Gentle and Lowly: Chapters One and Two
I hope you’re joining in our Karis Church “One Read.” We’re walking through Dane Ortlund’s great book, Gentle and Lowly. There are still free paperbacks available for free on Sundays at our Gathering.
Our first two chapters kick-off getting to the heart of the matter, asking, “What do you think the heart of Jesus is like?” AND “How do we see His heart in action?” Ortlund writes, “If we are asked to say only one thing about who Jesus is, we would be honoring Jesus’s own teaching if our answer is, gentle and lowly.” He also states, “He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” Do we believe this - that He has a heart and posture like this?
A few weeks ago, I also quoted this from the author:
“When we take the gospels as a whole and consider the composite picture given to us of who Jesus is, what stands out most strongly?
Yes, he is the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes and longings (Matt. 5:17). Yes, he is one whose holiness causes even his friends to fall down in fear, aware of their sinfulness (Luke 5:8). Yes, he is a mighty teacher, one whose authority outstripped even that of the religious PhDs of the day (Mark 1:22). To diminish any of these is to step outside of vital historic orthodoxy. But the dominant note left ringing in our ears after reading the Gospels, the most vidid and arresting element of the portrait, is the way the Holy Son of God moves toward, touches, heals, embraces, and forgives those who least deserve it yet truly desire it.” (Dane Ortlund)
Do we believe this is where Christ’s heart takes Him - even toward people like us?
Below are two discussion questions for your to ponder and pray about this week.