Begin With Amen | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Begin With Amen

Elevation Church • Mar 15, 2026 • 59 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In "Begin With Amen," Pastor Steven Furtick opens the "Seeking Jesus" series by showing that following Christ requires taking steps of faith before understanding every detail of the outcome. While the world insists on seeing proof before believing, spiritual reality operates in reverse—we must believe God in order to recognize His glory, power, and provision at work. Crucially, salvation is not about us successfully searching for God, but about Jesus seeking and finding us right where we are. When Jesus speaks truth over our lives, He declares "Amen" beforehand because His promises are guaranteed by His nature and settled forever.

Themes

Faith and ObedienceDivine Initiative and SalvationSpiritual Perception and BeliefThe Authority and Promises of ChristOvercoming Insecurity and Labels

Pastor's Points

1.

You have to follow to find out.

Key Points

1.
Seeking a person is fundamentally different from seeking an object; finding a thing completes the search, but finding Jesus opens an ongoing journey of knowing Him deeper.
2.
Jesus calls believers to follow Him in faith rather than trying to figure out every detail of the future before obeying.
3.
Human labels, origins, and past backgrounds cannot limit Christ, who is the preexistent Creator through whom all things were made.
4.
While the world demands seeing proof before believing, spiritual reality requires believing God first so that our spiritual eyes are opened to see His glory and provision.
5.
Believing God as our provider allows us to recognize His divine supply in resources and situations we previously overlooked.
6.
Salvation is driven by divine initiative; long before we turned to God, Jesus already saw us, knew us, and sought us out.
7.
Jesus speaks "Amen" before declaring His truths because His promises are guaranteed by His own nature and do not depend on human approval.

Sermon Moments

“Because when you're seeking a thing and you find it, you're done. But when you seek someone and you find them, you go deeper and deeper.”

“Jesus does not call you to figure out. He calls you to follow.”

“Jesus didn't come from Nazareth. Nazareth came from Jesus.”

“Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. But sometimes you have to believe it to see it.”

“The truth of the matter is some of us weren't even looking, but He was.”

“I'm not holding Him; He's holding me.”

“When Jesus speaks a thing, He doesn't wait to find out if you agree. If He said it, that settles it.”

“He doesn't need to wait for the amen. He is the Amen of God.”

This Week

Take an immediate step of obedience in an area where you have been waiting to figure out every future detail before acting.

Shift your perspective from demanding visible proof before trusting God to actively believing His promises so you can recognize His provision already at work.

Refuse to let self-limiting labels or your background dictate what God can do in and through your life.

Be honest with Jesus about your hidden struggles and internal thoughts, trusting that He already knows you completely and chooses you.

Declare "Amen" over difficult circumstances, coming into agreement with God's settled Word before seeing the physical resolution.

Offer praise and thanksgiving in advance for God's promises, trusting His authority to move obstacles and break down walls.

Rest in the truth that your security is based on Jesus seeking and holding onto you rather than your own ability to keep hold of Him.

Remember This

Jesus declares "Amen" over His promises before they are seen, calling believers to follow Him in faith and believe His truth in order to experience His glory.

A Challenge for You

Stand up in agreement with God's settled Word right now, starting with "Amen" to His promises and authority, trusting that what the King has spoken over your life cannot be overturned.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.