Gentle and Lowly Study Guide

by Dane C. Ortlund

A Study Guide Companion to the Best-Selling Book Gentle and Lowly

In his best-selling book, Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund takes readers into the depths of Christ's very heart for sinners. Focusing on Jesus's words that he is "gentle and lowly in heart," Ortlund dives deep into Bible passages that speak of who he is, encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people.

Designed as a supplement to the book, the Gentle and Lowly Study Guide helps readers reflect further on these key biblical truths. This helpful resource written by Dane Ortlund features discussion questions organized into 10 lessons, with each lesson covering 2-3 chapters from the book. Perfect for small groups and individuals alike, the Gentle and Lowly Study Guide can be used together with the book, the Gentle and Lowly Video Study, or both.

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2021

About the author

Dane C. Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) is chief publishing officer and Bible publisher at Crossway. He serves as an editor for the Knowing the Bible series and the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series, and is the author of several books, including Gentle and Lowly and Edwards on the Christian Life. He is an elder at Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. Dane lives with his wife, Stacey, and their five children in Wheaton, Illinois.

Reviews

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having led an evening Bible study every week or two for some years, I’ve seen a wide range of “study guide” books. Some are good, some are unhelpful. This study guide is one of the worst I’ve seen. It offers no additional content to supplement the main book. It’s just very basic questions about the book. And each question even gives you the page numbers of the book where you can find the answer to the question. Despite my disappointment when I first flipped through the study guide, I still tried to make it work in preparing to lead our group. But by the end, I was barely looking at the study guide at all. I am totally capable of reading the book itself and then asking questions about it; I didn’t need a separate book to do that for me.

[Shelby Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digested this one slowly and thoughtfully. I think everyone who considers themselves a Christian should read this. It was a little redundant at points but gave me fresh perspective on Christ’s heart for us.

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I initially struggled to move past the first set of questions, but pushed myself to complete this study guide, as I really wanted to do due diligence to this book. I respect Ortlund for taking the time to write this study guide to help readers process the chapters a bit more thoroughly, however my main issues with the book were:
- the questions seem to repeatedly assume an audience that has a deep-seated misconception about the character of God as hesitant to extend love to sinners (Q3.2, 3.3, 6.7, 7.9, 8.6, 8.10, 9.8, 10.1). By the second half of the book you’d imagine people’s perspective towards God would have shifted by then?
- most of the questions in the book were about dealing with one’s conception of who God is and one’s standing in relation to him, but it seemed to just stay at that kind of level and doesn’t reeaaally challenge readers on a practical level (given the content of this book, would have been good to get readers identifying how we might perhaps project our insecurities, create false narratives or overcompensate in our life due to a misconception of God’s character, etc.) Aware that there is a journal component to this book as well but that isn’t really guided so I would have imagined that this study guide would give a bit more…guidance for reflection.
- questions that got readers to unpack other Puritans’ quotes were a little bit excessive; could have gotten us to search Scriptures instead or examples from the life of Jesus perhaps

Bottom line, I think this study guide may offer some readers that needed space for reflection on the themes Ortlund is trying to get them processing, but the questions really could have been more varied and balanced for a wider audience.

[Abigail Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I got this to use alongside my second reading of Gentle and Lowly. It is a perfect companion to the book and does not require the use of the videos (I didn’t have them). The questions are not too cheesy or overly simplistic, and I appreciated the way they helped me think through and apply the contents of each chapter. I used the book combo as a devotional, a chapter a day. Such a rich and encouraging look into the heart of Christ!

[Jake Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far one of the most needed and most timely books I’ve ever read. It’ll stay on my top 5 for a very long time.

[Ebookwormy1]

Hoping to complete with church small group or as a summer study for family.

[Alethia Hauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best books I have ever read on the character of Jesus. I think every Christian should read this book!

[Mikey Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, deep, and thought provoking. It’s given me a lot to think about as I read through the gospels again.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely amazing!!! God is so alive and real and wants nothing but a deep and intimate relationship with us!! God speaks right through Dana and lets us know how gentle and kind and lowly He is!