Joel Osteen: The Prosperity Gospel’s Coverboy
The younger Osteen lives the life of prosperity that he preaches. A 2001 Real Estate Guide (http://north-valley.com/realestate_board/messages/157.html ) valued his home at $1,265,500.
His sermon titles give clues as to the focus of Osteen’s ministry:
ENLARGE YOUR VISION
HOLDING ONTO YOUR DREAMS
FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
OVERCOMING THE GREATEST HINDRANCE TO HEALING
DEVELOPING MIRACLE-WORKING FAITH
FAITH TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD
DO ALL YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE
LIVING A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE
DEVELOPING YOUR POTENTIAL
Looks like Mother Teresa had it all wrong. /sarcasm
Re: "His sermon titles give clues as to the focus of Osteen’s ministry":
ENLARGE YOUR VISION
HOLDING ONTO YOUR DREAMS
FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
OVERCOMING THE GREATEST HINDRANCE TO HEALING
DEVELOPING MIRACLE-WORKING FAITH
FAITH TO CHANGE YOUR WORLD
DO ALL YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE
LIVING A LIFE OF EXCELLENCE
DEVELOPING YOUR POTENTIAL
YES! What's wrong with Hope?!
And if you went to Lakewood - you would see that Joel appends all those sermons with this simple Biblical base line:
"I CAN do all things TROUGH CHRIST!"
That is why Joel's messages are received so well. At a time when we are in a war, we have terrorism in the world, people are murdering children in and out of the womb, judges are ruling against God's laws, etc...
People need to hear the "GOOD NEWS" - that they CAN do ALL things through Christ - ** including getting their lives right with God!
* As for salvation - you don't clean fish until you catch them.
There are hundreds of people being saved at Lakewood because they finally feel hope to change their lives!