25-1119wc Transcript

(0:04) The Engagement Project, Tour 7, Part 2, Royal Vision Engaging with Truth, (0:12) Laying the Foundation for Truth-Centered Engagement. (0:16) In the first half of Tour 7, from Dr. Del Tackett’s The Engagement Project, (0:23) we were reminded that we live in a unique biblical era, an epoch of engagement. (0:30) Jesus ascended, sending the spirit of truth to guide us, John 16, 13, equipping ordinary (0:38) believers for the royal task of advancing his kingdom.

Truth is not optional. Jesus came to (0:46) testify to it, John 18, 37, and we are called to carry out the royal law by building deep (0:55) relationships and engaging with grace, wisdom, and truth. Tackett unpacked key scriptures, (1:03) preparing a defense with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3, 15, gently instructing to lead others (1:11) to truth and escape Satan’s snare, 2 Timothy 2, 24-26, and seasoning speech with salt while (1:22) redeeming kairos moments, Colossians 4, verses 5 and 6. Truth must be spoken in love, Ephesians 4, (1:30) 15, for the true good of the other, not to dominate or score points.

He warned against two extremes, (1:38) excited believers blasting truth without love, echoing the clanging gong of 1 Corinthians 13, 1, (1:47) or fearful ones withholding truth in the name of a cultural, non-confrontational love, (1:54) both distort the gospel. The session highlighted the danger of making truth the end game rather (2:02) than a means to restoration. In a skeptical culture, trust-built relationships allow truth (2:10) to penetrate.

The purpose of truth is wrapped up in agape love, seeking the other’s shalom (2:18) with sacrificial zeal. The highlight was Rosaria Butterfield’s testimony, a militant lesbian (2:26) feminist professor transformed through over 500 meals at the home of Pastor Ken and Floy Smith. (2:35) Rosaria said, the Lord sent a neighbor to come and get me.

Packet challenged us, (2:42) if Rosaria lived next door, would we invite her even once? Do we truly believe God can change (2:51) hearts through us? Yes, because we have his spirit, truth, and community. Part one ended (3:00) on this high note of empowerment and possibility. Diving deeper into part two, (3:07) no agendas, only ambassadors.

Picking up seamlessly, part two begins with reassurance. (3:16) We lack nothing for this mission. The spirit of God indwells us, the word equips us, (3:23) and the fellowship of believers strengthens us.

Ken and Floy Smith modeled the entire (3:30) royal vision perfectly, no shortcuts, no coercion. Crucially, Ken never invited Rosaria to church. (3:40) Why? Their priority was relationship, not recruitment.

Church attendance would come (3:48) or not, organically. Forcing it early could have erected walls. Instead, they poured into (3:57) friendship, earning the right to speak.

Rosaria’s profound insight captures this. (4:04) Ken was wise to know that he could only speak truth as deep as our relationship could stand. (4:11) Truth without relational depth bounces off hardened hearts, layered over trust.

It pierces (4:18) and heals. Here, Tackett addresses the big elephant, evangelism. Many believers freeze (4:26) or overstep because we conflate roles.

We desire salvation for neighbors, that’s good. (4:33) But desire can morph into agenda, a mental script where we steer every conversation (4:39) towards the pitch. This turns people into projects eroding authenticity.

(4:46) Tackett’s diagnostic question cuts deep. If we knew for sure our neighbor would never come to (4:54) Christ, are we now free not to love them? Ouch. If our love evaporates without conversion potential, (5:05) it was never love.

It was bait. Genuine engagement loves without strings, (5:12) mirroring God’s unconditional pursuit of us while we were sinners, Romans 5, 8 through 10. (5:21) A sobering real-life story drives us home.

One Christian couple invested years building (5:27) a friendship with unbelieving neighbors, shared meals, helped during hardships, (5:33) no preaching. Trust grew deep. Then another couple from church visited and in one evening (5:40) unleashed aggressive evangelism.

You’re going to hell without Jesus. The relationship shattered (5:48) instantly. Years of bridge building collapsed in moments.

This warns us agendas destroy (5:56) grace invites. Repentance is God’s domain alone, 2 Timothy 2, 25 and Acts 11, 18. (6:07) We cannot manufacture it through clever arguments or emotional manipulation.

(6:12) A role, faithful presence, truthful words and season, prayerful dependence. (6:20) Packet bolsters this with research from I Once Was Lost by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp (6:29) surveying 2000 converts from atheists, the Muslims, the skeptics. They identified five (6:35) thresholds of conversion.

Threshold one universally was trusting a Christian. Every single person (6:44) entered significant relationships before believing. No drive by evangelism succeeded alone.

(6:52) This affirms the royal vision. Relationships are the gateway for grace, wisdom, and truth. (6:59) Finally, Packet shares the story of Ludmila, a believer in communist era Prague.

Amid persecution, (7:07) she embodied joyful, fearless witness. We too are ambassadors, 2 Corinthians 5, verse 20, (7:15) representing a kingdom not of this world. What if we affix plaques to our doors, (7:22) embassy of the kingdom of heaven? It would reframe our homes as outposts of grace, (7:29) open for meals, questions, and truth.

No agendas attached. So what’s the application? (7:36) Living the agenda-free vision? This tour liberates us. Engagement isn’t a sales quota, (7:44) it’s ambassadorship.

Start with prayer for neighbors, then act. Invite for coffee, (7:52) help with yard work, listen without rebuttal, build depth slowly. When truth arises naturally, (7:59) speak it gently, seasoned with salt.

Cannon and Floyd prove ordinary believers can reach (8:07) the unreachable. Rosaria’s life, now a pastor’s wife, author, and speaker, testifies to God’s (8:15) power through faithful love. As Tackett urges, believe God can do this in you and through you.

(8:23) The epoch of engagement awaits. Will we love freely, speak truthfully, and trust the spirit? (8:31) The world hangs in the balance. One relationship, one meal, one truthful word at a time.