Expansion Update • Ps Craig & Nadia Clark

Devotional

Day 1: Store your treasures in heaven, where your heart follows.

Jesus teaches not to store up treasures on earth because money and possessions reveal the true posture of the heart; when you redirect what you hold onto toward kingdom purposes you invite freedom, peace, and the joy of living for something far greater than yourself — a life that invests in eternity rather than things that moths and rust will destroy. [33:22]

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Reflection: Identify one regular expense you will reduce this month and reallocate that exact amount to support kingdom work; specify the dollar amount and the date you will give it this week.

Day 2: God’s gift: salvation, not condemnation, through Jesus.

God’s heart is to rescue and restore — Jesus came to give life, not to condemn; when you open your life to Him and trust His work on the cross you begin a personal relationship that brings freedom, peace, and true life in all its fullness. [44:40]

John 3:16–18 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Reflection: If you’ve never trusted Jesus or have drifted away, pray the sentence you heard in the service right now — “Jesus, I give You my life. I’m sorry for my wrongs. I want to know You as my Lord and Saviour” — and, within 24 hours, connect with someone from the church team to let them know you made this decision.

Day 3: The local church uniquely advances Jesus’ mission.

The local church is the one place explicitly set apart to lift Jesus up without restraint — when people give, serve, and gather together they create an environment where the name of Jesus is proclaimed, lives are changed, and countless individuals find hope, healing, and community. [16:30]

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Reflection: Choose one concrete way to support the local church’s Jesus-centered work this month (invite one person to an event, begin serving in a ministry, or start a monthly giving plan); write down the first step and do it this week.

Day 4: Trust opens God’s faithfulness in finances.

When people step out in trust with their finances God consistently shows His faithfulness; giving is not a formula but a pathway to experience God’s provision, peace, and partnership in what He is doing, and testimonies show that trusting Him with money often leads to greater spiritual freedom. [22:50]

Malachi 3:10 (ESV)
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Reflection: Write down one financial fear you carry, then pick one tangible giving step you can take this week (a specific percentage or amount) to act in trust — make that gift and note how you felt afterward.

Day 5: Surrender is a personal, visible step of faith.

Surrender to Jesus is both deeply personal and can be expressed in a visible way; a simple act — raising a hand, praying a prayer, being baptized, or saying yes in private — marks a line-in-the-sand moment where God begins to move and transform anxiety into freedom and purpose. [47:16]

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Reflection: Decide one visible next step of surrender you will take within the next seven days (attend Alpha, be baptised, raise your hand at the next service, or meet with a leader); write which step, the exact date you will do it, and tell one trusted person who will hold you accountable.

Sermon Summary

What a day of worship, story, and purpose. I loved meeting a mum and her 13-year-old who turned up after seeing our Christmas box packing on Instagram. “This is a church?” she kept asking. Moments like that remind me why we do what we do—helping people see who Jesus really is through a community that serves, gives, and welcomes. It was a joy to sit with our panel and open up the heart behind Expansion—why we tithe, why we give beyond our tithe, and how God meets us in trust.

I shared how, before ministry, I worked in social services and hit a wall: we could offer care, but we couldn’t offer Jesus. That’s why I’m so passionate about the local church. We all carry Jesus into our workplaces, but the church is the one place where His name can be lifted without limit. Giving here is giving to the proclamation of the gospel.

Melody’s story showed what happens when someone with a history of pain dares to trust God again—even in finances. Jaden’s journey as a young business owner and athlete reminded us that obedience turns a borrowed faith into a personal calling. We turned to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: our treasure traces our heart. When we place our treasure with God, our hearts follow into freedom, peace, and purpose.

Since moving into Sims, 915 people have said yes to Jesus. We put first names on the screen to remind ourselves these are not numbers—they’re lives. Jess shared how Jesus met her in crippling anxiety and has led her into new courage and joy. That’s why we invited people to begin a relationship with Jesus—many did—and we prayed together, gave Bibles, and pointed the way to Alpha.

I then invited us all to pray about our part in Expansion—whether a one-off gift or a faith commitment across the coming months. Not because God needs our money, but because He wants our hearts and longs to use our yes to reach more people like the mum I met at lunch, like Melody, like Jaden, like Jess, and like the 915 whose names Heaven knows.

Key Takeaways

1. Lift Jesus by funding His church. Funding the church isn’t institutional loyalty; it’s amplifying the one place where Jesus is proclaimed without restraint. We carry Christ everywhere, but the church uniquely centers Him for the sake of the world. Our giving fuels discipleship, mission, and hope that no other cause can offer. [16:30]
2. Trust unlocks healing and provision. Trust does not erase pain; it relocates us under God’s care. When we risk obedience—especially with our finances—God meets us with both wisdom and peace. Provision becomes more than numbers; it’s the Presence that steadies us. [22:50]
3. Treasure reveals and redirects the heart. Money follows love, but it also forms love. When we place our treasure with God, our desires begin to align with His Kingdom. Giving becomes spiritual training that frees us from fear and reorients us toward eternity. [33:22]
4. Say yes to Jesus today. Jesus came not to condemn but to give life. Surrender is a battle of trust, but it’s how freedom and forgiveness begin. A simple prayer can open a lifetime of walking with Him. [44:40]
5. Generosity fuels real people’s salvation. The 915 decisions since Sims are names, faces, and stories of rescue. Our collective sacrifice becomes someone else’s access to the gospel. Expansion is not about buildings; it’s about people meeting Jesus. [49:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Instagram invite opens a heart
[03:30] - Panel introduced; our church story
[16:30] - Why we tithe and expand
[19:40] - Giving elevates the name of Jesus
[22:50] - Melody’s trust-and-finance journey
[27:45] - Encouragement to trust God’s provision
[30:50] - Jaden’s purpose, business, obedience
[33:22] - Treasure and heart—Matthew 6
[40:10] - Jess’ story of freedom
[43:14] - Invitation to know Jesus
[44:40] - John 3:16–18 explained
[47:16] - Salvation prayer and responses
[49:42] - Expansion giving invitation and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)

- Matthew 6:19–21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

- John 3:16–18
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

Observation questions

In Matthew 6:19–21, what two kinds of "treasure" does Jesus contrast, and what relationship does he draw between treasure and the heart?
What examples from the sermon showed that giving to the church led to people meeting Jesus (names, stories, or statistics)? [33:22]
How did the speaker describe the church’s unique role in lifting the name of Jesus compared with other organisations? [16:30]
What happened in the service when people were invited to pray and respond to Jesus? Note the practical next steps offered to those who responded. [47:16]

Interpretation questions (third-person tone)

How should one interpret Jesus’ link between treasure and heart when deciding where to invest time, money, and attention? What does this imply about priorities in daily life and church giving? [33:22]
The speaker argued that the church is "the sole organization on the planet that is all about Jesus" and therefore a primary place to give. What assumptions underlie that claim, and what weight should that perspective carry when someone compares supporting the church with giving to other causes? [16:30]
The sermon presented stories of people who learned to trust God again with finances. What reasons might people have for distrusting the church with money, and how do testimonies like Melody’s address those concerns? [22:50]
The speaker emphasised that Jesus "came not to condemn but to give life" in the invitation to receive Christ. How does that theological point shape the tone of evangelistic invitation and pastoral care in a church setting? [44:40]

Application questions

The Expansion invitation asked people to pray, then decide whether to give a one-off gift or commit a monthly amount toward a goal through June 2026. What specific financial commitment could you take this week (amount and timeframe)? How will you make it real (automated giving, calendar reminder, partner with an accountability friend)? [49:42]
Think of one person in your life who might come to church if invited (like the mum who came after seeing the Instagram event). What exactly will you do this week to invite them—message, call, bring them to an event, or invite them to a simple meal? Set a day and plan the words you will use. [16:30]
Read Matthew 6:19–21 again. Where is your "treasure" right now (bank savings, lifestyle spending, time online, career focus)? Name one concrete change you will make this month to move one element of your treasure toward God’s Kingdom (e.g., start tithing, increase giving by $X, give time to a ministry). [33:22]
If past pain, anxiety, or distrust is holding you back from trusting God with money or church, what is one small step you can take this week toward trust—who will you talk to, what resource will you use, or what prayer will you pray? Commit to that step and a date to report back to someone. [22:50]
The service gave a clear next step for new believers (receive a Bible, meet a team, go to Alpha). If you are new or returning to faith, will you take one of these steps this week? Which one, and when will you go? [47:16]
Generosity was tied to real people’s salvation (915 decisions named). How will you incorporate regular spiritual intention into your giving so it becomes part of your discipleship (for example: when you give, pray for one name, write one short prayer, or read one verse)? Decide on the practice and when you will start. [33:22]

Sermon Clips

And I just love that God wants every single part of us. And when we give him every part of who we are, there is incredible freedom. There's incredible peace that comes in. And then there's the incredible joy of what we get to be a part of that. We're not just living for ourselves. We're living for something far greater and far more meaningful. And Pastor Craig said it at the beginning, but there's 915 people that have made a decision since we stepped into this miracle property here at Sims. That is absolutely amazing. [00:36:27] (27 seconds) #GiveGodYourAll

And you know, we can hear that stat, but I wanted to put up all the names on the screen behind me here today, all the first names of all those that have made the decision. They are not just numbers. It is personal lives, personal testimonies, people sitting here right here today who have found the freedom that comes in Jesus because of the faithfulness of our giving because of people stepping out and saying yes to Jesus. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for living for eternity, for living for something far greater. [00:36:55] (37 seconds) #GivingChangesLives

``And the fact that you were so crippled with anxiety, that it was even a mission to stand on stage to be baptized. And a year later, you are sitting on stage here. Like, look at what God has done. And that is only Jesus. It's only Him that can lead to that level of freedom and that level of peace in such a short window of time. So we just honor you for pursuing Him, for pushing through what you needed to push through. And then for inviting so many, you know, for living your God purpose and your kingdom purpose. It's absolutely incredible. [00:43:14] (41 seconds) #FromAnxietyToFreedom

And, you know, I just want to take a moment right now to extend an invitation to anybody that is here. And you don't know the freedom of Jesus. You don't know what it is to personally walk in relationship with Him. Jess said it so beautifully. You know, I came to church and it was so weird, but there was something that kept drawing me back. And I didn't realize that you could have a personal relationship with Jesus. And you talk, you know, so many of my friends that I talk to that don't know God, it's about this religion. But, you know, Jesus, it's a personal relationship where when you open up your world and trust Him, He starts to reveal Himself to you. [00:43:55] (35 seconds) #JesusIsPersonal

You start to walk life out with Him. And He's there to help us. He loves us. He wants to bring life. You know, Scripture says that He came to bring life and life in all its fullness. But it's up to us to open our hearts to Him and to say yes to Him. And I love what John 3, verse 16 to 18 says, And, you know, it takes, like that Scripture says, God has come to give us life. Jesus has come not to condemn us, but to save us, to heal us, to give us eternal life, to free us of our sins, of our wrongs. [00:44:30] (49 seconds) #JesusGivesLife

Every single one of us knows sin. Every single one of us knows what it is to separate ourselves from God. And, you know, when you become a Christian, you still struggle with sin. But the incredible thing with Jesus is that we can come to Him when we trust Him and say, Jesus, I'm sorry for this. Help me. I don't want to struggle with this on my own anymore. I need Your saving power because of what You did on the cross, Jesus. I trust that You can take this from me and help me. [00:45:20] (26 seconds) #BringItToJesus

And the incredible thing is when we open our lives up to Jesus like that, when we choose to trust Him, He reveals Himself to us. And I know for many people today here in the room and also online, for those that are joining us online, I know that it'll be a line in the sand moment for you to go, you know what? I'm going to choose to trust Jesus. I'm going to choose to put my first step forward to say, God, I want to open my world to You. Jesus, if You're that real, that all of those here on the panel today can be saying, He changed my life. [00:45:46] (30 seconds) #ChooseToTrustJesus

It wasn't like what Jadon said. It wasn't just about knowing this faith of His parents. It was making the decision, God, if You're real, I give You every part of me because this matters. And so if you're here today and if you're to be honest, you look at your life and go, you know what? I don't know Jesus personally. Maybe you once did, but other things have just got into your life and you've been distracted by other things. And you know today is a line in the sand moment or you're saying, you know what, Jesus, I know I need to open my world to You. [00:46:17] (29 seconds) #AllInForJesus

So I'm going to give every person a private moment right now. Why don't you close your eyes and bow your heads. Or those online, this is for you as well, taking a private moment for God right now. But to ask yourself the question, do you know Jesus as your personal Lord, as your personal Saviour, as your personal Redeemer? Do you know Him as your Lord? Because what I'm going to ask you to do in just a moment is raise your hand and say, you know what, I want to pray a prayer. And that prayer starts a relationship with Jesus. That prayer is saying to Him, Jesus, I want to get to know You. [00:46:46] (35 seconds) #QuietMomentWithGod

God, I'm sorry for my sins and I want to follow You. I want to pursue You. And no one else is going to see You raise your hands because we're going to take a private moment right now to say to God, this is between You and me. I'm going to be the only one that sees it just to acknowledge it before God and before heaven today. That you know what, we see that hand. God sees that decision that's been made today. He sees it and He's going to move in your life in this moment. [00:47:21] (24 seconds)

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