Solutions October 2017 | Page 29

Kyle Idleman Challenges Pastors:

Grace Is Greater

Kelinda: Pastor Kyle, you have a new book out, Grace is Greater. Tell us, as a pastor and leader, how has the concept of God’ s grace changed for you? What is different about the way you see grace now from the way you understood it before?
Pastor Kyle: Actually, what changed me was realizing that grace was so much more than a concept. That is to say, understanding grace requires more than an explanation; it requires a personal experience. Think of it like romantic love. Romantic love can be explained and defined, but until it is experienced it can’ t fully be understood. I was especially struck by this dynamic as studied the theme of grace in the New Testament. The apostle Paul writes to the churches and thoroughly explains grace. He uses the word close to one hundred times. Jesus on the other hand doesn’ t ever use the word grace. But in studying the narratives in the Gospels grace is powerfully conveyed. One story after another shows us what grace looks like. So I wrote this book understanding that while many people may understand grace, they underestimate the greatness of grace in their
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