Seeking God: Worship Through Generosity and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: Seek God’s Face Above All Else

To seek God’s face is to pursue an intimate, ongoing relationship with Him, making Him the highest priority in our lives above all other important things. This means intentionally setting aside distractions, humbling ourselves, and coming before God with a desire to know, love, and enjoy Him, not just to receive blessings or answers, but to be with Him. God created us for this very purpose—to be with Him, to know Him, and to love Him with all our hearts. As we gather in worship, both individually and as a church family, our greatest motive should be to encounter God, to seek His presence, and to let Him shape our lives. [41:28]

Psalm 105:4 (ESV)
"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally seek God’s presence today, setting aside distractions to focus on Him above all else?

Day 2: Give Willingly and Eagerly as an Act of Worship

God calls His people to give not out of obligation or pressure, but with willing, generous, and eager hearts, as an act of worship. The Israelites, though not wealthy, responded to God’s invitation by bringing their offerings freely and joyfully, stirred by His Spirit, resulting in more than enough to accomplish His work. Their giving was not just about meeting a need, but about participating in God’s mission and growing in faith and love for Him. When we give willingly, we honor God, fuel His mission, and experience transformation in our own hearts. [56:20]

Exodus 35:4-5, 20-22, 29 (ESV)
"Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, 'This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze...' Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord... All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord."

Reflection: Is your giving to God marked by willingness and eagerness? What would it look like for you to give as an act of worship this week?

Day 3: God Provides So We Can Give Back to Him

Everything we have comes from God’s gracious hand, and He blesses us so that we can return a portion to Him as an act of worship. Just as a loving father gives gifts to his children so they can give back to him, God delights when we give to Him from what He has already provided. This practice not only funds His work but also sets us free from materialism and teaches us to put Him first in every area of our lives. Giving is not about the amount, but about recognizing God as the source and honoring Him with our first and best. [01:10:33]

Deuteronomy 14:23 (ESV)
"And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always."

Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge God as the source of your blessings and honor Him with your resources today?

Day 4: Honor the Lord with Your Wealth and Trust His Provision

Honoring God with our wealth means giving Him the first and best of what we have, trusting that He will provide for all our needs. When we willingly and generously offer our resources, God uses them to accomplish His purposes and blesses us in return—not always materially, but by deepening our faith and joy in Him. Even small, consistent acts of generosity, when multiplied across a community, can have a powerful impact for God’s kingdom. Trusting God with our finances is an act of faith that aligns our hearts with His mission. [01:05:26]

Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce."

Reflection: What is one area of your finances where you need to trust God more fully and honor Him with your first and best?

Day 5: God’s Grace Is the Foundation of Our Giving and Salvation

God’s grace is the foundation of both our salvation and our ability to give; we are not accepted by God because of our good works, but because of faith in Christ alone. Just as God gives us the resources to give back to Him, He also gives us the gift of salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. Our response is to receive His grace, surrender our lives to Him, and let our giving and serving flow from gratitude for what He has done. This grace transforms us from the inside out, making us people who do good because we have been accepted and changed by God. [01:30:11]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Have you truly received God’s grace through faith in Christ, and how does this gift shape your attitude toward giving and serving others today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to remember and celebrate the faithfulness of God, who has never failed us and whose love casts out all fear. We sang of his goodness, his provision, and the hope we have in Christ—a hope that is not just for us, but for generations to come. We reflected on the blessings God has poured out: the gift of life, the people he places in our paths, and above all, his grace and forgiveness that secure our future in heaven. In worship, we were reminded that God is worthy of every song, every breath, and every act of praise, and that he alone is our firm foundation.

We also looked to the Scriptures, particularly Psalm 40 and Psalm 105, to see how God calls us to seek his face above all else. Just as a child longs for the attention and intimacy of a parent, so we are created to know, love, and enjoy God as our highest priority. This is the heart of worship—not just singing or gathering, but earnestly seeking God’s presence and responding to his love with our whole lives.

Turning to the story of the Israelites in Exodus, we saw how God invited his people to participate in building the tabernacle, the first public place of worship. He did not need their resources, but he chose to involve them for their own growth and blessing. The people responded with willing, eager, and generous hearts, giving freely and creatively until there was more than enough to accomplish God’s purpose. Their offerings were acts of worship, not obligation, and through their obedience, their faith was deepened and God’s mission advanced.

In the same spirit, we are invited to join together in the Exodus 36 initiative—to eliminate our church’s loans and fuel God’s mission for the future. The call is simple: for each willing household to increase their weekly offering by $20. While this may seem small, when multiplied across our church family, it becomes a powerful force for kingdom impact. This is not about fundraising, but about worship—responding to God’s generosity by giving back a portion of what he has already provided, trusting him to use it for his glory and our growth.

As we move forward, let us pray for God’s guidance, seek his face above all else, and give with willing, eager hearts. May our offerings be acts of worship that honor God, bless others, and prepare the way for even greater things he has yet to reveal.

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Key Takeaways

1. Seeking God’s Face Is Our Highest Priority Above all the important things that clamor for our attention, God calls us to seek his face—to desire intimacy, relationship, and presence with him. This is not about religious duty, but about orienting our hearts daily to know and love God as our greatest treasure. When we make seeking him our top priority, everything else finds its proper place. [41:28]
2. Worship Is More Than Songs—It’s Willing Obedience True worship is not confined to music or gatherings; it is expressed in our willingness to obey God with eager, generous hearts. The Israelites’ example in Exodus shows that God values offerings given freely, not under compulsion. Our acts of giving, service, and obedience become sacred when they flow from hearts stirred by God’s Spirit, not from obligation or pressure. [56:20]
3. God Provides First, Then Invites Us to Give Every resource we have is a gift from God, given so that we might experience the joy and freedom of giving back to him. Like a parent who gives a child a gift to give in return, God blesses us so we can participate in his work. This practice not only funds his mission but also breaks the grip of materialism and teaches us to trust him as our provider. [70:33]
4. Small Acts of Obedience, Multiplied, Accomplish Great Things The miracle of the tabernacle was not in the size of individual gifts, but in the collective, willing participation of the whole community. When each person brings what they can, even seemingly small offerings become more than enough in God’s hands. Our unity and faithfulness in small things can unleash extraordinary impact for God’s kingdom. [74:29]
5. God’s Guidance Is Progressive—Obey the Light You Have God rarely reveals the entire path ahead; instead, he shines enough light for the next step. As we obey what he has shown us—whether in giving, serving, or seeking him—he reveals more of his plan. Our responsibility is to pray, listen, and respond with faith, trusting that God will guide us into greater things as we walk in obedience. [80:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
[02:34] - Standing in God’s Love
[05:18] - The Blessing and Benediction
[08:52] - Generational Favor and Presence
[11:59] - The Cross and Our Freedom
[15:36] - Gratitude for God’s Gifts
[18:30] - Trusting God’s Provision
[21:40] - Giving Our Burdens to God
[23:36] - Psalm 40: God Lifts Us Up
[24:22] - Worship and Praise
[31:30] - Christ, Our Firm Foundation
[37:26] - The Call to Prayer
[44:40] - The Exodus 36 Initiative
[51:11] - Lessons from the Tabernacle
[56:20] - Willing and Eager Offerings
[64:43] - Honoring God with Our Wealth
[73:09] - The Power of Small Gifts
[80:18] - Trusting God for the Future
[82:53] - Responding in Worship and Giving
[90:11] - The Gift of Salvation
[93:19] - Next Steps and Closing Blessing
[96:12] - Final Worship and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Seeking God’s Face and Responding in Worship

Bible Reading

Psalm 40:1-5 (ESV)
> I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
> He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog,
> and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
> He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
> Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
> Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
> who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
> You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
> none can compare with you!
> I will proclaim and tell of them,
> yet they are more than can be told.

Psalm 105:4 (ESV)
> Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Exodus 35:4-5, 20-22, 36:3-7 (ESV)
> Moses said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze; ...”
> Then all the congregation of the people of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments. So they came, both men and women. All who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and armlets, all sorts of gold objects, every man dedicating an offering of gold to the Lord.
> ...
> And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 40, what actions does the psalmist say God took on his behalf, and what was the result in the psalmist’s life?
According to Psalm 105:4, what are we told to seek, and how often?
In the story from Exodus 35-36, what was the attitude of the people as they brought their offerings for the tabernacle? What words or phrases are repeated to describe their giving? ([56:20])
According to the sermon, what was the average value of each household’s offering for the tabernacle, and what does this reveal about the nature of their giving? ([01:00:10])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the psalmist in Psalm 40 describes God as giving him a “new song” to sing? What does this say about the connection between God’s rescue and our worship?
The sermon compared seeking God’s face to a child longing for a parent’s attention. What does this analogy teach us about the kind of relationship God desires with us? ([40:45])
The Israelites’ offerings for the tabernacle were described as “willing,” “eager,” and “generous.” Why do you think God values this kind of giving over giving out of obligation? ([56:20])
The sermon mentioned that God provided the resources to the Israelites first, then invited them to give. How does this principle challenge or encourage our own view of generosity and stewardship? ([01:10:33])

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that seeking God’s face should be our highest priority, above all the other things that clamor for our attention. What is one specific thing in your life that tends to distract you from seeking God? How could you intentionally re-orient your heart this week? ([41:28])
True worship is more than singing; it’s about willing obedience. Can you think of a recent time when you obeyed God out of love rather than obligation? What was different about that experience? ([56:20])
The Israelites’ small, individual gifts added up to more than enough for God’s purposes. Is there a “small” act of obedience or generosity you feel God prompting you to take? What might keep you from doing it? ([01:14:29])
The sermon shared that God rarely reveals the whole path ahead, but gives us enough light for the next step. Is there an area in your life where you sense God asking you to take a step of faith, even if you don’t see the whole picture? What would it look like to obey in that area? ([01:20:18])
The Exodus 36 initiative invites each household to increase their weekly offering by $20. Whether or not you feel called to participate in this specific way, what does it look like for you to give “willingly, eagerly, and generously” in this season? ([01:06:02])
The sermon said that God provides first, then invites us to give back as an act of worship. How does remembering that everything you have is from God change your attitude toward giving or serving? ([01:10:33])
The Israelites’ offerings were creative, not just financial—they gave skills, time, and resources. What is one creative way you could offer yourself to God’s work in your church or community this month? ([58:09])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for willing, eager hearts to seek God’s face, and for guidance in how each person can respond in worship—through giving, serving, or simply drawing near to God this week.

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