Truth, Grace, and the Call to Follow Jesus
How we understand welcome, belonging, sexuality, repentance, and life together at Lifehouse
Faith & Practice | Lifehouse Community Church
Opening: Our Posture
At Lifehouse, we believe the church should be a place where people can genuinely encounter Jesus.
That means you do not have to have your life cleaned up before you walk through our doors. You do not have to have every question answered, every habit conquered, or every belief perfectly aligned before we will welcome you.
Jesus had a remarkable way of drawing near to people whose lives were complicated, wounded, sinful, confused, or far from God. We want to follow His example.
So when we say you are welcome here, we mean it.
But we also believe Jesus welcomes us because He intends to transform us.
The invitation of Jesus has never simply been, “Come as you are and remain as you are.” His invitation is:
Come. Follow Me.
And following Jesus eventually brings every part of our lives under His loving authority.
That means you do not have to have your life cleaned up before you walk through our doors. You do not have to have every question answered, every habit conquered, or every belief perfectly aligned before we will welcome you.
Jesus had a remarkable way of drawing near to people whose lives were complicated, wounded, sinful, confused, or far from God. We want to follow His example.
So when we say you are welcome here, we mean it.
But we also believe Jesus welcomes us because He intends to transform us.
The invitation of Jesus has never simply been, “Come as you are and remain as you are.” His invitation is:
Come. Follow Me.
And following Jesus eventually brings every part of our lives under His loving authority.
Grace and Truth Belong Together
John tells us that Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
We do not believe the church is faithful when it chooses one and abandons the other.
Truth without grace can become harsh, self-righteous, and cruel.
Grace without truth can become sentimental and ultimately powerless to transform us.
Jesus offers something better.
He loves sinners deeply and tells sinners the truth.
He welcomes people others reject and calls those same people to repentance.
He forgives completely and then teaches us a new way to live.
That is the kind of church we want to be.
We do not believe the church is faithful when it chooses one and abandons the other.
Truth without grace can become harsh, self-righteous, and cruel.
Grace without truth can become sentimental and ultimately powerless to transform us.
Jesus offers something better.
He loves sinners deeply and tells sinners the truth.
He welcomes people others reject and calls those same people to repentance.
He forgives completely and then teaches us a new way to live.
That is the kind of church we want to be.
Grace and truth are not competing Christian values. In Jesus, they belong together.
Everyone Comes to Jesus as a Sinner
Christianity does not divide humanity into “good people” and “bad people.”
Scripture says:
Scripture says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
—Romans 3:23
Every one of us comes to Jesus in need of mercy.
Pride needs surrender.
Greed needs surrender.
Bitterness needs surrender.
Our sexuality needs surrender.
Our relationships need surrender.
Our ambitions, habits, desires, money, anger, speech, bodies, and futures all belong under the lordship of Jesus.
No particular category of sinner stands at some special distance from the grace of God.
The ground is level at the cross.
Pride needs surrender.
Greed needs surrender.
Bitterness needs surrender.
Our sexuality needs surrender.
Our relationships need surrender.
Our ambitions, habits, desires, money, anger, speech, bodies, and futures all belong under the lordship of Jesus.
No particular category of sinner stands at some special distance from the grace of God.
The ground is level at the cross.
What We Believe About Sexuality
Scripture presents human sexuality as a good gift from God, designed to be expressed within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.
Jesus Himself grounded His teaching about marriage in God's creation of humanity as male and female (Matthew 19:4–6), and the New Testament consistently places sexual intimacy within that covenant relationship.
Because of this, we believe sexual activity outside biblical marriage—including adultery, heterosexual sexual relationships outside marriage, and same-sex sexual relationships—is outside God's design for His people.
We recognize that this conviction increasingly differs from the beliefs of our surrounding culture.
We also recognize that questions of sexuality are deeply personal.
For some, these are not theoretical theological discussions. They involve people we love, members of our families, lifelong friendships, personal experiences, attractions, disappointments, and very real struggles.
That should make Christians more compassionate, not less truthful.
We do not believe experiencing temptation or same-sex attraction places someone beyond the grace of God. Temptation itself is not the same thing as choosing to live contrary to God's revealed will.
The call of Christian discipleship is not that every desire instantly disappears.
The call is that every desire is increasingly submitted to Jesus.
That is true for every Christian.
Jesus Himself grounded His teaching about marriage in God's creation of humanity as male and female (Matthew 19:4–6), and the New Testament consistently places sexual intimacy within that covenant relationship.
Because of this, we believe sexual activity outside biblical marriage—including adultery, heterosexual sexual relationships outside marriage, and same-sex sexual relationships—is outside God's design for His people.
We recognize that this conviction increasingly differs from the beliefs of our surrounding culture.
We also recognize that questions of sexuality are deeply personal.
For some, these are not theoretical theological discussions. They involve people we love, members of our families, lifelong friendships, personal experiences, attractions, disappointments, and very real struggles.
That should make Christians more compassionate, not less truthful.
We do not believe experiencing temptation or same-sex attraction places someone beyond the grace of God. Temptation itself is not the same thing as choosing to live contrary to God's revealed will.
The call of Christian discipleship is not that every desire instantly disappears.
The call is that every desire is increasingly submitted to Jesus.
That is true for every Christian.
Repentance is Part of the Good News
The word repentance can sound threatening in our culture, but in Scripture it is actually a word filled with hope.
Jesus said:
Jesus said:
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
—Luke 5:32
Repentance means turning toward God.
It means allowing Him to tell us what is true, acknowledging where our lives are out of alignment with Him, receiving His forgiveness, and choosing to follow Him.
Repentance is not how we earn salvation.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
But the grace that saves us also begins changing us.
None of us follows Jesus perfectly. Christians stumble, struggle, confess, get back up, and continue learning obedience.
There is an important difference, however, between struggling with sin and deciding that something God calls sin no longer needs to be surrendered to Him.
Christian discipleship requires a posture that says:
“Jesus, You are Lord—even when Your Word confronts something I deeply desire.”
It means allowing Him to tell us what is true, acknowledging where our lives are out of alignment with Him, receiving His forgiveness, and choosing to follow Him.
Repentance is not how we earn salvation.
We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
But the grace that saves us also begins changing us.
None of us follows Jesus perfectly. Christians stumble, struggle, confess, get back up, and continue learning obedience.
There is an important difference, however, between struggling with sin and deciding that something God calls sin no longer needs to be surrendered to Him.
Christian discipleship requires a posture that says:
“Jesus, You are Lord—even when Your Word confronts something I deeply desire.”
What Does "Everyone is Welcome" Mean?
It means exactly what it sounds like.
You can attend Lifehouse if you are skeptical.
You can attend if you are unsure what you believe.
You can attend if your life is messy.
You can attend while asking difficult questions.
You can attend if you are gay or straight, single or married, recovering or struggling, certain or confused.
You can sit with us.
You can sing with us.
You can hear the Word of God.
You can ask questions.
You can build relationships.
You can encounter the love of God's people.
We want people who are far from God to be near people who know Him.
The Apostle Paul actually warned Christians against withdrawing completely from people who do not share Christian moral convictions. He explained that doing so would essentially require Christians to “leave this world” (1 Corinthians 5:10).
The church is not meant to become an isolated club for people who already have everything figured out.
You can attend Lifehouse if you are skeptical.
You can attend if you are unsure what you believe.
You can attend if your life is messy.
You can attend while asking difficult questions.
You can attend if you are gay or straight, single or married, recovering or struggling, certain or confused.
You can sit with us.
You can sing with us.
You can hear the Word of God.
You can ask questions.
You can build relationships.
You can encounter the love of God's people.
We want people who are far from God to be near people who know Him.
The Apostle Paul actually warned Christians against withdrawing completely from people who do not share Christian moral convictions. He explained that doing so would essentially require Christians to “leave this world” (1 Corinthians 5:10).
The church is not meant to become an isolated club for people who already have everything figured out.
Welcome and Christian Affirmation Are Not the Same Thing
There is, however, a difference between being welcomed into the life of a church and the church affirming every belief or behavior as consistent with following Jesus.
That distinction matters.
When someone identifies as a follower of Jesus, Scripture calls the church into a deeper relationship of encouragement, accountability, correction, forgiveness, and restoration.
Paul writes:
That distinction matters.
When someone identifies as a follower of Jesus, Scripture calls the church into a deeper relationship of encouragement, accountability, correction, forgiveness, and restoration.
Paul writes:
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?”
—1 Corinthians 5:12
Christians sometimes reverse this.
We can become very vocal about the behavior of people who do not claim to follow Jesus while becoming strangely silent about unrepentant sin among people who do.
Paul teaches us a better way.
We should not expect people who do not follow Jesus to live like disciples of Jesus.
But when we call ourselves followers of Christ, we are willingly saying that Jesus has authority over our lives.
We can become very vocal about the behavior of people who do not claim to follow Jesus while becoming strangely silent about unrepentant sin among people who do.
Paul teaches us a better way.
We should not expect people who do not follow Jesus to live like disciples of Jesus.
But when we call ourselves followers of Christ, we are willingly saying that Jesus has authority over our lives.
Communion, Community, and Discipleship
This distinction becomes especially important in practices that represent Christian belonging and discipleship.
Communion, for example, is not a prize for Christians who have finally become perfect.
None of us would qualify.
The Lord's Table is for people who know they need grace.
But Scripture also tells believers to examine themselves before receiving communion (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).
Communion is a declaration that Jesus is our Savior and Lord and that we belong to His covenant people.
For that reason, there may be occasions when pastors lovingly encourage someone who is knowingly and persistently living in unrepentant sin to refrain from communion for a season.
That is not punishment or rejection.
It is taking seriously what communion means.
Likewise, deeper forms of Christian community carry deeper responsibilities.
The goal of Christian community is not merely companionship. We gather to help one another follow Jesus.
That means there may be circumstances where pastors or ministry leaders need to have difficult conversations about participation in particular discipleship environments,
leadership responsibilities, membership, or other expressions of Christian commitment.
Those conversations should never be driven by disgust, fear, political anger, or embarrassment.
They should be driven by love and a desire for restoration.
Communion, for example, is not a prize for Christians who have finally become perfect.
None of us would qualify.
The Lord's Table is for people who know they need grace.
But Scripture also tells believers to examine themselves before receiving communion (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).
Communion is a declaration that Jesus is our Savior and Lord and that we belong to His covenant people.
For that reason, there may be occasions when pastors lovingly encourage someone who is knowingly and persistently living in unrepentant sin to refrain from communion for a season.
That is not punishment or rejection.
It is taking seriously what communion means.
Likewise, deeper forms of Christian community carry deeper responsibilities.
The goal of Christian community is not merely companionship. We gather to help one another follow Jesus.
That means there may be circumstances where pastors or ministry leaders need to have difficult conversations about participation in particular discipleship environments,
leadership responsibilities, membership, or other expressions of Christian commitment.
Those conversations should never be driven by disgust, fear, political anger, or embarrassment.
They should be driven by love and a desire for restoration.
Correction Should Always Have Restoration as Its Goal
Jesus taught His church how to address serious sin among believers in Matthew 18:15–17.
Significantly, the process begins privately.
The goal is not public humiliation.
Jesus says that when someone listens, “you have won them over.”
Paul echoes the same spirit:
Significantly, the process begins privately.
The goal is not public humiliation.
Jesus says that when someone listens, “you have won them over.”
Paul echoes the same spirit:
“If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.”
—Galatians 6:1
And even when strong correction becomes necessary, Scripture says:
“Do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.”
—2 Thessalonians 3:15
That describes the heart we want to have.
Not affirmation of what Scripture calls sin.
Not hostility toward the person.
Truth without enmity.
Correction without humiliation.
Conviction aimed toward restoration.
Not affirmation of what Scripture calls sin.
Not hostility toward the person.
Truth without enmity.
Correction without humiliation.
Conviction aimed toward restoration.
What You Can Expect From Us
If you come to Lifehouse, we hope you experience genuine love.
We will not mock you.
We will not demean you.
We will not treat you as a political issue.
We will not pretend your story is simple.
We will listen.
We will care.
We will pray.
We will open Scripture with you.
We will tell you about Jesus.
And because we believe Jesus really is Lord, we will not knowingly redefine His teaching in order to make discipleship less costly for any of us.
We will not mock you.
We will not demean you.
We will not treat you as a political issue.
We will not pretend your story is simple.
We will listen.
We will care.
We will pray.
We will open Scripture with you.
We will tell you about Jesus.
And because we believe Jesus really is Lord, we will not knowingly redefine His teaching in order to make discipleship less costly for any of us.
You do not have to change before we will love you.
But because we love you, we cannot tell you that following Jesus requires no change.
That is true for every person who walks through our doors—including us.
The Christian life is not about finding a church willing to affirm everything we already believe about ourselves.
It is about finding ourselves in Jesus.
And as we do, every one of us discovers places where His truth challenges us, His grace forgives us, His Spirit changes us, and His love leads us into life.
The Christian life is not about finding a church willing to affirm everything we already believe about ourselves.
It is about finding ourselves in Jesus.
And as we do, every one of us discovers places where His truth challenges us, His grace forgives us, His Spirit changes us, and His love leads us into life.
Our Invitation Remains Simple
Come and see.
Come and hear.
Come and ask your questions.
Come and meet Jesus.
And when He says, “Follow Me,” may all of us have the courage to say yes.
This article is part of Faith & Practice, a growing collection of pastoral and applied doctrinal statements exploring how biblical truth shapes the way we live and follow Jesus together.
