{"id":1672,"date":"2014-06-24T08:00:22","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=1672"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:33:18","slug":"grace-attracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/grace-attracts.htm","title":{"rendered":"Trying to Attract People to Your Church with Grace?"},"content":{"rendered":"
To get the greatest benefit from this practicum, make sure you have read related training on the site. Click below to read about Christ-Like Character:<\/em><\/div>\n
Church Leadership Basics: God’s Heart for the Church<\/a>
\nSpecifically Read: Christ-likeness: Balance<\/a><\/center><\/div>\n

Let’s face it: We live in a fallen world where people make bad choices. We all sin. You might have experienced how speaking out against immoral, sinful behavior pegs you as intolerant in today’s world. To combat this reputation, some churches swing the pendulum in the opposite direction, covering over sin as though it doesn’t matter. How, they might reason, are they going to grow their church if they don’t accept people as they are? Grace attracts people. Calling sin “sin” repels people.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake, grace is good (Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:6). Grace is foundational to salvation (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9) and our walk with God (1 Cor. 15:10; Titus 2:11-13). Grace must be taught and proclaimed (Acts 20:24; Col. 1:16). We, the Church, are to be dispensers of God’s grace (1 Pet. 4:10). Grace is a Christ-like quality (Jn. 1:14, 17).<\/p>\n

But, let’s be careful not to be imbalanced. While grace is a Christ-like quality, so is truth.<\/strong>\u00a0 “Jesus came full of grace AND truth” (Jn 1:14). Jesus did eat with sinners. He accepted them as people but never gave the impression that He condoned their sin.<\/p>\n

\"Jesus
\nThink of the woman brought to Jesus who was caught in adultery. To her accusers Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” When they all left, Jesus asked, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? . . . Then neither do I condemn you . . . Go now and leave your life of sin” (Jn. 8:3-11). Jesus responded with BOTH grace AND truth!<\/p>\n

In giving the command to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20), Jesus made it clear that the intent was not merely conversions but helping people become fully devoted followers of Him … people who would not only believe but also obey ALL He commanded. We should therefore want quantitative church growth but also work toward the qualitative aspect as well which requires both grace AND truth.<\/p>\n

In addition to the content on this page, the Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide<\/strong><\/a> asks a few questions about where you are on the spectrum of grace and truth.<\/p>\n

For More on Being Christ-like, Go To: Resources about Christlikeness in the Church<\/a><\/p>\n

All Posts about Church Growth:<\/h3>