In His Image by Jen Wilkin
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Merciful
Read Chapter 5 of In His Image. Key passages: Psalm 103:8–14; Luke 10:25–37; Ephesians 2:1–7; Lamentations 3:22–23.
Previewing Week 6 of In His Image
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Mercy is the attribute that meets us at our most desperate and least deserving — and Wilkin argues it is also one of the most countercultural qualities we are called to embody. Come ready to be undone by the depth of God's mercy and challenged by the cost of showing mercy to others.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Wilkin defines mercy as compassion shown to those in misery or distress — particularly those who have no claim on help. How does this definition clarify the difference between mercy and justice? Between mercy and grace?
2.Psalm 103:8–14 is one of the richest descriptions of God's mercy in the Old Testament. Wilkin draws on the image of 'a father who has compassion on his children' (v. 13) — God's mercy is personal and parental. How does the parent-child image deepen your emotional understanding of mercy beyond just a legal or theological category?
3.Lamentations 3:22–23 declares that God's mercies are 'new every morning.' This is written in the context of utter devastation — Jeremiah is sitting in the ruins of Jerusalem. What does it mean to confess the freshness of God's mercy from inside a catastrophe? Have you ever found yourself needing to preach this truth to yourself in a moment of darkness?