In the context of the Bible, the term "engage" can encompass various aspects of commitment, involvement, and active participation in spiritual, relational, and communal life. The concept of engagement is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how individuals and communities are called to actively participate in their faith and relationships.

Engagement with God

Engagement with God is foundational in the biblical narrative. Believers are called to actively seek and maintain a relationship with God through prayer, worship, and obedience. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Israelites are commanded, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This verse underscores the comprehensive nature of engaging with God, involving one's entire being.

The Psalms frequently highlight the importance of engaging with God through worship and prayer. Psalm 105:4 encourages believers to "Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always." This active pursuit of God is a recurring theme, emphasizing the need for continual engagement in one's spiritual journey.

Engagement in Community

The Bible also emphasizes the importance of engaging with others within the community of faith. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This passage highlights the necessity of active participation in the life of the church, fostering mutual encouragement and accountability.

The early church serves as a model of communal engagement, as seen in Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This verse illustrates the commitment of the early believers to engage in communal worship, learning, and fellowship.

Engagement in Mission

Engagement in mission is another critical aspect of biblical teaching. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 calls believers to actively participate in spreading the Gospel: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This command underscores the active role of believers in engaging with the world to fulfill God's redemptive purposes.

The Apostle Paul exemplifies engagement in mission through his tireless efforts to spread the Gospel and establish churches. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, he writes, "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all possible means I might save some." Paul's adaptability and commitment to engaging with diverse groups for the sake of the Gospel serve as a model for believers.

Engagement in Personal Relationships

The Bible also addresses engagement in personal relationships, emphasizing love, service, and mutual respect. Ephesians 5:21 instructs, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This mutual submission is a form of engagement that fosters healthy, Christ-centered relationships.

In marriage, engagement is characterized by love and sacrifice, as described in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." This sacrificial love is a profound form of engagement that mirrors Christ's relationship with the church.

Engagement with Scripture

Engagement with Scripture is vital for spiritual growth and understanding. Believers are encouraged to actively study and meditate on God's Word. Psalm 1:2 describes the blessed man whose "delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." This engagement with Scripture is essential for developing a deep and abiding faith.

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul emphasizes the importance of Scripture for equipping believers: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." Engaging with Scripture is thus portrayed as a means of spiritual formation and preparation for service.1. (v. t.) To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise.

2. (v. t.) To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service.

3. (v. t.) To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.

4. (v. t.) To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.

5. (v. t.) To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.

6. (v. t.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part.

7. (v. i.) To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.

8. (v. i.) To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy.

9. (v. i.) To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.

10. (v. i.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.

ENGAGE

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From `arabh, "to pledge," Jeremiah 30:21, the King James Version "Who is this that engaged his heart?"; the Revised Version (British and American) "he that hath had boldness?"; the Revised Version, margin Hebrew "hath been surety for his heart?"

1710. emporeuomai -- to travel in, to traffic, by impl. to trade
... to trade. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: emporeuomai Phonetic Spelling:
(em-por-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I travel as a merchant, engage in trade ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1710.htm - 7k

3409. misthoo -- to let for hire, to hire
... to let for hire, to hire. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: misthoo Phonetic
Spelling: (mis-tho'-o) Short Definition: I hire out, hire, engage Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3409.htm - 6k

3164. machomai -- to fight
... to fight. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: machomai Phonetic Spelling:
(makh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I engage in battle, fight, strive Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3164.htm - 6k

4291b. proistemi -- to put before, to set over, to rule
... 4291a, 4291b. proistemi. 4292 . to put before, to set over, to rule.
Transliteration: proistemi Short Definition: engage. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4291b.htm - 5k

603. apokaradokia -- strained expectancy
... "This abstraction -- that might engage the attention -- is also absorpted in the
expected object "till the fulfillment is realized" (H. Alford).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/603.htm - 8k

4754. strateuo -- to make war, hence to serve as a soldier
... lusts against the soul. 4754 -- properly, to contend, like a soldier in ;
(figuratively) to engage in . Word Origin from stratos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4754.htm - 7k

2051. erizo -- to wrangle, strive
... wrangle, strive. Cognate: 2051 -- to contend; to confront (engage) in heated
debate that results in discord (needless strife). This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2051.htm - 6k

4438. pukteuo -- to box
... 4438 -- properly, to box ("fistfight"); (figuratively) to engage in spiritual warfare,
giving all to be a victor in God's race of faith (used only in 1 Cor 9:26 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4438.htm - 6k

1861. epaggellomai -- to proclaim, to promise
... From epi and the base of aggelos; to announce upon (reflexively), ie (by implication)
to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1861.htm - 7k

118. athleo -- to contend, wrestle
... to contend, wrestle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: athleo Phonetic Spelling:
(ath-leh'-o) Short Definition: I compete Definition: I engage, compete, in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/118.htm - 6k

1624. garah -- to stir up (strife), engage in strife
... garah. 1625 . to stir up (strife), engage in strife. Transliteration: garah Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-raw') Short Definition: provoke. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1624.htm - 6k

6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
... engage, intermeddle with, mingle self, mortgage, occupy, give pledges,.
A primitive root; to braid, ie Intermix; technically, to ...
/hebrew/6148.htm - 6k

781. aras -- to betroth
... engaged (6). betroth, espouse. A primitive root; to engage for matrimony --
betroth, espouse. 780, 781. aras. 782 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/781.htm - 5k

7122. qara -- to encounter, befall
... to encounter, befall NASB Word Usage against (16), befall (4), befallen (2), came
(1), chance (1), come (1), down* (1), encounter (2), engage (1), event* (1 ...
/hebrew/7122.htm - 6k

3259. yaad -- to appoint
... or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to summon (to trial),
to direct (in a certain quarter or position), to engage (for marriage ...
/hebrew/3259.htm - 6k

How, among Innumerable Other Miracles of Healing Wrought by the ...
... How, among innumerable other miracles of healing wrought by the wood of the cross,
which King Oswald, being ready to engage against the barbarians, erected, a ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap ii how among innumerable.htm

The Subdeacons May not Leave the Doors to Engage in the Prayer...
... The subdeacons may not leave the doors to engage in the prayer? The subdeacons may
not leave the doors to engage in the prayer, even for a short time. Notes. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xliii the subdeacons may.htm

On Communion in the Lord's Supper.
... Corinthians 6:19,20) What a tendency has it to guard us against every temptation,
to those sins which we have so solemnly renounced, and to engage our fidelity ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xviii on communion in.htm

The Sixth Season
... fervour, and those holy impressions, which we obtain from God while engaged in the
performance of one duty, were preserved to enliven and engage us in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vi the sixth season.htm

The Right to a Normal Romance, if Any
... A man missionary can leave his family for weeks or months, and even though married,
he can engage in the arduous itineration that is often necessary. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 7 the right to.htm

From 1787 to 1791 Inclusive
... The Certificate of Dr. Coke to the Conference. "I do solemnly engage by this instrument
that I never will, by virtue of my office, as superintendent of the ...
/.../a history of the methodist episcopal church volume i/chapter 2 from 1787 to.htm

The Character of the Persons for whom this Rest is Designed.
... of sin, their misery by sin, the vanity of the creature, and the all-sufficiency
of Christ.5. Their will is proportionably changed.6. They engage in covenant ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter iv the character of.htm

Covenanting Recommended by the Practice of the New Testament ...
... Did they engage in it because of the manifestations of its obligation upon them,
made in the Scriptures, and also on account of the approved practices of their ...
/.../the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xiv covenanting recommended by.htm

Care of the Speaker's Throat
... To continue to engage in public speaking under these circumstances is often attended
with great danger, resulting sometimes in total loss of voice. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/care of the speakers throat.htm

Pilgrims of the Victorious Life
... Shall we engage her in conversation? ... Do let us engage them in conversation;
for it seems sweeter faced pilgrims we never have seen. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter thirteen pilgrims of the.htm

Engage (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as,
to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service. ...
/e/engage.htm - 14k

Dip (17 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten. 4. (vt) To plunge or engage thoroughly
in any affair. ... 6. (vt) To engage as a pledge; to mortgage. ...
/d/dip.htm - 14k

Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... one's watch. 8. (n.) To give or pass as a security; to guarantee; to engage;
to plight; as, to pledge one's word and honor. 9. (n ...
/p/pledge.htm - 28k

Promise (112 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To engage to do, give, make, or to refrain from doing, giving, or making,
or the like; to covenant; to engage; as, to promise a visit; to promise a ...
/p/promise.htm - 42k

Undertake (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To take upon one's self; to engage in; to enter
upon; to take in hand; to begin to perform; to set about; to attempt. ...
/u/undertake.htm - 13k

List (17 Occurrences)
... 22. (vt) To engage, as a soldier; to enlist. 23. ... 24. (vi) To engage in public service
by enrolling one's name; to enlist. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LIST. ...
/l/list.htm - 14k

Guarantee (5 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) In law and common usage: to undertake or engage for the payment of (a debt)
or the performance of (a duty) by another person; to undertake to secure (a ...
/g/guarantee.htm - 8k

Wage (39 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To engage in, as a contest, as if by previous gage or pledge; to
carry on, as a war. ... 7. (vi) To bind one's self; to engage. ...
/w/wage.htm - 18k

Take (11064 Occurrences)
... or the like. 4. (vt) To gain or secure the interest or affection of; to
captivate; to engage; to interest; to charm. 5. (vt) To ...
/t/take.htm - 15k

Encounter (10 Occurrences)
... to face; to meet; to confront, either by chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially,
to meet in opposition or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with ...
/e/encounter.htm - 10k

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