Another Article
Jay Launius, Maud church of Christ, Maud, TX
Tour 8 - Engagement, The Royal Sacrifice
The Bible is the consummate book of understatement. In a single sentence it can hide oceans of truth that, once seen, shatter us forever. One of those understatements is the Royal Law: “You shall love one another as I have loved you.” We have sung about it, preached about it, printed it on coffee mugs—yet somehow we live as though it were optional.
Why have we ignored the Royal Law? Ignorance? Lies and counterfeits? Selfishness? Or have we simply thought little of how Christ has loved us?
Del Tackett presses us to the feet of Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee. A broken woman pours out tears, perfume, and worship. Jesus turns to Simon and says, “He who is forgiven little, loves little.” The inverse is also true: those who grasp how much they have been forgiven cannot help but love much.
Then we walk to Gethsemane—“oil press.” There the Son of God is crushed. Not merely by the prospect of physical torture (though that was real), but by something infinitely heavier. “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.” Hours later, nailed to the cross, He cries the unthinkable: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
For one eternal moment the everlasting fellowship of the Trinity is ruptured. The Father turns away; the Son becomes sin. This is no mere three-hour event bracketed by history. Because God is omnipresent—outside time as well as in it—that cry echoes forever. Revelation calls Jesus “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” In the courts of heaven, the scars are still visible. The sacrifice is eternally present.
C.S. Lewis pictured time as a single page in God’s book; He sees the whole story at once. From before Genesis to beyond Revelation, the Son is the slain Lamb bearing our names. That is the depth of the penalty paid—and therefore the depth of the love shown.
A little boy trapped in the rubble of the 1988 Armenia earthquake told classmates, “Tell my dad he’ll come for me—he always does.” Days later, the father lifted the final stone and heard his son’s voice: “I told them you would come.” The Father did come. And the Son was willing to be forsaken so that we would never be.
He who was disfigured beyond recognition, who bore our pain and carried our sorrows, whispers still: “I did this because I love you.” If we finally see it—if we are stunned by the cost—we will love much. The Royal Law will no longer be a command we struggle to obey. It will be the song we cannot stop singing.
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Tour 7, Part 2 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Truth
Last week, in Part 1 of Tour 7 from Dr. Del Tackett's The Engagement Project, we explored the vital role of truth in the epoch of engagement. We recalled Jesus' words to Pilate: He came to testify to the truth (John 18:37). With the Holy Spirit as our guide into all truth (John 16:13), we are commissioned to build deep relationships, engage with grace and wisdom, and boldly yet lovingly speak truth—for the genuine good of others, not to win arguments. Drawing from key verses like 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Colossians 4:5-6, and Ephesians 4:15, we learned to season our speech with salt, avoid clanging gongs of loveless truth (1 Corinthians 13:1), and reject a cultural "love" that withholds truth. The inspiring story of Rosaria Butterfield's transformation through the patient hospitality of Pastor Ken and Floy Smith challenged us: God equipped ordinary believers like them—and us—with His Word, Spirit, and fellowship to reach even the most unlikely neighbors.
In Part 2, Dr. Tackett deepens this royal vision, emphasizing that we already possess everything needed: the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the fellowship of believers. Returning to Ken and Floy's example, we see how they embodied the vision without compromise. Ken never pressured Rosaria to attend church; their focus was genuine relationship-building. As Rosaria later reflected, "Ken was wise to know that he could only speak truth as deep as our relationship could stand." This underscores a core principle: truth lands powerfully only in the soil of trust.
Tackett confronts the "elephant in the room"—evangelism—and clarifies roles: ours versus God's. Our desires to see neighbors saved can subtly become agendas or scripts, turning conversations transactional. He poses a piercing question: If we knew for certain our neighbor would _never_ come to Christ, would we still love them freely? True agape love has no hidden strings; it seeks their shalom unconditionally.
A cautionary story illustrates the fragility of trust: one couple patiently built a relationship with unbelieving neighbors, only for it to shatter when another Christian couple intruded with aggressive evangelism. This reminds us that agendas destroy what grace builds.
Ultimately, only God grants repentance (2 Timothy 2:25). We plant and water, but He gives growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Tackett references I Once Was Lost by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp, noting that in interviews with 2,000 new believers, every single one first crossed the threshold of trust through a significant relationship with a Christian.
The tour closes with the story of Ludmila in Prague, highlighting our identity as ambassadors of Christ's kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:20). Imagine plaques on our homes reading "Embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven"—a call to radical, agenda-free hospitality that reflects God's heart.
This vision transforms engagement from duty to delight: love without expectation, truth without force, all empowered by the Spirit. As we discuss tonight, let's pray for courage to live this out in our Jerusalems.
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Tour 7, Part 1 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Truth
In Del Tackett's "Engagement Project," Tour 7 delves into "The Royal Vision: Engaging with Truth," emphasizing the pivotal role of truth in Christian engagement. Split into two parts for time constraints, Part 1 focuses on integrating truth with love, grace, and relationships in our interactions with others.
Tackett begins by recalling Jesus' encounter with Pilate, where Christ declares His purpose: to testify to the truth. This sets the stage for the "epoch of engagement," where Jesus departs but sends the Spirit of Truth to guide believers. Truth becomes essential for fulfilling the royal law—building deep relationships while engaging with grace, wisdom, and uncompromised truth.
Key Scriptures underscore this approach. In 1 Peter 3:15, believers are urged to defend their hope with gentleness and respect. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 calls for gentle instruction to lead others to truth, freeing them from the devil's trap. Colossians 4:5-6 advises wise conduct toward outsiders, with speech seasoned with salt to redeem opportune moments. Ephesians 4:15 ties it together: speak the truth in love.
Tackett warns against misusing truth. It should serve the true good of others, not personal victory or power. Speaking truth without love reduces one to a "resounding gong" (1 Corinthians 13:1), while fear might lead to withholding truth under the guise of love. Culture often equates love with avoiding moral "oughts," but Scripture commands truth-speaking to neighbors (Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:25).
In a skeptical world, trust-built relationships enable truth-sharing. Truth isn't an endgame but is intertwined with agape love, seeking others' shalom with sacrificial zeal.
The session highlights Rosaria Champagne Butterfield's transformation through Ken and Floy Smith's hospitality—over 500 meals that dismantled her rebellion. Tackett poses challenging questions: Would we invite such a neighbor? Do we believe God can work through us? Affirmatively, yes—equipped with God's truth and Spirit.
Part 1 inspires believers to speak truth layered in wisdom and grace within deep relationships, fostering genuine engagement for others' ultimate good.
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Tour 6, Part 2 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Wisdom
Recapping Del Tackett's "Engagement Project," Tour 6, Part 1 focuses on engaging neighbors with grace and wisdom in God's "epoch of engagement." Drawing from Colossians 4:5-6, Tackett urges walking wisely toward outsiders, with speech gracious and salted to suit each person. James 1:5 promises wisdom generously when sought, but it's for others' shalom, not self (James 3:13-17). The key: ask for wisdom to benefit neighbors. Kairos (Gk, epoch, opportunity) moments are divine opportunities to redeem time through true listening and agape love. Tackett redefines the heart as the mind's inner sanctum, where truth claims become "really real," driving actions and feelings (e.g., Proverbs 23:7, Genesis 6:5). Jesus addresses worry in the Sermon on the Mount by pointing to God's provision as Jehovah-Jireh, moving belief from head to heart.
Detailed Summary of Tour 6, Part 2:
Deepening Engagement Through Belief, Reality, and Trust
Part 2 builds on this, linking emotions like worry to genuine beliefs about reality. Tackett distinguishes intellectual "knowing" from heartfelt conviction: the mind holds varied truth claims, but the heart embraces those deemed "really real," shaping behavior. A child's heart trusts everything, merging mind and heart; a skeptic's is tiny, fostering doubt.
To illustrate connecting truth to reality, Tackett shares a skeet-shooting story: Instructor John blasts a pumpkin "assistant" named Hal with a shotgun to embed its danger into inattentive teens' hearts. Similarly, Jesus didn't lecture on His power; He led disciples into a storm, then calmed it with "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:35-41), forging deep faith through experience. While the Holy Spirit moves truth to hearts, believers must live out Christ's claims visibly for neighbors.
Kent and Rosaria Butterfield exemplify this with neighbor Hank, who bought the street's largest house but seemed jobless and anxious. Suspicion grew, but the Butterfields engaged: helping find his runaway dog led to walks and talks. Hank, a veteran and former homeless man, felt isolated; they were his only contacts. Invitations to holidays accommodated his anxiety. Neighbors warned of danger, but persistence paid off. A DEA raid uncovered Hank's meth lab, leading to jail time. The Butterfields wrote and visited, sharing the gospel. When Hank accepted Christ, neighbors confronted their own spiritual state—Hank became a brother, transforming the community.
Tackett stresses building trust slowly while tearing down walls. Family are hardest to reach (Mark 6:4); stop preaching to unreceptive kin—be exemplary and pray for others to intervene. Sharing his prodigal son's story, Tackett asks: Whose child lives nearby, with parents praying for engagement? We're God's means to glory (Hebrews 2:10), continuing Christ's seed line (Galatians 4:4-7), compelled by His love.
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Tour 6, Part 1 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Wisdom
In Tour 6, Part 1 of Del Tackett's "The Engagement Project," the focus is on "Engaging with Wisdom." This session builds on Tackett's earlier "The Truth Project," urging Christians to actively participate in God's meta-narrative during the "epoch of engagement." The core vision portrays Christian families committed to the shalom—peace and well-being—of their neighbors through prayer, action, grace, and wisdom.
Tackett emphasizes wisdom as Hebrew binah, a deep discernment beyond mere knowledge. He shares Jay's story, where a family overcomes time barriers to connect with neighbors, highlighting availability as a key challenge. Engagement must be intentional, redeeming kairos moments—divinely appointed opportunities—as per Colossians 4:5-6: "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt."
Drawing from James 1:5, Tackett notes God's generous provision of wisdom when asked humbly, especially for others' shalom, as Solomon did. James 3:13-17 contrasts earthly wisdom (jealous, ambitious) with heavenly wisdom (pure, peaceable, merciful). The "golden key" is seeking wisdom selflessly.
Stories like Kent and Rosaria Butterfield's hospitality illustrate considering others' life stages and needs. Wisdom avoids cookie-cutter approaches, promoting active listening and agape love, viewing people as God does (2 Corinthians 5:16).
A graphical exploration redefines the heart and mind: both "think," per scriptures like Proverbs 23:7 ("As he thinks in his heart, so is he") and Genesis 6:5. The heart is the mind's inner sanctum, housing "really real" truth claims that drive actions, feelings, and thoughts. Tackett critiques cultural feel-good fixes for emotions like worry, instead pointing to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34), where faith in God as Jehovah-Jireh eliminates anxiety.
This session calls believers to discern others' heart-level beliefs, engaging graciously to advance God's Kingdom. It sets the foundation for practical outreach, transforming faith into relational impact.
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Tour 5, Part 2 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Grace
In Del Tackett's "Engagement Project," Tour 5 explores "The Royal Vision," emphasizing how believers can engage their neighbors with grace. Recapping Part 1 - The foundational vision: catching the call to love our neighbors practically. God entrusts kingdom work to ordinary people, as seen in Ananias's role with Saul of Tarsus. Drawing from Acts 17:23-28, Tackett suggests God places us near specific neighbors—like "Mrs. Smith" across the street—for divine purposes. The vision statement commits to building real relationships in our "Jerusalem" through prayer, action, grace, wisdom, and truth, while being attractively winsome, tearing down walls, and fostering trust. Jesus modeled this by investing deeply in a small group of disciples, showing that significant relationships require depth—friendship, communication, shared meals, projects, sacrifice, and trust. Cultivating these is like farming virgin land: effortful, involving clearing obstacles and consistent work, rejecting "drive-by Christianity."
Part 2 builds on this, delving into practical implementation. It continues with Joy's inspiring story of praying 52 weeks for her neighborhood, leading to opportunities in apartment complexes for Bible studies, afterschool programs, and skill development. Prayer is central—seeking wisdom to align with God's timing. Believers are urged to pray for opportunities, learn names, plan kind deeds, practice hospitality, and enjoy fun activities like movie or game nights to build bonds with grace, wisdom, and truth.
Three key Scriptures guide this: Colossians 4:5-6 (wise conduct, gracious speech); 1 Peter 3:15 (gentle defense of hope); and 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (kind, patient correction). These emphasize grace in engagement—defending faith gently, instructing opponents with patience.
Tackett highlights the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)—love, joy, peace, etc.—as tools to make believers "winsomely handsome," equipping them for the Royal Law of loving others. Stories like Tonya's breakfast tacos overcoming fear, and Phil's pretended love turning into genuine friendship with a "crusty" neighbor, illustrate tearing down walls. Tackett challenges the "doom and gloom" mindset, urging a hope-filled demeanor that prompts questions about our faith. He closes with a story of prayer transforming "dagger eyes" hostility into connection, affirming God's faithfulness in answering prayers for neighborly engagement.
This part inspires committed, grace-filled action, transforming neighborhoods through relational kingdom work.
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Tour 5, Part 1 - Royal Vision, Engaging with Grace
In Tour 5, Part 1 of Del Tackett's "Engagement Project," titled "The Royal Vision: Engaging with Grace," participants dive into the practical side of loving our neighbors as commanded in the Royal Law. Tackett begins by clarifying what this means—and what it doesn't—emphasizing that God has equipped believers for this mission, much like He equipped plants, animals, and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. With Jesus' departure, the Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people to fulfill this role, entrusting the Kingdom's primary work to "common folk." The call is to catch this vision: everything needed is already provided.
A poignant story illustrates this through Kristen, who placed a turquoise picnic table in her front yard as an act of obedience. Initially envisioning missions abroad, she realized her neighborhood was her mission field. Struggling with how to start—should she knock on doors or bake cookies?—she simply set up the table under a tree, praying, "Here I am, Lord, your will be done." This small step opened doors to genuine connections.
Tackett draws from the biblical account of Saul of Tarsus (later Paul) and Ananias, highlighting how God orchestrates encounters. From Acts 17, God determines the boundaries of nations and peoples, implying He also "plants" our neighbors next door. If He can position Saul on Straight Street, He knows our addresses and those across the street—perhaps for a divine purpose involving "Mrs. Smith."
The core of the Royal Vision is articulated as: Christian families or singles committed to the shalom (peace and well-being) of their neighbors. This involves building real relationships in our "Jerusalem" (immediate surroundings) through prayer and action, infused with grace, wisdom, and truth. Believers are to be attractively winsome, tearing down walls of skepticism and building trust to advance Kingdom work—one neighbor at a time.
Tackett stresses commitment to the Lord as foundational; without it, nothing happens. Real relationships aren't shallow—they require depth, like Jesus' investment in His disciples, narrowing from twelve to three. Class discussions define significant relationships through trust, time, authenticity, vulnerability, and generosity. Del adds elements like communication, shared meals, joint projects, and sacrifice.
To cultivate these, effort is essential: spending time, overcoming distractions, and breaking through cultural walls of manipulation. He likens it to farming virgin land—clearing trees, removing rocks, plowing, and weeding demands sacrifice. Ed and Mary's story exemplifies this: learning French to communicate, redefining neighbors as "friends," and embracing less busyness as a gift.
Tackett warns against "drive-by Christianity," which is easy but ineffective. Ultimately, believers may be the only genuine Christian connection their neighbors ever experience, urging a transformative engagement that turns the world upside down.
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Tour 4, Part 2 - Engagement, The Royal Task
Dr. Del Tackett, creator of the influential The Truth Project, continues his mission to equip Christians with a biblical worldview through The Engagement Project. This 10-week small-group study, featuring 50-minute video tours, challenges believers to understand their role in God's kingdom. It's designed for facilitators and families to foster transformative discussions.
In Tour 4, Part 2, titled "Engagement: The Royal Task," Tackett delves into James 2:8's "Royal Law": loving your neighbor as yourself. Starting around the 21:53 mark, he reframes this as a divine mandate for ordinary Christian families, not just church leaders. Citing Acts 17:26, Tackett emphasizes God's intentional placement of us among our neighbors to build authentic relationships.
Tackett addresses common objections—"but waits"—with scriptural depth. On prioritizing love for God, he links it to obedience via John 14:15, 14:21, and 1 John 5:3: loving neighbors fulfills God's commands. Regarding the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), he connects it to Genesis 1:28's call to be fruitful, suggesting discipleship happens one neighbor at a time, as seen in the early church's household spread and Paul's instruction in 2 Timothy 2:2.
He critiques sentimental views of love, quoting C.S. Lewis on loving "Humanity" abstractly as an excuse for loving nobody, and a Peanuts cartoon character who quips, "I love mankind; it's people I can't stand." The point is sharp: True love demands action toward real individuals, not vague ideals. The Good Samaritan parable illustrates sacrificial zeal for others' shalom (true well-being). Tackett expands "poor and hungry" to include spiritual poverty (Revelation 3:17), urging gentle instruction per 2 Timothy 2:25-26.
This is for the common Christian family; the church earns a poor grade in neighborly engagement due to inconvenience, time demands, and vulnerability. Tackett shares a personal story of hogs ruining his wife's garden, leading to a encounter with a struggling neighbor family—highlighting God's provision of opportunities when prayed for.
With 80 million U.S. evangelicals engaging three neighbors each, the nation could be reached. This simple vision—Christian families committed to neighbors' shalom—promises to turn the world right-side up, one relationship at a time. Engagement Project calls believers to action, embodying faith in everyday interactions.
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Tour 4, Part 1 - Engagement, The Royal Task
Del Tackett's Engagement Project invites believers to seek God's heart and apply faith practically in today's world. Structured around four epochs—Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Engagement—the project emphasizes active kingdom participation. Tour 4, "Engagement: The Royal Task," Part 1 (first 24 minutes), explores the current epoch, challenging Christians to embrace their divine mandate.
Tackett frames the Engagement epoch as defined by Jesus' ascension and the Holy Spirit's indwelling, events with eternal impact. He probes: Why did Jesus leave? To empower believers through the Spirit, enabling intimate kingdom work (John 14:16-17). Building on the "crown jewel" of God's love from earlier tours, Tackett unveils the "King's order"—a simplified call to action.
Addressing the overwhelming burden of biblical laws, Tackett uses a vignette of a boy with a heavy backpack to illustrate the weight of commands and global needs. Yet, he counters with Matthew 11:28-30: Jesus' yoke is easy, His burden light. Echoing 1 John 5:3, God's commands aren't burdensome for lovers of Him. The key? Distilling the law into love.
Jesus sums it in Matthew 22:36-40: Love God fully and your neighbor as yourself, plus the new command in John 13:34 to love one another as Christ loved us. These "three agapes" center on sacrificial, steadfast love seeking others' true good (shalom). Stunningly, Scripture condenses further to one: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:9-10; James 2:8). Tackett calls this the Bible's ultimate understatement, rephrasing it as zeal for the well-being of those nearby (plesion).
This leads to a profound vision: God entrusts kingdom work to ordinary Christian families, countering the "humanity counterfeit" of abstract love (quoting C.S. Lewis). If 80 million U.S. evangelicals engaged just three neighbors, the nation could transform. Tackett urges reflection: What does loving my neighbor look like? Are we captive to distractions, ignoring spiritual needs (2 Timothy 2:25-26; Luke 4:18-19)?
Tour 4, Part 1, ignites a call to localized engagement, making God's law liberating
through agape. As Tackett guides, believers are commissioned for this royal task—starting next door.
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Tour 3, Part 2 - Redemption, The Heart of God
In Del Tackett's Engagement Project, a ten-tour small-group worldview series building on The Truth Project, Tour 3, "Redemption: The Heart of God," explores divine love and redemption. Part 2 delves deeply into agape—the Greek term for sacrificial, other-focused love defined as "the sacrificial zeal that seeks the true good, the shalom (peace, well-being), of another." This love isn't selfish, feigned like Judas's kiss, or weak; it demands courage and cost, exemplified by Jesus' sacrifice.
Agape is central to Scripture: without it, we don't love God (1 John 4:20), abide in death (1 John 3:14), or know Him (1 John 4:8). Tackett examines 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, highlighting agape's qualities—patient, kind, enduring, truth-rejoicing—and absences: no jealousy, arrogance, or resentment. He ties this to the project's core questions: Why did Jesus leave? Why does God send us? What's His endgame? All point to agape as God's "crown jewel," revealed in John 3:16.
Deeper, agape is extended to enemies, defining grace: love for the undeserving. Romans 5:6-8, 5:10; Colossians 1:21-22; and Ephesians 2:4-6 illustrate God reconciling the ungodly, sinners, and hostile through Christ's death, seating them in heavenly places.
Even more profound is chesed, Hebrew for steadfast love (Psalm 136:1-2), translated variously as mercy, lovingkindness, or grace. Chesed never quits, pursuing relentlessly—even enemies—for their shalom. It's God's unfailing commitment, spurned yet enduring.
The session features the hymn "The Love of God," emphasizing love's vastness, and concludes with Romans 8:31-39: Nothing—trouble, hardship, death, powers—separates us from Christ's love. We're more than conquerors through Him.
This part equips believers to embody redemptive love, engaging the world as God's sent ones. As Tackett's series, available online and in apps, inspires groups worldwide, it calls for sacrificial pursuit of others' good, mirroring God's heart.
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Tour 3, Part 1 - Redemption, The Heart of God
In the third tour of the Engagement Project, titled "Redemption, The Heart of God," the session delves into the core of God's biblical meta-narrative. Redemption stands as the pivotal epoch, unveiling God's intricate plan to restore fallen humanity through sacrificial love. The narrative roots itself in the Garden of Eden, portrayed as a crime scene of humanity's rebellion against God. Rather than annihilating creation, God issues a promise of hope, initiating redemption. This moment sparks a cosmic clash between Satan's seed line and the Messiah's, as foretold in Genesis 3:15—the proto-evangel, the first gospel proclamation. It vows that the woman's seed will crush the serpent's head, threading God's redemptive plan through history until Jesus Christ's arrival.
Central to this is love, with John 3:16 hailed as the crown jewel of God's heart: God sending His only Son for the world's salvation. Yet, modern culture has diluted "love" to shallow sentiments, fleeting emotions, or self-serving desires. This reflects a broader battle over language, where Satan's distortions pervert God's life-giving words into deathly ones, contorting His truth-bringing utterances.
The session stresses the inseparability of truth and love; severing them yields empty sentimentality or harsh judgment. Biblical love is agape—sacrificial zeal pursuing another's true good and shalom. It's selfless, courageous, and unflinching in truth, unlike Judas's feigned affection.
Challenging misconceptions, the talk references Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, critiquing John's effeminate portrayal against agape's robust nature. Set at a triclinium table, it highlights the scene's intimacy. Agape demands cost, exemplified by Jesus's life-laying sacrifice and the "sons of thunder," James and John, whose zeal underscores love's strength. John's epistles emphasize love as transformative, urging rejection of cultural clichés for biblical agape, fostering others' flourishing at personal expense.
Redemption frames God's relentless pursuit: from Eden's promise to Christ's fulfillment, preserving the Messiah's line amid failures. John 8:44 highlights Satan's deceptive seed, yet Jesus embodies harmonious truth and love. Cultural self-interested redefinitions echo Satan's age-old twists.
John 3:16 reinforces the cross as love's pinnacle—upholding truth amid suffering. In conclusion, this session vividly depicts redemption as God's story's heart, calling participants beyond superficiality to embrace agape's costly essence. Through proto-evangel, lineage preservation, and Jesus's example, it reveals God's commitment to restoration. Scriptural love is a powerful force demanding truth and courage, inviting alignment with God's heart.
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Tour 2, Part 1 - The Fall, The River of Death
Navigating the River of Death
In the opening segment of The Engagement Project’s Tour 2, “The River of Death,” Dr. Del Tackett dives deep into the biblical Fall, unpacking its ripple effects on creation and our bond with God. Taught by Scott on September 3, 2025, this session confronts the cosmic clash between divine truth and Satanic deception—a battle defining our reality. With sharp biblical analysis and evocative metaphors, Tackett urges believers to reclaim God’s grand story amid a decaying world.
The Fall, rooted in Genesis 3, marks sin’s entry through Adam and Eve’s rebellion, flipping creation from vitality to decay. Tackett cites Romans 8:20–23, where the earth “groans” under futility’s curse, aching for renewal. This isn’t abstract theology; it’s palpable. Even skeptics feel the world’s fracture. As Tackett quips, “We don’t catch health”—illness spreads unchecked, mirroring how the Fall drags us toward ruin, far from God’s blueprint of abundance.
Central is the war of truths: God’s life-affirming narrative versus Satan’s web of lies. Echoing Romans 1:25 and John 8:44, Tackett casts Satan as the “father of lies,” peddling a rival tale that erodes creation’s fruitfulness. The serpent’s Genesis 3:4 whisper—“You will not surely die”—sparked rebellion, birthing spiritual and physical death. Satan’s genius? Shattering relationships, God’s core mechanism for glory and growth. This isn’t distant lore; it infiltrates our routines, distorting self-perception, connections, and calling.
Tackett’s metaphor of “downstream life” versus “downstream death” crystallizes the stakes. Flowing with God yields unity, purpose, and bloom - fruitfulness. But Satan’s current? Isolation, rot, and sterility. Picture a lush fig tree, barren inside—beautiful yet futile. This hits hard: daily, we choose community or solitude, truth or illusion.
False worldviews blind us to God’s arc—creation, fall, redemption, restoration—shrinking lives into ego-driven plots devoid of impact. Tackett rallies us to rediscover God's metanarrative, empowering ordinary believers to cultivate divine ties and kingdom pursuits.
Ultimately, this isn’t mere lesson; it’s a summons. Grasping the Fall arms us against isolation, fueling redemptive action. The Engagement Project reshapes faith, illuminating God’s essence and our kingdom role. “The River of Death, Part 1” blends sobriety with hope, via Romans 1, Genesis 3, and more. Choose upstream: truth over deceit, bonds over barrenness. Dive in—realign with God’s plan.
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Tour 1, Part 2 - Creation, The Endgame
Fruitfulness and Relationship
In Part 2 of the Engagement Project’s Tour 1, “Creation, The Endgame,” Dr. Del Tackett explores the multifaceted nature of fruitfulness, outlining three dimensions: physical, vocational, and ministerial. Physical fruitfulness aligns with God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), encompassing procreation. Vocational fruitfulness elevates all work—whether a plumber’s or a shoemaker’s—as valuable to God’s kingdom when done diligently. Ministerial fruitfulness reflects the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9), calling every Christian to intercede and share God’s truth, not just clergy. These dimensions underscore that fruitfulness is a universal mandate, embracing all roles and professions.
However, fruitfulness faces obstacles, termed the “serpent’s hisss”: skepticism, selfishness, and significance. Skepticism, echoing the serpent’s question, “Has God really said…?” (Genesis 3:1), erodes trust in God’s commands, hindering engagement. Selfishness prioritizes personal comfort over service, while the pursuit of significance tempts believers to seek personal glory, mirroring the serpent’s lure to “be like God” (Genesis 3:5). These barriers stifle the outward flow of blessing, leading to spiritual stagnation akin to the Dead Sea. Overcoming them requires humility and a focus on glorifying God.
Fruitfulness is inherently relational, reflecting God’s triune nature. Dr. Tackett contrasts the lifelessness of deep space with the vibrant, interconnected community God designed for flourishing life. Believers are called to be “profoundly relational,” fulfilling Jesus’ mission through active engagement. The “lead horse” concept encourages Spirit-filled disciples to take initiative, creatively impacting the world, as seen in Ephesians 2:10’s call to “good works.”
The Q&A session reinforces these themes, with students reflecting on John 10:10’s promise of abundant life. Discussions affirm that all vocations contribute to God’s kingdom and emphasize relational engagement as a path to Christlikeness. Tour 1 concludes by reframing Christianity as a call to action, urging believers to overcome skepticism, selfishness, and self-importance. By embracing physical, vocational, and ministerial fruitfulness within community, Christians participate in God’s endgame, transforming lives and glorifying Him in the Engagement epoch.
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Tour 1, Part 1 - Creation, The Endgame
What is the Endgame?
In the Engagement Project’s first tour, “Creation, The Endgame,” Dr. Del Tackett sets the stage for understanding God’s grand narrative, spanning five epochs: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Engagement, and Restoration. Tour 1 focuses on Creation, exploring why God created the universe and His ultimate purpose. This foundational epoch reveals God’s intention for a flourishing, abundant life, with the “Crown Jewel” of His nature being a purposeful, relational design that invites His creation to participate in His creative work.
God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) extends beyond physical reproduction to all facets of life. Dr. Tackett emphasizes that God, as a relational Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—designed creation to thrive through community and interdependence. From plants to people, nothing flourishes in isolation. This relational framework mirrors God’s nature and calls His creatures to be creative agents, co-laboring in His plan to propagate life.
The Church, as the Body of Christ, plays a pivotal role in this endgame. Dr. Tackett explains that Jesus’ ascension enabled the Holy Spirit to empower believers for “greater works” (John 14:12), spreading God’s mission globally. Fruitfulness, not individual salvation or truth alone, is central to God’s purpose (John 15:8). This fruitfulness transforms lives and communities, glorifying God through vibrant spiritual life.
The parable of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-25) serves as a powerful illustration. Jesus cursed the barren tree, not for being out of season, but for failing to fulfill its purpose. This “acted parable” challenges believers to avoid “Meo-Christianity”—a self-centered faith—and instead live outwardly, blessing others as God intended (Genesis 12:2-3). While salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), Christians are saved for good works that reflect God’s glory.
Tour 1 invites believers to embrace their role in God’s endgame, fostering abundant life through relational, fruitful engagement. By participating in His creative mission, the Church reflects God’s heart, cultivating a world that glorifies Him.
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Tour 0 - The Land of Nought
A Remnant of Hope
In a world that often feels chaotic and directionless, where do we, as Christians, find our purpose? The Engagement Project, led by Dr. Del Tackett, offers a compelling answer through its introductory lesson, "Tour 0: In the Land of Nought, a Remnant of Hope." This tour sets the stage for a transformative journey, inviting believers to understand their place in God’s grand Meta-Narrative and embrace their calling as His remnant of hope in a darkened world.
The title, "The Land of Nought," paints a vivid picture of a world without boundaries or "no oughts"—a place where moral and spiritual drift has left society adrift. Yet, within this landscape, there’s a remnant, a faithful few called to shine God’s light. Tour 0 introduces the five major epochs of history: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Engagement, and Restoration. As believers, we live in the Engagement epoch, tasked with bringing God’s kingdom to bear on an increasingly lost world. This isn’t just a theological concept; it’s a call to action that redefines how we live as everyday Christians.
Dr. Tackett emphasizes that God has entrusted the primary work of His kingdom to ordinary believers—not just pastors or missionaries, but all of us. Tour 0 challenges us to ask, “What should we do?” The answer, as the Engagement Project unfolds, is both surprising and empowering: we are to engage our neighbors with grace, wisdom, and truth, building relationships that reflect God’s love. This tour lays the foundation for understanding our role in God’s story, encouraging us to see ourselves as active participants in His redemptive plan.
The beauty of Tour 0 lies in its invitation to hope. Despite the “nought” around us, we’re not left hopeless. As God’s remnant, we carry the light of His kingdom, called to live purposefully in our communities. This introductory tour isn’t just a lesson—it’s a rallying cry to embrace our divine assignment with courage and faith. As we embark on this journey with the Engagement Project, Tour 0 reminds us that even in a world of chaos, God’s hope shines through His people. Will you answer the call to be His remnant?
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Tour 12 - Community & Involvement
Becoming the Good Neighbor
In The Truth Project’s final lesson, “Community and Involvement, God Cares, Do I?”, Dr. Del Tackett guides us through a powerful exploration of God’s heart for the needy, urging Christians to embody the role of the “neighbor” who helps, as taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:36). Rooted in the greatest commandments—to love God fully and our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40)—this lesson challenges us to act with compassion toward the marginalized.
Tackett reframes the parable of the Good Samaritan as the “parable of the good neighbor,” stressing that the neighbor is the one who shows mercy, not the one who receives it. When a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus points to the Samaritan who aids a wounded stranger, teaching that being a neighbor means choosing to help the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners, and outcasts. This call expands our responsibility to anyone in need, urging us to take initiative as helpers.
God’s heart for the lowly shines through in scriptures like Psalm 138:6 and Isaiah 57:15. The Greek word tapeinos (humble or lowly) describes Jesus’ heart in Matthew 11:28-29, seen in acts like washing His disciples’ feet (John 13) and sacrificing His life (John 14:9). Tackett clarifies that this humility is bold, not timid, modeling how we should serve as neighbors who act. Scriptures call us to “humble ourselves” (James 4:10), reflecting God’s humility by serving others, just as the Good Samaritan did.
While The Truth Project lays the foundation for being a neighbor who helps, Tackett’s later Engagement Project offers practical steps for involvement, which Scott’s class will explore next. Lesson 12 challenges us: God cares for the needy—do we? Let’s choose to be neighbors who help, reflecting Christ’s love through bold, compassionate service in our communities.
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Tour 11 - Labor: Created to Create
Rediscovering Labor as God’s Creative Calling
In a world where work is often seen as a necessary evil, The Truth Project Lesson 11, “Labor: Created to Create,” offers a refreshing biblical perspective. Dr. Del Tackett challenges the cultural narrative that labor is a curse, revealing it as a divine privilege rooted in God’s nature as the Original Worker (Genesis 1:1–2:3). Created in His image, humans are designed to reflect His creativity through work, tending and enhancing His creation (Genesis 2:15).
Far from drudgery, labor is a joyful calling. Tackett dismantles the “TGIF” mindset, arguing that negative views of work stem from Satan’s lies in the “Cosmic Battle” to distort God’s design. Work is the “engine room of culture,” producing wealth to meet physical needs and bearing responsibility to address poverty through job creation, not just handouts (Proverbs 14:31). This perspective challenges Christians to see labor as worship, aligning their efforts with God’s glory.
The lesson outlines seven biblical economic principles: all things belong to God (Psalm 24:1); humans are stewards with ownership rights (Ephesians 6:5–9); theft and coveting are wrong (Exodus 20:15, 17); skills come from God (Exodus 35:30–35); work is good, laziness is not (Proverbs 10:4); love God, not possessions (Matthew 6:24); and be generous to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7–11). These principles guide employers and employees to manage resources with integrity and compassion.
A special focus is given to arts and media, where beauty must align with God’s standards of truth and goodness (Psalm 101:3). Dr. Francis Schaeffer’s quote, “Whoever controls the media, controls the culture,” urges Christians to create art that glorifies God, countering secular narratives. This call to “Soli Deo Gloria” (for God’s glory alone) inspires believers to shape culture through creative labor.
Lesson 11 invites us to rethink work as a reflection of God’s image, a means to steward His resources, and a platform to serve others. By embracing labor as a divine gift, Christians can transform their workplaces, communities, and culture for God’s glory. How might you view your daily work differently through this biblical lens?
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Tour 10 - The American Experiment
Uncovering Its Christian Roots
On June 11, 2025, Scott introduced video Lesson 10 of The Truth Project, titled "The American Experiment: Stepping Stones," led by Dr. Del Tackett. This lesson challenges the idea that the United States was founded as a secular nation, presenting evidence of its Christian foundations. Below is a concise summary of the key points.
Introduction: Challenging the Secular Narrative
Dr. Tackett opens by debunking the claim that America was not founded as a Christian nation. He promises to provide evidence from the founding fathers’ own words to demonstrate their Christian worldview, setting the stage for a historical exploration.
The Christian Foundations of America
Focusing on the "southwest sector" of the Truth Project’s compass, Lesson 10 examines the state’s biblical role, per Romans 13:4, to administer justice and promote goodness. Dr. Tackett sets three ground rules: not deifying America, its founders, or a yet-to-be-revealed third rule. He highlights the American experiment’s uniqueness, as Christians designed a government from scratch based on biblical principles. The New England Primer and quotes from figures like Benjamin Rush and John Adams reveal a society shaped by scripture, emphasizing that virtue and morality, rooted in Christianity, are essential for a republic’s success. However, Darwinian influences, like those from Christopher Langdell and John Dewey, have shifted America away from these principles, expanding state power.
The Cosmic Battle and Christian Responsibility
Dr. Tackett describes America’s drift as part of a “cosmic battle” in the social realm. He warns that the experiment may fail without deliberate action from Christians, who are called to prayer and repentance (2 Chronicles 7:13-14). The third ground rule urges Christians not to blame non-Christians but to focus on their own responsibility.
The Role of Believers in Sustaining the Experiment
The lesson concludes by emphasizing that Christians initiated and must sustain the American experiment. Dr. Tackett notes the government’s three branches, inspired by Isaiah 33:22, and refutes claims that the founders were pagans, citing their explicit Christian references. He calls believers to preserve this legacy.
Conclusion
Lesson 10 reveals America’s Christian roots through historical evidence, urging Christians to actively maintain its biblical foundations to ensure the nation’s future.
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Tour 9 - The State: Whose Law?
This tour conflicts many... This is where many find out they have been taken captive by the world. —Del Tackett
The state—government, politics, law—holds immense power to shape society for good or ill. In Lesson 9 of The Truth Project, “The State: Whose Law?”, Dr. Del Tackett explores the state’s divine design, its limits, and the dangers of overstepping its God-given boundaries. Rooted in Scripture, this lesson challenges us to rethink the state’s role in light of God’s sovereignty.
Tackett begins with a question: Can the state steal? Stories like Ahab’s theft of Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21) and Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling (Daniel 4) show that rulers are not above God’s law. Human governments, prone to error, must be held accountable to a higher ethical standard to avoid wreaking havoc. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines law and politics as tools to preserve morals—a view rarely held today but critical to understanding the state’s purpose.
Scripture reveals the state as God’s delegate, armed with the sword to punish evil and condone good (Romans 13:1-6). Like the Son’s submission to the Father, the state is subject to God’s authority. Kings and magistrates rule as representatives, not autonomous powers. When they forget this, as Uzziah did by crossing into the priestly sphere (2 Chronicles 26), judgment follows. Sphere sovereignty—distinct roles for family, church, and state—ensures balance, preventing tyranny.
Yet history warns of the state’s potential for abuse. Regimes like Stalin’s and Mao’s show what happens when rulers deny God’s authority, seeking control over every sphere. Tackett argues this “Rise of the State” is resurging today, with people looking to government as savior, supplier, and moral arbiter. This echoes Israel’s demand for a king to “go before us” (1 Samuel 8), rejecting God’s kingship.
Christians must resist this trend. By standing firm on biblical truth, we can hold the state accountable, ensuring it operates within its God-ordained limits. The state is not our savior—God is. As Tackett warns, without a higher moral standard, the state’s power can become pathological, leading to oppression. Let us draw a line in the sand, proclaiming God’s sovereignty over all.
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Tour 8 - Unio Mystica, God & Man
In Lesson 8 of The Truth Project, Dr. Del Tackett explores the profound concept of Unio Mystica—the mysterious union between God and humanity. This sacred bond, described as the heart of Christianity, transcends mere salvation, inviting believers into an intimate relationship with the Creator. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are not only saved from hell but welcomed into the very life of the Godhead, experiencing oneness with God both personally and corporately.
Dr. Tackett illustrates this mystery using vivid biblical imagery. Corporately, Jesus’ teaching on the vine and branches (John 15:5) emphasizes the necessity of abiding in Him, while His high priestly prayer (John 17) underscores the unity between Father, Son, and believers. Paul’s writings further highlight the church as a unified body, where mutual edification and “one another” commands (e.g., John 13:34-35) foster communal love. On a personal level, scriptures like John 3:7 (being “born again”) and Galatians 2:20 (“Christ lives in me”) reveal the indwelling Spirit, making each believer a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This intimate union is the essence of eternal life—knowing God as deeply as a spouse knows their partner.
Yet, this relationship is not without challenges. Dr. Tackett warns against “blurring the spheres,” such as assuming individual worship can replace corporate fellowship or that church attendance alone fulfills the Unio Mystica. He also addresses the human hunger for significance, which, when misdirected, leads to spiritual dysfunction. Like the Israelites “prostituting” themselves to idols (Numbers 15:38-39) or the Pharisees seeking human approval through ostentatious displays (Matthew 6), we risk forsaking God when we chase self-importance outside His covenant.
The Unio Mystica redefines Christianity not as a moral code or philosophy but as a living relationship with a personal God. This truth should evoke wonder, driving us to worship and deepening our hunger for intimacy with Him. By resting in Christ’s love, we find true fulfillment, free from the pathologies of pride and isolation. Ultimately, this lesson calls us to cherish the price paid for this union—Christ’s precious blood—and to pursue a closer walk with God, transformed by His truth and love.
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Tours 1-7 Review
The Truth Project, a transformative study by Focus on the Family, challenges us to view life through a biblical lens. Led by Dr. Del Tackett, its first seven tours explore truth, humanity, God, and society, urging us to ask, “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?” Here’s a snapshot of these foundational lessons.
Tour 1: Veritology – What Is Truth? Jesus came to “testify to the truth” (John 18:37), but a “Cosmic Battle” rages between God’s reality and Satan’s lies (John 8:44). Truth, defined as “conformity to fact or reality” (Webster’s 1828), is God’s nature (Colossians 2:2–3). Sin stems from believing lies, so we must align with truth to live free.
Tour 2: Philosophy & Ethics – Says Who? Colossians 2:8 warns against deceptive philosophies like naturalism’s “Cosmic Cube,” which traps reality in a material box. God’s transcendent nature grounds ethics, unlike postmodernism’s shifting standards. Renew your mind (Romans 12:2) to reject worldly lies.
Tour 3: Anthropology – Who Is Man? Created in God’s image yet fallen (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12), humanity wrestles with sin (Galatians 5:16–17). Secular views like Maslow’s self-actualization deny our depravity, but redemption restores our purpose.
Tour 4: Theology – Who Is God? Knowing God is eternal life (John 17:3). Despite attacks on His Word (2 Corinthians 10:4–5), God reveals Himself as truth’s source (Colossians 2:2–3), transforming our identity.
Tour 5: Science – What Is True? Creation declares God’s glory (Psalm 19:1). Darwin’s theory falters against irreducible complexity and fossil gaps, pointing to intelligent design. Science glorifies God, not chance.
Tour 6: History – Whose Story? History is God’s narrative (Isaiah 46). Revisionism distorts truth, but remembering God’s works (Deuteronomy 8:10–20) anchors us in His plan.
Tour 7: Sociology – The Divine Imprint. God’s triune order shapes family and church (Ephesians 5). The Fall broke relationships (Genesis 2:18), but God’s design restores unity.
These tours challenge us to live by God’s truth. Which resonates most with you? Reflect won't you?
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The Divine Imprint on Family and Church
God’s design for human society isn’t random—it’s a reflection of His very nature. Dr. R.C. Sproul, as cited in The Truth Project, teaches that social institutions and laws stem not from abstract ideas but from God Himself. This "divine imprint" is most evident in the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—where authority, submission, and unity coexist perfectly. Dr. Del Tackett applies this pattern to two key institutions: the Family and the Church.
In the Trinity, the Father leads, the Son submits, and the Spirit proceeds, yet all are one in essence and purpose. Similarly, the Family—husband, wife, children—mirrors this structure. Ephesians 5:22-33 paints a vivid picture: husbands love sacrificially like Christ, while wives submit as the Church does to Him, creating a unified "one flesh." The Church follows suit—Christ as head, leaders as shepherds, and the flock united under His authority (Titus 1:5-6; Hebrews 13:17). Elders and pastors guide with care, deserving honor when they lead well (1 Timothy 5:17).
What does this look like practically? For the Family, scripture lays a foundation. Exodus 20:12 calls children to honor parents, while Genesis 2:18-24 establishes marriage as a divine covenant—upheld by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-8 and warned against breaking in Malachi 2:13-16. Husbands and wives have distinct roles: Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7 urge mutual love and respect, while Colossians 3:18-21 and Titus 2:4-5 emphasize nurturing homes. Fathers, specifically, are tasked with raising children in godly instruction, not provocation (Ephesians 6:4).
The Church reflects this order too. Acts 20:28 commissions elders to shepherd, and Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to submit to them, fostering unity. This isn’t about power—it’s about reflecting God’s relational nature.
Tackett’s point is clear: God’s imprint brings harmony, not chaos. When Family and Church align with this design—authority balanced with love, submission with unity—they echo the Trinity’s beauty. In a world that often rejects structure, this divine pattern offers a timeless blueprint for flourishing relationships and communities.
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TTP, Tour 7 Sociology: Order and Relationships
Dr. Del Tackett’s Tour 7, "Sociology - the Divine Imprint," begins with Psalm 19:1-4 and Job 12:7-8, where creation declares God’s glory. He introduces the "problem of order" with the chicken egg: its shell, with 10,000 pores, exchanges air for CO2 and H2O; four vessels connect the chick to the yolk and membrane for nutrients and oxygen. By day 19, the chick, low on air, uses its "egg tooth" to break out, relying on a reserve air pocket—offering 6 hours of air—until free. This precision exemplifies the "countless systems of order" Tackett highlights, like DNA, tides, and blood clotting, revealing a God of order.
God’s Genesis refrain, "It is good," affirms this, but Tackett extends it to social order: family, labor, church, state, God and man, and community. He contrasts this with Francis Crick’s evolutionary lens and Charles Darwin’s unease at the eye’s design, arguing that such order points to God. Genesis 2:18—"It is not good for man to be alone"—prompts a question: qualitative or ethical? Tackett points to God’s triune nature—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—whose relational essence shapes creation’s "divine imprint."
Aloneness was "not good" because it defies God’s own relational nature, an ethical issue solved with the addition of Eve. God’s imprint unfolds: one is aloneness, insufficient; two is relationships and intimacy; three is community and fellowship, mirroring the Trinity. The egg’s ordered system reflects God’s glory, but the social realm—where relationships thrive—reveals it more deeply.
In an individualistic age, Tackett’s message resonates. The chick’s 6-hour air pocket bridges it to life, just as relationships bridge us to God’s purpose. Family and community aren’t accidents—they echo the triune God. Creation’s order, from eggs to tides, amazes, but the call to fellowship reflects His nature most profoundly.
The Truth Project, Tour 6.2 Reflections
History isn’t just a dusty collection of dates and events—it’s a story that shapes who we are and why we’re here. In Tour 6 of "The Truth Project," titled "History: Whose Story?" Dr. Del Tackett dives deep into this idea, and around the 29-minute mark of the session, he hits a powerful stride. With insights from Theodore Dalrymple and Os Guinness, a couple of piercing Bible passages, and a sharp look at today’s cultural trends, Tackett challenges us to see history as more than random chaos—it’s God’s story, and we’re part of it.
The Weight of Remembering
The discussion kicks off with interviews that set the stage. Theodore Dalrymple, a British physician and writer who’s seen the underbelly of societal breakdown, and Os Guinness, a Christian author and social critic who’s spent decades wrestling with faith and culture, both point to the same truth: history matters. Forget it, and we lose our bearings. Dalrymple’s nodding to the mess we make when we ignore the past, while Guinness frames history as the backbone of meaning—a story bigger than ourselves. It’s a sobering start.
Tackett takes us to Deuteronomy 8:10-20, where God speaks to the Israelites after they’ve settled into the Promised Land. “When you’ve eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you,” the text says. Sounds simple, right? But then comes the warning: don’t think your wealth or success is all your doing. “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18). The Israelites were prone to amnesia, and so are we. Forgetting God’s role in our story isn’t just careless—it’s dangerous.
A Famine of the Soul
Then comes Amos 8:11, a verse that feels like it was written for 2025: “The days are coming… when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Tackett lingers here, and you can see why. We’re not starving for bread today; we’re starving for truth. When we ditch the past and God’s voice in it, we’re left hungry, groping for something to make sense of life. This isn’t just poetic—it’s a diagnosis of our world right now.
Tackett ties this to God’s sovereign rule. History isn’t a roll of the dice; it’s His design. From Genesis to the end, He’s the author, declaring “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). That’s a comfort if you trust the Writer, but it’s a jolt if you don’t.
Postmodernism’s Dead End
Here’s where it gets gritty. Tackett turns to postmodernism—the cultural mood that says big stories (or “metanarratives”) are suspect. Thinkers like Jean-François Lyotard called it “incredulity toward metanarratives,” and it’s everywhere now. The idea? No single narrative—like the Bible’s account of creation, fall, and redemption—can claim the truth. It’s all just power plays or personal opinions. The result? We’re a society of fragments, with no glue to hold us together. Meaning gets lost in the shuffle, and that famine Amos warned about starts to feel real.
God’s Big Story
But Tackett doesn’t leave us there. Against this backdrop, he lifts up God’s metanarrative—the one story that ties it all together. From the Garden to the Cross to the Kingdom, it’s a plotline of purpose: God creates, humanity rebels, and He redeems. It’s not oppressive or subjective—it’s hope. It’s the answer to a culture that’s rejected big stories and ended up with nothing to say.
So, Whose Story Are We Living?
By the end of this stretch, Tackett’s point is clear: history isn’t neutral. It’s God’s domain, and we’re in it whether we like it or not. Postmodernism might scoff, but the hunger in our souls suggests we need more than skepticism. Deuteronomy calls us to remember. Amos warns us what happens when we don’t. And God’s story invites us in—to find our place, our meaning, in His.
So here’s the question: Whose story are you living? The world’s fragmented script, or the one that’s been unfolding since the beginning? Tackett’s chosen the latter—as have we.
The Truth Project, Tour 6 Reflections
What if history isn’t just a dusty collection of dates and events, but a living story—one with a purpose, a plot, and a divine Author? That’s the question Dr. Del Tackett poses in Tour 6 of The Truth Project, titled “History: Whose Story?” As we watched this session, we couldn’t help but feel a shift in how we see the past—not as a random scramble of human triumphs and failures, but as “His story,” God’s unfolding narrative where every chapter shapes who we are today.
Tackett starts with a word that stuck with us: remember. It’s a command woven through Scripture—like in Joshua 4, where God tells the Israelites to stack twelve stones after crossing the Jordan, a tangible reminder of His deliverance. Or Deuteronomy 8, where forgetting God’s provision is a one-way ticket to spiritual ruin. “Remember” isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a call to anchor ourselves in truth. But here’s the kicker: what happens when that anchor gets yanked away?
History as God’s Stage—and Our Compass
Tackett frames history as the fourth pillar in his “Temple of Truth,” connecting philosophy, ethics, science, and now history under a biblical worldview. He leans on verses like Isaiah 46:9-11, where God declares “the end from the beginning,” and Galatians 4:4-5, where Christ arrives “in the fullness of time.” History isn’t chaos—it’s choreography, directed by God. But Tackett takes it further with a principle that hit us like a ton of bricks: “What you believe in the present is determined by the past.” In other words, the story we accept about yesterday shapes how we see everything today—our values, our identity, our reality.
The Pilgrims signing the Mayflower Compact in 1620 didn’t just stumble into America; they came “for the Glory of God and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” That’s their own words. Knowing that changes how we view their legacy—not as mere settlers, but as people on a mission rooted in faith. History, Tackett says, is our compass. Lose it, and we’re adrift.
The Revisionist Trap
This is where Tackett drops another bombshell: “If I can change your historical context, I can change the way you view the present.” It's called revisionism, and it’s a game-changer. He traces it back to Genesis 3, where the serpent’s “Did God actually say?” sows doubt, and Matthew 28, where priests bribe soldiers to lie about Jesus’ resurrection. These aren’t just old stories—they’re warnings. Control the past, and you control the mind.
Take the Mayflower Compact again. Modern retellings often cast it as a proto-democracy moment, sidelining its God-centered purpose. Or consider the resurrection—witnessed by hundreds, yet dismissed as myth by skeptics spinning their own tale. When we rewrite history, Tackett argues, we don’t just lose facts; we lose meaning. If I convince you the Pilgrims were just chasing freedom, not God, I’ve shifted your lens on faith in America today. If I erase the resurrection, I’ve undercut the hope you carry now. It’s subtle, but it’s power.
Why It Matters in 2025
So, why should this hit home in 2025? Because we’re swimming in a culture that’s allergic to memory. Social media thrives on the now—yesterday’s irrelevant. But Tackett insists history isn’t a buffet we pick from; it’s a map showing where God’s been and where He’s taking us. What we believe about the past—whether it’s God’s hand or human chance—decides what we trust today. And when revisionists tweak that map, they’re not just messing with facts; they’re steering our whole worldview.
We walked away from Tour 6 asking: What past am I believing? Am I swallowing revised versions of my own story, my nation’s story, or God’s story? Tackett doesn’t just lecture; he hands you a lens to see history as a gift—one that reveals God’s character, roots your present, and calls you to trust Him with the future.
History is a battleground of truth, and what we remember—or let others rewrite—shapes everything.
Digging into the Fossil Record
On March 12, 2025, we watched Tour 5b (Part 2) of The Truth Project. Dr. Del Tackett isn’t afraid to tackle the big questions. In Tour 5b of Lesson 5, “Science: What is True?”, he dives headfirst into one of the hottest topics in the science-faith debate: the fossil record. Buckle up, because this isn’t your typical Bible school lesson—it’s a bold challenge to everything you’ve been told about evolution’s “rock-solid” evidence. Let’s unpack what Tackett has to say and why it matters.
The Fossil Record: Evolution’s Smoking Gun or a Big Misunderstanding?
If you’ve ever flipped through a science textbook, you’ve probably seen those neat little diagrams showing fish turning into amphibians, reptiles into birds, and apes into humans—all thanks to the fossil record. It’s the crown jewel of evolutionary theory, right? Not so fast, says Tackett. In Tour 5b, he pulls back the curtain and asks: Where’s the real evidence?
Tackett’s main beef is with the so-called transitional fossils—the “missing links” that are supposed to show one kind of creature morphing into another over millions of years. He zeroes in on Archaeopteryx, the poster child for evolution’s dino-to-bird story. With its feathers, wings, and reptilian features, it’s often hailed as proof of gradual change. But Tackett isn’t buying it. He argues that Archaeopteryx isn’t a halfway house—it’s a fully formed creature, perfectly designed as is. Could it just be a unique species, not a stepping stone? He thinks so, and he’s got a point: if evolution’s true, shouldn’t we have way more of these in-betweeners littering the fossil record?
Gaps That Speak Louder Than Bones
Speaking of missing pieces, Tackett doubles down on the gaps. Evolutionists say fossilization is rare, so we shouldn’t expect a perfect lineup of every step. But Tackett flips that excuse on its head. He sees those gaps as evidence of something else entirely: life showing up suddenly, fully formed, with no slow crawl from one form to the next. Ever heard of the Cambrian Explosion? It’s this wild moment in the fossil record where a ton of animal groups pop up out of nowhere, no gradual build-up in sight. For Tackett, that’s not a glitch in evolution’s story—it’s a neon sign pointing to creation.
He’s not just throwing rocks at science for fun, though. Tackett’s driving at a deeper truth: the fossil record, as he sees it, fits a biblical narrative where God spoke, and life appeared—bam!—just like Genesis says. No millions of years of trial and error needed.
Worldviews in the Rocks
Here’s where Tackett gets really fired up. He argues that the way we read the fossil record isn’t just about bones—it’s about worldview. Evolution, he says, isn’t some neutral fact; it’s a story pushed by folks who’ve already decided God’s out of the picture. If you start with a naturalistic lens, you’ll twist the evidence to fit, even if it’s shaky. But if you start with a Creator, the fossils tell a different tale—one of purpose and design, not random chance.
Tackett’s not shy about the stakes here. He hints at how buying into evolution doesn’t just mess with your science—it messes with your soul. If life’s just an accident, where’s the meaning? He doesn’t fully unpack the history (think Darwinism gone wrong in society), but you can feel the weight of it coming.
Why This Matters to You and Me
Tour 5b isn’t about winning a debate club trophy—it’s about truth. Tackett wants us to question the narrative we’ve been spoon-fed and look at the evidence with fresh eyes. The fossil record, he says, isn’t a slam dunk for evolution; it’s a challenge to dig deeper. Are we seeing what’s really there, or what we’ve been trained to see?
Watching this part of The Truth Project was a wake-up call. It’s not just about rocks and bones—it’s about who we trust to tell us what’s true. Tackett’s critique might ruffle some feathers (pun intended), but it’s a bold invitation to rethink the story of life. What do you think—does the fossil record prove evolution, or is there more to the story?
Exploring "Is Evolution a fact?"
On March 5, 2025, we watched Del Tackett’s Critique of Evolution in The Truth Project’s Tour 5b. Del Tackett doesn’t shy away from big questions. In Tour 5b (part 1) of this thought-provoking series, titled "Science: What is True?", he takes aim at one of the most famous claims in modern science:
Carl Sagan’s assertion that “evolution is a fact amply demonstrated by the fossil record and contemporary molecular biology.”
For Tackett, this isn’t just a scientific debate—it’s a clash of worldviews. And in this segment, he zeroes in on the molecular machinery of life to argue that evolution’s story doesn’t hold up. Let’s dive into how he makes his case, particularly through the lens of protein synthesis and the idea of irreducible complexity.
Sagan’s Claim Meets a Challenge
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Carl Sagan,
host of Cosmos, was confident that evolution was a done deal. He pointed to fossils and the emerging field of molecular biology as slam-dunk evidence. But Tackett isn’t buying it. In Tour 5b, he flips the script, suggesting that the very science Sagan celebrates—molecular biology—might actually point us in a different direction: toward design, not chance.
Tackett starts by pulling us into the microscopic world of the cell. If you’ve seen The Truth Project, you’ve likely marveled at those stunning animations of cellular processes—DNA unwinding, RNA zipping along, ribosomes churning out proteins like a high-tech assembly line. It’s mesmerizing stuff. But for Tackett, it’s more than just cool visuals. It’s Exhibit A in his case against evolution.
The Protein Factory: Too Complex to Evolve?
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At the heart of his argument is how cells make proteins—the building blocks of life—using instructions encoded in DNA. Here’s the gist: DNA holds the genetic blueprints, which get transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) by an enzyme called RNA polymerase. That mRNA then travels to the ribosome—a molecular machine—where it’s translated into a protein with help from transfer RNA (tRNA) and a host of other enzymes. Every step is precise, every part essential. Mess up one piece, and the whole system crashes.
Tackett asks: How could something this intricate evolve step-by-step? This is where he brings in irreducible complexity, a concept championed by intelligent design advocate Michael Behe. Picture a mousetrap—springs, lever, base—all working together to catch that pesky rodent. Take away any one part, and it’s just a pile of junk. The cell’s protein-making machinery, Tackett argues, is like that mousetrap on steroids. DNA needs enzymes to read it, enzymes need DNA to exist, and ribosomes need both to do their job. It’s a chicken-and-egg puzzle that evolution, he says, can’t solve.
Darwin’s Own Test
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To drive the point home, Tackett quotes Charles Darwin himself from On the Origin of Species: “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” For Tackett, the protein synthesis system is that dealbreaker. How do you evolve a system where every part depends on every other part? Half a ribosome doesn’t make half a protein—it makes nothing. Evolution, he suggests, hits a wall here.
More Than Just Molecules
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This isn’t just a science lesson for Tackett—it’s a worldview showdown. Sagan’s claim assumes a universe where life bootstraps itself from chaos to complexity with no guiding hand. Tackett counters that the cell’s molecular ballet looks more like the work of a master engineer than a cosmic accident. He’s not subtle about where he’s pointing: if it’s designed, there’s a Designer.
What’s the Takeaway?
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Tackett’s critique in Tour 5b is bold and compelling, especially if you’re open to questioning the evolutionary narrative. He’s saying: Look closer at the science—really look—and you might see something more than blind chance. The cell’s protein-making machinery, with its irreducible complexity, becomes his mic-drop moment against Sagan’s confidence.
What do you think? Does the cell’s complexity scream design, or can evolution still explain it? Tour 5b leaves you with that question—and a pretty unforgettable glimpse into the wonders of life at the molecular level.
What is True?
We began the fifth tour of Dell Tackett's The Truth Project, diving into the contentious intersection of science and faith exploring the challenges of modern science and Christianity.
Tackett argues that today’s scientific thought, fixated on the natural realm, fuels philosophies attacking Christian beliefs. Echoing the Apostle Peter, we are warned that scoffers deliberately forget God’s supernatural act of creation, a theme that resonated as we examined evolution’s rise as a naturalistic counter to divine origins. This materialistic lens—reducing us to mere molecules in motion—rejects the supernatural, a rejection Peter foresaw and Tackett sees mirrored in science’s current trajectory.
Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:18-20 bolstered our discussion: the heavens declare God’s glory, making His attributes plain. Yet, humanity twists this evidence into a godless philosophy of independence, a deliberate choice to avoid accountability. From stars to cells, the cosmos screams of an intelligent design, a truth revealed through both general (nature) and special (scripture) revelation. Sin, however, blinds us, turning science into a tool attempting to answer existential questions without God.
Evolution, central to this worldview, confines creation to the natural "stuff-in-the-box," excluding God by design. The intelligent design debate crystallized this conflict, with atheists like C. Richard Bozarth claiming evolution negates Jesus’ purpose.
Post-video, we tackled two godless possibilities: an eternal cosmos or one birthed from nothing. Carl Sagan’s eternal universe falls apart—science shows decay, so an eternal cosmos should’ve worn out long ago, like a car with an empty tank after infinite miles. The Big Bang alternative, starting from a mysterious speck, leans on disproven spontaneous generation, demanding more faith than belief in a creator.
Who is Man?
Who is man? Where did he come from? What is the meaning and purpose of his existence? There is a fundamental conflict between Christianity and the perspective of contemporary culture.
The Bible teaches that man consists of both body, soul and spirit and is created in the image of God; our culture assumes that he is purely material, the product of mindless, purposeless forces.
The Bible says that man has rebelled against God and fallen from his original state of innocence; contemporary thought maintains that he is “basically good.”
The Bible affirms man’s need for divine grace, redemption, and regeneration; popular thinking asserts that “self-actualization” is the key to happiness and fulfillment.
Christianity represents evil as the product of the Cosmic Battle that rages within man – the conflict between humanity as it was meant to be and what it has actually become as a result of sin. Godless philosophy and psychology, on the other hand, can suggest only one possible solution to the problem of evil in the world: man must throw off the restraints of superimposed social conventions and institutions (i.e., any kind of moral standard) and pursue “self-fulfillment” to the fullest possible extent. This is what Dr. Tackett calls “the pernicious lie.”
Matthew 10:39 (WEB)
- He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Hollow and Deceptive Philosophy
Colossians 2:8 (NIV)
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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NIV)
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And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
How to guard against deceptive philosophies.
Be
transformed by renewing your mind.
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The Greek word: metamorphoo in the New Testament is
translated: transformed, transfigured.
The transformation is a metamorphosis, a change into something completely different.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Mark 9:2 (NIV)
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After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
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And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Consider This
What Is Truth? -- Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary
TRUTH, noun
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Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. The truth of history constitutes its whole value. We rely on the truth of the scriptural prophecies.
My mouth shall speak truth Proverbs 8:7.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth John 17:17.
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True state of facts or things. The duty of a court of justice is to discover the truth. Witnesses are sworn to declare the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth
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Conformity of words to thoughts, which is called moral truth
Shall truth fail to keep her word?
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Veracity; purity from falsehood; practice of speaking truth; habitual disposition to speak truth; as when we say, a man is a man of truth
