Elevation with Steven Furtick

Episode: "Don't Let The Attack Distract You"

Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick

Overview

In this energizing first sermon of the year, Pastor Steven Furtick encourages listeners not to let the inevitable challenges and opposition distract them from their growth, purpose, and calling. Drawing from Matthew 13's parable of the wheat and weeds, Furtick challenges the church to focus less on problems (“weeds”) and more on God's promise and the purpose (“wheat”) He's planted in their lives. With his signature humor and authenticity, he addresses the tendency to judge others, the pain of criticism, and how God’s blessings often come mixed with obstacles.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Power of Agreement: The Meaning of "Amen"

• Furtick opens by firing up the congregation on what "Amen" truly means, equating it to alignment with God’s word and victory over circumstances.
• Quote:

  “Amen means I'm coming into agreement with God's plan for my life. Amen means no weapon formed against me will prosper. Amen means I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (06:16)

2. Celebrating Wins and Announcing Vision

• Furtick shares the church’s collective achievements, celebrating generosity and the launch of a new campus.
• Encourages a spirit of gratitude and unity for the coming year, calling for another year of “preaching God’s Word, releasing worship, and serving others.”
• Quote:

  "Another year of standing beside children who don't have fathers and mentoring them... Another year of reaching into prisons and recovery centers and telling people that their life matters and don't throw it away...” (13:08)

3. Introduction to the Parable: Wheat and Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

• Furtick explains Jesus’s parable, noting it’s not about the seed (God’s word) being bad—but about the challenges that come alongside growth.
• The church is reminded that wherever there's wheat (goodness, progress), there will also be weeds (problems, attacks).
• He shares the core message:

  “Don’t let the attack distract you. That’s what it is. It’s a distraction.” (26:40)

4. Facing Attack: The Enemy's Strategy

• The attack is not to destroy God’s seed (purpose/blessing) but to distract believers so they undermine their own harvest.
• The enemy cannot uproot what God has planted; but he can plant distractions to derail our focus.
• Quote:

  "He could not pluck up what God had planted... He could not destroy the seed. The only strategy he had was to distract the harvesters." (38:23)

5. Personal Story: Weathering Public Criticism

• Furtick recounts a difficult season when Elevation Church was falsely accused in the media of faking baptisms.
• He describes his desperate prayer for God to “make it stop” and shares a pivotal lesson:
  Quote:

  “The Lord said, I can stop the attack, but if I stop the attack, I have to stop the impact that created it. So now you have to decide, do you want the attack to stop bad enough to give up the impact that brought it?” (45:50)

• He connects this to a testimony: The negative news brought someone new to faith who now plays a pivotal role in church services.
• Memorable Moment:

  "God used their words as a weapon... No weapon formed against you shall prosper." (50:20)

6. Stop Judging the Process (and Others) Before It's Done

• Criticizes the human impulse to judge prematurely, using humorous analogies and past ministry experiences.
• Important insight: You often can’t tell what’s wheat and what’s weeds until the growth matures.
• Quote:

  "Some of the people you dated are proof of the fact that you are not very good at getting past the packaging." (33:18)
  “You cannot label this thing while it’s still in process.” (1:19:48)

7. The Mixed Nature of Life: "It’s Going to be Mixed in 26"

• Furtick debunks the fantasy of a “weed-free” year. Challenges are inevitable, but so is God's faithfulness.
• Quote:

  “If Jesus’ field wasn’t weed-free, what makes you think yours is going to be?” (57:16)
  "It's going to be mixed in 26. It's going to be some wheat, it's going to be some weeds." (57:40)

8. Don’t Burn Your Bread: Protect Your Potential

• He nearly titled this sermon “Don’t Burn Your Bread,” alluding to the potential in every listener not to give up their purpose because of adversity.
• Key Point: What God planted, only He can bring to completion. Focus on the progress, not the problems.

9. Scriptural Reflection: David, Shimei, and the Bigger Picture

• Drawing from 2 Samuel, Furtick recounts how David faced personal attacks but chose not to retaliate—trusting that God alone judges and blesses.
• Quote:

  “You have bigger priorities... You have too much to do to be offended by them.” (1:07:10)
  "It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today." (1:09:16)

10. Final Charge: You’re Built For It

• Furtick affirms God’s sovereignty in placing each person where they are, reminding them they are uniquely designed for their struggles.
• Practical advice: Focus less on the weeds and more on God’s wheat in your life. Offense and distraction are the real threats to progress.
• Quote:

  “If you don’t let it distract you, it can’t destroy you. The word of God is incorruptible seed. You’ve been born again by imperishable seed. Don’t let it.” (1:17:55)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If one does…” (24:04)
  An encouragement that even one breakthrough, one life changed, or one “yes” can make all the failures and efforts worthwhile.

• On Exhausting Judgment:

  "It's not your job because you're not God. If I could say it a little more directly, you suck at judging." (29:52)
  (Delivered humorously, this resonated powerfully with the congregation.)

• Parable Insight:

  “What’s really going on in our hearts sometimes doesn’t match what’s coming out of our mouths.” (1:13:29)
  A call toward integrity and authenticity amid life’s mix.

• On God’s Faithfulness Amid Trials:

  "There is nothing the enemy can plant. Jeremiah said, before I was born, he called me and set me apart. So that means I know the enemy has been busy in your life... trying to plant weeds where there's wheat. But... no matter what the enemy plants in your life, God got there first." (1:10:29)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• What "Amen" Means — 06:16
• Celebrating Wins & year’s vision — 13:08
• Explaining the Parable of the Soils — 17:50
• Reading the Wheat and Weeds Parable — 26:30
• Main Thesis: Don’t Let the Attack Distract You — 26:40
• On Judging Others and Ourselves — 29:52
• Personal Story: Church Attacks & God's Response — 45:50
• The Danger of Perfectionism and Weed-Focus — 55:00
• Scriptural Illustration: David & Shimei — 1:06:35
• Encouragement and Altar Prayer — 1:15:00

Takeaways

• Growth invites opposition: Attacks often increase as you move forward—they’re a sign of your impact.
• Don’t judge too soon: You can’t always separate the weeds from the wheat until God completes His work.
• Your reaction matters: Don’t exchange your calling for petty distractions or resentment.
• You’re built for this: God intentionally placed you in your circumstances, equipped, and purposed.
• Keep your focus: If you don’t let the attack distract you, it can’t destroy you.

Closing Prayer and Invitation (1:19:00+)

• Furtick closes with an invitation for listeners to put their trust in Christ, guiding the church through a salvation prayer and blessing for the new year.
• “Don’t pluck it up, because God’s not done with you yet. Don’t let the attack distract you—it’s a sign you’re on course.”

For full impact, listen to Pastor Furtick’s delivery, humor, and passion—this summary highlights the core message:
No matter the weeds alongside your wheat, don’t let the attack distract you from your God-given growth and purpose.