Elevation with Steven Furtick

Episode: Just A Little Bit (Joyce Meyer)
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special episode, renowned Bible teacher Joyce Meyer joins the Elevation Church community to deliver a message titled "Just A Little Bit." Meyer explores the danger of allowing “just a little bit” of compromise, sin, or negativity into our lives, and underscores how seemingly small matters can have significant impacts on our spiritual health. Using humor, honesty, and personal anecdotes, she challenges listeners to tighten up on integrity, holiness, and gratitude, offering practical steps for living as lights in an increasingly dark world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Purpose and Calling in a Challenging Time

• Chosen for Our Times: We're living in a dark world, but God has chosen us for this exact season. Our mission is to "shine a little brighter than what we are" (03:00).
• Everyone Has a Pulpit: Your influence may not be from a church pulpit but could be at work, at your backyard fence—anywhere God has placed you.

2. “Just a Little Bit”—The Devil’s Lie

• The sermon title shifted from "Acceptable Sins" to "Just a Little bit," highlighting how the enemy downplays compromise: "That's the biggest lie the devil tells people is, 'It's just a little bit. That's not a big deal. That doesn't matter.'" — Joyce Meyer (07:10)
• Holiness vs. Legalism: The hardest challenge for Christians is balancing holiness with legalism. Meyer argues that genuine holiness—even if mischaracterized as legalism by some—should be our aim.

3. The Importance of Little Things: The Penny Story

• God’s Lesson on Integrity: Joyce shares how God used a penny on the sidewalk to teach her about faithfulness in small matters: "If you pay attention to little things, I’ll always bless your life." (10:35)

4. Illustration: The Brownies and “Just a Little” Compromise

• Memorable Story: A father illustrates to his children the real impact of "just a little" wrong by baking brownies with a small amount of dog poop—no one wanted to eat even a tiny bit. (15:20)
  • Quote: “Sin enters our minds and our homes by deceiving us into believing that just a little bit won’t matter; just a little bit won’t make any difference.” (16:40)

5. Overlooked Sins: Jealousy, Unforgiveness, Lying

• Meyer challenges the audience to consider not just “big” sins, but the everyday ones we tolerate.

  A. Jealousy:

  • "Jealousy rots the bones. ...Everything that God tells us to do or not to do is not for his benefit; it’s for ours." (19:25)

  B. Unforgiveness:

  • Forgiveness is not a feeling, it's a decision about how you treat someone.
  • Steps: Pray for your enemies, bless them, and meet their needs if possible—even if you don’t feel like it. (24:15)

  C. Lying/Integrity:

  • Even insincere commitments (“I’ll call you back”) are breaches of integrity. “We expect God to keep his word, and God expects us to keep our word.” (34:58)

6. Complaining: The Big, Overlooked Sin

• Biblical Example: Referencing Numbers 21, Meyer shows that complaining brought serious consequences for Israel (snakes, death).
• Modern Application: "Wonder how happy it would make the Lord if everybody that’s a Christian never complained. I’d be happy if I could make it through one whole day." (43:25)
• “We are just spoiled rotten at inconvenience.” (44:00)
• Notable: "To complain means to remain." — Staying stuck, as Israel did in the wilderness, is the consequence of habitual complaining. (48:10)

7. The Power of Gratitude and Perspective

• God continually blesses us, but we often become blind to the daily miracles. "How many amazing things is God doing in your life every day that you don't even recognize as amazing anymore?" (41:50)
• Relationships: Instead of focusing on flaws, praise and appreciate the positive. Love covers a multitude of sins; say "please" and "thank you" more often. (52:30)

8. Practical Application: Being Light in a Dark World

• Actions often speak louder than words—“Preach at all times, and if necessary, use words.” (53:40)
• You don't have to push people into corners to witness; just live out your faith, try different ways to serve, and don’t be paralyzed by a fear of mistakes.
• “Smile and be one of the very unusual people that don't complain.” (54:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On being chosen for this time:
  “God chose us for this time. We didn't just end up here in 2025 accidentally. We're here for a purpose.” — Joyce Meyer (04:00)

• On little compromises:
  “That’s the biggest lie the devil tells people is, ‘It’s just a little bit. That’s not a big deal. That doesn’t matter.’” — Joyce Meyer (07:10)

• On integrity:
  “We expect God to keep his word, and God expects us to keep our word.” — Joyce Meyer (34:58)

• On forgiving while offended:
  “I want to be so good at forgiveness that I'm forgiving somebody while they're still trying to offend me.” — Joyce Meyer (27:23)

• On complaining:
  “To complain means to remain.” — Joyce Meyer (48:10)

• On gratitude:
  “It's amazing... if we just had better manners.” — Joyce Meyer (53:10)

• On practical witness:
  “Preach at all times and if necessary, use words.” — Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (53:40)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------| | 02:06 | Joyce opens, discusses personal history | | 07:10 | Theme: "Just a Little Bit" & Devil's lies | | 10:35 | God’s lesson about the penny | | 15:20 | The Brownie story (compromise illustration)| | 19:25 | Discussing overlooked sins: jealousy | | 24:15 | Unforgiveness explained | | 34:58 | Integrity, keeping your word | | 38:40 | Complaining as a sin | | 41:50 | Recognizing daily blessings | | 48:10 | “To complain means to remain” | | 53:40 | How to be a light in a dark world | | 54:20 | Smiling & not complaining | | 55:50 | Final encouragement and prayer |

Actionable Takeaways

• Tighten Your Integrity: Be careful with the small things—keep your word, don’t tell “little” lies.
• Reject “Just a Little Bit” Logic: Don’t excuse small compromises or tolerated sins.
• Foster Gratitude: Actively thank God and people around you; focus on blessings over flaws.
• Combat Complaining: Notice moments you’re tempted to grumble and shift your heart to thanksgiving.
• Forgive as a Choice: Take practical steps—pray for, bless, and if possible, help those who’ve hurt you.
• Be a Quiet Witness: Live with joy, excellence, and kindness—that’s often the most powerful testimony.

Closing Prayer (55:50)

Joyce concludes with a prayer for the congregation to be vigilant over little things, to forgive, avoid pettiness, and to let their words and lives be pleasing to God.

Summary in One Sentence

Joyce Meyer reminds us that it’s not the “big sins” but the accumulation of little compromises—jealousy, complaining, lack of integrity, and ingratitude—that keep us from being the light God intends, calling us to a renewed commitment to holiness, gratitude, and everyday faithfulness.

This summary covers the heart of the message and provides clear next steps for listeners seeking to apply its wisdom in daily life.