Join us this Advent season as we celebrate the coming of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. For the next three weeks, we will post articles and discussion questions written by Pastor Bob that are centered around the book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund.

Discussion/Meditation Questions for Chapter Eight

  • Although incredibly important, we tend to default in our thinking to what Jesus did in the past and miss out on thinking what Jesus is doing in the present. What does Hebrews 7:23-25 say that Jesus is living and doing right now?
  • How is knowing that Jesus ‘saves to the uttermost’ a comfort and strength, knowing we struggle and fight against our sin?
  • Jesus never ceases to intercede for us. The author of Gentle and Lowly says, “one way to think of Christ’s intercession, then, is simply this: Jesus is praying for you right now.” He continues, “What is you heard Jesus praying aloud for you in the next room? Few things would calm us more deeply.”  In meditating upon this, how does this strengthen you in the day and week ahead?

December 19th "To the Uttermost" Gentle and Lowly Chapter Eight

Have you ever pondered what Jesus is doing right now in this very moment?
We are familiar with his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension, but what does the Bible say Jesus is doing in this very moment on behalf of his people? Scripture teaches us Jesus is always living to make intercession for his people before the Father (Heb. 7:25). Jesus finished the work of reconciliation on the cross. Jesus’s heavenly intercession applies what the atonement accomplished. The author in Gentle and Lowly states, “His heavenly intercession on our behalf is a reflection of the fullness and completeness of his earthly work” (79). Jesus is the Savior whose posture is to continually pour out his love on our behalf to the Father.

Hebrews 7:25 testifies that Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost.” This is, he saves completely and comprehensively. This is such great news because although we are sinners, He is a great Savior. As the author states about Jesus, “His saving always outpaces our sinning because He always lives to intercede for us” (85). The security of our eternal salvation is sure because of the surety of who He is and His character.
Trust Him, draw near to Christ Jesus because He saves, and He saves completely. He is always in this role and does it to perfection, and His children will never be lost, not even in eternity.

Discussion/Mediation Questions for Chapter Four

  • In Hebrews 4:15 and throughout the book of Hebrews, Jesus is referred to as a high priest. What did the high priest do in the old covenant? And how is Jesus a high priest of the new covenant? (Hint: read Hebrews 9:11-14, 24-26).
  • How is Christ a “sympathetic” high priest? What is it about who he is and what he did that qualified for him to be a sympathetic high priest, representing us mercifully and compassionately to God?
  • Read Hebrews 2:17-18 and 5:2. How do these passages relate to Jesus Christ being a sympathetic high priest?
  • In Hebrews 4:16, what is the command we are given which is based upon Jesus Christ being a sympathetic high priest?
    When do you struggle most with drawing near to God? Why? How is this passage, Hebrews 4:14-16, meant to help you in these times?

December 12th - "Able to Sympathize" Gentle and Lowly Chapter Four
One of the great Christian confessions of the faith is what we celebrate on Easter when we proclaim, “He is risen!” Christ indeed rose in victory and is now ascended and glorified with the Father. Does this change the nature of His relationship with us? Is the Jesus in heaven no longer like the compassionate Jesus that walked the earth? In His glory, has Christ lost His heart for sinners and for the downcast? We might be tempted to think He is less approachable, less available, or even less interested in us. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, Christ has “passed through the heavens” (Heb 4:14), but He resides there as our High Priest, our Mediator. And because He came as a man and continues to be both God and man today, He is, as Hebrews 4:15 states, able to “sympathize with us in our weaknesses.”

 As Ch.4 of the book teaches us, to “sympathize” means to suffer with. Jesus suffers with us. This means He is pained in our pain and suffering. Remember that Jesus lived on this earth as one of us, experiencing what it was like “to be thirsty, hungry, despised, rejected, scorned, shamed, embarrassed, abandoned, misunderstood, falsely accused, suffocated, tortured, and killed” (p.47). He knows what it is like to suffer, so he suffers with us. What about our struggle with sin? Does he sympathize with us even then? Jesus never sinned, but he did feel the full crushing weight of temptation on every front. He understands us. Knowing Christ’s sympathy, how should we respond? “Draw near” to Him (Heb 4:16). Don’t think you suffer alone. You do not. Don’t think He no longer cares. He does. His majestic throne is a throne of grace, blessing, and help in your weariness. Draw near to Him and know His grace.

Discussion/Meditation Questions for Chapter One

  • How would describe Christ’s pre-eminence or his exalted status as it is stated in Col 1:15-19 and Hebrews 1? And how does this affect your view of Christ?
  • When Matt 11:29 describes Jesus as gentle, what do you think this means in regards to how he relates to people?
  • Jesus also describes himself as lowly. What does this mean? How does a lowly person think of himself/herself?
  • There are passages in the gospels where Jesus makes hard statements of judgment (i.e. Matt 11:20-24). To what kind of person does Jesus reserve statements of judgment and to what kind of person does Jesus display himself to be gentle and lowly? (Look at Matt 11:28; Matt 5:3-4; Psalm 51:17; James 4:6)
  • How do all these truths help you relate, in the right way, to Jesus Christ?

December 5th - “His Very Heart”  Gentle and Lowly Chapter One
"I am gentle and lowly in heart," Jesus says in Matt 11:29. What does this mean for us as we reflect on the incarnate Son of God this advent season? First, let us consider who Jesus is in his divinity. He is the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing God who the Scriptures says is "before all things" (Col 1:18) and "the firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15). None is more important or more preeminent than Him in the Father's eyes. So, what does the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, preeminent Son of God made flesh say about himself? "I am gentle and lowly in heart." As the book says, "gentle" means meek or humble. This attribute characterizes one who is slow to anger, patient, understanding, and not easily exasperated. Jesus also describes himself as "lowly." Again, from the book, we understand this attribute to mean someone who is socially unimpressive and of humble estate. This means that he is ultra-accessible and approachable. In other words, he is not perched up so high that we cannot reach him. Surprised?!? We would think that one so important wouldn't waste his time with peons like you and me. Furthermore, in His perfect holiness, we would think that He wouldn't even tolerate us due to our sin against him, which is so infinitely offensive that it deserves His eternal wrath (Rom 3:23). Yet, because he is gentle and lowly in heart, he says, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus promises grace, help, and rest to broken sinners who come to Him as their only source of help and salvation. Truly, the eternal Son is gentle and lowly.

November 28th
The Christmas season is upon us! And with all the joys of this season also comes the opportunity to find deep and satisfying joy in reflecting upon the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming to save us from our sins (Matt 1:21). In the weeks proceeding our celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas, we anticipate his birth by celebrating Advent. Advent simply means, “coming.” So the Advent season is a time to anticipate, like those in the Bible, the first coming of Christ and the hope this brings us. For our Advent focus this year, we would like to give you a free copy of the book, Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund, to read during this season. This tremendously encouraging book will help you reflect upon Christ’s heart for sinners and sufferers. Why did Jesus come? Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). He also said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Christ came to show deep mercy and lavish grace to desperate and needy sinners like you and me. And that same heart remains in Christ today. This week reflect on this comforting truth. And let's make this Advent a special season where we truly rejoice in Christ's coming together.