does God send? The answers (7:19) reveal God’s desire for fruitfulness, relational abundance, and neighborly (7:24) love as the royal law, James chapter 2, verse 8. In a culture drifting toward (7:32) isolation and self-focus, Tackett calls us to counter with agape love sacrificial (7:39) zeal for others' well-being. Imagine ordinary Christians, families, and (7:45) communities engaging their neighbors, and the Greek word for neighbors literally (7:51) means those nearby. With grace, wisdom, and truth, with 80 million believers in (8:00) the U.S. alone, if each reached three to four neighbors, the ripple effect could (8:08) be revolutionary.

The series progresses logically through God’s story, creation’s (8:14) design, the fall’s disruption, redemption’s hope, and engagement’s mandate. It (8:23) challenges complacency, urging us to push against the false river of death towards (8:28) life. As Tackett warns, this quest might trouble us deeply and rock our status quo, (8:38) but that’s precisely what’s needed for awakening.

(8:43) So let’s explore each tour, (8:46) beginning with tour zero, in a land of nought, N-O-U-G-H-T, the land of nought, a (8:55) remnant of hope. This introductory tour sets the tone by painting a picture of (9:05) our cultural, our current cultural landscape, a land of nought, and that is a (9:12) land of no ought. No, they don’t want us to tell [them], "you ought to do this," "you (9:20) ought to behave this way".

They’re hypocritical [though] because they’ll tell us, the (9:25) progressives, that we ought to behave a certain way. We ought to use pronouns (9:32) that’s preferred by a person, so they want us to observe their oughts, but not (9:42) our oughts. It’s a land of no oughts for us, so the land of no oughts, and that’s no (9:51) moral absolutes.

Where hope seems scarce, but a remnant of faithful believers (9:57) remains. Dr. Tackett challenges us to recognize the spiritual (10:04) bareness around us, much like the prophets described Israel in exile. He (10:11) introduces the project’s waiver, a commitment not to run from gazing upon (10:16) God’s face, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Key themes include the erosion of (10:24) biblical truth in society, and the call for a remnant to rise. Biblical anchors (10:32) like Isaiah 613 and Romans 11 5 remind us that God always preserves a faithful (10:41) core. The takeaway? We’re in a pivotal moment.

This series is our map to hope (10:48) and action. It’s a rallying cry to prepare our hearts for the deeper dive (10:54) ahead.

(10:55) Tour number one, creation, the end game.

Here, Dr. Tackett explores God’s (11:03) original design and creation as the blueprint for his ultimate goal. He poses (11:10) foundational questions. Why did Jesus leave? Why does God send? What’s his end (11:17) game? Using the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree in Matthew 21, verses 18 (11:23) and 19, he illustrates that we’re not made to look pretty or live for (11:29) ourselves, but to bear fruit for God.

Everything in creation is relational and (11:36) meant to flourish physically, vocationally, and ministerially. God is (11:43) the God of life, John 10 10. Desiring offspring and abundance, Genesis 1 28.

(11:51) The Dead Sea metaphor warns against being a stagnant pool where living (11:56) waters die. Satan’s tactics of skepticism, selfishness, and insignificance aim to (12:08) thwart this, to take away, shift from a me-centered faith to one where we are (12:19) lamps shining God’s light, producing fruit that glorifies him, John 15 8.

Tour (12:28) two, the fall, the river of death. This tour delves into the cosmic battle (12:36) unleashed by the fall.

Dr. Tackett describes how creation, once pulled (12:43) toward life, now groans under decay, Romans 8, verses 20 through 23. Floating (12:52) downstream means aligning with death. We must push against it, Matthew 12 30.

(13:00) Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me (13:05) scatters. Satan, the father of lies, John 8 44, seeks to destroy fruitfulness (13:12) through isolation, self-focus, and dependency. The death star of I is (13:18) exposed.

Chasing our personal scripts leads to frustration and unfruitfulness. (13:26) Biblical parables like the sower, Mark 4 1 through 20, highlight the battle of (13:33) truth versus life, life versus death. Questions probe our frustration and (13:41) loneliness in a connected yet isolated world.

The takeaway, recognize Satan’s (13:47) schemes, he has schemes, 2nd Corinthians 2 11 tells us, and redirect to God’s (13:54) downstream of life bearing fruit despite the pull of decay. Tour three, (14:04) redemption, the heart of God. Dr. Tackett reveals the crown jewel, God is love, (14:14) 1st John 4 8. Instead of destroying humanity after the fall, God promised (14:21) redemption, Genesis 3 15.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and (14:29) between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head and you will strike his (14:35) heel. This is the first reference that sin will be addressed, the proto-evangelium, (14:43) Del’s term for the first gospel. Agape love is sacrificial zeal for another’s (14:51) shalom, and shalom can mean peace, it can also mean someone’s wholeness or (14:56) well-being.

John chapter 3, 16 and 17 intertwined with truth. Chesed, the (15:09) Hebrew word chesed for steadfast love, is God’s unwavering commitment, Psalm 136. (15:17) We can’t separate love and truth without losing both.

Consequences of not loving (15:24) and not knowing God is abiding in death, 1st John 3 14. God’s endgame is rooted in (15:33) this love, sending Jesus to reconcile us, Romans 5 8. Nothing separates us from it, (15:41) Romans 8 31 through 39, and the takeaway, embrace God’s agape chesed, steadfast love, (15:56) letting it fuel a response to his redemption. Tour 4, the engagement, the (16:10) royal task.

Now we turn to action. Why did Jesus leave, and what did he ask us, (16:20) and what did he ask us with? It doesn’t make sense. Why did Jesus leave, and what (16:28) did he ask us to do? The royal law sums it up, love your neighbor as yourself, (16:35) James 2 8, Genesis 5 14.

Agape extends to literal neighbors, those near us. The primary kingdom work (16:48) is entrusted to everyday Christian families, build relationships one neighbor at a time. (16:55) Counterfeits like abstracts, humanity, love, quoting C.S. Lewis, are debunked.

Love of (17:06) humanity, mankind, in general, takes away from the specific. Anyway, the Good Samaritan Luke 10 25 (17:16) to 37 models seeing spiritual needs. With 80 million Christians engaging three to four neighbors, (17:25) each could transform nations, take away, ignore excuses, pray for a vision to love neighbors, (17:32) sacrificially turning the world right side up.

Tour 5, the vision, engaging with grace. Dr. (17:43) Tackett envisions Christian families committed to neighbors' shalom, but their well-being through (17:51) real relationships. Prayer, kindness, hospitality, Acts 17 26.

Walls like busyness must fall, be (18:02) attractively winsome, that is to be, well, attractive. Winsome via the fruit of the Spirit, (18:12) Galatians 5 22 and 23. We’re people of hope, 1 Peter 3 15, and deep bonds let neighbors see (18:22) Christ’s difference.

God plants us providentially. The only Christian some neighbors may know is you. (18:31) Take away, build significant ties, not shallow ones, tearing down barriers, practicing grace, (18:40) Colossians 4 5 and 6, and seizing opportunities God provides.

Tour 6, the vision, engaging with (18:50) wisdom. Wisdom, or in Hebrew, banah, is a deep discernment, is key for tailored engagement, (19:00) seeking neighbor’s wellness, shalom, James 1 5, 2 Chronicles 1 7-12. Seasoned speech listens (19:12) actively, Ephesians 5 15-16.

The heart is the mind’s inner sacrum, believes truth claims, (19:21) generating actions, Proverbs 23 7, as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Events are opportunities (19:30) in God’s metanarratives, not obstacles. Family can be hardest to reach, Mark 6 4, but we’re God’s (19:40) seed line to flourish, Hebrews 2 12, I’m sorry, Hebrews 2 10.

The takeaway, ask wisdom for others' (19:52) benefit, view life through spiritual lenses and committing to wise, prayerful neighbor engagement. (20:00) Tour 7, the vision, engaging with truth. Dr. Tackett builds on grace and wisdom by emphasizing (20:12) truth and relationships.

It’s about sharing biblical reality winsomely, attractively, or (20:19) appealingly, not confrontationally. Key ideas include discerning when to speak truth and love, (20:27) Ephesians 4 15, using an apologetics neighborly style and addressing lies that bind people. (20:37) Questions explore sharing faith naturally.

Takeaway, truth competes, I’m sorry, (20:49) take the takeaway, truth completes the triad. Equip yourself to gently restore truth, (20:57) fulfilling, 2 Timothy 2, verses 24 through 26. Tour number eight, the engagement, the royal sacrifice.

(21:10) Reflecting on redemption, Dr. Tackett examines Jesus' anguish in Gethsemane, Matthew 26, (21:16) verses 36 to 46. Not just physical suffering, but separation from God, Matthew 27 46. This (21:29) sacrifice, driven by agape chesed, paid our penalty.

Scars remain, reminding us of love’s cost, (21:39) 1 John 4 10. Barriers like selfishness or undervaluing his love hinder neighborly engagement. (21:49) The takeaway, grasp the death of Christ’s sacrifice.

Let it propel you to sacrificial (21:56) love for others, Ephesians chapter 3, 17 through 19. And tour number nine, the engagement, (22:06) the band of brothers. This culminates in community and perseverance, (22:13) likening believers to a band of brothers united in mission, Hebrews chapter 10, 24 and 25.

(22:21) Dr. Tackett stresses mutual encouragement, accountability, and ongoing engagement. (22:29) Themes include sustaining vision through fellowship and commissioning for action. (22:34) Take away, you’re not alone.

Join the remnant, engaging collectively to advance God’s kingdom. (22:43) The conclusion is a call to engage and transform. The engagement project isn’t just a study, (22:52) it’s a call to action.

By understanding creation’s endgame, the fall’s battle of redemptive love (23:00) and our royal task, we’re equipped to engage our world. Imagine the impact, transformed lives, (23:09) restored communities, a church alive with purpose. And this Wednesday we’ll be starting (23:18) the engagement project.

And that’s the lesson.