This Is Bigger Than Them | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

This Is Bigger Than Them

Elevation Church • May 3, 2026 • 54 min

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

Summary

Pastor Steven Furtick teaches from the life of Caleb in Joshua 14 and Numbers 13, reminding believers that God's plan for their lives is far greater than any opposition or delay. While we cannot control external circumstances or the actions of others, God gives us the agency to choose our response and follow Him wholeheartedly. By trading bitterness for belief and letting go of blame, we make room for God's blessings and step into our divine destiny.

Themes

Divine Sovereignty and Human AgencyOvercoming Bitterness and Victim MentalityFaith in God's Promises during WaitingReframing Personal Limitations and InsecurityVictories over Relational Conflict

Pastor's Points

1.

Belief

2.

Bitterness

3.

Blessing

Key Points

1.
Belief: Faith begins by standing firmly on God's promise rather than personal preferences or immediate circumstances.
2.
Bitterness: Holding onto resentment during long seasons of wilderness wandering blocks future blessings and drains spiritual vigor.
3.
Blessing: Inheriting God's promise requires trusting His timing and stepping forward in courage to drive out the giants in your path.
4.
Sovereignty and Agency: God is ultimately in control, yet He gives believers the responsibility and agency to choose their responses rather than living as victims.
5.
Rejecting "Made Me" Language: Blaming others or environmental circumstances strips believers of personal agency and hinders spiritual growth.
6.
Blessings Bring Battles: Every promise and blessing from God carries an accompanying battle, so believers must stop expecting battle-free growth.
7.
Shifting Focus from "Them" to "Him": No person or human opposition can prevent what God has genuinely promised for your life.
8.
Overcoming the Grasshopper Mindset: Insecurity causes believers to see themselves as small and inadequate compared to giants, but God's power enables us to overcome every obstacle.

Sermon Moments

“This message isn't really about Caleb's age; it's a message about agency.”

“Agency means that God is in charge, but I also get to choose.”

“In any given situation of your life, you can't always change the result, but you can always choose your response.”

“There are battles that don't bring blessings, but there are no blessings that don't bring battles.”

“You cannot claim breakthrough if you cling to blame.”

“No person can prevent what God has truly promised.”

“The biggest battle that Caleb won was not against the enemies that inhabited Canaan; it was against the bitterness that could have inhabited him.”

“Do not miss getting your grapes because you see yourself as a grasshopper.”

This Week

Stop using "made me" language when facing frustrations, taking personal responsibility for your emotional and spiritual choices.

Surrender a situation where you feel stuck in blame by choosing to release the person involved and trusting God for breakthrough.

Identify any lingering bitterness or resentment toward others and choose to forgive in prayer so it does not block future blessings.

Replace an insecure "grasshopper" thought about your limitations with a clear declaration of God's strength and promise.

Meditate on Romans 8:31 throughout the week to remind yourself that God's purpose for you is bigger than human opposition.

Evaluate your weekly routine and build intentional margins so physical and mental exhaustion do not cause you to react rashly.

Open your hands in prayer to symbolically release past disappointments and receive the fresh inheritance God has for you.

Remember This

God's purpose and promise for your life are bigger than any person, opposition, or unfair situation facing you.

A Challenge for You

Open your hands, release whoever has disappointed you, and receive what God has prepared for you, knowing that His promise is bigger than them.

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