Whole Life Worship: Trusting God with Our Resources
Summary
Today, we gathered as a church family to celebrate a special Sunday filled with baptisms, communion, and the joyful energy of VBS. It was a day to remember that all these elements—our singing, our serving, our giving, our gathering—are meant to point us to Jesus. We intentionally set aside this time to turn our focus to God, recognizing that worship is not confined to a Sunday morning or a song, but is meant to encompass every aspect of our lives. This is the heart of whole life worship: responding to what God has done by offering Him our time, our talents, and our treasure.
We reflected on how the American church has often mishandled the topic of money—sometimes by promoting a prosperity gospel, sometimes by tying giving to salvation, and sometimes by avoiding the subject altogether. Yet, Scripture speaks about money, possessions, and generosity more than almost any other topic. Jesus Himself did not shy away from these conversations, because He knew how easily our hearts can be drawn away from God by the pull of wealth and material things.
The challenge is not about pressure or guilt, but about posture. What we measure and count reveals what we truly care about. Our bank statements and budgets are not just financial documents; they are spiritual ones, telling the story of what we value most. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 remind us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. We cannot serve both God and money. The issue is not that money or possessions are inherently bad, but that they so often compete for our loyalty and affection.
We are called to hold our resources with open hands, recognizing that everything belongs to God. Stewardship is an act of worship, a way of acknowledging that all we have is from Him and for Him. Giving is not about meeting God’s needs—He has none—but about surrendering our hearts and trusting in His provision. When we give from the first, not the leftovers, our hearts shift from control to trust, and we experience the freedom and peace that come from putting God first.
As we move forward, we are invited to examine our own lives: Does our attitude toward money reflect faith or fear? Are we giving out of worship or out of obligation? God desires our hearts, surrendered in trust, so that our whole lives—time, talent, and treasure—become a living act of worship to the One who gave everything for us.
Key Takeaways
- Worship Is a Whole-Life Response, Not a Sunday Ritual
True worship extends far beyond Sunday gatherings or singing songs. It is a continual response to what God has done, involving every part of our lives—our time, our talents, and our treasure. When we see worship as a lifestyle, we are invited to let every decision, every resource, and every moment reflect our gratitude and devotion to God. [32:43]
- What We Measure Reveals What We Treasure
The things we track and focus on—whether it’s our finances, our time, or our achievements—show what truly matters to us. Our bank statements and budgets are spiritual documents, revealing the priorities of our hearts. If we want to know what we truly worship, we need only look at where our resources go and what we count as most valuable. [39:20]
- Divided Loyalty Leads to Spiritual Disorientation
Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and money; trying to do so leads to misplaced priorities and a divided heart. Money and possessions are not evil, but their pull can subtly shift our focus away from God. The enemy uses this to distract us from whole-hearted worship, so we must be vigilant to keep God as our true master. [43:07]
- Stewardship Is an Act of Trust and Worship
Everything we have belongs to God, and we are called to steward it faithfully. Giving from the first, not the leftovers, is a tangible act of trust, shifting our hearts from control to surrender. When we hold our resources with open hands, we acknowledge God’s ownership and experience the freedom and peace that come from relying on His provision. [53:35]
- Progress Illusion: Talking About Faith Is Not the Same as Living It
It’s easy to talk about trusting God with our finances or our lives, but unless our actions align, we fall into the trap of “progress illusion”—feeling like we’ve changed simply because we’ve discussed it. True faith is demonstrated in our choices, especially in how we handle our treasure. Whole life worship requires that our giving, our priorities, and our daily decisions reflect genuine trust in God, not just good intentions. [48:25]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:47] - Celebrating Community and Special Guests
[31:06] - Opening Prayer and Setting Our Focus
[32:43] - Whole Life Worship: Beyond Sunday
[34:15] - Addressing the Topic of Treasure
[36:16] - Why We Must Talk About Money
[38:04] - Posture Over Pressure: God’s Heart for Giving
[39:20] - What We Measure, We Value
[40:45] - The Pull of Money and the Need for Stewardship
[42:05] - Jesus’ Words on Treasure and Loyalty
[44:09] - Our Financial Documents as Worship Documents
[46:14] - The Spiritual Nature of Money
[48:25] - Progress Illusion: The Danger of Just Talking
[51:47] - Balancing Financial Wisdom and Trust
[53:35] - Stewardship: It’s All God’s
[56:04] - Shifting from Control to Trust
[57:13] - Questions for Reflection and Surrender
[59:49] - Communion: The Anchor of Whole Life Worship
[01:07:53] - Baptisms and Celebration
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Whole Life Worship – Time, Talent, and Treasure
---
### Bible Reading
Matthew 6:19-21, 24, 33 (ESV)
> 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
...
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
...
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
> The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein.
Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)
> Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6, what does Jesus say about where we store our treasure and why does it matter?
2. In the sermon, what are some ways the American church has mishandled the topic of money? ([34:15])
3. What does Psalm 24:1 say about who owns everything in the world?
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between giving out of pressure and giving out of posture? ([38:04])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus connect our hearts so closely to our treasure? What does this reveal about the relationship between our faith and our finances? (Matthew 6:21)
2. The sermon says our bank statements and budgets are “spiritual documents.” What does this mean, and how might this perspective change the way we view our resources? ([44:57])
3. The pastor mentioned the danger of “progress illusion”—feeling like we’ve changed just because we’ve talked about something. How does this specifically relate to trusting God with our money? ([48:25])
4. What does it look like to “hold our resources with open hands” and why is this important for whole life worship? ([53:35])
---
### Application Questions
1. When you look at your own spending, what story does it tell about what you value most? Is there anything you feel challenged to change after hearing this sermon? ([44:57])
2. The sermon asks: “Does my focus and attitude about money and possessions reflect my faith in Jesus?” How would you honestly answer that question right now? ([56:04])
3. Are you more likely to give God your “firstfruits” or your leftovers? What would it look like for you to give from the first, not just what’s left over? ([54:48])
4. The pastor said, “God doesn’t want or need your money. God wants your heart and your surrendered faith in his provision.” What is one area of your finances or possessions that is hardest for you to surrender to God? ([57:13])
5. Have you ever experienced anxiety or fear about money? How might shifting your posture from control to trust help you experience more freedom and peace? ([56:04])
6. The sermon challenged us to ask: “Am I giving out of trust or fear? Out of worship or out of the leftovers?” How can you tell the difference in your own life? ([58:13])
7. What is one practical step you can take this week to practice whole life worship with your time, talent, or treasure?
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the Holy Spirit to show you any area where your heart is divided, and ask for the courage to trust God with your whole life—time, talent, and treasure.
Devotional
Day 1: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be
Jesus teaches that our hearts follow what we treasure, and our priorities are revealed by where we invest our resources. The way we handle money and possessions is not just a financial matter, but a deeply spiritual one that reflects our true loyalties. If we examine our bank statements and budgets, they tell a story of what we value most—whether our focus is on earthly gain or on God’s kingdom. Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and money, and that divided loyalty leads to misplaced hearts. Instead, we are called to let our worship shape every area of life, including our finances, so that our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes. [42:05]
Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (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. … No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Reflection: If someone looked at your bank statement or budget, what would they say you treasure most? What is one change you could make this week to better align your spending with your desire to put God first?
Day 2: Stewardship Is an Act of Worship
Everything we have belongs to God, and we are called to be faithful stewards rather than owners of our resources. When we give of our treasure—our money and possessions—we acknowledge that it all comes from Him in the first place. True stewardship means holding what God has given us with open hands, returning a portion to Him as an act of worship and trust. This posture shifts our hearts from control and anxiety to obedience and faith, recognizing that our giving is not about legalistic performance but about joyful surrender to God’s provision and purposes. [53:35]
Psalm 24:1 (ESV)
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”
Reflection: In what ways do you tend to view your resources as “yours” rather than God’s? How might your attitude or actions change if you truly saw yourself as a steward and not an owner?
Day 3: Give from the First, Not the Leftovers
Honoring God with our wealth means giving Him our first and best, not what is left over after we have met our own desires. When we give from the first, we demonstrate trust in God’s provision and acknowledge His rightful place as Lord over all we have. This act of faithful worship is not about pressure or guilt, but about aligning our hearts with God’s priorities and experiencing the freedom that comes from trusting Him. Giving from the first is a tangible way to put God first in our finances and to break the grip of fear or scarcity that can so easily take hold. [54:48]
Proverbs 3:9 (ESV)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to give to God “from the first” this month? Is there an area where you’ve been giving God your leftovers instead of your best?
Day 4: Seek First the Kingdom of God
Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, promising that when we do, everything else will fall into its proper place. This is not a guarantee of material prosperity, but a promise of peace, fulfillment, and freedom when our priorities are rightly ordered. Balancing wise financial practices with faithful reliance on God requires ongoing trust and surrender, but when we put God first, we experience the joy and security that only He can provide. Whole life worship means that every area of our lives—including our finances—reflects our commitment to God above all else. [51:47]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek God’s kingdom first in your financial decisions this week?
Day 5: Worship Is More Than a Moment—It’s a Whole Life Response
Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings or singing songs; it is a response to what God has done and a way of life that involves every part of us—heart, soul, time, talent, and treasure. God desires our hearts, not just our money or our actions, and He calls us to belong, believe, and bear fruit as people formed by grace and shaped by joyful surrender. When we live with a posture of open hands and surrendered hearts, our lives become a testimony of God’s goodness and generosity, and we experience the deep joy of whole life worship. [58:13]
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Reflection: In what area of your life—time, talent, or treasure—do you sense God inviting you to deeper surrender as an act of worship this week? What step can you take today to respond?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jul 21, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?