The Engagement Project
Tour 10: Engagement - Final Thoughts
Reflections on The Engagement Project
In the quiet intimacy of a small-group video session, Dr. Del Tackett gathers with ten students who have just completed his latest worldview series, The Engagement Project. As the follow-up to his renowned Truth Project, this 10-tour program builds on a biblical foundation to explore not just what Christians believe, but how they are called to live it out—engaging the world as ambassadors of God’s kingdom. The session captures raw reflection: gratitude, conviction, and honest wrestling with divine truths. What emerges is a profound dialogue on God’s indwelling presence, the delicate balance of truth and love, the priority of deep Christian community, and the multifaceted call to fruitfulness in a fallen world.
Del opens with heartfelt appreciation for the journey. "I can’t tell you what a delight it was for me to have the opportunity to go through this with you," he says, offering to lead future tours while acknowledging that someday students might guide him. The purpose shifts from reviewing content to introspection: "What has God said to us? What has He done in my life?" This is not a finished product, Del emphasizes—transformation is ongoing. The group is invited into open discussion, with Nancy and Hector available for lingering questions.
One student probes the phrase "our Jerusalem" from the project’s vision statement. Del clarifies it as a modern application of Acts 1:7-8, where Jesus commissions witnesses to begin in Jerusalem, then Judea, and to the ends of the earth. "Our Jerusalem" is our immediate sphere—home, neighborhood, workplace—not literal Israel. It echoes God’s organic pattern: a seed grows into a plant, producing more seeds that spread outward. This localized start grounds engagement in everyday reality.
A participant shares two striking insights. First, the realization that the full triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—dwells within believers, not merely the Holy Spirit. Citing John 14, Del affirms this unity: "The Father and I will come and make our abode in you." This truth comforts and equips, yet Del confesses its ongoing challenge. "If I truly believed it, I think my life would be different," he admits, stressing daily gratitude and reliance on the Holy Spirit, often through fellow believers, to internalize it.
The second insight addresses self-centeredness. Releasing personal "scripts"—preconceived expectations—brings freedom. When focus shifts to others, failures in plans lose their power to devastate. Del echoes this, noting how belief in God’s indwelling presence should radically alter behavior.
Another student highlights the inseparable balance of truth and love. Neither suffices alone; the Holy Spirit must guide into the right context. The group admires God’s chesed—His steadfast, covenant love—and the call to reflect it. Nancy explains her tendency toward truth stems from pride and a desire to appear right, trapping her in self-focused scripts. Superficial "feely" love avoids hard truths. Del agrees many evangelicals lean toward truth but feel the pull toward acceptance in diverse settings, fearing rejection.
Clarification arises on "one another" commands (love, forgive, bear with, etc.). Del asserts these primarily target believers—the family of God. John 13:35 shows the world recognizes Christ’s sending through mutual love among Christians. Such depth requires small, committed groups; even Jesus, in finite humanity, invested most in a few disciples. Broad "love everybody" efforts dilute this. Loving neighbors—believers or unbelievers, hostile or nominal—is separate, providentially arranged by God. Del urges pursuing deep Christian relationships regardless of life stage.
The discussion turns to fruitfulness. Scripture outlines three areas: physical (godly offspring in marriage, per Malachi), vocational (productive work that bears good fruit, avoiding harmful roles), and ministerial (advancing the kingdom via the royal law of love).
A question about singleness prompts Del’s candid perspective. He critiques the cultural reversal: singleness as default, marriage as calling. Scripture presents marriage as normative ("It is not good for man to be alone"); Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians addresses specific "difficult times" (pre-70 AD turmoil), not a universal shift. Singleness can be a genuine calling, but often stems from fear of sacrifice or desire for control. Del compares forced singleness or child-free marriages to seminary students claiming they’re there "because they love God"—implying universal application, which he rejects. Clear divine calling is required to deviate from God’s design.
Addressing barriers like infertility or widowhood, Del notes fallen-world limitations. Biblical barrenness is always God closing the womb, inviting submission. Pursuing medical options has limits; crossing into forcing one’s "script" against God is perilous (referencing prior embryo discussions). Widows may have borne physical fruit already; their role includes teaching younger women (Titus 2). Singles benefit from committed life groups. Fruitfulness extends lifelong: nurturing children, grandchildren, and spiritual offspring.
Del stresses physical birth is merely "step .01." True fruitfulness involves sustained discipleship—ongoing investment in family and faith community.
Scott closes the session, covering roughly half the video, hoping the reflections prove meaningful. Plans for a full transcript and summary underscore the desire to revisit these truths.
This dialogue reveals The Engagement Project's heart: moving beyond worldview knowledge to embodied action. Del Tackett and his students model vulnerability—admitting incomplete belief, prideful tendencies, and cultural pressures—while pointing to God’s indwelling power, balanced engagement, intimate fellowship, and persistent fruitfulness. In a confused age, such reflections challenge believers to start in "our Jerusalem," love one another deeply, and flourish holistically for God’s glory.
The Engagement Project
Tour 10: Engagement - Final Thoughts
In their Final Thoughts video session, Dr. Del Tackett and ten students conclude The Engagement Project, a 10-tour series building on The Truth Project to guide believers in actively engaging the world as God’s ambassadors. This reflective Q&A, captures gratitude, conviction, and honest dialogue about what God has accomplished through the material.
Del expresses joy in the shared journey, inviting students to consider: "What has God said to us? What has He done in my life?" Transformation remains ongoing, not complete. The discussion opens with questions on key concepts.
One student asks about "our Jerusalem" in the engagement vision. Del explains it applies Acts 1:7-8—starting witness locally (home, community) before expanding outward—like seeds spreading organically, not referring to literal Israel.
Participants share personal impacts. One highlights the mind-blowing truth that the full triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) dwells within believers (John 14), equipping them for their calling and freeing them from self-centered "scripts." Del admits this reality still staggers him; true belief would transform daily life, requiring constant reliance on the Holy Spirit and fellow believers.
Another emphasizes balancing truth and love—neither alone suffices. The Holy Spirit guides context, while Christians reflect God’s steadfast chesed love. Nancy confesses pride often pulls her toward truth alone; Del notes many evangelicals lean that way but feel temptation toward superficial acceptance.
Clarifying "one another" commands (love, forgive, bear with), Del stresses these target believers—the family of God (John 13:35). Deep relationships require small, committed groups, mirroring Jesus' investment in a few disciples. Neighbor love remains separate and providential.
The session explores fruitfulness in three areas: physical (godly offspring in marriage), vocational (productive, non-harmful work), and ministerial (kingdom advancement). Del critiques cultural views treating singleness as default and marriage as calling, arguing Scripture upholds marriage as normative except for clear callings. Barriers like infertility invite submission to God’s sovereignty; fruitfulness continues lifelong through discipleship, mentoring, and family investment—even for widows or singles.
Scott closes, noting this covers half the video, hoping the reflections endure.
The Engagement Project moves believers from knowledge to embodied faith: indwelling power, balanced engagement, intimate fellowship, and holistic flourishing for God’s glory.