26-0114wc Transcript

(0:04) OK, we are in tour nine, and that’s (0:09) the last tour of the engagement project. (0:14) There is one more video in the series that was added, (0:21) I believe. (0:22) It’s a wrap up.

(0:25) And that’s a final video with Del Tackett and the students. (0:31) And they have a back and forth conversation over the 10 tours. (0:40) What I thought I would do is, one of the articles (0:44) that Dell provides with the tours (0:47) is called Themes and Further Study.

(0:51) And then also, last week we did part one of tour nine. (0:59) And we have the summary available on our website, (1:03) and I was going to read the summary. (1:06) So with those two, it should only take about 10, 15 minutes max, (1:11) and then we’ll be done.

(1:12) And we’ll be ready then for part two of tour nine. (1:18) Next week, hopefully, if the weather doesn’t mess us up again. (1:23) In tour nine, the themes and further study goes like this.

(1:30) We come now to the end of our quest and the beginning of our shared task. (1:35) Up to this point, each tour has been designed (1:38) to lead participants into a deeper experience of gazing upon the face (1:44) of God, encountering him in a new and profoundly personal way. (1:48) As Dr. Tackett points out, we can revisit these tours as often as we need to.

(1:56) Like Moses, we can go back to the mountain or the tent of meeting (2:00) whenever we want to refill our tank and speak with the Lord face to face. (2:06) But as we’ve said many times over the course of this journey, (2:10) these divine encounters are not an end in themselves. (2:15) They point towards something else.

(2:18) Their purpose is to equip us for work and help (2:21) us to bear fruit in our encounters with other people. (2:25) And those encounters, to an important extent, (2:29) are meant to flow out of the relationships (2:31) we share with one another as a band of brothers. (2:36) That’s what this final tour is all about.

(2:40) Now we head into the themes. (2:43) When Moses came away from a meeting with the Lord, (2:47) he had to veil his face so that the people would not (2:50) see the divine glory fading from his countenance. (2:54) Our position as Christians is very different, (2:58) unlike the saints of the Old Testament.

(3:01) We experience the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (3:05) as a constant and permanent reality. (3:09) Since the day of Pentecost, all who trust in Jesus (3:13) have been filled to overflowing with the fullness with God’s triune nature. (3:19) Our job now is to let that fullness spill out (3:23) over our brothers, sisters, and neighbors (3:26) by loving others as we love ourselves.

(3:29) As ourselves is the key phrase here. (3:34) Until we understand what that’s all about, (3:36) we won’t be able to love others in strict accordance (3:40) with the mandate of the royal law. (3:43) To arrive at this understanding, we’ll have to plug in the definition (3:47) of agape that we nailed down in tour three, a sacrificial zeal that (3:53) steadfastly seeks the shalom or true good of others.

(4:00) Loving ourselves is a question of seeking our own true good. (4:05) But we can’t do that until we understand what our true good is. (4:11) Fortunately, Dr. Tackett has told us many times, (4:15) human shalom consists in fruitfulness.

(4:20) In order to seek this true good effectively, we must do two things. (4:27) First, figure out what fosters and promotes fruitfulness and cultivate it. (4:33) That includes developing deep relationships, good physical and mental health, (4:38) and a strong walk with the Lord.

(4:41) Second, pinpoint obstacles or hindrances to fruitfulness and eliminate them. (4:48) That means getting rid of pride, fear, isolation, dependency, gloom, apathy, (4:55) lack of vision, and a tendency to believe that it’s all about me. (5:00) This in turn will entail learning how to say no to ourselves when it’s appropriate, (5:07) something our culture doesn’t encourage us to do.

(5:12) Where are we going to find the strength and determination to do all this? (5:16) That question brings us to the conclusion of our journey and the central message (5:22) of tour nine, the importance of being a part of a band of brothers, (5:28) the ability to stay on track and love ourselves with true agape love (5:33) is something we derive from one another. (5:37) As iron sharpens iron, says the scripture, so one man sharpens another, Proverbs 27, 17. (5:47) This implies that we can only fulfill the royal law, love your neighbor as yourself, (5:53) as a body, a family, a group with a shared identity and a shared mission.

(6:00) When pride, depression, anxiety, doom, gloom, and a preoccupation with my own script (6:07) prevent me from bearing fruit, it is my brothers and sisters who have the power (6:13) and authority to set me straight again. (6:16) This is why Dr. Tackett believes it is so crucial for every Christian (6:21) to be part of a small life group, a group of dedicated disciples (6:27) who are committed to go the distance together, come what may. (6:33) And then he has a section called points to watch for, for watching the videos.

(6:40) During the course of this episode, Dr. Tackett cites more than 30 passages of scripture (6:47) that corroborate and flesh out the deeper meaning of Jesus' new commandment, (6:52) love one another as I have loved you, John 13, 34. (6:58) Included, and he has a list of a number of scriptures there that’s available on the website. (7:04) I won’t go, I won’t just, and all he does here is name the books and chapter verses.

(7:12) I’ll leave that for you to peruse. (7:15) And it goes on to say then that King Josiah’s rediscovery of the Torah scroll (7:22) in 2 Chronicles chapter 34, verses 14 through 19, (7:28) is used to highlight the modern church’s desperate need to rediscover the royal law. (7:35) How could they ever have lost it? (7:37) Asked Dr. Tackett.

(7:39) Indeed, how could we? (7:41) It’s time for us, like the ancient king, to come to a place of conviction (7:47) and rededicate ourselves to the fulfillment of the vision. (7:51) Another key biblical quotation comes from 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verses 14 through 16, (7:59) where Paul writes, (8:01) but thanks be to God who always leads us in his triumph in Christ (8:06) and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him in every place, (8:12) for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved (8:17) and among those who are perishing, (8:20) to the one an aroma from death to death, (8:24) to the other an aroma from life to life. (8:28) And who is adequate for these things? (8:32) The truth is that we are not adequate and never can be in and of ourselves.

(8:39) And yet, as these verses assure us, (8:42) we may be certain of success and victory in the Lord’s service (8:46) as long as we are marching in the train of his triumphal procession. (8:53) For through the gift of the indwelling Spirit, Holy Spirit, (8:59) and the fruit he produces in our lives, Galatians 5, 22 and 23, (9:04) we have everything we need to carry out our mission. (9:08) We exude his fragrance wherever we go.

(9:12) Besides, if we ask God to use us in this way, (9:16) we know he will be zealous to answer. (9:20) In the end, we come back to the idea that captured our imagination (9:25) all the way back in tour zero, (9:28) the concept of being a remnant of hope in a land of not. (9:34) In this world, we are surrounded by grieving, hurting, and dying people.

(9:40) Some of them live just next door or right across the street. (9:45) Let’s pray that the Lord will stir us up to become the salt and light (9:50) that they so desperately need us to be. (9:53) That’s what Jesus left us here to do.

(10:00) We will just go over the part one summary, and then I’ll close it up. (10:07) Tour nine, the engagement, the band of brothers. (10:11) Bill Tackett’s engagement project reaches a pivotal moment in tour nine, (10:16) the band of brothers, where the focus shifts to practical communal engagement (10:21) rooted in profound biblical truths.

(10:25) Part one builds on prior tours by emphasizing the believer’s intimate union with God (10:32) and how this empowers authentic love within the body of Christ. (10:37) Tackett opens by reflecting on the story of Moses and the veil in Exodus (10:42) and 2 Corinthians chapter three. (10:46) Moses veiled his face to hide the fading glory after encountering God.

(10:55) In contrast, New Testament believers experience no such fading (10:59) because the spirit of the Lord abides with us forever, (11:04) transforming us from glory to glory with unveiled faces. (11:09) This permanent indwelling removes any barrier. (11:13) We behold God’s glory directly and are changed by it.

(11:18) This truth escalates as Tackett explores the fullness of the triune God, (11:24) the three persons, and one God living within us. (11:29) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make their home in every believer, John 14, 23. (11:36) This isn’t a distant deity, but the entire Godhead residing inwardly.

(11:44) Such reality isn’t for mere comfort. (11:47) It’s for enablement. (11:49) God dwells in us so we might do his will, (11:54) empowered by his presence to live out the kingdom life in a broken world.

(12:01) At the heart of this empowerment is Jesus' new command. (12:06) Love one another as I have loved you, John 13, verse 34. (12:12) Tackett stresses this directive is specifically for believers within the church.

(12:17) It’s modeled on Christ’s sacrificial love for his disciples, (12:22) laying down his life, washing their feet, and serving humbly. (12:27) This love must be deep and authentic, not superficial politeness or casual friendship. (12:34) It’s the kind that binds the body together as one.

(12:39) To flesh this out, Tackett examines the one another commands scattered throughout the New Testament. (12:46) Bear one another’s burdens, forgive one another, confess sins to one another, (12:53) encourage one another, and more. (12:56) This reciprocal imperatives demonstrate how agape love operates practically, (13:03) mutually edifying, correcting, and supporting in a community committed to growth and Christlikeness.

(13:12) Recognizing the challenges of modern isolation, (13:16) Tackett passionately urges participants to join a life group or small community (13:22) dedicated to this kind of love. (13:25) These groups aren’t optional Bible studies, but intentional bands committed to one another. (13:33) Training together, sharing life, and holding each other accountable to God’s will.

(13:41) In such settings, the indwelling spirit manifests powerfully, fostering unity and strength. (13:52) The tour then addresses the often misunderstood phrase, as yourself, (13:57) and love your neighbor as yourself. (14:06) Many interpret this as license for self-fulfillment, follow your heart, (14:11) chase your dreams, unchecked.

(14:14) Tackett counters this cultural distortion, (14:17) arguing it leads to following one’s own sinful script rather than God’s. (14:25) Using the biblical definition of agape, sacrificial, others-focused, love applied even to self, (14:34) Tackett explains true self-love requires self-denial. (14:40) We must say no to fleshly desires that destroy, and yes to choices promoting our God-designed (14:48) shalom, peace, wholeness, and flourishing.

(14:52) This self-love manifests in three key pursuits. (14:56) First, physical and mental health. (15:01) Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

(15:04) Stewarding them through exercise, rest, nutrition, and emotional care honors God (15:11) and equips us for service. (15:14) Second, pursuing excellence in all we do, whether vocation, hobbies, or ministry. (15:22) We offer our best as worship, Colossians 3.23. (15:27) Reflecting God’s excellence and avoiding mediocrity born of laziness.

(15:33) Third, pursuing deep relationships. (15:37) Humans are made in the image of a relational trinity. (15:41) Isolation contradicts our design.

(15:45) Investing in meaningful connections with family, friends, and church mirrors God’s nature (15:51) and combats loneliness. (15:54) These pursuits aren’t selfish. (15:56) They position us to love others effectively.

(16:00) A healthy, excellent, relationally rich believer overflows with capacity to serve the body (16:08) and engage the world. (16:10) Part one thus establishes the eternal foundation for engagement. (16:19) God’s endowing presence, enabling deep love within a committed community.

(16:26) By loving ourselves biblically, denying self for shalom, we become equipped to form the (16:33) band of brothers needed for kingdom advance. (16:37) This sets the stage for overcoming obstacles and stepping into visionary action that we’ll (16:44) see in part two. (16:47) And that’s the end of the summary of last week’s lesson.

(16:52) So hopefully next week we’ll be able to show the video at the building and we’ll have the (17:00) transcript and summary available again after we do that class. (17:09) And that’s this evening’s lessons.