Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Week 14: Chapter 13 — Rich in Mercy
Read Chapter 13 of Gentle and Lowly. Primary Scripture: Ephesians 2:1–7; Romans 5:20
Previewing Week 14 of Gentle and Lowly
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 22-week guide when you’re ready.
Ephesians 2 describes the human condition as death — and then pivots on two of the most important words in the Bible: "But God." This chapter explores what makes God's mercy so extravagant that it required its own emphatic conjunction.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Ephesians 2:1–3 describes our pre-conversion state in the darkest terms: dead in sins, following the devil, living in the flesh, children of wrath. Ortlund does not soften this portrait. Why is it important to feel the full weight of this description before moving to verse 4? What is lost if we rush past "dead" to get to "But God"?
2.Ephesians 2:4 opens with "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us." Ortlund notes that Paul links God's mercy to God's wealth — he is not merely merciful, he is rich in mercy. What is the difference between a merciful God and a God who is rich in mercy? What does wealth imply?
3.Romans 5:20 says that "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." Ortlund presents this as a kind of divine counterintuitive arithmetic: the worse it gets, the more grace is unleashed. What risks come with this statement (which Paul addresses in Romans 6), and why does he still make it so boldly?
a.What is the most daunting sin you are currently aware of in your own heart? Does Romans 5:20 apply there?
b.What would it mean to "let grace abound" in that specific area rather than managing it with willpower?