I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
(1 Cor. 9:23 The Message)

I hear Paul saying this in response to, and in light of, Jesus’ announcement of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. It was an invitation to a life which is derived from and lived in the Kingdom:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1: 14, 15 NIV)

Paul didn’t just want to hear about this invitation, this greatest of all invitations ever given to humanity. He wanted to participate. Spiritual formation in order to participate in the Kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of others is what Three is Enough is all about. Continually re-ordering our thoughts and actions (repent) and acting/behaving as if we have confidence—“bet your life on it”—in the Gospel of Jesus (believe) is the lifelong way to be “in on it” for followers of Jesus.

When Paul said he wanted to be in on it, he was saying “I became all things to all men” because he wanted to be a practicing part of the people of God. The practices associated with TiE are simply guides to help us get going along the same path in doable ways within the patterns of our existing lives.