Joel Osteen

Do all you can to make your dreams come true.

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

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

Faith activates God - Fear activates the Enemy.

God's desire is that we excel.

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

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

Let go of yesterday.

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

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

I mean, we all need a second chance sometimes.

I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know.

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 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.

I try to speak in everyday language. I feel like God has gifted me to take Bible principles and make them practical.

If you want to rear financial blessings you have to sow financially.

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

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

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.

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.

I don't go down the road of condemning.

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

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 don't mind saying you know that I don't take a salary from the church and God has blessed me with more money than I could imagine from my books.

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.

I think God's justice is making wrongs right.

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

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

To me we're marketing hope.

I say don't try to fight your own battles because God will do it.

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

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

If you give you will be blessed.

My message is that God is a good God.

I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.

I think the word rich is all relative.

I've always been - you know my personality is motivating and encouraging. And so I'm just being who God made me to be.

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.

The death of my father is probably the biggest thing that I ever faced. Daddy and I were best friends.

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

I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be.

Gays are some of the nicest kindest most loving people in the world.

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 don't like to beat people down. They need to be lifted up.

God wants to bless us where we are.

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

I think Bible principles are principles for life.

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.

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

Prospering just doesn't have to do with money.

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.

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

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

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.

I don't have all the answers.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Only God can look at somebody's heart.

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

People in tough times - it doesn't mean they don't have a great attitude.

I'm not for gay marriage but I'm not for discriminating against people.

I have always believed in God.

We were old sinners - but when we came to Christ we are not sinners anymore.

I made a decision when my father passed away that I was going to be who God made me to be and not try to preach like my father.

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

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

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.

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

I don't dislike anybody.

I write all my sermons.

You can be happy where you are.

My biggest hobby is hanging out with my family and kids.

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

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.

A lot of churches have not moved with the times.

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

Most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change.

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

Life's a fight. It's a good fight of faith.

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