Visible Grace

by Caleb Batchelor

When Jesus looks for grace in your church, it’s like spotting the sunrise in the dark sky. The smallest rays of grace eclipse sin, each sunbeam from the Spirit stirring the heart of the Son. Unfortunately, apart from the Spirit, we don’t naturally see the church as Jesus does. We know grace is there―somewhere―but as hot tempers, cold relationships, bitterness, unremarkable sermons, lacklustre programs, and unmet expectations fill the page, grace seems invisible. We must confront sin. We must disagree. But as we learn to see the church the way Jesus does, we’ll become less focused on other people’s failings and more alive to God’s remarkable grace in their lives.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Church

48 pages, Paperback

Published February 5, 2024

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My endorsement: “If you made a list of each person you criticized last week, and a list of each person you encouraged, which would be longer? Would your pastors and friends say you’re more fluent in the language of criticism, or of encouragement? In an age of suspicion, biblical encouragement is a foreign tongue. It is rare currency—and thus deeply valuable.

But it doesn’t come naturally to self-absorbed sinners. This is why I’m grateful for Caleb Batchelor’s timely book. It will help you to spy ‘evidences of grace’ in fellow believers, to become a fluent encourager, and to excel in the Bible’s only competitive command: ‘outdo one another in showing honor’ (Rom. 12:10). Read this book and ask God to help you see and speak of others the way you hope they’ll see and speak of you.”

[Caleb Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounding up from 4.5 stars.

[Mark Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as a staff in spring 2024.

Great little book about seeing God’s grace in your imperfect church, other imperfect churches. Some practical applications for reorienting your heart to see the grace, not stare at the sin.

[Lauren Batchelor · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We should strive [to be] . . . Christians who eavesdrop on Jesus’ intercession instead of joining Satan’s accusations.”

Was really helped by this quick, but poignant read. Would love to see it work out in my own life. It’s helpful to know that the author practices what he preaches on this topic too.

[Karson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Satan’s schemes to steal our joy and disrupt our unity is to make us stare at sin but only glance at God’s grace. This book is a call for us to see saints as God sees us. It’s a QUICK read, but it’ll stir you up towards love and good works.

“I wonder how our confrontations would change if we could hear Christ interceding in the next room [for the Christian brother/sister we disagree with]?” (30)

“Your church is probably less healthy than you think, and God is undoubtedly using her more than you can imagine.” (19)

[Hannah Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid book with practical ways to see grace in the church and its people. I think this book is important for anyone in the church to read to be reminded. But I also think it applies to any relationship as well. When you look for visible grace in the church and people you see yourself less and God more. I really enjoyed this.

[Sarah May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, encouraging, and a helpful correction to my own tendency to “glance at grace and stare at sin”. There is so much to joyfully consider in how I think about, pray for, and speak to and about my church and other churches in light of how God looks at us and loves us through Christ!

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and useful

Good book to giveaway to members of the church

[Beini Lown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply convicting, but in a grace-abundant way. I didn’t realize how short this book was until it arrived. I finished it under 30 minutes (even as a slow reader), but my view of the church body and how I should treat my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is immensely challenged. All the books that have substantially impacted my life are often concise but rich, and this book has become one of them. Thank you Caleb for writing down these important lessons for the edification of the Church!

[Kyle Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb writes simply and beautifully on how we should see the church, not the building, but those in Christ. He encourages us to see them as Christ does, as those who Jesus has bleed and died for. An encouraging book for every Christian to read.

[Michael Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing!

[Emma Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is a reminder that sometimes less is more. A short, concise read packed with scriptural exhortations and reminders of God’s grace in the church! Convicting and encouraging. Definitely one to regularly revisit.

[Jake Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, well-written, and POWERFUL book. I'd recommend it to every church leader and member because every Christian has experienced the difficult parts of being a part of a local church. Let Caleb remind you of the grace that is all around you, even though it's sometimes hard to see.

*I was able to read an advanced draft from the author as he was working on the project*

[Daniel Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I just finished this short 42-page book and loved it.

It’s an encouragement to see those in the Church—including each person in our local church and also those in other churches—the way that Jesus sees them: with grace. It’s a call to intentionally look for “evidences of God’s grace” in each other, even (and especially) in those we disagree with or in those with whom we may not have much else in common but a relationship with Christ. Gives some practical tips on how to do that as well.

Definitely recommend grabbing a copy!

Thankful for how the Lord is using you, brother, and praying He use your book for His glory in the Church!

[Cory Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave this review. Get on your favorite book buying websites (well Amazon or 10 of those) and order a few copies of this book. Not just one, get a few to give out. This little 42 page book is like a nice cool glass of water, for a heart and church that needs to be encouraged in grace. So that’s everyone. Buy this, read it, pass it on to others.

Whether that’s because the beautiful analogies and illustrations that point to the far surpassing beauty of the grace of Christ or some other reason. Get this. It’s also cheap.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging and convicting little book that challenged me to intentionally look for and rejoice in the grace and growth in those around me.

[Mary Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Rehearse who you are in Christ first, see God’s grace in others second, and then disagree third.”

Great book on how to love your church as well as the other local churches around you!

[Chloë Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief and basic but kind of the point for a 42 page book. Encouraged me again to rejoice in the visible grace of other churches and Christians, rather than envy or disparage them.

[Jon Pentecost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a brief, kind reminder of how kind the Lord is. Batchelor does this by directing the reader's gaze to God's abundant grace made visible through the local church. Take up and read, and be encouraged.

[Salvador Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb Batchelor’s Visible Grace: Seeing the Church the Way Jesus Does is a punchy 56-page book that will help you see God’s grace in your church, other churches, in disagreements, in action, and in heaven. He comforts and convicts with picturesque writing. Praise God for short books like this! Great to discuss with church members wanting to learn how they can love the local church better!

Favorite quote:

“We should labor to be as biblical as possible. But let’s also remember that Jesus isn’t handicapped by the imperfections of other churches. And he’s not handicapped by the flaws of your church. Your church is probably less healthy than you think, and God is undoubtedly using her more than you can imagine. Nothing can stop Jesus from loving his bride, the church, which means there’s visible grace for us to witness” (19).

[Elizabeth Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful for this book and the reminders of His visible grace in the Church. As we recently moved to a new state and have covenanted with a new family, I’m excited to put these things to practice and to view my brothers & sisters with expectancy, knowing that God has promised to make them into His image. Excited to see His grace in their lives. Thank you, brother, for writing this quick, practical read to help us love the church like Christ does.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I read a chapter of this little book every evening this past week, and it was such
a practical encouragement to extend grace to our fellow brothers and sisters in the church! Caleb doesn't waste words in providing both biblical support for his arguments and tactical advice on how to live it out in our lives. Well worth the read and, as it is so short, it will be a book that I continue to revisit for encouragement and exhortation.

[Ez-Boi23]

Great stuff!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women’s ministry Sept 2025 book club pick

A lot of substance packed into 42 small pages. Many helpful metaphors. I think the topics covered will make great starting points for group conversation.

“Like many of you, I have drawn from Robert Murray McCheyne's encouragement to keep my eyes on Jesus: ‘For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.’ But what if we applied this to our fellow church members' sins? What if, for every look at your church, you took ten looks at Christ?”

Introduction: Visible Grace
Visible Grace in Your Church
Visible Grace in Other Churches
Visible Grace in Disagreements
Visible Grace in Action
Conclusion: Visible Grace in Heaven

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What church member doesn’t need to be reminded to look at the church the way Jesus does? This book highlights the personal love of God for a people that deserve the wrath of God and calls us to imitate our Heavenly Father in extending this grace we’ve received from him to each other in very practical, personal ways. Thank you, Caleb Batchelor, for reminding us of the gospel and that finding God’s grace in others is less like finding a needle in a haystack and more like finding a sunrise after a dark night. It’s visible and it’s new every morning.

[Ryan Pickwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thankful for this encouraging and practical little book. We need the reminder often to look for grace in other Christians and other churches. I think this would be a helpful little book to have a few copies of for a church's book table.

P.S. I met Caleb and his wife back in August 2022 and was tremendously encouraged by our several hour conversation. Thankful for this brother and his ministry.

[Bethan Lycett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging, challenging and short enough to be read by everyone in your church.

A brief reminder to view the church through the eyes of Christ, which puts perspective on our negative or critical views of our brothers and sisters.

I immediately passed this onto my pastor and elders.

[Elijah Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but sweet read. Very encouraging!

[Tim Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great small work on how the Lord views His church. Great challenge for us a believers in Jesus to have the heart and thinking about our church as well.

[Abbey Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7⭐️

I really enjoyed the last chapter. It gave good insight into some things I haven’t put much thought into before.