Podcast Summary

Podcast: Elevation with Steven Furtick
Episode: You Must Be Important
Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick

Main Theme / Purpose

In the episode "You Must Be Important," Pastor Steven Furtick challenges listeners to reconsider what is truly important in their lives—from God’s perspective, not culture’s or their own. Drawing from Mark 4:35–5:20, he explores the story of Jesus calming the storm and delivering the man with a legion of demons. Furtick emphasizes that the storms and struggles we face are not random; rather, they often signal the significance of our calling. Through charisma, humor, and biblical exposition, he encourages listeners to realign their priorities, see their value to God, and recognize their potential as "chain-breakers" in their families and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Redefining Importance & Priorities:

• (02:30–06:30)
  • Furtick opens by asking God, “Show me what’s important,” highlighting the difference between urgency and importance—“Some things that will be an emergency for other people cannot become my priority just because they didn’t make a plan.”
  • He reflects on how priorities change with time, especially in roles (e.g., pastor vs. dad):

    “If I dropped dead, there’d be another preacher standing here this weekend. But he has only one dad.” (04:55)

• (07:00–09:30)
  • Our energy is often spent on what the world labels as important, but God’s measures differ.

2. Mark 4:35–5:20: The Storm and the Demoniac

• (13:35–16:55)
  • The story is introduced with a focus on Mark highlighting Jesus’ authority, not just power.
  • Furtick observes, “Authority is illustrated, not explained… When you really have power, you don’t have to shout.” (15:10)

3. About the Individual’s Value

• (18:25–23:40)
  • Jesus crosses into unfamiliar, Gentile territory for one man seen as an outcast. Furtick comments on Jesus prioritizing this encounter, despite cultural assumptions of value.
  • Notable Quote:

    "The one he was going to heal was the daughter of someone who was important… The woman who came up behind Jesus isn't even given a name… Sometimes God will upset your priorities to show you his power in a new way." (09:30–10:40)

• (23:40–27:50)
  • The storm wasn’t just a random hardship.

    “I thought the storm meant God had left me… In this passage, the storm means He’s on the way.” (27:12)

4. Spiritual Opposition Indicates Value

• (29:20–33:00)
  • The severity of the storm is proportional to the importance of the “assignment” on the other side.

    “The size of your storm tells me something about your importance. The devil doesn’t start a storm for somebody who he’s not threatened by.” (29:55)

5. Relatability: Everyone Has Chains

• (35:20–39:40)
  • With humor and candor, Furtick insists everyone has places in life where they’re out of control or oppressed—even those who appear to “have it together.”
  • Notable Quote:

    “Once I found out y’all were crazy, I was no longer intimidated to preach this Bible like it really is.” (36:45)
    "Are you telling me there’s no area of your life where you’re out of control?" (35:55)

6. The Pigs: Attacking What’s Most Valued

• (41:15–44:40)
  • Furtick expounds on why the demons entered the pigs:

    “The devil will use anything to get to your faith. What he’s after is your relationship with God. But he’ll use the pigs to get you to push away the presence of God.” (43:30)

  • He compares the loss of pigs ($2 million in modern value) to the value placed on the man’s freedom.

7. Proof of Importance: You Survived

• (46:45–48:40)
  • The listener is invited to see survival through storms and opposition as evidence of value.
  • Notable Quote:

    “You must be important. He wouldn’t tie you up if he wasn’t afraid of what would happen if you got loose.” (47:15)

8. From Maniac to Missionary: Purpose in Your Place

• (48:45–end)
  • The delivered man wants to leave with Jesus. Instead, Jesus commissions him to stay and testify—emphasizing purpose where we are.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Sometimes God gives you the faith to go. Other times, He gives you the grace to stay.” (49:30)

  • Furtick concludes, “You are so important to me. The man who wasn’t even living with the people became the first missionary to the Gentiles. He was the first one. Some of you are going to be the first.” (50:00)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Some things that will be an emergency for other people cannot become my priority just because they didn’t make a plan.” (03:30)
• “Goosebumps don’t prove the presence of God… What proves the presence of God in my life is when my priorities begin to align with his.” (11:30)
• “You were on the Devil’s hit list before you were ever born.” (27:44)
• “You must be important. The devil knows more about your destiny than you do.” (47:30)
• "[About the healed man:] Jesus did something kind of strange. He looked back at the man and said, you can't follow me. Jesus didn't let him leave, but said, I need you to go home to the same situation I delivered you in. I'm not going to take you out of it. I took it out of you." (49:00)
• "From maniac to missionary" (49:59)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:34 – Furtick introduces the theme and requests the audience to say, “You must be important.”
• 03:00–06:30 – Discussion of how to discern what matters most in life and the difference between urgent and important.
• 13:35–16:55 – Setting up the Mark 4:35–5:20 narrative, Jesus’ authority, and Mark’s intent.
• 23:40 – The spiritual nature of storms and opposition.
• 29:55 – The size of your storm is a sign of your importance.
• 35:55 – Challenging the audience: everyone has some "Legion" in them.
• 41:15 – The story of the pigs and why the enemy attacks where you value most.
• 43:30 – Enemies’ tactics to attack your real value—your relationship with God.
• 46:45 – The tie between storms and your value to God.
• 49:30 – “Grace to stay” and the commissioning of the former demoniac as a missionary.
• 49:59 – Climax: “From maniac to missionary.”
• 50:00–End – Final call to recognize your importance and respond with gratitude and purpose.

Flow & Tone

The episode balances biblical teaching, relatable anecdotes, humor, and impassioned exhortation. Furtick’s style is energetic, approachable, and confrontational (in a loving way), frequently using repetition and call-and-response to drive points home. He speaks directly to the listener’s struggles, challenging preconceptions and offering both empathy and empowerment.

Summary Takeaways

• Being targeted by storms and opposition is a sign of your significance.
• God’s priorities often differ from ours; aligning with His brings true purpose and presence.
• Your value comes not from achievement or perception, but from being uniquely pursued and chosen by God.
• Even your struggles and chains reveal the potential for breakthrough and leadership in places and for people others have forgotten.
• Sometimes faith means leaving; other times, it means staying and letting your transformation speak.
• You’re “important”—not because of status, but because of the purpose God has for you and the lengths He’s gone to reach and free you.