Podcast Summary: More Than Money // Triggered (Part 13) // Michael Todd

Podcast: Transformation Church
Episode Date: December 14, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Michael Todd

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the annual "Crazy Faith Offering" at Transformation Church. Pastor Mike Todd urges the congregation to understand that giving is about far more than financial contribution. Instead, the focus is on obedience, heart posture, sacrifice, memory, and eternity. Through biblical examples, personal vulnerability, and testimonies of generosity, Pastor Mike reframes the idea of offering—not as a transaction of money but as a transformative act of faith that reflects a deeper walk with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. It’s About Obedience, Not Amounts (13:00)

• Pastor Mike establishes from the outset that the offering is not primarily about how much money is given, but whether people are being obedient to God’s promptings.
• Quote:
  "Crazy faith will always be defined by obedience, never amounts." (13:37)
• He highlights that God’s instruction is about how quickly we obey—not whether we negotiate, delay, or rationalize.

2. Giving Is More Than Money (24:00)

• The main scripture is the story of the woman who poured expensive perfume on Jesus (Matthew 26:6–13), illustrated as an act that went beyond financial value.
• Quote:
  "This exchange was about more than money." (24:00)
• Pastor Mike relates how we, like the disciples in the story, often miss the heart behind sacrifice, questioning the logic of giving instead of understanding the deeper spiritual significance.

3. What Does God Value More Than Money? (31:21)

A. Heart Posture (31:25)

• The truest measure of value is the heart with which something is given, not the amount.
• Quote:
  "God is not in a competition with money. One of them is going to be your God: Him or the money."
• Where your treasure is, your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

B. Sacrifice (41:58)

• The pain or “stretch” behind a gift matters; true sacrifice isn’t counted solely by the size of the gift but by what it costs the giver relative to their capacity.
• Quote:
  "Value is not based on what you give. It's what you give in correlation with what you have." (44:58)
• He warns against routine giving that no longer challenges us, encouraging reassessment of what real sacrifice looks like in this season.

C. Memory (50:13)

• Our motivation for generosity stems from remembering what God has done for us—especially His deliverance, provision, and grace.
• The story of Mary and Lazarus reminds the congregation to let gratitude shape their giving.
• Quote:
  "She shows us how to sow what she has left—her faith in God. That's all she had." (51:41)

D. Eternity (62:24)

• Giving is a declaration that we value God’s eternal purposes over temporary, earthly treasures.
• Pastor Mike points out that salvation is free, but after being “in the book,” our works “in the books” matter for eternity.
• Quote:
  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures here on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19)

4. Generosity as a Kingdom Strategy (69:41)

• The church practices what it preaches: 10% of every dollar automatically goes out in generosity, funding relief efforts, supporting local and national churches, and responding to community needs.
• Examples:
  • $50,000 to rebuild homes in North Tulsa (77:00)
  • $50,000 to a new church in Dallas–Fort Worth (79:04)
  • $150,000 to a new church in New York City (87:30)
• Quote:
  "I want God to bless your endeavors and your business, but it not be tainted by greed..." (75:17)

5. Personal Vulnerability and Pastoral Leadership (5:20, 12:19, 92:24)

• Pastor Mike repeatedly emphasizes that even leaders must contend with faith and obedience, sharing his own struggles and choices.
• He invites people to see him as "just a step ahead," not above or beyond the same calls to faith and sacrifice.

Notable Quotes

• "If you don't contend for your faith, the enemy will rob the very thing that has brought you to this place." – Pastor Mike (10:59)
• "Obedience is better than sacrifice. You praying every day and disobeying me is not it." – Pastor Mike (19:47)
• "God's trying to tell us there is a value system that is more weighty than money. Obedience is more valuable to God than your money, your time, your talent, and your treasure." (21:55)
• "Have you even considered that God may be requiring something from you? This woman had the right heart posture and because she had the right posture, she did the right thing." (41:00)
• "There are some things that God only supplies when you let go of what he's already supplied. He's asking you to trade hands: trust me." (47:20)
• "You can buy a new Gucci belt and all those different things and made no eternal impact. Those things will not be counted when God asks us, 'what did we do with what I gave you?'" (64:00)
• "Today...because your eternity is more important than money... You are more important than money." (87:30)

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Topic / Quote | |---------------|------------------------| | 05:23 | Faith is not situational, but must be consistent—even in unstable life periods.
| 13:37 | "Crazy faith will always be defined by obedience, never amounts."
| 19:47 | "Obedience is better than sacrifice."
| 24:00 | "This exchange was about more than money." (The story of the alabaster jar)
| 31:21 | Four things God values above money: heart posture, sacrifice, memory, eternity.
| 41:58 | "God values your sacrifice more than he values your money."
| 50:13 | "How to sow what you have left—your faith, your memory."
| 62:24 | "Eternity... when we give to God's house, it shows that we value eternity..."
| 69:41 | Church practices tithing of all income via external generosity.
| 77:00 | $50,000 gift to rebuild homes in North Tulsa
| 79:04 | $50,000 gift to Reach City Church in Dallas–Fort Worth
| 87:30 | $150,000 gift for a new church in New York City
| 92:24 | Emphasizing that individual souls are more valuable than any financial gift

Memorable Moments

• Pastor Mike’s Transparency: Multiple times, he shares his own struggles and humorous moments to connect with the congregation.
  "I said, I wasn’t gonna have no cake at that birthday party. And there it was in my mouth." (8:20)
• Vision for the Church: Dreams of a generosity network that goes beyond what the church can legally or structurally do—envisioning direct giving to those in need. (75:17)
• Stories of Transformation: Over 15,945 salvations attributed to church giving, including specific mention of prison ministry with over 8,900 salvations in correctional facilities. (69:41, 92:24)

Conclusion – Final Takeaways

• The call to generosity is about more than giving money. It is about transformation—aligning your heart with God’s, responding in obedience (no matter the amount), and sacrificing in ways that genuinely stretch your faith.
• True generosity is informed by remembering what God has done for you and living with eternity in mind.
• Transformation Church models this with radical transparency and consistent, impactful giving, exemplifying faith-in-action.

For Listeners:
Whether or not you participate in a financial offering, Pastor Mike’s central challenge is to pursue a lifestyle of obedience and generosity, rooted in gratitude and mindful of eternity. Consider where your heart truly is, and what God might be inviting you to trust Him with—not only your resources, but your very self.

Related Scripture References

• Matthew 26:6–13 – The woman with the alabaster jar
• 1 Samuel 15:22 – “To obey is better than sacrifice”
• Luke 21:1–4 – The widow's mite
• Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord
• Matthew 6:19–21 – Store up treasures in heaven

Summary by Podcast Summarizer | Structured for Clarity and Spiritual Reflection