DEVOTED: Hide and Seek | March 22, 2026

March 22, 2026

"You left your home to seek out the lost, You knew the great and terrible cost. But Jesus, Your face was set."

–Grace Alone, Kings Kaleidoscope

IN THIS EMAIL

Shout Out: Baptism

Try This: Abide in Christ

Bible Discovery: Luke 15:1-10

SHOUT OUT

Devoted followers of Christ at DCC

Shoutout for Baptism Sunday!

I don’t know about you, but baptisms get me fired up 😊, what a beautiful picture of Christ’s work in our lives—He has washed us of our sin and He brings us from death to life! I’m always encouraged hearing how the Lord works and meets us individually in the way that only He can. Here’s Wesley’s testimony from Sunday—be encouraged and remember what Christ has done in your life as well:

“I have always known that Christ is in my life and that I am surrounded by His love, but as I grew up I started asking myself, “Am I a follower of Jesus?” Through my mom and dad, kids’ ministry and church, I came to understand that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, that He died for us, and that He saved us. Now I’m ready to take this next step and confess my faith in Him through baptism.”

If you want to take the next step and be baptized, or have questions and want to learn more, please email Glenda. She would love to connect with you!

TRY THIS

Fresh ideas for spiritual growth

Over the past month or so, I have been working my way through Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray. Murray dives into Scripture, explaining how we can take steps to have continual fellowship with Christ. This week I was struck by this quote (I’ve updated the old English):

“If abiding in Christ really is our first aim, let us beware of anything unnecessary. Let us watch even in lawful and necessary things against the power they have to keep our souls so occupied, that there remains little power or zest for fellowship with God. Then there is the restlessness and worry that come of care and anxiety about earthly things; these eat away the life of trust and can keep our soul like a troubled sea. There the gentle whispers of the Holy Comforter cannot be heard.”

Abiding in Jesus is not passive. While we are welcomed to rest at His table, we have to be on guard against all the ways the world is trying to distract and destroy us. A sneaky way that can creep into our lives is in our schedules. It can be easy to say yes to good things, the Lord has given us good works to do! But there is wisdom and reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance still needed to steward our capacities. So if you feel restless, tossed about, or simply want to grow in hearing the whispers of Our Lord, try this:

Practice stillness. Plan moments of stillness through your day, to take a few breaths and talk to Jesus (before opening your Bible, before work meetings, after putting the kids to bed, anytime!)
Ask the Holy Spirit: Am I pursuing abiding in Christ as my top priority? How can I adjust my life to pursue Him more?
Meditate on Scripture: John 15:1-17, Psalm 23, Psalm 46.
Ask a trusted friend for counsel, prayer and accountability! And if you are in a season where there is a mountain of necessary things (we know those times come), ask your church family for help, we are called to bear one another's burdens.
Trust that our faithful Savior will guide you as you seek to abide in Him daily.

BIBLE DISCOVERY

Get more out of the message

LUKE: Cost of Discipleship

Luke 15:1-10

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We’re diving back into the Gospel of Luke. After nine chapters introducing us to Jesus and His call, Luke now takes us with Him on the road to Jerusalem (Luke 9-19). Along the way, we’ll hear some of Jesus’ most famous teachings and stories, as He shows us what it truly costs to follow Him and why following Him is worth everything.

WATCH: YouTube or Website

DOWNLOAD: Bible Discovery

The Big Idea

(What is the author's point?)

Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Why It Matters

(Why is this relevant to us?)

It’s a common human experience—the frantic search for someone or something we’ve lost. It could be a child in a store, a phone or the car keys just when we need to leave for an important appointment. It’s a “drop everything and search” moment. Do you feel the same urgency about those separated from God? The same sense of relief and desire to celebrate when someone joins God’s family? The parables of Luke 15 invite the hearers to understand Jesus’ love and His urgent search and rescue mission and embrace the mission as their own. Where do you see yourself in the story? Have you wandered from the Lord? He longs to bring you home. Disciples of Christ we are called to prioritize reaching the lost. Are we willing to pay the cost to search for those who need God? Seeking the lost is not just a solo endeavor but a Kingdom one. The parables remind us that Kingdom community should share in heaven’s joy over each person who joins God’s family.

Good to Know

(What are some helpful insights into this passage?)

“tax collectors and sinners” (15:1) – Jesus involved Himself with the lost, despised and disenfranchised.

“Parable” (15:3): a fictional story using commonly understood themes; intended to communicate a spiritual truth; “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”

“hundred sheep” (15:4) – This size flock would likely have more than one person caring for them; hearers would assume the 99 sheep were left in safekeeping.

“lost one” (15:4) – A lost sheep is at great risk if left on its own.

Shepherd pursues the lost with care and intentionality regardless of what caused him to be separated from the flock. (For more on how the Shepherd cares for the sheep, see also Psalm 23, Jeremiah 31:10-14, Ezekiel 34:11-16, John 10:11-12.)

“Rejoice” (15:6, 9) is repeated through the passage.

“10 silver coins” (15:8) – One coin was the equivalent to a day’s wages; relative poverty makes the one coin a major loss.

“Seek diligently” (15:8) highlights the intense and sustained effort of the woman, probably in a windowless home with a dirt floor.

THIS WEEK'S

Bible Discovery Author

Dawn Kregness

Group Guide

Following the series with your group?

Start with some icebreaker questions.
Read the passage together before you dive in.
Share any insights from the message. Use the questions below to get your conversation started.

Conversation Starters

1. Read verse 1 again. Who is gathering around Jesus? Why is that significant?

2. How might the Pharisees' response in verse 2 challenge us today?

3. Read verses 4-5. What do these verses show us about who God is?

4. What is common between both these parables?

5. What do we learn about repentance from this passage?

6. How can we tangibly join the Kingdom mission of seeking the lost?

Prayer

Our Good Shepherd, thank you for seeking us out with your never-ending love. Help us to see the lost and extend your love through word and action. May your kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

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