Above All | Thursday Night Service

Devotional

Day 1: Flour Jar Faith

The widow gathered sticks to cook her last meal when Elijah asked for bread first. Her hands shook as she poured the last oil into a prophet’s cake. But she obeyed, and the jar kept filling. God met her daily need as she surrendered her “last” to Him. [45:05]

This story shows God’s faithfulness to those who trust Him with their scarcity. He didn’t give her a year’s supply upfront—He provided enough for each day. Jesus still invites us to test His faithfulness through sacrificial giving, not because He needs our resources, but because He wants our hearts.

Where are you clinging to “last crumbs” instead of trusting God’s daily provision? Identify one area where fear keeps you from releasing control—a financial limit, a strained relationship, or an unmet need. What would it look like to offer that “handful of flour” to God first?

“The jar of flour was not used up, and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
(1 Kings 17:16, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one practical step of trust you can take today with your resources.
Challenge: Write down a specific fear holding you back from generosity. Burn or tear it up as an act of surrender.

Day 2: Kingdom Over Crumbs

Jesus watched crowds chase food and clothes while teaching His disciples a better way. “Seek first God’s kingdom,” He said, promising daily bread to those who prioritize eternal things. The widow’s jar refilled because she fed God’s prophet before herself. [52:40]

God’s economy rewards radical obedience, not calculated safety. When we invest in His mission—supporting missionaries, funding church buildings, feeding the hungry—we align with His multiplication plan. Our “not enough” becomes His “more than enough” as we trade temporary crumbs for eternal harvests.

What earthly concern dominates your thoughts today—bills, promotions, or relational security? How could shifting your focus to advancing God’s kingdom change your spending or praying this week?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
(Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve prioritized personal security over kingdom impact.
Challenge: Redirect $5 or 5 minutes today toward a kingdom cause (give, serve, or pray).

Day 3: The Joy Paradox

Solomon observed a restless cycle: wealth lovers never have enough, while God’s children find joy in simple bread. The widow discovered this—her meager jar became a feast when shared in obedience. Her empty pantry birthed deeper trust and daily delight. [59:26]

Enjoyment flows from obedience, not abundance. Missionaries in jungles savor soup because they’re fueled by purpose. Retirees hoarding savings often starve spiritually. God gives both resources and the capacity to enjoy them, but only when we steward them for His glory.

When did you last feel deep contentment without acquiring something new? List three simple blessings you’ve overlooked this week.

“Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them…this is a gift of God.”
(Ecclesiastes 5:19, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for one specific provision you’ve taken for granted.
Challenge: Enjoy a meal today without distractions—taste each bite as an act of worship.

Day 4: Trust’s Waterfall Effect

Peter wept when Jesus asked, “Do you love me?”—aware his faith often failed. Yet Christ still entrusted him with feeding sheep. Surrendering our weakest area (finances for many) creates a “waterfall” of trust, soaking other dry places—marriages, health, or purpose. [37:30]

Just as the widow’s jar overflowed after her initial obedience, consistent giving reshapes our hearts. Each financial “yes” to God weakens fear’s grip, proving His faithfulness. Over time, this trust spills into harder areas—forgiving wounds, releasing children, or enduring pain.

Which domain feels hardest to surrender: finances, relationships, health, or career? How might trusting God in one area strengthen others?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
(Mark 12:30, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to show you one practical step to increase trust in your toughest domain.
Challenge: Text a friend one area where you’re choosing trust over fear this week.

Day 5: Daily Bread Courage

Elijah didn’t ask the widow for a month’s supply—just today’s bread. Her jar refilled daily, teaching her to depend on God’s morning-by-morning care. Like Israel’s manna, God’s provision meets us in the present, not the hypothetical future. [46:29]

Anxiety shrinks when we focus on today’s obedience. The widow’s story repeats in missionaries seeing daily needs met, single parents finding unexpected help, or addicts staying sober hour by hour. God builds our faith through small, daily “yeses” that accumulate into breakthrough.

What “what if” fear paralyzes you from acting today? How can you shift focus to today’s step of trust?

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
(Matthew 6:11, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God for courage to meet today’s challenges without borrowing tomorrow’s worries.
Challenge: Set a phone reminder to pause and thank God for one specific provision at 3:00 PM today.

Sermon Summary

God has sparked a season of breakthrough focused on growth, maturity, and kingdom impact. Four existing campuses will receive intentional investment to reach full maturity, including a permanent building for Avon, improved experiences at other sites, and expanded ministries that amplify Jesus beyond physical walls through digital platforms and missionaries. The movement prioritizes raising the next generation by strengthening kids and student ministries, training young leaders to serve as full time missionaries, and doubling down on youth discipleship to cultivate spiritual depth and leadership across the state.

Christ above all functions as the organizing principle for personal and corporate life. Placing Christ at the center means evaluating every domain—finances, relationships, career, emotions, physical health—and identifying where trust falters. A simple self-assessment invites honest spiritual accounting and an opportunity to move toward wholehearted devotion. Four spiritual categories surface: those unsure about salvation, believers not yet engaged in this initiative, those who committed but face hardship, and those whose sacrificial giving has borne surprising blessing.

Financial surrender serves as a practical lever to grow trust in God. The widow of Zarephath illustrates how sacrificial obedience can unlock daily provision during scarcity: she risked what little she had and experienced ongoing miraculous supply. Giving occupies the juncture between belief and behavior because money tests allegiance in concrete ways. Phases of giving form a path—initial, consistent, priority, surrendered, and eternal—each requiring greater faith and yielding deeper spiritual freedom.

A paradox emerges about wealth and enjoyment. Pursuing more does not guarantee joy. God promises not just provision but the ability to enjoy what he provides when kingdom priorities guide stewardship. A tangible invitation accompanies the teaching: wrestle with a personal breakthrough prayer, complete a commitment card, and bring that commitment on a designated weekend as an act of worship. The call centers on loving God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength and allowing financial devotion to catalyze broader life transformation and joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Declare Christ above all things Placing Christ above all reorients every life domain so decisions flow from devotion rather than anxiety. This commitment reframes priorities, dissolves competing idols, and clarifies daily choices about time, relationships, and resources. An honest heart assessment grants a starting point for spiritual progress and invites steady growth toward wholehearted worship. [31:14]
2. Sacrificial giving invites daily provision The widow of Zarephath demonstrates that obedience in scarcity opens space for God to multiply what remains. Sacrifice creates a posture of dependence that exposes fear and tests faith, producing repeated experiences of God’s faithfulness instead of theoretical belief. Such giving trains the soul to trust when outcomes remain uncertain. [45:25]
3. Money reveals heart's allegiance Where treasure goes proves what governs the heart; finances make private priorities plainly visible. Redirecting resources toward kingdom work functions like a spiritual thermometer, measuring love for God and loosening attachment to lesser goods. Intentional stewardship shapes affections more reliably than mere resolve. [38:06]
4. Give first, not from leftovers Moving from initial to eternal giver follows a stair-step path of increasing trust and recalibrated rhythms of spending. Prioritizing the kingdom by giving from the first, rather than after expenses, rewires dependence and invites a waterfall of transformation across other life areas. That pattern produces both spiritual fruit and the capacity to enjoy what God provides. [53:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:11] - Breakthrough Vision Overview
[23:28] - Investing in Four Locations
[23:53] - Raising the Next Generation
[24:26] - Digital Ministry and Missionaries
[30:30] - Avon Groundbreaking Update
[31:14] - Christ Above All Explained
[32:12] - Four Spiritual Categories
[43:01] - Widow of Zarephath Story
[52:07] - Seek First the Kingdom
[53:39] - Phases of Giving
[49:28] - Trust and Enjoyment
[72:46] - Commitment Card Invitation
[74:16] - Commitment Weekend Details

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Kings 17:7-16 (ESV)
And the word of the Lord came to him: “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” [...] For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’”

Mark 12:30 (ESV)
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Observation questions

In 1 Kings 17:12-14, what did the widow initially believe about her resources, and what did Elijah ask her to do first?
According to Mark 12:30, what four areas of life are included in loving God fully? How does this connect to the idea of "Christ above all"?
The sermon mentions that money tests allegiance in concrete ways. What example was given in the story of the widow to illustrate this? [45:25]
What are the five phases of giving described in the sermon, and how do they reflect increasing trust in God? [53:39]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think God chose a widow in a time of famine to demonstrate His provision? What does this reveal about His priorities?
The widow’s act of giving her last meal to Elijah required her to prioritize obedience over survival. How does this challenge common assumptions about “security” in modern life?
Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 that seeking God’s kingdom first leads to “all these things” being added. What might “all these things” include beyond material needs, based on the sermon’s emphasis on joy and trust? [48:54]
The sermon describes giving as a “lever” to shape the heart. Why might financial surrender be uniquely effective in testing and strengthening faith compared to other spiritual disciplines?

Application questions

Which domain of your life (finances, relationships, career, emotions, etc.) feels most difficult to surrender to Christ’s leadership? What practical step could you take this week to invite Him into that area? [39:15]
The widow gave first, even in scarcity. Is there a specific area where you could practice giving “first fruits” (time, resources, trust) rather than leftovers? What would that look like?
The sermon links trust in God to the ability to enjoy His provision. How might adjusting your priorities in one area (e.g., spending, saving, or giving) create space for greater gratitude or joy? [59:07]
If you wrote a “breakthrough prayer” for one area of your life, what would it focus on? How could sharing this prayer with a trusted friend create accountability? [35:52]
The commitment card mentioned in the sermon is described as a “spiritual tool.” How might physically writing down a commitment to God help solidify your resolve to trust Him? [12:46]

Sermon Clips

And if the answer is no, can I just save you some time? Getting more will not give you the enjoyment you lack any more than the last time you got more. It might for a moment. Here's the good news. And and I've lived this. I I've tasted this. I've experienced this. This has changed my life. When you seek first the kingdom of God, specifically start with your finances and let it waterfall into the other areas of your life. When you seek first the kingdom of God, what did Jesus say in Matthew six thirty three? All these things will be added to you. All these things includes the ability to enjoy what you already have. [01:02:50] (39 seconds) #SeekFirstGod

I've known missionaries who serve in the undeveloped jungles of Papua New Guinea where there are still cannibalistic tribes, and these missionaries just live off the land, and they teach the native people the bible, and they are some of the most fulfilled people I've ever met. And they'll sit down to a little bowl of soup, and they have so much joy. Is is it because, oh, they got away from America, and it's perfect in the jungle? It ain't perfect in the jungle. People get eaten. Okay? They have this enjoyment because they're there serving. They're they're seeking first the kingdom of god, and he's given them the ability to enjoy what they have. [01:01:53] (40 seconds) #JoyInServing

Here's the thing. God's breakthrough power in your life, it comes alive not before you step out in faith, but when or after you step out in faith. Just like that moment of learning how to ride a bike without training wheels doesn't happen before the training wheels are off. Learning to swim, it doesn't happen, you know, while you still have the life vest on. And in the same way, it's when we step out in in faith. [01:10:00] (29 seconds) #StepOutInFaith

Because she took a risk, because she trusted God when it didn't make sense. She got to experience a miracle. Every miracle in the Bible happens because there's an unmet need. Every miracle happens because there's a problem. There's a shortage. There's a crisis. How can you grow your trust in God? Here's how. Give sacrificially to God, not to people, but to God. [00:47:50] (27 seconds) #GiveSacrificially

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Above All | Thursday Night Service

Devotional

Day 1: Flour Jar Faith

Day 2: Kingdom Over Crumbs

Day 3: The Joy Paradox

Day 4: Trust’s Waterfall Effect

Day 5: Daily Bread Courage

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Above All | Thursday Night Service

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