David. You've heard of him. Legendary king of Israel. A man after God's own heart. Writer of Psalms. Also guilty of adultery with Bathsheba—and that while he already had multiple wives and even more concubines.

To top it off, in a complicit act of murder, after David couldn't make it look like the child of his dalliance was Uriah's, he sent his trusted confidante onto the front lines, knowing he would get wiped out. This for a man who had risked his life on David's behalf. It was betrayal with a capital B.

I wonder if in failing to grasp the truth of biblical stories, we miss the enormity of God's grace. We love to talk about how Christ came to set people free and give them a way to heaven without having to keep all the rules (although some people still try, but that's another story for another day.)

Yet here was God's grace in action long before Jesus came to earth. David didn't suffer the sting of removal from office or the cries of an angry mob demanding capital punishment. Speak out too loudly in that era and the king could easily remove your head.

Now that didn't mean David didn't have to pay the consequences of his actions. The first child of his union with Bathsheba died. He suffered from the most dysfunctional of families, including his son leading a revolt against him. Under his grandson, the kingdom split in two.

All this is worth remembering as we ponder the humiliation Ted Haggard suffered because of his sexual immorality and forced resignation. And, because of his position in national leadership, the Church is taking its lumps too. Despite this sad situation, as Jesus promised, the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church.

The question is: what we will learn from the latest fall from grace of a visible figure? I can think of a few lessons worth pondering:

* The need for more accountability groups within the church.

Large congregational gatherings can't provide the intimate atmosphere where people can be real about their struggles and find caring support instead of condemnation.

* More compassionate preaching.

Every time I hear a "fire and brimstone" type preacher cry about the need for sin-killing revival, I want to ask: "How are you doing? Any problems in your life? Have an argument with your spouse today? Kick the dog in a fit of anger? Swear at a tailgater on the interstate? Visit an X-rated web site lately?"

* Choosing more action and fewer words.

I recently heard a Christian businessman address the need for believers to show people in the marketplace. While many non-believers have heard about Christ, they need to see him in action by the way Christians conduct their lives and their business.

Whether you preach or have another occupation, it matters more what you do from Monday through Saturday than how you act on Sunday morning. If we will reserve our anger for the devil who leads people astray instead of people who stumble in their weakness, then Ted Haggard's disgrace will have benefited the church more than it hurts.