Podcast Summary
Elevation with Steven Furtick
Episode: Hand Him The Plan
Date: August 17, 2025
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick, with Graham (co-speaker/assistant)
Episode Theme Overview
In "Hand Him The Plan," Pastor Steven Furtick explores the tension between our personal plans and God’s higher purpose for our lives. Drawing from 1 Chronicles 28:19 and Proverbs 19:21, the message centers on surrendering control, recognizing how our details and desires often pale in comparison to God’s prevailing purpose, and learning that true peace is found when we “hand Him the plan.” With animated participation from Graham, the episode weaves personal stories, scripture, and direct challenges to the audience, driving home a call for faith-driven surrender and trust in God’s plans.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Scriptural Foundation: Plans vs. Purpose
(02:50–05:00)
- Steven Furtick begins by reading 1 Chronicles 28:19, where King David outlines the divine plans for the temple, emphasizing God’s involvement in every last detail.
- He layers this message with Proverbs 19:21:
"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (05:41)
- Key Insight:
- God cares about the details, but doesn't always reveal them until after obedience.
- Peace comes from knowing God's purpose wins over personal plans.
2. The Four Points of the Message
(06:30–10:30)
- Furtick structures the sermon using Proverbs 19:21, introducing four points:
- Many are the plans
- In a person’s heart
- But it is the Lord’s
- Purpose that prevails
3. “Details Follow Obedience”
(10:45–13:00)
- Steven illustrates obedience-over-details with Graham, calling him on stage without explanation.
- Quote:
“Details follow obedience. We want it the other way. We say: ‘Show me the entire path, God, then I'll take the first step.’” (12:30)
- Memorable Moment:
Graham’s live demonstration of coming up “without details” underscores that often, God’s specifics are revealed after we respond in faith.
4. How Our Plans are Shaped—And Limited
(13:09–16:31)
- Personal Stories:
- Steven shares his early, modest plans for Elevation Church (a five-year, one-service expectation) and how God quickly exceeded them.
- He notes our tendency to “think small” because we base our plans on our limited experience or “pictures we’ve seen” (14:45).
- Insight:
- Our plans are often too small or delayed out of human caution.
- God’s plans can bypass generational expectations.
- Quote (on starting Elevation):
“If God did what I thought, this would be my first sermon of the first Sunday. Aren’t you glad God didn’t do what you thought?” (16:07)
5. The Heart as Battleground
(20:27–25:24)
- Using the story of Samuel anointing David, Furtick highlights that the heart is where God speaks and where the enemy attacks.
- Quote:
“The same place where God speaks to us is the place where the enemy does—our heart.” (21:17)
- The plans in your heart may not all be from God; “Plans, plural, purpose, singular.” (24:25)
- Our experiences—good, bad, mundane—shape our current readiness to receive God’s plan.
6. Learning from Disappointment
(29:35–35:23)
- David’s longing to build the temple was a good desire, but God said "no," choosing someone else (Solomon).
- Quote:
“What he wants to do is good, but it is not in my purpose for him to do it.” (33:11)
- Insight:
- Not all good plans are God's purpose for us.
- Disappointment can be the soil for a greater divine blueprint.
7. “But It Is The Lord’s”—Letting Go of Control
(35:23–43:51)
- Furtick repeatedly encourages:
“But it is the Lord’s.”
- This becomes a refrain for every aspect of life—family, work, dreams.
- Quote:
“Are you trying to ask God to give you peace, but you will not give him your plans?” (39:26)
8. The Prevailing Purpose and Redemption
(47:05–57:00)
- David didn’t achieve his original plan (building the temple), but God’s purpose prevailed through Solomon—even though Solomon was born from David's greatest moral failure with Bathsheba.
- Quote:
“Isn’t it just like God... that the son born after his worst sin was the one God chose to build the temple?” (54:11)
- The story circles back: No matter our broken plans or failures, God redeems and weaves them into His purpose.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On details and obedience:
"Details follow obedience. Say it."
—Steven Furtick & Graham (12:30) - On our tendency to plan too small:
"How many times have I thought too small? I thought too small because I started with me."
—Steven Furtick (13:09) - On the battle in the heart:
"Plans, plural, purpose, singular."
—Steven Furtick (24:25) - The battle is the Lord’s:
“For the battle is not mine... But it is the Lord’s.”
—1 Samuel 17:47, highlighted by Steven Furtick (44:10) - On letting go:
"If you take your hands and just put them like this... open handed with the plan. But keep a firm grip on the purpose."
—Steven Furtick (58:34)
Important Timestamps/Segments
- [04:31] The foundation text—1 Chronicles 28:19 and the idea that God has "all the details"
- [05:41] Proverbs 19:21 introduced as the framing scripture
- [10:45–13:00] "Details follow obedience" illustrated with Graham
- [14:45] Story of Elevation Church’s early days and how God outpaced the plan
- [20:27] The story of Samuel and David, and insight about “heart” in Hebrew thought
- [24:25] “Plans, plural, purpose, singular” explained and emphasized
- [33:11] God says "no" to David’s dream—teaching on disappointment
- [39:26] “Are you willing to hand Him your plans?”—a challenge to listeners
- [44:10] David's courageous declaration: "The battle is not mine but the Lord's"
- [54:11] Solomon’s birth after David’s failure—God’s ability to redeem
- [58:34] The physical act of opening hands as a sign of surrender
Closing Takeaways
- Surrender the plan, trust the purpose:
God may not reveal all the details, but His purpose will always be accomplished—even through your failures. - Your plans are not your life’s blueprint:
“Hand Him the plan,” and recognize that your disappointments and detours don’t thwart God’s prevailing will. - Your heart is both the construction site and the battlefield:
Be vigilant in discerning whose voice you’re listening to in the clutter of competing plans.
Summary in One Sentence
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Hand Him the plan.”
For those who long for control, clarity, or a certain outcome, Furtick's message is a heartfelt, hope-filled call to let go, trust God's sovereignty, and open your hands to the greater purpose He has for your life—even (and especially) when your plans fall apart.