Expansion Miracle Sunday – Offerings That Attract • Ps Craig Clark

Jun 21, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: First Fruits Faith That Pleases God

When we give God our first and best rather than leftovers, it releases a spiritual fragrance that draws His delight. Abel’s offering wasn’t about impressing others or meeting religious quotas—it flowed from raw trust in God’s faithfulness. This kind of giving prioritizes God’s kingdom above personal security, believing He multiplies what’s surrendered. Faith-filled generosity isn’t measured by amount but by the heart’s posture: do we see God as our source or our last resort? Such offerings still speak through eternity, proving God honors bold dependence. [13:57]

“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” (Hebrews 11:4, NIV)

Reflection: What practical step could you take this week to prioritize God first in your resources or time? How might trusting Him with your “first fruits” shift your perspective on scarcity?

Day 2: Breaking Alabaster Jars of Unashamed Love

Extravagant worship often looks foolish to those counting costs. The woman with her perfume didn’t negotiate—she broke her most valuable possession over Jesus’ feet. Her act wasn’t about efficiency but adoration, a response to grace that defies logic. True giving flows from overwhelming gratitude, not guilt or obligation. When we stop calculating “enough” and start pouring out love, we create moments heaven remembers. This kind of offering doesn’t seek approval—it’s a private conversation between a rescued heart and its Savior. [20:46]

“She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head… ‘She has done a beautiful thing to me… I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told.’” (Mark 14:3,6,9 NIV)

Reflection: Is there a “logical” reason holding you back from a specific act of generosity? How might Jesus’ defense of this woman’s worship free you to give more boldly?

Day 3: Dancing Through Sacrifice Like David

Joyful giving turns obligation into celebration. David’s undignified dancing while moving the ark revealed a heart that valued God’s presence over personal pride. Sacrifice becomes light when we focus on what our offering enables—souls saved, families restored, hope reborn. The scent of significance isn’t found in the size of the gift but in the anticipation of God’s next move. Every step taken in faith releases a sound of victory, even before the breakthrough comes. [29:41]

“David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might… ‘I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this!’” (2 Samuel 6:14,21-22 NIV)

Reflection: What practical need in your community stirs your heart to give joyfully? How could viewing your contribution as part of God’s larger story increase your excitement?

Day 4: Seeds That Outlive Us

Nay Nay Maria’s weekly envelope proved small offerings leave eternal echoes. Her faithfulness built foundations for generations she’d never meet. Like Abel’s sacrifice still speaking, our giving plants trees under whose shade we may never sit. True legacy isn’t about accumulating but irrigating—watering deserts we trust God will turn into orchards. Every seed sown in faith becomes a living testimony, compounding through time. [38:10]

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously… God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV)

Reflection: What dream for future generations compels you to give today? How might shifting from “What can I afford?” to “What could this seed become?” change your approach?

Day 5: The Symphony of Many Small Yeses

Miracles happen when ordinary people bring their “fish and loaves” to Jesus’ hands. The feeding of 5,000 required a boy’s lunch plus disciples willing to distribute it. No single gift funds revival—it’s the chorus of “yeses” that moves mountains. Your portion matters not because of its size but because of the Provider who multiplies it. Together, our obedience creates a rhythm of heaven advancing. [45:58]

“Another disciple said, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’… Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated.” (John 6:9-11 NIV)

Reflection: What hesitations about your “small” contribution have kept you from giving? How might trusting Jesus with your portion today participate in someone else’s miracle tomorrow?

Sermon Summary

God sets the day in the key of expectation and names it Miracle Sunday, Faith Sunday, Breakthrough Sunday. The kingdom’s invitation takes center stage, not as obligation but as a shared assignment where lost people are found, the hurting are reached, and the bride becomes a home where all are welcome. Tangible mercy anchors the vision as the church feeds tens of thousands and places Christmas hampers into the hands of families who need to know that someone sees them. Testimony answers the suspicion that it is about money with a simple line: this is that. Provision becomes people, and people become stories of sobriety, restored families, salvations, and freedom.

The offering itself carries a scent. Abel’s worship shows that faith has a fragrance that God notices. First, not leftover, pleases God. Hebrews says Abel still speaks, which means faith-giving keeps talking long after the giver is gone. Faith is not force, pleasing not pressured, and it partners with God to unlock favor, open doors, and reap a harvest.

Then the woman with the alabaster jar teaches that adoration has an aroma. Love, not law, breaks what is precious and pours it on Jesus. When critics call it waste, Jesus calls it beautiful. Purity, not pride, defines true worship, and cheerful giving becomes the channel God uses to multiply grace, not just resources, so the poor receive more than groceries. They receive the presence that changes hearts.

David’s dance marks a third scent, the scent of significance. Sacrifice in God’s presence sounds like singing, shouts, and trumpets. Joy belongs with cost. The future is what this smell is about, not what is being foregone. The warning lands too. Cynicism hardens hearts and halts purpose while generosity opens purpose, unlocks callings, and turns provision into mission.

The kingdom keeps advancing through opposition. Cain’s jealousy, Mikal’s contempt, and Judas’s betrayal flank generosity, yet Abel still speaks, the woman is still remembered, and the ark’s journey still shapes worship. Legacy stands up and waves from the congregation too, as saints who gave faithfully keep sowing through what continues to grow after they have gone.

The church’s horizon stretches into a Decade of Destiny. Debt-free is not the driver, mission is. Debt reduction is simply runway for campuses, life homes, education pathways, training, and revival. The dream asks for partners, not equal amounts but equal obedience, so that a fragrant offering today becomes harvest tomorrow. What a beautiful thing when Jesus can look at any gift, from copper coins to alabaster, and say, leave them alone, that is beautiful.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith gives a pleasing fragrance [15:46] Faith, not force, draws the smile of God. Abel’s first-and-best offering speaks across generations because faith always lives beyond the moment of giving. Faith-led generosity treats God as first, not an afterthought, and positions a life for doors only He can open. [15:46]
2. Adoration breaks the alabaster jar [21:36] Love, not law, unlocks costly worship. When devotion pours the precious on Jesus, critics call it waste but Jesus calls it beautiful. Pure hearts give without pride because the point is not the price tag but the Person receiving it. [21:36]
3. Joy marks sacrificial significance [30:28] David’s sacrifice sounds like singing, not sighing. True cost carries true delight when God’s presence and purpose are in view. Joy looks forward, not backward, because the seed is aimed at the future God is building. [30:28]
4. Generosity aims at harvest, not ease [19:03] Sowing is never only about a balance sheet, it is about a field. Gifts become rooms for kids, campuses for mission, groceries with prayed-in grace, and names on a card that turn into stories of salvation. Generosity expects a harvest of souls, freedom, and open doors. [19:03]
5. Opposition rises, but legacy endures [35:37] Jealousy, cynicism, and betrayal are old companions of generosity, yet God keeps the aroma alive. Abel still speaks, the woman is still remembered, and worship still shapes a people. Offerings given by faith outlive the giver and keep working while the kingdom advances. [35:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Miracle Sunday vision
[05:23] - We Have a Dream
[06:13] - This is that: tangible help
[08:19] - Expansion on the ground
[09:50] - Prayer of consecration
[13:21] - How to bring an offering
[13:57] - Fragrance of faith: first, not leftover
[20:14] - Aroma of adoration: alabaster jar
[29:21] - Scent of significance: joyful sacrifice
[31:31] - Guard the heart, keep the joy
[34:27] - Poor yet rich in generosity
[35:37] - Expect resistance, legacy endures
[39:06] - Decade of Destiny vision
[46:58] - How to respond today

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Genesis 4:3-5 (ESV)
"In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard."

Mark 14:3-9 (ESV)
"And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head... And Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me... She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.'"

2 Samuel 6:14-16 (ESV)
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might... So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn... Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart."

Observation Questions

What distinction does Genesis 4 make between Abel’s offering and Cain’s offering?
How does Jesus respond to criticism of the woman’s costly act of worship in Mark 14:6-8?
What emotions and actions characterized David’s offering of worship in 2 Samuel 6:14-16, and how did others react?
According to the sermon, what three “scents” (faith, adoration, significance) mark a God-honoring offering? [13:21]

Interpretation Questions

Why might God have regarded Abel’s offering favorably but not Cain’s? How does this connect to the idea of “first, not leftover” in giving? [15:02]
The woman’s act was called “waste” by critics but “beautiful” by Jesus. What does this reveal about the difference between human and divine perspectives on worship?
David’s joyful sacrifice was met with contempt. How does this story challenge modern attitudes about worship being “dignified” or socially acceptable?
The sermon mentions that opposition (jealousy, cynicism, betrayal) often accompanies generosity. Why do you think this tension exists? [35:37]

Application Questions

In what areas of life (finances, time, relationships) might you be holding back the “first” instead of offering it to God? What would it look like to prioritize Him as Abel did?
The woman broke her alabaster jar—a costly, irreversible act. What is one tangible way you could sacrificially “pour out” love for Jesus this week, even if others misunderstand it?
David danced with unashamed joy. How can you cultivate a heart of joyful sacrifice in areas where obedience feels costly or uncomfortable?
The sermon warns against letting cynicism harden our hearts. When have you felt tempted to criticize or dismiss others’ generosity? How can you guard against this? [31:31]
Legacy is described as offerings that “still speak” after we’re gone. What specific step could you take this month to sow into something eternal (e.g., mentoring, giving, serving) that outlives you?
The church’s vision includes feeding families, planting campuses, and training leaders. Which part of this mission stirs your heart most, and how could you practically partner in it? [39:06]

Sermon Clips

48s

#SupplyOfGrace

“See, what was powerful about that is bringing money alone to the poor may help for a moment, but it will leave them broken for a lifetime. What transforms a life is Jesus. What changes a heart is God's presence. That's why when every Christmas box goes out, we lay hands on them and we believe in Jesus' name that it's not just an an element of supply of groceries. No. It's a supply of grace in that home. It's something that sows something to the heart that changes lives forever. We need to not just provide money but the ministry of the holy spirit, the message of grace of the gospel, the hope of Christ that cares and creates a new heart in people.”

40s

#LivingWaterForLife

“We can't just give water for a moment. We must lead people to living water for a lifetime. We can't just offer an even easier challenge free life. We need to offer the reality of a renewal and eternal life that truly changes everything from the inside out that only Jesus enables. That's why I love giving through the church. Right? When people say, I don't know if I wanna give to the church. Really, we we give to God, but it's mobilized through his church. What a beautiful thing. I don't know if the church should have too much. Why would we not want the church empowered to be more active in the world?”

38s

#FragranceOfFaith

“How do we bring? Not what are we bringing right now, it's how do we bring an offering that attracts God? I think number one, we need to bring an offering that has a fragrance of faith. Bring an offering that has a fragrance of faith. See, every one of us are gonna do different amounts and it's gonna look different, but I think it could all smell the same. See, the first offering that we ever see recorded in the bible is in Genesis four and it's between Abel and Cain. And they bring an offering to the to God that literally was just out of an act of worship, an act of thanksgiving, an acknowledgement for God's reality in their life.”

40s

#GiveFirstFromHeart

“Cain was very angry and his face was downcast. See, if we just look at really just basically what Abel did is is is he brought his first. Cain brought just some of. And today, get to bring something and I just encourage us, I think what we should do is bring the first part of our heart. The first part of our responses. It's not an afterthought for you, Lord. You're not just, oh, if I guess I've got something left over. No. Actually, it's a it's a first place in my heart. Right? This isn't complicated, but I think it helps position us for how we get to respond and what what God wants to do.”

46s

#BeyondMoneyImpact

“There are marriages in this room that are still together because people decided to sow. There are people still alive in our church today because someone decided to sow. Purpose has been released. Freedom has been experienced. offering enables that. Oh, it's about money. No. It's far more than that. This year, we believe we're gonna expand our kids rooms. We're gonna go to the plans to be able to double the occupancy of this here room. We're believing that we're gonna amen, Peter. We believe that we're gonna be on our steps to make getting a new campus out in the West. Come on. Let's not stay in Sims when God wants us to spread.”

40s

#GiveLedByGod

“Don't let the economy decide in your heart what you wanna do. Let it be led by God entirely on their own, it says in verse three. They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in the service of the Lord's people. I love that. And they exceeded our expectations. They exceeded our expectations. They gave first of to the Lord and then by God's will, also gave to us. I love that. They gave themselves to God. What our day today, as we give an offering, would it be something that we give our hearts to God? We give ourselves to God. I gotta hurry for time but you just gotta hear it. The enemy doesn't like us giving to God.”

37s

#FragrantOfferingTogether

“I dream of the MCG being filled again and the church gathering and this this worship unto the one name and one name alone, the name of Jesus. I see thousands surrendering their life to Jesus. Why do you wanna be debt free? It's not about debt free. It's about the call of God outworking. Come on. In our nation during our day, while we're able, we can do what God's called us to do, and we will see the church of Jesus Christ be all that he desired her to be. So today, we get to give together. Today, we get to bring a fragrant offering together.”

42s

#SeenAndValued

“Christmas is always a hard time for us being especially being a solo mom and not working. The food that was packed was a hit. My kids came alive. You don't understand how much we appreciate it as a family. You say, why do we give an offering? Because this is that. What we're doing is this solo mom's realizing someone sees her, someone values her, someone wants to make a way in the midst of her hard times. I love it because we get to provide hope. We get to create a family that's welcoming for all. We get to say, hey. You belong here. In a world that struggles with loneliness, brokenness, there's confusion everywhere.”

37s

#LivesTransformed

“This enables that. Literally, I got at Easter, people wrote down testimonies of what God's done in their life in the next door building that we acquired in the last twelve months. They said, was at men's conference this March. I was a visitor, but what happened was incredible. I was just a nothing person. I was lost. Jesus, he touched my heart. I felt it. The true love and absolute power. I will never be the same. Thank you, Lord, for a church that went for me. Come on. How good has gone? How good has gone?”

32s

#RestorationAndFreedom

“I talked to a guy in the 03:30 recently. I said, what's God been doing in your life? He goes, I now have a relationship with my daughter. Like, isn't that amazing? As a dad, I'm like, how imagine not having a relationship with your daughter. Talked to another great guy. They've been coming a few months, and I said, hey. What's been God been doing in your life? He goes, I used to drink half a bottle of spirits every day. I haven't touched a drop in the last five months. I don't need it. I don't want it. There's freedom.”

35s

#HumbleGenerosity

“And what does David say on the other side of that? And this can teach us how to never be prideful in our life. Right? He says this, he says in one chronicles twenty nine fourteen, but who am I and who am I people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have only given you what came from your hand. Can I encourage you that let's not get prideful in the in the in the big extent that God might be leading us to? But let's simply what does he do? He first realizes it wasn't him alone, it was the collective that enabled what took place.”

40s

#ByFaithNotByForce

“he was commanded for righteousness where God spoke well of his offering and by faith Abel is still speaking even though he is dead. See, it wasn't by force, it was by faith. Some people right now, oh, you're trying to stir us up, you're trying to get us motivated, you're trying to pressure us. No. No. No. It's not by force, it's by faith. It's faith that pleases God. I wanna please God today. Well, does it have faith attached to it? Because without faith, what does Hebrews say? It's actually impossible to please God. Pleasing faith, it considers it first rather than looking at it last.”

38s

#KingdomAdvances

“But while the enemy doesn't like it, some may fall because of it, the kingdom has always advanced through it. The kingdom has always advanced through it. See, the presence of God not only went to the temple, but he became the lineage to the birth of Jesus who died and rose again and enabled the holy spirit. The presence that he carried in a tent ended up in a temple that became the rally of our savior Jesus and now is the holy spirit that lives in all of us. Come on. I don't know about you, but the power of that dancing, that joy, we still live in today.”

37s

#GivingForEternity

“Right. Right? That's the reality of it. Is that one day we may go, but what we do for eternity, what we do for his kingdom, it's gonna continue. It's gonna go on. It's gonna be like Abel, it's gonna carry on. Like the widow, it's gonna have a fragrance. Come on. And like Abel, it's gonna keep declaring by faith by faith by faith. See, we really do have a heart that God's gonna do incredible things and you gotta hear it. We are here because of the willing sacrifice of our savior and because of everyone who's given And we are not going to shrink back and be insecure.”

33s

#CourageousGenerosity

“Sorry. I'm not we are not going to shrink back so the insecure or the selfish or the envious may approve of what we're doing. We are going to live courageous, we're going to live generous, and we're going to have consecrated lives that are unashamed to advance the gospel. We're here to build the local church and advance God's kingdom. See, I love the fact that we don't have a vision for twelve months, but we have a vision that's gonna go from destiny decade to decade to decade. We're literally in a season right now. We believe in a decade of destiny.”

41s

#StoriesOfSalvation

“Come on. That that I don't know about you, but that's a joy to be a part of. That's a joy. What a joy that just in the last couple of weeks here through our services, we literally had a couple who were googling online for a church. They found life. They came to our 03:30 and that day, literally two weeks ago, they gave their lives to Jesus. What a joy. What a joy. What a joy that one of our young adults brought his Muslim friend for the first time. She gave her heart to Jesus and was touched by the presence of God. Her friend was absolutely over the moon. What a joy.”

32s

#SupernaturalFavor

“I love that through this time of giving and trusting God, I love God is gonna bring supernatural favor into people's lives. I love that doors that were shut are gonna open up. I love that those who have been in the marketplace looking for a house, believing God, and it's only got harder. I'm believing favor's gonna come your way. You say, oh, so you believe in prosperity? I'd rather be believe in that than believe in poverty. Yes. Because we don't have a God of poverty. We have a God that says, come on, seek me first and just watch how I get to open other things.”

35s

#TrustAndGenerosity

“Today, we're believing for more hearts to be healed. Today, we're gonna stand and just trust God that, God, if you've done it before, would you do it again? We're not here redirecting our tithe for a week. No. No. We're saying, God, in the generosity of what you've done in our lives, how can we be generous to what you're calling us to do? So can we pray together as we jump into it? But father, we thank you for all that you are doing. We honor you, we praise you, we give you the glory. We thank you, Lord, that it's not by our might nor by our power, but it is by your spirit.”

45s

#FreedomToGive

“it's a sad day night saying, oh lord, how are we gonna get by tomorrow? But the crazy thing is is as I've gone to the the hairdresser now in my forties, you know that they don't just do your neck, they offer to also do your nose? You get you could take that off. But literally, I'm like, after that moment, it's like everything. But there's like this and there's like there's no restriction. You can smell everything. It's like there's a freedom. It's like there's a lightness. Do you know when it comes to bringing offerings, the bible talked about how God said there would be an aroma?”

42s

#PositionedToAdvance

“And I said, do, but I don't. And I want you to know today, debt free isn't the driver. Debt free is not the driver. But I want us to be positioned to be able to advance the gospel more than ever before. The quicker that goes down, the quicker we can go again. We wanna plant. We wanna build. We wanna expand into stage two. We wanna go again and again and again and again. We have favorable terms with our loan that has an off center account, if that was to say receive $510,000,000, that means that's directly available for when God opens the next door, we can go again. It's incredible.”

Ask a question about this sermon

LIFE Melbourne This sermon · AI assistant

What are three fragrances of a pleasing offering

What motivated the woman's alabaster jar offering

How does generous giving advance the kingdom

Expansion Miracle Sunday – Offerings That Attract • Ps Craig Clark

Devotional

Day 1: First Fruits Faith That Pleases God

Day 2: Breaking Alabaster Jars of Unashamed Love

Day 3: Dancing Through Sacrifice Like David

Day 4: Seeds That Outlive Us

Day 5: The Symphony of Many Small Yeses

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Expansion Miracle Sunday – Offerings That Attract • Ps Craig Clark

Share