Podcast Summary: Elevation with Steven Furtick – "Begin With Amen"

Date: March 15, 2026
Series Launch: Seeking Jesus
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick (with LJ, Co-host/Worship Leader)
Episode Theme: Challenging the way we approach faith by learning to “begin with Amen” – trusting what God says, not just seeing to believe, but believing to see.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In the kickoff to the new series "Seeking Jesus," Pastor Steven Furtick urges listeners to transform their approach to faith by starting with confidence in God’s promises ("begin with Amen"). The episode explores the story of Jesus calling his disciples in John 1:43-51, highlighting Philip and Nathanael, and contrasts seeking "someone" (Jesus) with seeking "something." Furtick challenges conventional wisdom about faith, examining how belief shapes what we experience of God’s presence and power.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Seeking Jesus – Series Introduction

• [02:25] Pastor Furtick reveals the new sermon series, "Seeking Jesus," designed to help listeners move beyond distractions to find a deep, authentic relationship with Christ.
  • “Something to help us stop scrolling so much and start seeking Jesus. Stop digging through the dumpster to find a meal and start seeking the bread of life.” (Steven Furtick, 02:34)

2. Seeking Someone vs. Something

• [03:38] Furtick contrasts the fleeting satisfaction of seeking things with the ongoing journey of seeking someone (Jesus).
  • Example: Finding his wife’s lost ring is a one-time task, but the relationship continues to grow after marriage— “When you seek a thing and you get it, you’re finished. When you seek someone and you find them, you go deeper.” (Steven Furtick, 04:10)

3. The Calling of Philip and Nathanael: ‘Follow Me’

• [04:50–09:19] Reading John 1:43-51, Furtick spotlights Philip’s immediate obedience and Nathanael’s skepticism.
• Theme: The discomfort of responding to God’s call without all the answers.
  • “He said, ‘Follow me.’ For what? You’ll find out if you follow me. When God speaks, reason can never answer. God cannot be sought at the level of mind. God must be experienced at the level of spirit.” (Steven Furtick, 15:28)
• Key Point: Faith means stepping out without knowing all the details: “You have to follow to find out.” (Steven Furtick, 16:14)

4. Faith as ‘Follow to Find Out’

• [16:40] Most people want the plan before obeying, but Jesus doesn’t offer all the details—he calls us to trust.

  • “He never called you to figure out. He just called you to follow.” (Steven Furtick, 16:42)

• Application:

  • Pray for the courage to follow even when the future is unclear.
  • Release the pressure to have it all figured out; trust grows deeper on the journey.

5. Moving from ‘See to Believe’ to ‘Believe to See’

• [18:17–25:46] Furtick flips the cultural script—sometimes faith requires believing first before seeing God move.
  • “Sometimes you have to believe it to see it.” (Steven Furtick, 18:46)
• Using Philip and Nathanael, the message illustrates how doubt, background, or past experiences can limit what we receive from God.

6. Overcoming Labels and Limitations

• [23:01] Nathanael’s bias: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” exposes our tendency to dismiss what doesn’t fit our expectations.

  • Furtick draws parallels to modern prejudice and self-limiting beliefs: “God is bigger than your background... God will come to places you were taught he’d stay away from. God will use people you were taught he hated. God will do things you were taught were impossible.” (Steven Furtick, 24:00)

• Application:

  • Where have you said, “Not Nazareth”—assuming God can’t use your mess, loss, or hurt? Furtick encourages: “Follow him and find out.” (Steven Furtick, 26:58)

7. The Power of ‘Amen’ and Living Belief

• [35:13–39:04] Furtick revisits the word “Amen”—its meaning, its placement in worship, and how Jesus uniquely used it.

  • “When you say amen, you’re not talking to me at all. You’re talking to the one the word came from. So when you say amen, you’re saying, God, let it be like that in my life.” (Steven Furtick, 38:16)
  • Notable congregation moment: Story of a boy who shouted “Let the wild hog eat!”—emphasizing the power and authenticity of a true, heartfelt “amen”. (Steven Furtick, 36:22)

• Key Insight:

  • Jesus says “Amen” to God’s promises before they happen, inviting us to agree and start with faith that it’s already done.

8. Jesus is the ‘Seeker’

• [43:00–45:44] Correction of the idea that we are the primary seekers; actually, Jesus seeks and finds us first.

  • “You want to know why I’m here today? Not because I found Jesus. The truth of the matter is, some of us weren’t even looking, but he was... My story is not the story of Stephen seeking Jesus. My story is Jesus sought Stephen.” (Steven Furtick, 43:15)

• Comfort for Parents and the Lost:

  • Hope for parents or listeners worried about “lost” loved ones: “The Lord knows where to find them. He found you, didn’t he?” (Steven Furtick, 47:53)

9. Jesus as the Amen of God

• [51:05–54:55] In the Gospel of John, only Jesus says “Amen, Amen” repeatedly before making a declaration, affirming his authority and the certainty of his word.
  • “When my great big water walking Jesus, when he speaks a thing, he doesn’t wait to find out if you agree. If he said it, that settles it. Somebody shout Amen.” (Steven Furtick, 52:26)
  • “He is the Amen of God... He said Amen. Whatever comes after it is true... Nothing can cancel it.” (Steven Furtick, 53:16)

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• “When you seek a thing and you find it, you’re done. But when you seek someone and you find them, you go deeper and deeper and deeper.”
  — Steven Furtick ([04:10])

• “Most of us are used to calculating our decisions in life, so we want to figure out and then follow. Jesus does not call you to figure out. He calls you to follow.”
  — Steven Furtick ([16:14])

• “God is bigger than your background. God will do things you were taught were impossible.”
  — Steven Furtick ([24:00])

• “If I don’t believe that God is my provider, I won’t see the provision.”
  — Steven Furtick ([30:55])

• “Some of us weren’t even seeking. But he was. Some of us didn’t even want to come to church. But something made you come, didn’t it? Why? Because you had to get this word.”
  — Steven Furtick ([43:15])

• “When you say amen, you’re not talking to me at all…you’re saying, ‘God, let it be like that in my life.’”
  — Steven Furtick ([38:16])

• “When my great big water walking Jesus, when he speaks a thing, he doesn’t wait to find out if you agree… He is the Amen of God.”
  — Steven Furtick ([52:26, 53:16])

IMPORTANT SEGMENTS & TIMESTAMPS

| Timestamp | Segment Summary | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:25 | Launch of the new series "Seeking Jesus" | | 04:10 | Seeking someone (relationship) vs. seeking something (object/goal) | | 09:19 | Introduction to John 1:43-51, the call of Philip and Nathanael | | 15:28 | “You have to follow to find out” – faith without all the answers | | 18:46 | Believing before seeing – the necessity of faith | | 23:01 | Nathanael’s bias against Nazareth and challenging our limiting beliefs | | 30:55 | “If I don’t believe that God is my provider, I won’t see the provision” – faith as sight | | 36:22 | Story: “Let the wild hog eat!”—the power of authentic Amen | | 38:16 | The meaning and depth of shouting “Amen” | | 43:15 | Jesus as the true seeker—He finds us | | 47:53 | Hope for parents with lost kids: “The Lord knows where to find them.” | | 51:05 | Jesus says “Amen, Amen”—He is the Amen before the promise | | 54:55 | “Seeking Jesus” is about seeing the King, not a small, safe Jesus |

FINAL TAKEAWAYS

• Begin with Amen: Move from waiting for proof or ease to walking in faith, believing what God said is true before you see results.
• Break old patterns: Don’t let background, bias, or the opinions of others define what’s possible for your future.
• Jesus is seeking you: Even when you’re not seeking Him, He is seeking you—faith is a response to His invitation.
• Faith in practice: Declare “Amen” now—come into agreement with God’s promises, not just after you see them fulfilled.

CLOSING CALL

• “If you believe, you will see Jesus—not little Jesus, you will see King Jesus.”
  ([54:24])

• Live with a “Begin with Amen” mindset: agree with God, say “so be it,” and follow—then watch as faith opens your eyes to God’s glory, power, and provision.

For more details, visit elevationchurch.org or find Elevation Church on your favorite podcast app.