#68 Sermon Review: Colossians 3:11 - Osteen
Biblical Text: Colossians 3:11
Name: Joel Osteen
Sermon Title: Going Beyond Invisible Walls
Link to Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyZQaREtO6g
Rating
1-100 score
45 out of 100
1-20 Christological
5 Mentions Christ a couple times. The sermon lines up with the gospel message somewhat. Yet the sermon undermines the gospel.
1-20 Holds Attention
20 Osteen holds your attention by telling jokes and stories that lead you down the rabbit hole.
1-20 Memorable
20 The ideas shared are so basic and so watered down that it is easy to remember.
1-20 Application to Life
0 The main idea of the sermon is not to be racist. And as for an application Osteen asks you to try interacting with people who are not like you. Pretty straight forward overall yet the sermon so trivializes the issues that it is like sending sheep to the slaughter. The congregation needs to be stupid enough to do everything Osteen says and smart enough to realize he is not always right. Osteen claims that there are no differences between people of different races and cultures.
Thoughts
This sermon is such a waste of opportunity. It is shockingly back in its mission. Yet it really wasn’t that bad. Osteens stated goal is not to preach or teach but rather to deliver inspiring messages. The audience is not supposed to grow or change they are supposed to feel inspired. This is not an idea that is backed up biblically or historically. The audience acts as though this is a sermon which it is not. If this is a sermon it is terrible. As an inspiring message it is rather impressive. We can learn from Osteens speaking style. 1. He follows a comfortable/predictable format like Sitcoms, 2. He uses emotions, 3. He doesn’t go too deep, 4. And he keeps things understandable.
Outline
*This outline was artificially generated and deemed accurate to the sermon.
Joel Osteen's Sermon: "Going Beyond Invisible Walls"
Joel Osteen, in his sermon, emphasizes the importance of breaking down invisible walls of prejudice and discrimination. He begins with a humorous anecdote and proceeds to a powerful message about inclusivity and breaking traditional barriers.
Key Points:
Invisible Walls:
Invisible walls are subtle prejudices and attitudes that create barriers between different groups of people.
These walls often stem from biases related to race, nationality, social standing, or religion.
God’s Vision of Unity:
Osteen underscores that God created all people in His image, and we should respect and honor every individual regardless of their background.
Prejudices, even if passed down through generations, limit our experiences and the blessings we could receive from God.
Diverse Friendships:
He encourages expanding our social circles to include people who are different from us.
Emphasizes the enrichment that comes from engaging with diverse individuals and breaking out of our comfort zones.
Biblical References:
Cites Colossians 3:11 to highlight that in Christ, there is no distinction between Jew or Greek, male or female, black or white.
Discusses Peter’s vision from Acts 10, where God teaches Peter not to call any person impure or unclean, leading to the spread of the gospel to Gentiles.
Personal Anecdotes:
Shares a story about a woman who had deep-seated prejudices against white people but eventually became close friends with a white volunteer at Lakewood Church.
Reflects on his own experience with a friend who had a prejudice against Mexicans, showing how these biases can prevent us from forming meaningful relationships.
The Impact of Love and Respect:
Osteen asserts that treating all people with kindness and respect pleases God and positions us for His blessings.
Highlights that Lakewood Church’s diversity is a testament to the power of love and inclusivity without special campaigns or efforts, just by sharing good news and treating everyone equally.
Call to Action:
Encourages listeners to break free from traditions and prejudices that hinder them.
Motivates the congregation to be open-minded and form friendships with people from different backgrounds to experience a fuller life and God’s favor.
Conclusion:
Joel Osteen calls for an end to invisible walls and promotes a message of unity and inclusivity, reflecting God’s love for all humanity. He urges his audience to embrace diversity and let go of prejudices to live a blessed and enriched life.
