Extravagant Worship: Surrendering All to God
Summary
Today, we explored what it truly means to give as an act of worship, moving far beyond the boundaries of financial offerings. Giving is not about the dollar amount or material possessions, but about the posture of our hearts and the willingness to surrender all that we are to God. We looked at the story of the woman with the alabaster box, who poured out her most precious possession at Jesus’ feet, not for recognition or reward, but out of extravagant love and deep need for forgiveness. Her act was misunderstood and criticized by others, but Jesus saw her heart, forgave her, and declared her free. This is the kind of worship that God desires—one that holds nothing back, that is willing to pour out everything in faith and love.
We also reflected on Abraham’s journey with Isaac, a story of radical obedience and trust. Abraham was willing to lay down his legacy, his promise, his only son, simply because God asked him to. He didn’t bring a backup plan or a substitute offering; he trusted that God would provide, even when the cost seemed unbearable. In both stories, the act of giving was not about the gift itself, but about the surrender, the trust, and the obedience behind it. God responded to their faithfulness with blessing, provision, and freedom.
These stories challenge us to examine what we are holding back from God. Are we giving Him our best, or are we offering leftovers? Are we trusting Him with our whole lives, or are we keeping parts of ourselves hidden and unsurrendered? True worship is a life laid down, a heart fully surrendered, and a faith that believes God is worthy of our all. When we give God our best—our time, our talents, our love, our obedience—He meets us with grace, freedom, and blessing beyond measure. Let us be a people who give extravagantly, who trust deeply, and who worship wholeheartedly, knowing that God delights in cheerful, surrendered hearts.
Key Takeaways
- Extravagant Worship Flows from Surrender, Not Amount
The woman with the alabaster box teaches that true worship is not measured by the value of what we give, but by the depth of our surrender. She poured out her most precious possession, not for show, but as an act of love and desperation for Jesus. God is moved by hearts that hold nothing back, even when others misunderstand or criticize our devotion. [01:26:40]
- Forgiveness and Freedom Are Found in Wholehearted Giving
When we come to Jesus with all that we are—our brokenness, our past, our hopes—He meets us with forgiveness and freedom. The woman left forgiven because she gave everything, expecting nothing in return. True freedom comes when we allow God to define us, not our past or the opinions of others, and when we forgive ourselves as He has forgiven us. [01:29:23]
- Obedience Is the Highest Form of Worship
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveals that God values obedience over any outward act of sacrifice. Obedience requires trust, especially when God’s commands challenge our understanding or comfort. When we obey, even at great personal cost, we position ourselves to experience God’s faithfulness and provision in ways we could never orchestrate on our own. [01:45:11]
- God Provides When We Trust Him with Our Best
Both Abraham and the woman with the alabaster box gave their very best, not knowing how God would respond. Their stories remind us that God is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, and He honors those who trust Him fully. What we perceive as sacrifice, God sees as an opportunity to reveal His abundance and fulfill His promises. [01:56:56]
- Surrender Unlocks Blessing and Transforms Our Identity
Surrender is not a one-time act, but a continual posture of the heart. When we lay down our fears, idols, and self-reliance, we make room for God to call us forgiven, loved, and His own. Our worship becomes a living testimony, not just of what we give, but of who we are becoming in Christ—free, new, and fully alive in Him. [02:00:16]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:12:05] - Introduction: Giving as Worship
[01:12:59] - The Alabaster Box: Costly Worship
[01:13:52] - Personal Story: Encountering True Worship
[01:15:00] - Reflecting on the Song: The Cost of Oil
[01:26:40] - The Woman’s Boldness and Jesus’ Response
[01:29:23] - Forgiveness and Freedom in Worship
[01:33:56] - The Cost of Surrender
[01:36:58] - Worthiness and the Cross
[01:38:56] - Abraham and Isaac: The Test of Obedience
[01:45:11] - Radical Trust and No Plan B
[01:51:52] - Isaac’s Trust and the Power of Example
[01:56:56] - God’s Provision: Jehovah Jireh
[02:00:16] - The Power of Surrender
[02:02:36] - Obedience Over Sacrifice
[02:04:40] - Blessing Flows from Cheerful Giving
[02:07:56] - Living Worship: Your Life as an Offering
[02:09:57] - Invitation to Surrender and Prayer
[02:14:03] - Closing Prayer and Declaration
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Giving as Worship
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### Bible Reading
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) — The Woman with the Alabaster Box
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment... (read through verse 50)
Genesis 22:1-14 (ESV) — Abraham and Isaac
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” ... (read through verse 14)
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)
And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story of the woman with the alabaster box, what did she do that shocked the people around her, and how did Jesus respond to her act?
[[01:26:40]]
2. According to Genesis 22, what did God ask Abraham to do, and how did Abraham respond?
[[01:41:10]]
3. What does 1 Samuel 15:22 say about the difference between sacrifice and obedience?
[[02:02:36]]
4. In the sermon, what did the pastor say is the real “cost” of the alabaster box or the act of giving?
[[01:33:56]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the woman with the alabaster box was willing to give up her most precious possession, even though others criticized her? What does this say about her understanding of Jesus?
[[01:26:40]]
2. Abraham was asked to give up his only son, the promise and legacy God had given him. What does Abraham’s willingness to obey say about his trust in God’s character and promises?
[[01:45:11]]
3. The sermon says, “Obedience is the highest form of worship.” Why might God value obedience over outward acts of sacrifice?
[[02:02:36]]
4. The pastor mentioned that surrender is not a one-time act but a continual posture. What does it look like to live in a posture of surrender, and how might that change someone’s daily life?
[[02:00:16]]
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### Application Questions
1. The woman with the alabaster box gave her best to Jesus, not leftovers. Is there an area of your life where you feel you’ve been giving God your “leftovers” instead of your best? What would it look like to change that this week?
[[01:31:41]]
2. Abraham didn’t bring a backup plan—he trusted God fully, even when it didn’t make sense. Is there something in your life you’re holding onto as a “plan B” instead of trusting God completely? What would it take to let go?
[[01:45:11]]
3. The sermon challenged us to ask, “What is the cost of your oil?” In other words, what is God asking you to surrender that you might be holding back? How can you take a step toward surrendering that to Him?
[[01:33:56]]
4. The pastor said, “When we come to Jesus with all that we are—our brokenness, our past, our hopes—He meets us with forgiveness and freedom.” Is there something from your past or present that you need to bring to Jesus for forgiveness and freedom? What’s holding you back?
[[01:29:23]]
5. The sermon mentioned that God delights in cheerful, surrendered hearts. What is one practical way you can give to God cheerfully this week—whether it’s your time, talent, or resources?
[[02:04:40]]
6. The pastor talked about how our worship is not just what we do on Sundays, but how we live every day. What is one area of your daily life where you want your actions to become more of an act of worship?
[[02:07:56]]
7. The message ended with an invitation to surrender and trust God with everything. What is one fear, anxiety, or area of self-reliance you want to lay down before God today? How can your group support you in this?
[[02:14:03]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for hearts that are willing to surrender, trust, and obey God fully, just like the woman with the alabaster box and Abraham. Ask God to help each person give their best and experience His freedom and blessing.
Devotional
Day 1: Giving as Worship: Pouring Out Our Best for God
True worship is giving God our all, holding nothing back.
Luke 7:44-48 (ESV)
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
When the woman with the alabaster box entered the room, she poured out her most precious possession—her perfume—at Jesus’ feet, not caring about the opinions or judgments of others. Her act was not about the value of the oil, but about the depth of her love and surrender. She gave everything she had, worshipping Jesus with her tears, her hair, and her heart, expecting nothing in return. In response, Jesus forgave her, declaring her free and new. This is the heart of worship: to give God our very best, to hold nothing back, and to trust that He sees and honors our sacrifice. [01:26:40]
Reflection: What is one area of your life you’ve been holding back from God? What would it look like to pour it out at Jesus’ feet today, trusting Him with your whole heart?
Day 2: Radical Obedience: Trusting God with What Matters Most
Obedience to God means surrendering even what we treasure most.
Genesis 22:1-14 (ESV)
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac, his beloved son and the fulfillment of God’s promise, is a powerful example of radical obedience and trust. He did not argue or hesitate, but rose early to do what God asked, believing that God would provide—even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead. Abraham’s faith was not in his own understanding, but in the character and promises of God. When we surrender what we value most, God meets us with provision, blessing, and a deeper revelation of His faithfulness. [01:58:28]
Reflection: Is there something or someone you treasure that God is asking you to trust Him with? How can you take a step of obedience today, even if it feels costly?
Day 3: Obedience Over Sacrifice: God Delights in a Willing Heart
God values our obedience more than outward acts of sacrifice.
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
God is not impressed by outward displays or empty rituals; what He truly desires is a heart that listens and obeys. The story of Abraham and the woman with the alabaster box both point to this truth: it is not the size of the gift, but the posture of the heart that matters. Obedience is the truest form of worship, because it means we trust God enough to follow Him, even when it’s hard or doesn’t make sense. When we obey, we open ourselves to God’s blessing and freedom, and we experience the joy of walking in step with Him. [02:02:36]
Reflection: In what area of your life is God calling you to obey Him today, even if it challenges your comfort or understanding? What is one practical step you can take to say “yes” to Him?
Day 4: Surrender Brings Freedom: Letting Go to Receive God’s Grace
True freedom and forgiveness come when we surrender everything to God.
Romans 6:6-7 (ESV)
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Surrender is not a sign of weakness, but the gateway to freedom. When we let go of our pride, our fears, our addictions, and our attempts to control, we make room for God’s grace to work in us. The woman who poured out her perfume and Abraham who laid Isaac on the altar both experienced the liberating power of surrender. In Christ, our past is wiped away, our chains are broken, and we are given a new name: forgiven, loved, and free. [02:01:40]
Reflection: What is one burden, sin, or fear you need to surrender to God today? How can you tangibly lay it down and receive His freedom?
Day 5: Blessing Flows from Cheerful Giving
God delights in cheerful, wholehearted giving that blesses others.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Giving is not just about money—it’s about offering our time, talents, and love to God and others with joy. When we give cheerfully, we reflect the heart of our generous Father, who gave us His very best in Jesus. Whether it’s serving in a ministry, encouraging someone, or sharing what we have, our giving becomes an act of worship that blesses the church and the world. God promises to multiply our gifts and use them for His glory when we give with open hands and a joyful heart. [02:05:31]
Reflection: What is one way you can give cheerfully and generously this week—whether through your time, talents, or resources—to bless someone or serve your church?
Quotes
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