Produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala, the album met with positive critical and commercial reception.

Three singles were released in promotion of the album, all of them reaching number one on Billboard's Christian Songs chart.

Lead single "All of Creation" spent ten weeks at the top of the Christian Songs chart, also peaking at No.

Mr. Lovewell may not be the next Billy Graham, but he’s changing the world each day in every little word and deed.”[7] The concept of 'loving well' was further developed when the band made a trip to the Dominican Republic and were inspired by the resilient spirits of people living in poverty on the island.

[nb 2] MercyMe wanted to get out of their comfort zone with the overall sound of the album, and brought in producer Dan Muckala.

[5] The songs on the album often vary in genre, with many falling outside of MercyMe's usual adult contemporary sound.

[2] Songs on the album take influences from many genres, including electronic rock on "This Life"[7][9] and dance music/dance-rock on "Move".

[6][2] The album's lyrical content generally revolves around a theme of unconditional love and a concept MercyMe has called 'loving well'.

Giving the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, Allmusic reviewer Jared Johnson stated "If you only know MercyMe for their 2001 ubiquitous AC crossover hit "I Can Only Imagine," you've missed out on some of the Christian genre's most accessible and well-known hits – which means you might not fully appreciate the full artistic statement that the band makes on The Generous Mr. Lovewell, a daring reinvention that drove the band far outside its comfort zone and sparked a national social trend in the process,"[2] also noting that "the band's collaboration with Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala delivers the messages with authenticity and contemporary new sounds that make it perfectly believable to envision a world in which Lovewell's considerate and genuine actions are manifest in the lives of real everyday people".

"[15] Billboard reviewer Deborah Evans Price commented that "from the buoyant opener "This Life" to the brief but eloquent closer "This So Called Love," MercyMe's sixth studio album, "The Generous Mr. Lovewell," is a beautifully executed set that celebrates how the power of love can change the world... Music with a message has never sounded lovelier".

[23] The Generous Mr. Lovewell spent a total of six weeks atop the Christian Albums chart during its run.

[27] It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 15, 2015,[28] signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies.

[3] On March 2, 2010 it was released as a digital download on iTunes and as a CD single at select Walmart locations.

[33] "Beautiful", was released on September 17, 2010 as the album's second single,[4] and spent one week atop the Christian Songs chart.