RickyZ said: In the hour we listened I never heard any actual scripture reading,
Joel might not have read the scripture. Like many people, he may have memorized certain verses. However, we don't know for sure because he may have been reading from a teleprompter. At any rate, he sure did quote a lot of verses throughout the sermon.
RickyZ said: helped so much - BY JOEL OSTEEN. I'm sorry, you mean by Christ right? Riiight...
There's absolutely nothing wrong or unbiblical about acknowledging that you helped someone or that someone helped you. Job talked about how he had helped those without hope (Job 29:13). Paul talked about how Phoebe had helped many people, including him (Ro 16:2).
RickyZ said: I'm sorry, I'm really trying hard not to draw judgment,
Really??? Your comments speak for themselves.
RickyZ said: but when I think of those who'll cry 'Lord Lord didn't we do such and such in Your Name', and to whom Jesus responds 'scuse Me, who are you? I picture Joel.
Wow!!!
Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Mt 7:1-2).
Like I said before, we don't know whether Joel is reading from a teleprompter or not. However, he does quote a lot of verses throughout the sermon. Here's just a few verses that he quoted in the first 10 mins of today's sermon
Know Who You Are.
However, Joel didn't list the chapters and verses. I looked those up.
Joel said: The Heavenly Father spoke worlds into existence.
By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible (Heb 11:3).
Joel said: He made man out of dust, and breathed life into him.
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Gen 2:7).
Joel said: He is your heavenly father.
The Lord's prayer and many other verses confirm that God is our Heavenly Father ( Mat 6:9-13).
Joel said: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phil 4:13
Joel said: I have the mind of Christ.
For, "Who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).
Joel said: I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Ps 139:14).
Joel said: When you gave your life to Christ, you became a new creation.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17).
Joel said: David, a shepherd boy, defeated a giant.
David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone (1 Sa 17:50A).
Joel said: Samson pushed down the walls of a huge building.
Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands (Judg 16:29).
Joel said: It says in Psalms, "God's favor surrounds me like a shield."
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield (Ps 5:12).
Joel said: No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
"No weapon that is formed against you will prosper (Is 54:17A).
Joel said: The number of my days he will fulfill.
"There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days (Ex 23:26).
Joel said: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Jos 24:15).
Joel referenced at least 13 verses in the first 10 minutes of the sermon. I didn't write everything down, but he referenced others throughout the sermon. Unfortunately, Joel has a lot of critics. Many of them falsely accuse him of not reading or using scripture in his sermons - not reading the Bible, ect. As believers and those given the task of studying to show ourselves approved, we shouldn't expect the preacher to do everything for us. In this age of technology where so many people have access to the internet and an concordance, we could at least look up the verses ourselves. Joel's teaching method is similar to that of many professors. They don't give you everything because they want you to find somethings on your own. It's called studying, and it's part of the learning process.
That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and
they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.(Acts 17:11).
In other words, the Bereans were wise enough not to just take the preachers word for it, but they studied the scriptures for themselves to make sure the preachers were preaching the truth. Nowadays, many of us don't do the follow-up study yet criticize the preacher.
