Joel Osteen

[WashedClean]

Hi All,

What does everyone think about Joel Osteen? I saw him on FOXNews this morning promoting his book. He's in the city for the Madison Square Garden event.

I can't help but have an uneasy feeling about him. I don't doubt his salvation or the fact that he's helping people. I just don't see the name of Jesus being lifted up at all. At the end of his TV Sermons, he mentions Jesus for about 30 seconds.

This morning on FOX they had a slide with 7 tips for successful living from his book. It was soooo secular. God wasn't even mentioned. I should probably flip through the book before I criticize. :sorry:

I know he's popular and a lot of people like him. He's very charming and I don't even doubt his sincerity. I just wish the name of Jesus was being glorified more in his sermons.

Any thoughts???

[StevenL]

His daddy was a pretty good preacher sometimes. Joel's just a kid who inherited something he's not anointed for.

[BarbB]

I think I agree with StephenL. I've watched him on TV a few times and agree that he's a little too "feel good" and I don't hear enough Jesus!!!! Friends of my brother moved to Houston and attend his church and really like it, but he's not to my taste. I need to be taken to task and made to think. I already know that I have a good life in Jesus. :clap:

[Epiphanygirl]

I think I agree with StephenL. I've watched him on TV a few times and agree that he's a little too "feel good" and I don't hear enough Jesus!!!! Friends of my brother moved to Houston and attend his church and really like it, but he's not to my taste. I need to be taken to task and made to think. I already know that I have a good life in Jesus. :clap:I've seen his program ( I sometimes watch before I go to Mass) and thought it was positive, although it seemed nothing like a sermon. Which made me wonder, is the brodcast portion of the show his whole sermon, or is it a edited version?

[servant4ever]

It's an edited portion of the overall sermon. I've watched it live on www.lakewood.cc (http://www.lakewood.cc) and his sermon is around 45 minutes, and the show has 25 minutes for a sermon.

servant4ever

[good4u]

I have a dear friend who enjoys him because he give her hope when she needed it. However, I don't think he is necessarily biblical in his sermons. I will just have to agree to disagree with her.

[WashedClean]

Thanks for responding everyone. It's good to know I'm not crazy!

I couldn't agree more with newlamb. I feel like his sermons are mostly motivational speeches. I like to be encouraged, but I need to be challenged and moved to conviction. That's how I grow.

If you want to hear some radical, powerful preaching, go to the Times Square church site at www.timesquarechurch.org (http://www.timesquarechurch.org/). Now that's some annointed preaching!

God bless one and all...

Washed

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

One of things Lakewood does that isn't really coneyed through the broadcast is their Bible studies. The sermons are pretty milk and honey and the real meat is in the Bible studies. I was raised in Lakewood under John Osteen, but I dislike the forumla for personal tastes but it works for some people. I prefer to squirm ever once in a while from a good convicting sermon. I will say this, I occasionally hit the Saturday night service because their worship service is just amazing, I totally get into that and lose myself in praising God during that worship service!

[servant4ever]

sweet! You go to Lakewood??? Will the new Lakewood Church in the old Compaq Center be really cool?

servant4ever

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I have gone there in the past :) And still sometimes on Saturdays, and yes it will be very cool! Are you in Houston?

[servant4ever]

No, I have watched him on TV a few times, though... :)

servant4ever

[NacDan]

All I know about Lakewood is what I see on TV. I watch Lakewood's service on TBN on Sunday nights. What I've seen on TV is a well designed "seeker service". I'm betting the real work of dicipleship happens in small groups.

NacDan

[servant4ever]

Yes, the sermons are seeker sensitive. I have watched their services live on their website and they have a weekly altar call, and like 20-30 people respond.

servant4ever

[Glaz]

Joel is cool.......hey, that rhymes ;)

[fiveinjuly]

I like him, and I do believe that his sermons are seeker oriented. They are nice to use to hear something preached that can make you think about the subject in a different way. Like I think that both baby and mature christians can get something out of it, just different things.

[WashedClean]

OK, to those who say he's seeker-friendly in his sermons, could you expand on that? I find his statement at the end about making Jesus "the Lord of your life" out of context. He doesn't explain the Gospel at all, and then expects people to give their lives to Jesus. I'm sure in person it's different, but I always cringe at the end of his sermons now.

I do find him to be a good speaker, but a lot of the time his sermons seem to be the same. I guess I just prefer a little deeper study and more Biblical citings.

Not to sound laborious, I know I've already made these points! :preach: