Extravagant Faith: Surrendering Our Best to God

Life is full of transitions—some we anticipate and prepare for, others arrive unannounced and upend our plans. Whether it’s a new job, a move, a relationship change, or an unexpected crisis, these moments test our faith and reveal what we truly value. In the midst of such seasons, the call is to follow Jesus with extravagant faith, courageous vision, and unwavering trust, even when the path ahead is uncertain. The story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet in John 12 offers a powerful example of what it means to give our best to God, not out of surplus or convenience, but as a costly act of worship and preparation for what God is about to do.

Mary’s act was not just generous—it was radical. She poured out a year’s wages in the form of expensive perfume, not on Jesus’ head as custom might dictate, but on His feet, the place of humility and service. She wiped His feet with her hair, an act of deep vulnerability and devotion, disregarding social norms and risking misunderstanding. This was not a calculated gesture; it was a wholehearted surrender of her security, her future, and her pride. Mary’s worship was public, impossible to ignore, and it filled the house with a fragrance that lingered long after the moment had passed.

This kind of extravagant giving is not limited to finances. It may be our time, our talents, our comfort, or our control—whatever we hold most tightly. The challenge is to ask: What is my “pure nard”? What am I holding back from God? True worship is not about earning God’s favor or impressing others; it’s about gratitude for what Jesus has already done and preparing our hearts for His greater work. As a church and as individuals, we are invited to step out of our comfort zones, to invest our best now, even before we see the full picture of what God will do. Sacrificial giving—of any kind—prepares us for God’s purposes, stretches our faith, and creates space for Him to work in ways we may never fully understand.

Mary’s act was prophetic, preparing Jesus for His burial and resurrection. Likewise, our acts of devotion, however costly, become part of God’s unfolding story. The invitation is to give our best, not our leftovers, trusting that Jesus receives and multiplies what we offer for His kingdom and glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Extravagant Worship Requires Costly Surrender Mary’s act of pouring out a year’s wages in perfume on Jesus’ feet was not just generous, but sacrificial. True worship often means giving up what we value most, stepping beyond what is comfortable or practical, and offering God our very best—even when it feels risky or misunderstood. This kind of surrender is deeply personal and transformative, both for the giver and for those who witness it. [32:52]
• 2. Preparation Precedes God’s Greatest Work Mary gave her best before she understood the full significance of what was to come. She acted in faith, preparing Jesus for His burial without knowing the details of the cross and resurrection. In our own lives, giving our best to God in advance—before the crisis or the breakthrough—positions us to be part of His unfolding purposes and prepares our hearts for what He will do. [45:54]
• 3. Sacrificial Giving Develops Faith and Trust When we give beyond what is comfortable—whether it’s time, money, or control—we exercise and strengthen our faith. Sacrificial giving is not about the amount, but about the heart behind it. It creates space for God to provide, to surprise us, and to deepen our trust in His provision and goodness. [28:31]
• 4. God Invites Us Into His Mission, Not Because He Needs Us, But To Transform Us God owns everything and does not need our resources, yet He invites us to participate in His mission through sacrificial giving. This invitation is for our benefit: it shapes our character, aligns our hearts with His kingdom, and allows us to experience the joy of partnering with Him in ways that impact eternity. [63:55]
• 5. Our Best Is Not Measured By Comparison, But By Personal Devotion Mary’s gift was not about outdoing others, but about giving what was most precious to her. God calls each of us to offer our unique gifts, time, and abilities—not in comparison to others, but as an authentic response to His love. The fragrance of our worship, when given sincerely, fills the space around us and draws others to Jesus.
  
  ** [31:32]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:44] - Life’s Transitions: Planned and Unplanned
• [27:34] - The Challenge of Extravagant Faith
• [28:31] - Personal Story: Costly Giving
• [29:55] - The Tension Between Stewardship and Surrender
• [31:32] - The Heart’s Struggle: Possession vs. Devotion
• [32:52] - Mary’s Extravagant Act in John 12
• [35:10] - The Cultural and Personal Significance of Mary’s Gift
• [37:45] - The Sequence of Mary’s Devotion
• [39:20] - What Is Your “Pure Nard”?
• [41:00] - Kingsford Church: Facing Transition
• [43:30] - Investing Our Best for God’s Future
• [45:54] - Worship as Preparation for God’s Work
• [48:20] - The Invitation to Sacrificial Living
• [63:55] - Blessing and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

John 12:1-8 (ESV) — 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Observation Questions

1. What details in John 12:1-3 show that Mary’s act was both public and costly?
2. According to the sermon, what was the significance of Mary pouring the perfume on Jesus’ feet instead of his head? [[32:52]]
3. What did the fragrance of the perfume filling the house symbolize in the context of the story? [[32:52]]
4. How did the people around Mary respond to her act, and what does this reveal about their values? (see verses 4-5)

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might Mary have chosen to give her most valuable possession to Jesus at that particular moment, even before understanding the full significance of what was to come? [[45:54]]
2. The sermon describes Mary’s act as “radical” and “impossible to ignore.” What does this suggest about the nature of true worship and devotion? [[32:52]]
3. The pastor shared a personal story about giving beyond what was comfortable. How does sacrificial giving—whether time, money, or control—develop faith and trust in God? [[28:31]]
4. The sermon says, “God invites us into His mission, not because He needs us, but to transform us.” How does participating in God’s mission through costly acts of worship change us? [[01:03:55]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to ask, “What is my ‘pure nard’?” What is something in your life—time, talent, comfort, control, or finances—that you tend to hold back from God? What would it look like to offer it to Him? [[39:20]]
2. Mary’s act was public and could have been misunderstood or criticized. Is there an area where you feel called to step out in faith, even if others might not understand or support you? What holds you back? [[32:52]]
3. The pastor mentioned that sacrificial giving is not about the amount, but about the heart behind it. Is there a specific area where you sense God asking you to give your best, not your leftovers? What practical step could you take this week? [[45:54]]
4. In times of transition—whether planned or unplanned—how do you typically respond? Do you tend to cling to comfort and security, or are you open to stepping out in faith? Share a recent example. [[25:44]]
5. The sermon said, “Our best is not measured by comparison, but by personal devotion.” Are you tempted to compare your acts of service or giving to others? How can you focus on offering your unique gifts to God? [[31:32]]
6. The pastor encouraged the church to invest their best now, even before seeing the full picture of what God will do. What is one way you can prepare your heart and life for God’s future work, starting this week? [[43:30]]
7. If you have experienced a season where you gave sacrificially—of time, money, or something else—how did it impact your faith? What did you learn about God’s provision and your own heart? [[28:31]]