Podcast Summary: Put Your Passion In Its Place

Podcast: Elevation with Steven Furtick
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick
Date: February 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Steven Furtick delivers a vibrant and practical sermon rooted in Revelation 2:2–5, challenging listeners to evaluate and reclaim their passion—both for God and for life itself. Using personal stories, biblical examples, and candid humor, Furtick explores the tension between progress and passion, the dangers of letting passion wane or become misplaced, and the spiritual principle that passion should follow purpose, not the other way around. The sermon offers actionable steps to recover lost passion and highlights the importance of perseverance and practice in keeping passion alive.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scriptural Foundation: The Church in Ephesus

• Text Basis: Revelation 2:2–5—God recognizes Ephesus’s endurance and doctrinal purity, but challenges them: “You’ve abandoned the love you had at first.”
• Furtick relates this warning not just to the ancient church, but to all believers who’ve become dutiful but dispassionate.
• Key Message: If you don’t remember and repent, “you’re going to lose your place.” ([03:25])

2. Personal Stories Illustrating Lost & Found Passion

• Childhood memories as an acolyte—the pride, specialness, and care he put into lighting candles.
• The first sermon at age 16: “I didn’t have much sense, but I had passion.” ([08:03])
• Early days of Elevation Church—minimal resources, but abundant passion:

  “We had the kind of passion they were calling us a cult. Until they’re calling you a cult, you’re not doing nothing.” ([08:24])

• Reflection on married life, humble beginnings, and the simplicity of loving well before achieving significance.

3. The Pattern: Gaining Position, Losing Passion

• Spiritual progress often leads to forgetting initial love and zeal.
• Ephesus grew in stature and influence but lost their “first love.”
• Furtick warns: “You had something when you were small that you lost now that you’re significant.” ([10:21])

4. Passion Needs a Place (and Discipline)

• Passion is like fire—it needs the right context.

  “The place for sex is in the marriage bed. I know you have passion, but passion needs a place to operate like a fire.” ([17:37])

• Misplaced passion can be dangerous, but so is suppressed passion—don't let complacent people steal your fire.

5. Passion Is Proven by Perseverance, Not Just Feeling

• Furtick illustrates with Paul, Timothy, David, and Jesus—passion shows most in sticking it out, not high emotion.
• Passion isn’t personality or excitement alone.

  “Passion isn’t how high you jump. Passion is how straight you walk when your feet hit the ground.” ([20:35])

• True passion prevails: “The proof of your passion is your perseverance.” ([21:32])

6. How Do You Get Your Passion Back?

• Passion isn’t lost; it’s left.

  “You didn’t lose your passion. You left it.” ([29:35])

• The prescription from Revelation: “Remember where you fell. Repent. Do the things you did at first.” ([30:36])
• Passion is a decision and a practice, not just a sensation.

  “You don’t pray to get it back. You practice. Do the things you did at first.” ([31:49])

7. The Power of Practice

• Personal and team examples: musicians practicing for the unseen; David practicing in obscurity before facing Goliath.
• Furtick urges:

  “If you have passion, you ought to preach in the car. You ought to worship God. Monday, Tuesday. It’s my passion. My passion. I practice my passion.” ([37:42])

8. Danger of Passive or Misplaced Passion

• Even King David, once passionate, lost his way and fell into sin when he stopped passionately pursuing his purpose.

9. The True Order: Passion Should Follow Purpose

• Furtick challenges cultural advice to “follow your passion.”

  “I think the worst advice we could give a young person is to follow your passion. That might sound exciting, but it’s self-destructive. You don’t follow your passion… You follow your purpose.” ([44:51]–[45:57])

• Illustration: “How ridiculous would it be if the camera crew made me chase the camera while I’m preaching? I don’t follow passion. My passion follows my purpose.” ([47:45])

10. Closing Prayer and Charge

• Citing Psalm 51 (David’s prayer of repentance), Furtick asks God to “restore the joy of your salvation and renew a right spirit within me.” ([49:09])
• Call to action: No more waiting for the feeling—practice passion, get up, and pursue purpose.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “How many of you are glad I preach long sermons because you know you’re jacked up? It’s going to take me a whole lot more than twelve minutes to straighten you out. Weirdo.” ([06:41])
• “The proof of your passion is your perseverance.” ([21:32])
• “Passion isn’t how high you jump. Passion is how straight you walk when your feet hit the ground.” ([20:35])
• “You didn’t lose your passion. You left it.” ([29:35])
• “Do the things you did at first. It’s a decision, not a sensation.” ([30:55])
• “I don’t follow passion. My passion follows my purpose.” ([47:57])
• “How ridiculous would it be if the people running the cameras thought it was my job to follow the camera?” ([47:45])
• “You haven’t even found your passion until you’ve passed your feelings.” ([23:35])
• “Even the best lose their passion without practice.” ([39:01])
• “If you follow your passion, you’re going to get your passion confused with your feelings.” ([45:16])

Key Timestamps

• [03:25] – Opening scripture and introduction of the theme
• [08:03] – Childhood passion and first sermons
• [10:21] – Warning: Gaining significance, losing passion
• [13:16] – Ephesus’s early passion and its effects
• [17:37] – Truth about passion needing a place (fire analogy)
• [20:35] – Passion defined vs. interest/knowledge/personality
• [21:32] – Perseverance as proof of passion; instruction to Timothy
• [29:35] – “You didn’t lose your passion. You left it.”
• [31:49] – Don’t just pray—practice to get it back
• [37:42] – Practicing passion in everyday life
• [39:01] – “Even the best lose their passion without practice.”
• [44:51] – Misleading advice to “follow your passion” addressed
• [47:45] – Camera analogy—passion should follow purpose
• [49:09] – Psalm of David’s repentance, call for restoration
• [51:27–51:39] – Closing: “We command our passion to serve your purpose in our lives. We will.”

Summary Table: How to Reignite and Sustain Passion

| Step | Explanation | Reference | |---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Remember | Recall your original why and where you started | [30:36] | | Repent | Decide to turn from mere duty or waywardness | [30:36], [44:13] | | Practice | Do what you did at first, whether you feel it or not | [31:49], [37:42] | | Persevere | Stick it out when it’s not easy or exciting | [21:32], [24:15] | | Purpose First | Let your purpose lead, and passion will return/follow | [47:57] |

Takeaway for Listeners

Steven Furtick’s message is an empowering reminder:

• Don’t rely on passing feelings to fuel your faith, marriage, career, or calling.
• Passion isn’t found by chasing every fleeting desire; it’s cultivated through discipline, perseverance, and aligning with your God-given purpose.
• If your passion has waned, remember, repent, and begin to practice what you once did.
• Ultimately, passion thrives when it stays in the place of your purpose.

For those needing to reignite their own fire:

“My passion is waiting in the place of my purpose.” ([48:33])
Don’t chase the feeling—choose the practice, and your fire will follow.