Stop Staring At That Stone | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Stop Staring At That Stone

Elevation Church • Apr 5, 2026 • 41 min

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

Summary

When Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, she saw the rolled-away stone as a devastating loss, while heaven knew it as the ultimate victory. Pastor Steven Furtick encourages us to shift our perspective from what we think we have lost to the reality of our risen Savior standing before us. Rather than being trapped by tears, transition, or past heartbreaks, we can step away from the stone of yesterday and step into the joy and future Christ has secured for us.

Themes

Resurrection VictorySpiritual PerspectiveOvercoming Grief and DisappointmentNavigating TransitionsGod's Unseen WorkTurning from Past Pain

Key Points

1.
What feels like a devastating heartbreak or unexpected loss today can become the very foundation of your praise tomorrow as God reveals His power.
2.
Two people can look at the exact same situation and see completely different things based on whether they look through human grief or divine faith.
3.
Our pain and tears can easily cloud our perspective, preventing us from recognizing that God is present and at work right in front of us.
4.
God often works in the dark and during periods of transition, moving in powerful ways long before we can see or recognize what He is doing.
5.
We must stop giving the Enemy or circumstances credit for what God is doing and recognize Christ's sovereignty over our lives.
6.
Mary expected to find a dead body lying in a tomb, but Jesus was standing alive and victorious over death and hell.
7.
To step into the future God has prepared for you, you must stop staring at the tomb of your past and turn around to face the living Savior.

Sermon Moments

“Some of the things that are a problem today will be a praise tomorrow.”

“The angel said, 'Risen,' and Mary said, 'Robbed.' They were looking at the exact same stone.”

“It is not what you are looking at; it is what you believe about what you are looking at that determines how you feel when you see it.”

“God is moving before I know that he is. God does stuff in the dark.”

“Stop giving the Enemy credit for stuff God is doing.”

“She said, 'Show me where they laid him.' But when she saw him, he wasn't lying; he was standing.”

“When she turned to face Jesus, the stone was behind her. Put it behind you.”

“God can still be winning while you're weeping.”

This Week

Identify a current setback or loss in your life and choose to pray over it as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His resurrection power.

When grief or frustration clouds your vision, pause to ground your faith in God's promises rather than relying strictly on your emotions.

Stop blaming circumstances or giving the Enemy credit for what God is ultimately orchestrating for your good.

Surrender the need to control every outcome during times of transition, trusting that God is working behind the scenes in the dark.

Actively turn your attention away from past failures and painful memories by verbally declaring, "Bye-bye stone, hello Jesus."

Take time this week to answer Jesus' question, "Whom are you seeking?", by realigning your daily priorities toward seeking Him above all else.

Share the good news of how Christ has freed you from your past with someone in your life who needs encouragement.

Remember This

Stop fixating on the stones and graves of your past, and turn around to recognize the living Savior standing victorious in your life today.

A Challenge for You

Turn away from the tomb, put your past behind you, and step out of fear, grief, and bondage into the bright tomorrow that the risen Christ has prepared for you.

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