Pastor Steven Furtick

Sometimes, people who don’t personally know me criticize me.
And sometimes, their criticism is unfounded.
Other times, it’s true, and I bring it on myself.
Let me tell you one piece of criticism I get relatively often that is completely justified. In other words, the following is a totally valid critique, I have no one to blame but myself, and I’m guilty as charged, officer:

“Furtick over-hypes everything. Every sermon series is going to be the best ever. Every big event is going to be the biggest ever. Every new idea is the most exciting ever.”

You’re right. I do talk like that. All the time.
The only problem is, I don’t know what to do about it!
Because I don’t do it intentionally. Sometimes, I even try to downplay something I’m excited about, and I fail miserably. By the time I’m done describing what I’m excited about, I inevitable, incurably drift to the same old, same old:
“This is going to be the best ever!!!…” descriptions.

Maybe you’ll give me a little grace if you understand the why behind the hype:
Because I’m sincerely, genuinely, passionately excited about the thing I seem to be over-hyping!
I’m not playing some hype game… I’m speaking from the overflow of my own anticipation.

For example, yesterday morning we had a 2 hour meeting nailing down the elements of this Sunday’s Dominate commitment service, which will feature all of our people together under a (heated) tent that seats 3,000.
By the end of the meeting, I was smiling from ear to ear like a super-dork, ready to run through a freaking wall like Superman. I’m consumed with a Spirit filled expectancy about the miracle God is going to perform among us Sunday.

So please excuse me if I get a little too excited. Forgive me if my superlatives get on your nerves. I’ll try to do better in the future.
But for the time being, I’ve just got to say:
This Sunday’s worship experience is definitely going to be our absolute best ever.

Dang it. There I go again. Sue me.