Joel Osteen's Quotes

A lot of churches have not moved with the times.

Sometimes, I think if you get away from what you're called to do, it's more of a distraction.

I've never preached one sermon on money, on just finances. I want to stay away from it.

I don't argue when people say that my message is simple, but I believe Jesus' message was simple.

I don't believe we are supposed to go through life defeated and not having enough money to pay our bills or send our kids to college.

I have always believed in God.

A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.

I don't have all the answers.

I don't know what can be so dangerous about giving people hope.

Sometimes when you take strong stands, if you're not called to do it, you're dividing the audience you're trying to reach.

To me, we're marketing hope.

God's desire is that we excel.

I believe the scripture says that being gay is a sin.

Sometimes what works 40 years ago doesn't work today.

It's amazing how people will give when you don't ask. Many of them send money because they believe in the message.

I don't go down the road of condemning.

I don't want to just preach to the church. I feel like I have a broader message.

I'm not looking to exclude people, I'm looking to include them.

I'm not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I'm just living my life.

The Hindus are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

I don't dislike anybody.

I like sports, and I enjoy playing basketball and lifting weights.

I'm trying to make God more relevant in our society.

I like to think my dad was easygoing and kind, and I think some of those things have been passed down. I am like him in a sense of being positive and hopeful. He was compassionate, and I've got a lot of that in me as well.

I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.

I didn't try to copy my dad or fit into the pressure or the mold that everybody tried to make me fit into.

I think the word rich is all relative.

I write all my sermons.

I'm a reverend and a pastor. A pastor of the church. I go by usually pastor.

Mormonism is a little different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ.

My dad had a church of 90 people when I was born. It was just, over the years it continued to grow.

On Sundays when I speak, I hopefully give somebody something that they can use the next day at work or at home.

People define Christianity differently. I think a large portion of our population are Christians, they're not all growing in their faith, they're not all active, but I believe that a lot of people believe in Jesus and believe that he is their Lord and Savior.

Well I think a lot of times we're putting things off and I'm going to do it later. I'm going to break this bad habit or I'm going to pursue this dream or I'm going to treat my spouse better.

You may never get to that perfect world that you're waiting for where everything's going to be perfect and you got that much money and your house paid off.

My parents were the same in the pulpit as they were at home. I think that's where a lot of preachers' kids get off base sometimes. Because they don't see the same things at both places.

There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame, I don't get to marry everybody, but the pros are you get all this community, 800 ushers come in to serve, getting there at 7 in the morning on their day off and coming in on Saturday to make all those wafers.

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.

When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.

Faith activates God - Fear activates the Enemy.

God didn't make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.

Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it's hard. When you do that you are passing the test. And God promises you your marked moments are on their way.

You can change your world by changing your words... Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Do all you can to make your dreams come true.

Why don't you start believing that no matter what you have or haven't done, that your best days are still out in front of you.

A good thing to remember is somebody's got it a lot worse than we do.

You can be committed to Church but not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church.

It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It's God's will for you to pay your bills and not be in debt.

You may make some mistakes - but that doesn't make you a sinner. You've got the very nature of God on the inside of you.

If we say it long enough eventually we're going to reap a harvest. We're going to get exactly what we're saying.

I'm going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell.

God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us.

I'm not the judge. You know, God didn't tell me to go around judging everybody.

We need to show mercy. I mean, because as much mercy as you show people, that's the mercy you're going to be receiving.

Only God can look at somebody's heart.

If Jesus were here today, he wouldn't be riding around on a donkey. He'd be taking a plane, he'd be using the media.

Let go of yesterday.

If you give, you will be blessed.

I believe God gives you the grace to do what you need to do.

People respond when you tell them there is a great future in front of you, you can leave your past behind.

You can be happy where you are.

You know, there is always times where you feel discouraged and things coming against you, but I don't know if I ever wanted to throw in the towel.