Podcast Summary: Elevation with Steven Furtick: "The Secret Scoreboard"

Host: Steven Furtick
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Podcast: Elevation with Steven Furtick by iHeartPodcasts
Episode Theme: Exploring the concept of "scorekeeping" in life, examining how we measure worth and success, and challenging listeners to align their values with God's—moving away from external validation to an internal, spiritual "scoreboard" kept by God.

Overview

In "The Secret Scoreboard," Pastor Steven Furtick launches a new series built on the foundational teachings of Jesus from Matthew 6, focusing on how we measure success, self-worth, and impact. Furtick challenges listeners to examine if they’re playing the "right game" in life, not merely playing it well, and confronts the pervasive influence of external validation—from social media to societal status—on our values and actions. Through personal anecdotes, scriptural exploration, and relatable humor, he calls for a deeper, internally anchored system of values where God alone "keeps score."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Choosing the Right Scoreboard (02:07–06:30)

• Opening Setup: Furtick shares his aversion to typical "game changer" language, preferring to discern a word from God's direction for each year/series.
• Scriptural Foundation: Matthew 6:1-4—Jesus warns against practicing righteousness for public acclaim and teaches about giving in secret, with God as the true rewarder.
• Personal Anecdote: Story about his son Elijah’s T-ball game where “they don’t keep score”—yet Furtick privately did, drawing a parallel to how God, not people, keeps true score in our lives.

Quote:

"One of the first things God does when he assumes control of your life is he becomes your scorekeeper by default. We tend to let everybody else keep score." (04:30)

2. The Shift in Social Comparison & Value Systems (06:31–13:15)

• Changing Comparison Standards: Social media has radically expanded the “scoreboards” we compare ourselves to. Where Furtick once felt accomplished in music because his standards were local, now comparison is global and relentless.
• Internal vs. External Scoreboards: Reiterates that appearances do not reveal someone’s real blessings or God’s favor.
• Jesus’ Game-Changing Teachings: How the Beatitudes invert cultural/religious values (blessed are the meek, those who mourn, etc.).

Quote:

"It's almost as if when Jesus comes on the scene, he's less concerned with playing the game right and more concerned with playing the right game. Some of us are playing the wrong game." (11:55)

3. Are We Winning—At What? (13:16–20:00)

• Empty Victories: Achievements in areas that lack depth or eternal value may feel meaningless.
• Video Game Analogy: Furtick compares life to his children playing “Cookie Clicker,” a game with no clear purpose except accumulated points that mean nothing in reality.
• Warning About Wasted Effort: Challenges listeners to consider whether they’re accumulating “digital cookies” (superficial wins) without purpose.

Quote:

"Let me ask you a question. Have you been clicking on stuff, playing a game without asking the question, what is the goal of this game?" (16:30)

4. Jesus’ Radical Value Inversion (20:01–27:00)

• Surface vs. Substance: Behavior without right beliefs or motives leads to shallow victories.
• “You have heard… But I say…”: Jesus systematically redefines righteousness, moving obedience from outward appearances to inward alignment.
• Love for Enemies: Grace isn’t just received but meant to flow through us, redefining what it means to win.

Quote:

"Grace changes the game. I said, the grace of God is a game changer." (24:55)

5. The Real Reward: Reason Over Result (27:01–32:40)

• Reward System Shift: Furtick breaks down how motives determine rewards—if you act just to be seen, others' recognition is all you’ll get; if you do it “for your Father,” your reward is deeper and more lasting.
• Not “Pots of Gold in Heaven”: Eternal reward isn’t transactional or material in the way we imagine, but flows from an ongoing relationship with God.

Quote:

"If the reason I'm doing it is to be seen, then that will be your reward. Your reason determines your reward." (30:15)

6. Applications: Giving, Validation, and the ‘V-Bucks’ Lesson (32:41–37:50)

• Modern Currency Analogy: Furtick expresses frustration about buying his kids V-bucks for Fortnite—a virtual currency only useful for cosmetic changes (skins), paralleling how we often spend (literally and figuratively) for superficial validation.
• Obligation vs. Grace: Contrasts Old Testament, “obligation-driven” giving with Jesus’ invitation into grace-driven, joyful generosity.

Quote:

"I'm sick of spending my money on stuff to make me look good that doesn't really make a real difference in my soul." (35:10)

7. Alignment of Actions and Values (37:51–42:00)

• Winning = Integrity: Calls for congruence between values and actions as the true sign of “winning” in God’s scoreboard.
• Automatic Generosity: Giving and service to God should be so habitual—and rooted in our values—that it’s as natural as a seasoned guitarist’s hands on their instrument.

Quote:

"If your values are shallow, your victories will be empty." (39:10)

8. Call to Action: Take Back the Scoreboard (42:01–44:50)

• Encouragement: Listeners are invited to let God be the only scorekeeper in their lives, freeing them from outside opinions and transient applause.
• Aligning with Kingdom Values: Prepares the church for practical next steps in giving, serving, and living on purpose in the coming season—not for immediate visible rewards, but for lasting internal impact.

Quote:

"I want my Father who sees what is done in secret to keep score for me. I want him to make the decision—was that good?" (43:00)

• Affirmation & Prayer: Ends with a prayer for God to align listeners’ values with His, seeking lasting validation from Him alone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Wouldn't it be tragic to spend your whole life to get good at a game you weren't even supposed to play? To win the approval of people who don't sit on a throne anyway?" (12:30)
• "Have you ever argued with somebody and then you realize… even if I win the argument, it's not worth winning if I have to win it?" (17:15)
• "If you don't give it, you don't have it... If it's not flowing through you, it didn't really flow to you." (25:50)
• "As long as you have shallow reasons, you get empty victories. But when your reason gets deeper… you find meaning in your life." (33:25)
• "God is my source and he is my reward." (44:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:07 — Introduction to the sermon series & Matthew 6 reading
• 04:30 — Story of Elijah’s T-ball and the concept of hidden scoreboards
• 11:55 — Playing the “right” game vs playing the “game right”
• 16:30 — Cookie Clicker analogy and questioning the goals of our actions
• 24:55 — The grace of God as a game changer
• 30:15 — Motives determine rewards—your reason is your reward
• 35:10 — V-bucks/skins analogy and real value
• 39:10 — Shallow values make for empty victories
• 43:00 — Letting God be the ultimate scorekeeper
• 44:10 — Affirmation: “God is my source and my reward”

Conclusion: Flow, Language, and Tone

Pastor Furtick’s tone throughout is energetic, conversational, and direct—often lightened with self-deprecating humor and practical analogies (video games, parenting, playing guitar). He seamlessly blends biblical exposition with cultural insights, moving fluidly between scripture and real-life applications. The central call is one of return: moving from public applause and performance-driven living to quiet, value-driven integrity in relationship with God.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers:

• A clear framework for considering whose values we’re building our lives upon
• A challenge to let go of constant comparison and performance
• Encouragement to pursue inward wholeness and integrity, trusting that God alone keeps the true scoreboard.