25-1029wc - Detailed Summary

The session begins with an introduction to Tour Six of the Engagement Project, titled "Engaging with Wisdom, Part One." It reinforces the royal vision of Christian families committed to their neighbors' shalom, positioning this as the current chapter in God’s grand meta-narrative. Believers are called to step into opportunities for engagement rather than isolation, emphasizing that such engagement requires both grace and wisdom. Wisdom is described as going beyond factual knowledge to encompass "banah," a profound discernment and understanding that deeply considers others' needs.

To illustrate this, Tackett shares Jay’s story, where a family overcomes the common barrier of time constraints to intentionally meet and build relationships with neighbors. This narrative highlights availability as the biggest hurdle to neighborly outreach, urging participants to prioritize time for such interactions. The vision expands to include engaging neighbors through prayer, action, grace, and wisdom, while avoiding self-centered approaches and focusing instead on others' well-being.

The discussion delves into biblical foundations, referencing Colossians 4:5-6, which advises walking in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time, and letting speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how to answer each person. Here, grace and wisdom are intertwined, with grace softening interactions and wisdom ensuring they are discerning and effective. Tackett stresses the importance of these elements in engaging others thoughtfully.

This section builds on the idea that engagement should not be self-focused but oriented toward the shalom of others. The scriptures ground the call to action, reminding participants that true outreach involves a balance of grace to make interactions approachable and wisdom to make them impactful. The emphasis is on responding individually to each person’s unique situation.

Tackett pairs the Colossians passage with James 1:5, which states that if anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God, who gives generously and without reproach. This emphasizes God’s generosity in providing wisdom when sought humbly. Drawing from Solomon’s example in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, Tackett notes how God was pleased with Solomon’s request for wisdom, not for personal gain, but for the shalom of God’s people. This contrasts with modern self-focused prayers, explaining why wisdom often feels elusive—it’s not just for personal benefit, but like the fruits of the Holy Spirit, for serving others.

Further expanding, Tackett discusses James 3:13-17, distinguishing earthly wisdom, marked by jealousy, ambition, and disorder, from heavenly wisdom, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, fruitful, unwavering, and sincere. True wisdom manifests in good behavior and deeds done with gentleness. This differentiation helps participants understand the quality of wisdom needed for effective engagement.

Tackett offers a golden key to obtaining wisdom: asking for it selfishly yields little, but requesting it for others' shalom brings it generously. This is essential for neighbor engagement, as wisdom and grace together enable believers to navigate interactions thoughtfully. The focus is on humility and other-centeredness in seeking divine wisdom.

Breaking down Colossians 4 further, Tackett explains that wisdom considers others, tailoring engagement to individuals' life stages, family structures, situations, issues, needs, personality, and spiritual states. This practical insight encourages personalized approaches rather than generic ones, ensuring that interactions are relevant and effective in promoting shalom.

Tackett shares the story of Kent and Rosaria Butterfield, who opened their home to others, leading to surprising connections, like with Hank, demonstrating how hospitality reveals unexpected opportunities. The concept of opportunity is unpacked as "Kairos," not mere chronological time (Chronos), but divinely appointed epoch moments. Reference is made to Ephesians 5:15-16, urging believers to redeem these moments by making the most of them, creating encounters as redemptive chances in God’s story.

Speech should be seasoned with salt through grace, avoiding canned or cookie-cutter responses. Instead, engagement requires individual approaches, not scripted ones that prioritize personal agendas over agape love. This section stresses the importance of discerning divine timing in interactions to foster genuine connections and redemption.

Tackett stresses active listening rather than preparing the next words, advising believers to listen intently and pray for "banah" to understand what others are truly saying and why, to meet their needs effectively. He cites 2 Corinthians 5:16, "So from now on, we regard no one from a worldly point of view," urging participants to see others as God does, beyond wealth, status, or circumstances, whether they’re behind bars or free.

This approach transforms engagement by focusing on deeper understanding and empathy. Viewing people through a biblical lens helps avoid superficial judgments and promotes interactions that align with God’s perspective, fostering true shalom in relationships.

A pivotal segment graphically examines the heart and mind, challenging common assumptions. Tackett asks which is the thinker—the group responds the mind—and which is the feeler—the heart. But scripture reveals both as thinkers. He lists supporting verses: Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he"; Mark 2:8, Jesus knows thoughts in hearts; Genesis 6:5, intents of thoughts in the heart; Luke 2:34-35, thoughts from hearts; Acts 8:22, thoughts in the heart; Hebrews 4:12, judging thoughts of the heart; Psalms 14:1 and 53:1, the fool says in his heart there is no God.

If the heart thinks, Tackett asks, what’s the difference from the mind? He critiques cultural views where the mind thinks and the heart feels, leading to futile attempts to change feelings directly, like combating worry with distractions. This revelation shifts understanding, showing the heart as integral to thought processes, not just emotions.

Scripture portrays the heart as the inner sanctum of the mind, the core where believed truth claims reside. Truth claims enter the mind via reading, experiences, or conversations, but only those deemed "really real" move into the heart, driving actions, feelings, and further thoughts. Tackett references Matthew 15:19, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery," because beliefs shape behavior. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus addresses worry not by feel-good activities, but by pointing to truth claims about God as Jehovah jireh, using examples like birds and lilies of the field.

The Jews would affirm this intellectually, but Jesus challenges whether they believe it’s "really real" in their hearts—if so, it eliminates worry and drives actions. Tackett concludes that the heart is the sum total of truth claims believed to be really real, which governs feelings, actions, and thoughts. This reframes engagement: by understanding others' heart-level beliefs, believers can wisely and graciously point them toward God’s truth.

This part of the tour sets the stage for deeper application in subsequent parts, such as engaging hard-to-reach neighbors or family members. The session calls participants to seek wisdom for others' shalom, redeem Kairos moments, and view people through God’s lens.

Overall, Tour Six, Part One, transforms theoretical faith into active, discerning love. It emphasizes the integration of wisdom and grace in everyday interactions, ensuring that engagement contributes to God’s grand narrative of redemption and shalom.