DEVOTED: Who is the Greatest? | September 21, 2025

September 21, 2025

"In the kingdom of God, true greatness is measured by our service, not by the number of our servants. It is seen, not in how high up the ladder we have climbed, but how far down the ladder we are prepared to climb for the sake of others."

–Sinclair Ferguson

IN THIS EMAIL

Shout Out: Door Creek Youth Back at DeForest

Try This: We Can Be Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds

Bible Discovery: Luke 9:37-50

SHOUT OUT

Devoted followers of Christ at DCC

Hey Door Creek Fam!

Exciting times in DeForest! God showed up at our Door Creek Youth Kickoff—over 40 students came! Praise the Lord! This showing confirmed our purpose for starting this endeavor. In a growing neighborhood like DeForest, there hasn’t been a single youth group that met during the week in the evening. We look forward to this new adventure and God continuing to move in our students!"

In the Blessings of His Service,

Pastor Jordan (JDawg)

TRY THIS

Fresh ideas for spiritual growth

We Can Be Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds

Summer fading into fall feels like a new year. It’s the start of new work rhythms, the return of school routines and Bible study is back. I’ve always wondered why we don’t make New Year’s resolutions in the fall—when it actually feels like there’s a buzz around starting fresh with intentionality and purpose.

One way I know all of us at DCC want to grow is by being transformed day by day, through the power of the Spirit, to look more and more like Jesus. When we reflect on our lives, we often assess our behaviors and actions first, turning to our mindsets only as an afterthought. But one simple and practical habit we can all develop is taking inventory of our thought life.

Thoughts are fleeting, yes- but there are so many of them that they can overwhelm us. How often are we simply listening to our thoughts? Letting our inner monologue go on and on, unchecked?

Martyn Lloyd-Jones writes convincingly about a simple and transformative practice: preaching to yourself. We can fall into the lie that we need to wait until Sunday to hear the Word preached or wait for a Christian friend to speak truth to us. But who said we can’t be like the Psalmist—speaking to our own heart and calling our soul into action?

When we’re tempted to be overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, to idolize good gifts or to turn our eyes away from Jesus, let us be quick to proclaim truth to our own hearts. In every situation, we have a high priest who has given us a better hope (Hebrews 7).

We know that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It’s only through His defeat of death that we can have everlasting life- and we don’t have to wait to start living in that reality. We can submit our whole selves to Him, offering our thoughts and habits to be renewed (Romans 12:2).

As we kick off a new “Try This” section, we hope you’ll join us in continuing to seek Christ in our daily lives. No matter what your daily vocation is, Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We simply have to turn to Him.

Are You Willing to Begin?

This week I invite you to a quiet, simple practice: Take time each evening to examine your thoughts in the presence of God.

Set aside your phone. Instead, take a pen and a journal—something tangible and unhurried.

For five to ten minutes, quietly reflect. What thoughts passed through your mind today? Write them down without judgment. You are safe to bring your thoughts before the Lord.

Then, in stillness, ask:

Do these thoughts align with the truth of who I am in Christ?
Are they rooted in the Gospel—reminding me of the finished work of Jesus on my behalf?
Do my thoughts toward others reflect the mind and heart of God?

This kind of reflection is not an exercise in self-focus, but in surrender. It is not meant to lead you to despair, but to deeper dependence.

Throughout your day, let the truth of the Gospel surround you:

Handwrite Scripture on notecards to place around your home.
Set alerts on your calendar that remind you of truth.
Listen to worship music and let your heart rest.

Let us, then, think on what is true. This week, let’s reinforce our foundation in Jesus by taking inventory of our thoughts and preaching the Gospel to ourselves daily.

BIBLE DISCOVERY

Get more out of the message

LUKE: Cost of Discipleship

Luke 9:37-50

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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.

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The Big Idea

(What is the author's point?)

It’s possible to witness Jesus’ power and authority yet still struggle with faith and cling to our own expectations, missing His Kingdom mission.

Why It Matters

(Why is this relevant to us?)

Even those closest to Jesus, His own disciples, struggled with the concept of failure. Coming down from a mountain-top experience, they faltered in faith, misunderstood His mission and argued over who was greatest. Like them, we can lose sight of Jesus’ authority when our expectations, pride or desire for recognition take over. But failure is not the final word. Their weakness, and ours, only magnifies Jesus’ power. He alone rules over every challenge, every doubt and every human flaw. The call is simple but profound: In every ordinary or difficult moment, depend entirely on Jesus. Let Him guide your steps, steady your heart and remind you that His Kingdom is built on humility and faith in Him, not our success. Ask yourself today: “Where in my life am I relying on my own strength or expectations instead of a trusting faith in Jesus and His authority?”

Good to Know

(What are some helpful insights into this passage?)

The passage begins with “On the next day” (v. 37), signaling a new pericope (pear-ick-o-pee which is Bible-nerd for “section”). This transition takes the disciples from the mountaintop of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–36) into real-world challenges, reminding us that spiritual highs don’t exempt us from struggles.

The father who begs Jesus to merely “look at my son” (v. 38) exhibits great faith. This contrasts with the disciples’ lack of faith, demonstrating that simple, dependent faith acknowledges Jesus’ authority and trusts in His power.

Demons are real and seek to deceive. Their power is limited; only Jesus has ultimate authority. The disciples had previously had some success in casting out demons, a testament to the power of faith and Jesus’ authority. (Luke 9:1).

Luke 9:37-50 is full of emotion: fear, grief, frustration and awe. When Jesus says, “O faithless and twisted generation” (v. 41), He expresses grief at the disciples’ doubt and the crowd’s spiritual blindness. There is a building and heightening as we move from the “call of discipleship” to the “cost of discipleship”. The stakes are beginning to grow.

“Son of Man” underscores that Jesus is fully human yet fully divine, appointed by God to suffer, save and reign with authority. His repeated predictions of death and suffering (9:18–27) remind us that His glory and authority are revealed through the cross, not worldly success. Jesus is bringing in an “upside-down” Kingdom, one that does not match expectations.

The disciples argue over greatness (vs. 46–48). Status was a major value in Greco-Roman culture. Children were seen as socially insignificant, with no legal rights. By placing a child as the model, Jesus redefines greatness as humility and service, completely countercultural. Jesus teaches that true greatness is not power or position, but humility, service and childlike faith, an attitude central to discipleship.

“The one who is not against you is for you” (vs. 50) was a common proverb in Jesus’ day (Cicero said something similar while addressing Caesar). In Jesus’ day, Jewish groups like the Pharisees drew sharp lines about who was “in” or “out.” The disciples carried some of this mindset when they saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name, but not part of their group. “Don’t go around picking fights with people who are genuinely trying to do good just because they’re not part of your in-group.”

THIS WEEK'S

Bible Discovery Author

Jen Wojtysiak

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. The father who cries out to Jesus to heal his son displays an active faith in Jesus’ power and heart. How might his example influence the way we come to Jesus with our needs in prayer?

2. The disciples had just seen the Transfiguration (9:28-36), and now they are doubting and not understanding Jesus’ words (v 45). Why do you think that is? What can we learn from the disciples in this chapter?

3. What expectations may we need to let go of to embrace Jesus’s upside-down Kingdom?

4. Let’s pause and ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts. Where in our own lives may we be tempted to seek greatness and status instead of following Jesus’ instructions to be the least?

5. How does living in a Kingdom built on humility and faith give you freedom?

Prayer

Lord, we praise you, knowing that failure is not the final word. Thank you for being our refuge we can run to with our doubts and our strivings, and in exchange, you give us peace and freedom. Help us to live as a people of your upside-down Kingdom, filled with trusting faith and humility. Spirit, help us to keep in step with you. Amen.

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