Alle afleveringen

1.260 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud

18. Three Practices for a More Contented Life

5 november 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Why can a good life suddenly feel insufficient when we compare it with someone else’s? John Ortberg explores the discontent and entitlement underneath envy. Lees meer

Through biblical stories, George Herbert’s poetry, and an honest encounter over a cup of coffee, John offers three practices: notice your gifts, release special treatment, and admire good character.

Today, interrupt comparison with gratitude and take one small step toward the goodness you admire.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Envy #Gratitude #Contentment

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 A moment when envy feels far away
00:24 What feeds envy, and what helps?
01:08 Comparison throughout the biblical story
02:04 George Herbert’s warning about envy
02:56 How resentment consumes us
03:09 When another person can inspire our growth
03:32 Finding gratitude in beauty and belonging
04:42 The entitlement underneath envy
05:12 A first-class lesson in ingratitude
07:14 When wanting becomes “I deserve it”
07:40 Practice 1: Notice the life you’ve been given
08:14 The belief that rules don’t apply to me
08:28 John, a volunteer, and a cup of coffee
09:27 Practice 2: Release the need for exceptions
10:03 Churchill’s glow-worm
10:34 The exhausting need to be special
11:05 Practice 3: Admire someone’s character
11:29 Let goodness lead you toward growth
17. A Trainwreck Named Desire

4 november 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

What lies underneath envy? John Ortberg explores how comparison, discontent, and entitlement steal our joy, then offers three practical antidotes: gratitude, humility in ordinary situations, and admiration for good character. Lees meer

Drawing from biblical stories and George Herbert’s counsel, “Be not thine own worm,” John invites us to stop feeding resentment and notice the goodness already around us.

Today: give thanks, release a demand for special treatment, and practice a quality you admire in someone else.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Envy #Gratitude #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 When gratitude leaves little room for envy
00:24 What lies underneath envy?
01:08 Envy in the stories of Scripture
02:04 George Herbert: “Be not thine own worm”
03:09 When desire can become a helpful spur
03:32 Beauty, memory, friendship, and gratitude
04:42 How entitlement feeds envy
05:12 The entitled first-class passenger
07:14 “I deserve it, and you shouldn’t have it”
07:40 Antidote 1: Notice what you’ve been given
08:01 Practicing thanks for ordinary gifts
08:28 A coffee cup and the desire for an exception
09:27 Antidote 2: Release special treatment
10:03 Churchill and the glow-worm
10:34 The urge to be more special than others
11:05 Antidote 3: Admire good character
11:29 Let goodness, humilit…
16. Two Flavors of Envy and How to Deal with Them

3 november 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Why does someone else’s success sometimes make us feel worse? John Ortberg explores malicious and benign envy, what comparison reveals about our desires, and how we can move toward contentment. Lees meer

Drawing from Grace Hamman’s Ask of Old Paths, Proverbs 14:30, and James 1, John offers a simple phrase for moments of envy and frustration: “This is exactly what I need today.”

Today, notice the comparison, bring your desire to God, and take one healthy step toward growth.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Envy #Contentment #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Becoming the person God wants us to be
00:17 Two kinds of envy and a phrase to help
00:40 Grace Hamman’s honest encounter with envy
01:41 How envy spreads unchecked
02:14 John of Damascus on another person’s good fortune
02:46 Proverbs 14:30: Envy rots the bones
03:32 How comparison steals our peace
04:31 The insecurity underneath envy
05:04 Malicious envy and wanting others to fail
05:32 Benign envy and the possibility of growth
06:10 Moving from resentment toward admiration
06:34 A helpful phrase from Dr. Rick
07:00 “This is exactly what I need today”
07:28 Practicing patience and gratitude in traffic
07:53 Financial disappointment and contentment
08:39 Learning contentment through Christ
08:56 James: Welcoming trials as friends
09:22 …
How to Vote and Not Lose Heart

2 november 2026 · 17 min
Afspelen

How can followers of Jesus approach an election with conviction, humility, and peace? John Ortberg explores why voting matters, the value and limits of democracy, and the danger of placing ultimate hope in political outcomes.
Drawing from Romans 13 and Adam Przeworski’s Why Bother With Elections?, John offers four invitations: be informed, be involved, be humble, and be hopeful.
Participate thoughtfully. Seek to understand your neighbors. Keep your deepest hope rooted in Jesus.
#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #FaithAndPolitics #ChristianCitizenship #Hope Lees meer

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Following Jesus during election season
00:24 Democracy, anger, and disappointment
00:47 Dissatisfaction with democracy
01:19 Romans 13 and the purpose of government
01:39 Madison: “If men were angels”
02:03 Government’s role and its capacity for wrongdoing
03:00 What is democracy?
03:49 Churchill on democracy’s limitations
03:59 The significance of an ordinary voter
04:47 Human dignity and democratic values
05:40 Elections and the history of political power
06:47 Washington and relinquishing power
07:29 Why demonizing opponents damages democracy
08:11 Political promises and disappointment
08:51 Expectations minus reality
09:43 Why elections raise expectations
10:08 The limits of government
10:49 Becoming informed wi…
15. Humanity’s Fascination with Monsters & Understanding the Spiritual Realm

30 oktober 2026 · 16 min
Afspelen

What does it mean to renounce Satan in everyday life? John Ortberg explores the reality of evil, the limits of willpower, and what stories about monsters reveal about our fears and destructive patterns. Lees meer

Through Cain and Abel, Jesus’ temptation, and the cross and resurrection, John points us toward confidence in the Savior who faces what we cannot overcome alone.

Today: name one destructive path, ask Jesus for help, and take a concrete step toward the light.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #FaithOverFear #FollowingJesus

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 The battle is bigger than our strength
00:29 What does it mean to renounce Satan?
00:50 Evil in ordinary life
01:19 Cain, Abel, and sin crouching at the door
02:09 The suffering God never ignores
02:38 The dragon and the ancient serpent
03:22 Recognizing a dangerous path
03:41 A family movie mistake
04:05 Why stories keep returning to the supernatural
04:34 Scott Derrickson and the genre of non-denial
05:42 Medieval monsters and the inner life
06:09 The basilisk as a picture of envy
07:01 When evil takes hold within us
07:21 Saint Makarios on the human heart
07:44 Vampires, lost freedom, and self-awareness
08:06 Zombies and the mob mentality
08:59 Why we need to reckon with evil
09:15 Genesis 3 and the threat to shalom
10:15 Th…
14. Why rejecting every compliment can deepen our hunger for approval

29 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Does putting yourself down make you humble? John Ortberg explores why rejecting every compliment can deepen our hunger for approval, and how vainglory twists our good desire to be known and loved. Lees meer

Drawing from Rebecca DeYoung’s Glittering Vices, Isaiah 43, and Psalm 139, John offers a simple practice for quieting the internal critics and living before an audience of One.

Today: receive a compliment with gratitude, spend a moment quietly with God, and serve someone without seeking recognition.

Subscribe to Become New for daily teaching and practices to help you grow with Jesus.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Humility #Pride #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 What’s good about the seven deadly sins?
00:20 How sin twists something good
00:50 A mistaken way to fight pride
01:19 Pride, vainglory, and looking impressive
01:37 Celebrities versus personal heroes
02:37 How much do we want attention?
02:59 Why withholding compliments can backfire
03:23 Learning to deflect every kind word
04:21 When modesty hides a hunger for applause
04:53 The good desire underneath vainglory
05:25 Known by name and loved by God
06:00 Receiving the acceptance God offers
06:24 Accepting appreciation without chasing it
06:46 Trusting God in silence
07:05 Anne Lamott and the voices in our heads
07:42 Puttin…
13. Twelve Stages to Becoming PRIDEFUL

28 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

How do you recognize pride when pride itself can keep you from seeing clearly? John Ortberg walks through Bernard of Clairvaux’s twelve stages of pride, exploring comparison, boastfulness, defensiveness, and our resistance to correction. Lees meer

Drawing on Peter Jones’s Self-Help from the Middle Ages, John invites us to ask God for honest self-awareness. He closes with a simple practice: allow one harmless imperfection and notice the urge to protect your image.

Where do you recognize yourself in these stages?

1. Curiosity. This is looking at things around us with a restless dissatisfaction, wondering how they could be better, and how we could be better.
2. Imbalance. Becoming hyper-aware of our strengths and shortcomings, to a fault.
3. Silliness. This would be cheering ourselves up by making fun of other people’s mistakes.
4. Boastfulness. Trying to impress others. For example, interrupting someone to tell an impressive story about yourself.
5. Eccentricity. Needing to do everything our own special way, again to a fault.
6. Conceit. This would be believing deep down that we are better than others.
7. Audacity. Refusing to listen to good advice.
8. Defense of wrongdoing. Never admitting we’re wrong.
9. Dishonest confession. Perhaps obvious, this one is lying to cover up deceit.
10. Rebellion. Getting worse in severity here, this one refers to refusing to live in real community with anyone.
11. Freedom to sin. Devolving into doing whatever feels good, regardless of who might get hurt.
12. Habitual sin. Finally, the ladder ends in believing that we’re untouchable.

Subscribe to Become New for daily teaching and practices to help you grow with Jesus.

#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Pride #Humility #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOO…
12. A Pride With No Ego

27 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

Can pride actually be a good thing? John Ortberg explores the difference between healthy satisfaction and sinful pride, and how comparison can steal the joy of doing something good. Lees meer

Looking at Galatians 6:3–5 and drawing from Grace Hamman’s Ask of Old Paths, John considers a humble way to enjoy our work, acknowledge our limitations, and ask for help. A toddler arranging plastic flowers offers a memorable picture of delight without competition.

From a small act of kindness for a tired store employee to praying for the people around us, this episode invites us to participate in God’s goodness in ordinary ways. Today’s practice: do one small good thing with God, pause to appreciate it, and say, “Yay! Thank you, God.”

Scripture: Galatians 6:3–5; Psalm 131:1–2; Genesis 1:3–4; 1 Timothy 2:1.

Subscribe to Become New for teaching and daily practices that help you grow with Jesus and become the person God created you to be.
#BecomeNew #JohnOrtberg #Humility #Pride #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Can pride be a good thing?
00:26 Two kinds of pride and one word for today
00:54 Galatians 6: Testing our own actions
01:35 Satisfaction without comparison
02:29 Knowing ourselves helps us show mercy
02:59 The humility of knowing we don’t know
03:25 Four statements worth learning
04:21…
11. The Problem with, “Just Think About Yourself Less”

26 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

What matters most when life is put in perspective? John Ortberg begins with a conversation about life and death, then explores humility, honest self-awareness, and our dependence on God. Lees meer

Drawing on Romans 12 and Grace Hamman’s Ask of Old Paths, John explains why humility includes recognizing our gifts as well as our weaknesses. He distinguishes self-consciousness, which worries about how others perceive us, from the calm curiosity of self-awareness.

Today’s practice: Notice a moment when you are trying to prove your worth. Ask God to help you understand your motives, acknowledge your gifts with gratitude, and face your limitations honestly.

Scripture explored: Romans 12:3–8.
Related Scripture: Psalm 139:23; 1 Corinthians 4:7.
Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.
#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Humility

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 What matters when we face eternity?
00:35 Remembering our dependence on God
01:02 What does humility actually mean?
01:22 Romans 12: Seeing ourselves soberly
02:04 How pride distorts self-understanding
02:55 Humility includes recognizing our gifts
03:48 Bernard of Clairvaux on self-knowledge
04:20 Everyday signs of pride and presumption
05:19 When humility becomes self-contemp…
10. What We Lose When We Prioritize Success Over Character

23 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

Am I becoming successful, or becoming good? John Ortberg explores how pride and the desire to be important can interfere with the person God wants us to become. Lees meer

Drawing on David Brooks’s The Road to Character and the story of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, John examines the “Big Me”: the tendency to put our accomplishments, reputation, and agenda at the center. He invites us to turn the mirror toward ourselves and notice when making an impression matters more than caring for people.

Today’s practice: Review your interactions with God. Where were you distracted, defensive, or seeking approval? Choose one concrete way to listen more deeply and put care above prestige.
Scripture explored: Daniel 4.

Related Scripture: James 4:10; Philippians 2:3–4; Psalm 139:23–24.
Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.
#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Humility

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 The battle to become who God intends
00:18 Recognizing the enemy within
00:45 Every era has strengths and weaknesses
01:17 From “Little Me” to “Big Me”
01:54 Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of self
02:45 A big ego and a small view of God
03:09 “My power, my glory, my majesty”
03:53 Pride meets reality
04:17 Looking toward heaven
04:50 A smaller …
09. Good Pride, Bad Pride

22 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

How does humility make us wiser? John Ortberg explores the subtle ways pride affects our faith, relationships, and ability to see ourselves clearly. Lees meer

Drawing on Proverbs 11:2, Cornelius Plantinga, and C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, John distinguishes healthy satisfaction from excessive self-congratulation. He considers how insecurity can fuel self-promotion and how pride can sneak into even our attempts to become humble.

John closes with a familiar song, “Jesus Loves Me,” and an invitation to admit our limits, ask God for strength, and experience the freedom of being loved without having to prove ourselves.

Today’s practice: When you feel the urge to impress or defend yourself, remember that Jesus loves you. Ask for help, listen openly, and practice one small act of humility.

Scripture explored: Proverbs 11:2; Matthew 18:1–4; Matthew 19:13–15.
Related Scripture: Proverbs 9:10.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Humility

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 The battle to become who God wants us to be
00:22 With humility comes wisdom
00:52 Seeing ourselves in proportion
01:12 How pride sneaks into spiritual growth
01:48 C.S. Lewis on becoming proud of humility
02:16 Humor…
08. What Actually Counts as Sin?

21 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Is having a bad thought a sin? John Ortberg explores the difference between an unwanted thought, temptation, and the intention to do wrong. Lees meer

Drawing on Cornelius Plantinga’s Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be and insights from Dallas Willard, John begins with shalom: the biblical vision of life flourishing as God intended. He explains why sin matters, how pride damages that flourishing, and why the thoughts that occur to us are different from the choices we make about them.

Through Romans 8:6, Colossians 3, Philippians 4:8, and Hebrews 12:4, John offers a practical question for spiritual growth: “What shall I think about today?”

Today’s practice: Choose a word, Scripture, or picture of Jesus’ love to return to throughout the day. When your attention wanders, ask God for help and return gently.

Scripture explored: Romans 8:6; Colossians 3:1–2; Philippians 4:8; Hebrews 12:4.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 The small choices shaping who we become

00:26 Why we need clarity about sin

00:46 Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be

01:20 Shalom: Life as God intended

02:40 Understanding what sin breaks

03:35 Why God is against s…
07. Is Pride Running My Life?

20 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Is pride running your life in ways you don’t recognize? John Ortberg explores pride as an alignment problem: the gap between what we know is good and the desires that pull us in another direction. Lees meer

In this opening teaching focused on pride, John shares a story about his first car, a personal moment of defensiveness, and an unexpected lesson from a four-year-old singing a Rolling Stones song. Through 1 Peter 2:11 and the image of the Lord as our shepherd, he examines how approval, comfort, money, and reputation can take priority over our deepest values.

Today’s practice: Notice one moment when what you want conflicts with the person you want to become. Ask God for help, then choose one small act of humility, generosity, courage, or honesty.

Scripture explored: 1 Peter 2:11; Psalm 23.

Related Scripture: James 4:6–10; Galatians 5:16–17.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Humility

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Who am I becoming today?
00:26 Beginning with pride and humility
01:12 A car with an alignment problem
02:08 Pride pulls life out of alignment
02:40 Desires that wage war against the soul
03:37 When desires conflict with values
04:22 Putting desire on the throne
04:3…
06. “STOP IT” Doesn’t Work When It Comes to Sin, Here’s Why

19 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Why does telling yourself “Don’t do it” sometimes leave you stuck on the very thing you want to avoid? John Ortberg uses a golf analogy to explore the thoughts shaping our character and a simple way to invite God into everyday life. Lees meer

In episode six of Become New’s series on sin, the seven deadly sins, and grace, John traces the framework’s history through Peter Jones’s Self-Help from the Middle Ages. He considers sin as distorted love, Dante’s compassionate confrontation with human weakness, and the ways modern technology can appeal to ancient desires.

John closes with a practical rhythm inspired by Brother Lawrence: ask for God’s help before a task, keep asking while you do it, and give thanks when it is done.

Today’s practice: Choose one ordinary activity and begin with, “God, can we do this together?”

Scripture referenced: Romans 7; Genesis 1.
Related Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Galatians 5:22–23.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Who are you becoming today?

00:21 Why “don’t slice” doesn’t help

01:01 Where the seven deadly sins came from

02:29 Self-Help from the Middle Ages

03:51 Learning to understa…
05. SIX Questions to Help You Stop Drifting

16 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

John Ortberg challenges the quiet belief that our everyday choices don’t matter and explores how good intentions can give way when we feel pressured, insecure, or afraid. Lees meer

Drawing on Christian Miller’s The Character Gap and Langdon Gilkey’s Shantung Compound, John examines the difference between wanting to do good and developing a character that keeps choosing love under difficult circumstances. He shares the example of Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner depicted in Chariots of Fire, whose selfless service encouraged others during internment in China.

John closes with six daily questions about surrender, gratitude, forgiveness, prayer, Scripture, and obedience. These offer a practical way to bring your day before God and receive help to become the person you long to be.

Today’s practice: Take five minutes to answer the six questions, then choose one concrete act of love or obedience.

Related Scripture: Psalm 90:12; Romans 7:18–25; Romans 12:1–2; Hebrews 12:1–3.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 The illusion that this moment doesn’t matter

00:25 What is shaping my heart?

00:50 Ants and getting back to the source

01…
04. The TWO Kinds of Sin (And How to Fight Each)

15 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Sin isn’t only about the wrong things we do. It’s also about the good we leave undone. John Ortberg explores the two kinds of sin, commission and omission, and the spiritual practices that help us address each. Lees meer

Drawing from Proverbs, James, and the teachings of Jesus, John explains how to strengthen your “don’t” and “do” muscles. He also introduces a surprising spiritual discipline: chatting. An ordinary conversation can become an opportunity to encourage, connect, and offer the right word at the right time.

Who could use a word of encouragement from you today? Share your takeaway in the comments.

Scripture explored: James 4:17; Proverbs 25:11; Matthew 25:31–46; Luke 7:36–50.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Two kinds of sin and two tools to help

00:23 The power of a word aptly spoken

00:52 The good words we leave unsaid

02:07 Why we’re talking less than ever

04:46 Two kinds of sin: commission and omission

06:08 What Jesus says about the good we fail to do

07:07 Strengthening your “don’t” and “do” muscles

08:37 The spiritual discipline of chatting

09:44 Put it into practice today

10:36 Who can you encourage …
03. I Want to Be Honest. So Why Do I Lie?

14 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

Why do we stretch the truth, even when we want to be honest? John Ortberg explores the insecurity, desire for approval, and self-protection that can drive our little lies, and how God helps us become truthful from the inside out. Lees meer

In episode three of Become New’s series on sin, the seven deadly sins, and grace, John shares a funny story from a pastors’ conference where church attendance became a measure of importance. Through Psalm 51, Colossians 3, and Peter’s promise to remain faithful to Jesus, he examines the gap between our sincere intentions and our instinctive responses under pressure.

John offers a practical approach to repentance: get curious. Ask what you were trying to gain, consider how your behavior affected someone else, and let that understanding move you toward honesty and making amends.

Today’s practice: Notice one moment when you shaped the truth to look better. Ask God what was underneath it, and correct the impression you created.

Scripture explored: Psalm 51:2, 6; Colossians 3:5; Matthew 26:31–35.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Becoming a deeply truthful person

00:42 Why isn’t lying a deadl…
02. Why Do I Get So Defensive?

13 oktober 2026 · 15 min
Afspelen

Do you really want the truth about yourself, or would you rather have it sugarcoated? John Ortberg explores why honest self-examination matters for spiritual growth and how knowing we are loved gives us the courage to face what needs to change. Lees meer

In episode two of Become New’s series on sin, the seven deadly sins, and grace, John draws on Dallas Willard, Peter Jones’s Self-Help from the Middle Ages, and a story about Wendell Berry as a demanding writing teacher. He considers Jesus’ hard words to his disciples and the ways we minimize attitudes and behaviors that damage our lives and relationships.

The invitation is to ask God for both honesty and grace: help me see the truth about myself, and help me know that I am loved.

Today’s practice: Revisit one piece of feedback you have resisted. Ask God what may be true in it, and take one small step toward becoming a more loving person.

Scripture explored: Romans 1:28–32; Mark 8:31–33; Mark 9:14–29.
Related Scripture: Psalm 139:23; Ephesians 4:15.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Do you want truth or softness?

00:43 Facing the reality of our condition

01:09 Self-help fr…
01. Identifying your BIGGEST problem and how to overcome it

12 oktober 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Why do I keep doing what I don’t want to do? And beneath the problems with my job, finances, or circumstances, am I actually becoming a more loving person? Lees meer

In the opening episode of Become New’s series exploring sin, the seven deadly sins, and grace, John Ortberg starts with a funny parallel-parking encounter and a surprisingly important question: “What’s your problem?” Through Romans 7, John explores the difference between individual acts of wrongdoing and the deeper patterns within us that willpower alone cannot overcome.

This teaching looks at spiritual growth, the limits of behavior modification, the hidden motives behind gossip, and the freedom to examine ourselves honestly. Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard, John invites us to notice what needs to change while holding onto the promise of Romans 8:1: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Today’s practice: Ask God to show you one inner pattern that needs his grace. Pay attention to your reactions throughout the day, and bring what you discover to him with honesty.

Scripture explored: Romans 7:15–21; Romans 8:1.

Related Scripture: Luke 6:27–28; Galatians 5:22–23.

Subscribe to Become New for regular teaching from John Ortberg and practical encouragement to grow with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to …
First Steps | A 10-Minute Look Inside the Live Masterclass with Dr. John Ortberg

9 oktober 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

Why do AA meetings sometimes feel like the safest place to tell the truth? And what could the church learn from that kind of honesty, acceptance, and shared dependence on God? Lees meer

In this episode, John Ortberg explores how the 12 Steps can help us approach spiritual growth, stubborn habits, and the struggles we keep trying to overcome alone. Whether you’re wrestling with anger, fear, control, greed, or the familiar gap between who you want to be and how you actually live, the invitation begins with honesty. You don’t have to pretend you’re doing better than you are to take a step toward freedom.

Drawing on Paul’s struggle in Romans 7, Jesus’ promise of freedom, and the story of AA cofounder Bill W., John traces connections between the 12 Steps and the Christian practices of surrender, confession, making amends, prayer, and service. He invites us into a community where people can name their need, receive help, and participate in the work God is doing. Sometimes the place where we admit we’re stuck becomes the place where change begins.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

What the church can learn from the honesty and acceptance of recovery communities.

Why knowing what’s right doesn’t always give us the power to do it.

How surrender to Jesus opens a path toward freedom.

Why friendship and community matter when we’re trying to change.

How the 12 Steps can become practices for everyday spiritual growth.

Take your next step: Name one place where you feel stuck, and share it with someone you trust. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.

Explore the free, 12-part Steps Masterclass with John Ortberg:
https://stepsguide.com

Find more teaching and daily practices from Become New:
https://becomenew.com

Subscribe for more conversations about following Jesus, spiritual formation, and becoming the person God made you to be.

#JohnOrtberg #SpiritualGrowth #12Steps

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day…
RR. I Desperately Need Peace

8 oktober 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Can you have peace while the situation you’re facing is still unresolved? During one of the darkest periods of his life, John Ortberg found himself awake early in the morning, needing something solid to hold onto. A passage from Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart helped him consider what peace might mean when circumstances remain frightening. Lees meer

John explores the exhausting work of trying to control outcomes that are no longer in our hands. Picture someone bowling: the ball has been released, yet their whole body keeps leaning and twisting as though they can still steer it. We often do something similar with the people and concerns we care about most.

Through Willard’s writing, a funny poem about an overthinking centipede, and Sidney Lanier’s image of building a nest on the greatness of God, John invites us to notice where worry has reached even our bodies. Peace does not require us to stop caring. It invites us to bring what we care about to God and release the burden of controlling how everything turns out.

What outcome are you still trying to steer after the ball has left your hands?

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL
RR. I Messed Up, I Made a Mistake, Now What?

7 oktober 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

What do you say to yourself when you make a mistake? For many of us, one wrong answer, awkward conversation, or disappointing performance can turn into a harsh verdict about who we are. John Ortberg offers a different response, borrowed from conductor Benjamin Zander: “How fascinating!” Lees meer

Through stories about music, tutoring, Eugene Peterson, and the disciple Peter, John explores how a growth mindset helps us approach mistakes with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Instead of constantly asking, “How do I look?” we can begin asking, “What can I learn?” That shift changes how we respond to challenges, setbacks, criticism, and other people’s success.

At the heart of this teaching is Romans 8:1: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When your worth is secure, you have room to develop your abilities, receive feedback, and try again. Discover a practical way to interrupt self-condemnation, grow through your mistakes, and extend that same grace to others.

Try this today: When you make a mistake, pause and say, “How fascinating!” Then ask what you can learn and what your next faithful step might be.

Find more teaching and daily practices at Become New.

Subscribe for more from John Ortberg on following Jesus and growing with God in everyday life.

#JohnOrtberg #GrowthMindset #SpiritualGrowth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to th…
RR. How to Wait on God: A Verse-by-Verse Guide (Matthew 15:21-28)

6 oktober 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

Why does God sometimes make us wait for something we’ve asked him for again and again? Jesus tells us to keep praying, asking, seeking, and knocking. Yet the silence can be difficult to understand, especially when someone we love needs help. Lees meer

John Ortberg explores that tension through Jesus’ encounter with a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. She comes to him pleading for her daughter, and at first Jesus says nothing. Drawing on New Testament scholar Kenneth Bailey, John considers how this encounter may also expose what Jesus’ disciples think about the woman and whether they will recognize her need. She keeps asking, and Jesus ultimately praises her faith and heals her daughter.

John does not claim to explain every delay in prayer. He offers one question we can bring into the waiting: “God, is there a way you want me to respond?” Prayer can include honest persistence, listening, and a small step of love that is ours to take today.

Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28; Luke 18:1–8; Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 22:31–32

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL
RR. How to Be Strong AND Vulnerable (feat. Alan George)

5 oktober 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

Can you lead with authority and still be genuinely vulnerable? Many of us treat those qualities as opposites. If we want to be strong, we assume we need to protect ourselves from being hurt. But in this conversation with Alan George, John Ortberg offers another picture of leadership. Lees meer

Drawing on Andy Crouch’s Strong and Weak, John explains that authority and vulnerability are two distinct qualities. Jesus held both. He acted with authority and willingly opened himself to pain for the sake of love. John and Alan explore the temptation to avoid that kind of openness, including the subtle habit of sharing stories that sound vulnerable while keeping what matters hidden.

The conversation then turns toward genuine change. Why can we know what we’re supposed to do and still struggle to become different people? John reflects on Dallas Willard’s The Spirit of the Disciplines and the honesty found in recovery communities: admitting our need can open us to help we could never manufacture for ourselves.

Where might you be protecting an image of strength? And what could become possible if you brought that part of your life into the light?

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL
RR. The Good that Suffering Can Bring

2 oktober 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

What can still grow in your life after you’ve been hurt? John Ortberg explores that question through a story author James Michener remembered from childhood: an aging apple tree, eight rusty nails, and an unexpected harvest. Lees meer

Years later, after heart surgery and other painful health challenges, Michener returned to that image. He resolved to keep bearing fruit. John connects his story with the poetry of John Milton and the lives of Hank and Jan, a couple whose faithful care for one another became a powerful expression of love.

John does not try to explain away suffering. He invites us to consider what love can still look like within it: noticing someone who feels invisible, offering help, caring for a loved one, or doing our ordinary work with God.

The episode closes at the cross, where nails hammered into a tree become part of the Christian story of self-giving love. Your wounds matter. What might God help you grow from here?

Scripture connections: Matthew 25:14–30; John 15:4–5, 12–13

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL
RR. I'm Struggling to Find God

1 oktober 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

What do you do when God seems absent from your story? Lees meer

Maybe you still pray, read Scripture, and show up, but the closeness you once felt is gone. Does that mean you’ve done something wrong? Has God left?

John Ortberg explores those questions through John of the Cross, the sixteenth-century spiritual writer associated with the phrase dark night of the soul. John explains that this phrase can mean something more specific than a difficult season: a time when the pleasure and reassurance someone once found in spiritual practices seem to fade. For some, John of the Cross believed, that season can become part of learning to love and trust God more deeply.

Through the image of a weaned child in Psalm 131, John asks what it means to remain with God even when we are not receiving the comfort we want. He also remembers learning to ride a bike as his father ran beside him. When his father let go, the support felt different, but his father had not abandoned him.

If God feels hard to find right now, you do not need to manufacture a spiritual feeling today. You can bring your honest experience to him and ask for the grace to wait.

Scripture: Psalm 131:1–3

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL
RR. Billions Invested in Leadership but Where are All the Good Leaders?

30 september 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Everybody wants to make a difference. We spend billions developing leaders, and schools, businesses, and churches all talk about raising up the next generation of them. But when Jesus began the movement that would change countless lives, his invitation was just two words: “Follow me.” Lees meer

In this episode, John Ortberg asks what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. He challenges the idea that followers are passive or weak. A follower of Jesus can be courageous, curious, persistent, and willing to learn through mistakes. Following means letting Jesus shape the way we think, see, love, and act.

John also makes the invitation wonderfully concrete: Do one thing today simply because Jesus said to do it. Forgive someone. Refuse to judge. Offer kindness where you’ve felt hostility. Give your time or resources in service of someone else. What might change if, for one moment today, you let Jesus lead?

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

0:00 Why is everyone talking about leadership?
2:42 The leadership industry
3:52 Are all these leaders making things better?
5:01 What does it mean to be a leader?
6:06 Jesus’ invitation: “Follow me”
6:27 Reclaiming the word “follower”
7:21 Jesus follows the Father
8:24 What a follower of Jesus looks like
8:48 If you follow, stay behind him
9:47 Move at Jesus’ pace
10:15 D…
RR. We asked 1,000 people which habits they wish they could break.

29 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Is there a habit you keep trying to break, or one you wish you could finally build? You’re in good company. Lees meer

When John Ortberg asked the Become New community about their habits, more than a thousand people responded. They named struggles with worry, anger, procrastination, screen time, negative self-talk, and much more. Some felt too ashamed even to say what their hardest habit was.

Into that struggle, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” But then he invites us to take on his yoke. How can a yoke, an instrument of work, lead to rest?

John explores the difference between exhausting yourself with willpower and learning a way of life from Jesus. Drawing on Dallas Willard and BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits, he shows how motivation, ability, and prompts shape what we do. Sometimes a meaningful change begins with something as small as moving your phone out of the bedroom or putting away one book at the end of the day.

What’s one habit you’d like to change? Bring it to Jesus without shame, and consider one small step you could take today.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28–30; Mark 12:30

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

0:00 The habits we want to change
1:27 You are not alone in this struggle
2:02 Jesus’ invitation to the weary
2:47 The easy yoke versus willpower
3:32…
RR. How to Handle Your LIMIT

28 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

What do you do with a part of yourself you wish you could change? Lees meer

Maybe you feel limited by your personality, your abilities, your age, or something your body can’t do. It’s easy to compare yourself with someone else and believe that if you just tried harder, you could finally become enough.

In this episode, John Ortberg invites us to practice radical acceptance of our limitations. Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, and Abraham each had reasons to think they weren’t the right person for what God was asking. Yet their limitations did not limit God. John explores how humility can open us to wonder, why Jesus chose to embrace the limits of human life, and what Paul means when he says we carry treasure in “jars of clay.”

What limitation have you been fighting? Today, consider what it would mean to offer it to God as a place where you might meet him.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:6–7; Exodus 4:10–12; Judges 6:12–15; Jeremiah 1:6–8; John 1:14

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

0:00 I can’t, but God can
0:47 What limitation frustrates you?
2:13 From rejection to acceptance
3:06 Why trying harder isn’t always the answer
3:54 Your limitations don’t limit God
5:10 Humility, wonder, and the sublime
7:18 The people God chooses
8:50 Jesus chose human limitation
10:20 Treasure in jars of clay
11:10 Offer your limitation …
Psalms Bonus! What Happens When Someone Really Listens to You

25 september 2026 · 9 min
Afspelen

What happens when someone really listens to you? Lees meer

In this special bonus episode, John Ortberg sits down with Become New Creative Director Jackson Lane, who shares a story about a childhood stuffed animal, a remarkable ninth-grade teacher, and one small act of kindness he still remembers nearly 15 years later.

The story leads John to a beautiful idea about the way God loves us: there is a kind of love that looks for value, and another kind of love that creates value by treasuring what it loves.

Sometimes loving another person begins with something surprisingly simple:

Listen. Let it register. Respond.

Who in your life needs to know that what matters to them matters to you?

#JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Love #Relationships

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 A Personal Bonus From the Psalms
00:24 God Is a Father to the Fatherless
00:44 The Way Jesus Treated Children
01:24 The Power of Really Listening
01:50 Jackson's Favorite Teacher
02:13 Writing Is Structured Thinking
02:43 The Story of Carla
03:06 The Pound Puppy Jackson Loved
03:30 A Stuffed Animal Worn Out With Love
03:48 Jackson Loses Carla
04:05 “The Dog Was Gone”
04:24 Telling Mr. Webber the Story
04:41 “I Was Too Old for a Stuffed Animal Anyway”
05:05 A Mysterious Package on the Porch
05:21 He Found the …
RR. The Most Important Thing to Believe About Jesus

24 september 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Today we're revisiting an episode from SHINE, our walk through the book of Philippians. And there's a reason we're bringing this one back: we've just launched a new Bible reading plan on the Bible App based on the SHINE series. So if today's teaching is helpful to you and you'd like to go deeper, you can now walk through the whole series one day at a time in the Bible App. Lees meer

What if there were a law of the spiritual world as dependable as gravity?

In Philippians 2, Jesus doesn't grasp for power. He lets go. He becomes a servant. He humbles himself all the way to the cross.

Then everything reverses.

God exalts him.

John Ortberg explores what this reveals about the deepest pattern of reality: the way up is down, greatness comes through service, and self-giving love is always worth it.

So when love gets costly, when you're tempted to self-promote, or when failure and guilt overwhelm you, remember the strategy:

Double down on the cross.

And remember the phrase:

Jesus Christ is Lord.

This is how we shine.

#JohnOrtberg #Philippians2 #Jesus #SpiritualFormation #TheCross #Christianity

Music in this episode:
Starry Dream - Uptempo by A. Blomqvist MB01OKHAB5EAUXF

00:00 What’s Most Important to Believe About Jesus?
00:22 The Oldest Words About Jesus
00:54 The Great Christ Hymn
01:35 Every Knee Will Bow
02:18 Jesus Goes Down, God Lifts Him Up
02:44 What Goes Down Must Come Up
03:07 The Hinge of Human History
03:28 A Law of God’s Kingdom
03:52 God Exalts Those Who Humble Themselves
04:14 Love Is Always Worth It
04:38 What Does It Mean to Double Down?
04:56 Jesus Doubles Down on the Cross
05:18 Double Down When You Feel Like a Failure
05:39 Stop Chasing Money and Reputation
06:23 The Most Important Phrase You Can Say
06:45 Jesus Christ Is Lord
07:19 Caesar vs. a Crucified Rabbi
07:49 Peter, Paul, Mary…and Nero 😂
08:16 Power Always Fades
08:49 A Calendar Built Around Jesus
09:18 The Wheel of Fortune
09:34 Nero, Napoleon & Stalin
10:07 Every Date Points Back to Jesus
10…
Thank You from John and Become New

23 september 2026 · 4 min
Afspelen

Thank you for being part of Become New, a global community growing spiritually in Christ, one day at a time. Lees meer

With an impromptu message from John, filmed on his iPhone in the Grand Tetons, this video is a personal thank-you for being part of this community—and an invitation to help make this work possible.

Your generosity helps our small team create and share daily Bible teaching, prayer, study guides, YouVersion Bible plans, The Formation Podcast and Newsletter, and masterclasses—all freely available to help people put Christ in charge of their spiritual formation.

If Become New has made a difference in your life, would you consider a one-time gift or becoming a monthly supporter? Every gift helps us continue this work and reach more people with resources for growing in Christ.

❤️ Partner with us: BecomeNew.com/give

Whether you give, pray, share a teaching, or join us each day, we’re grateful you’re here.
With GREAT gratitude,

The Become New Team

#BecomeNew #SpiritualFormation #GrowInChrist
87. The Lord of the Rings' Most Important Lesson

22 september 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

Why did Frodo need Gollum? Lees meer

Coming to you from Hobbiton, New Zealand, John Ortberg explores one of the deepest themes running through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings:

Mercy.

Bilbo could have killed Gollum. Frodo could have killed him. Sam could have killed him.

But pity stayed their hands.

And when Frodo finally reaches Mount Doom, something surprising happens: he fails. His own willpower isn't enough to destroy the ring.

Yet the mercy extended to Gollum earlier in the story follows Frodo all the way to the end.

“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”

Maybe we need mercy because none of us can save ourselves.

And maybe there's a Gollum somewhere in your day who needs mercy too.

#LordOfTheRings #Tolkien #JohnOrtberg #Hobbiton #Psalm23 #Mercy #Gollum

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 John Ortberg in New Zealand
00:25 Welcome to Hobbiton!
00:44 A Special Edition From the Shire
01:12 Gollum, Frodo & the One Ring
01:48 Why Bilbo Didn't Kill Gollum
02:18 “What a Pity”
02:43 Gandalf's Warning About Judgment
03:10 Gollum Still Has a Role to Play
03:36 Two Kinds of Pity
03:55 Mercy in The Lord of the Rings
04:19 Frodo Begins to Pity Gollum
04:39 What the Ring Does to a Person
05:08 Gollum Was Once Sméagol
05:38 What Gollum Represents
06:07 Frod…
86. What the Psalms Are Trying to Teach Us

21 september 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

Your life was made to be a Psalm. Lees meer

As this journey through the Psalms draws toward its close, John Ortberg reflects on where the Psalter has been leading us all along.

Psalm 1 begins by asking what kind of life we will live. The Psalms then carry us through fear, anger, grief, confession, hope, and joy. But the final five Psalms end in an explosion of one thing:

Praise.

In Psalm 148, everything is invited into the song: people, animals, mountains, stars, sun, moon, even the creatures of the sea.

And so are you.

Maybe a life with God isn't about escaping the messiness of being human. Maybe it's about learning to bring all of it before God until our lives themselves become a song.

Hallelujah.

#Psalm148 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Praise #Hallelujah #SpiritualFormation

STEPS SEMINAR, October 17th - REGISTER HERE:
https://www.oceanhills.org/event/steps-workshop-with-john-ortberg

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Coming to the End of the Psalms
00:30 What's Coming Next at Become New
00:59 The STEPS Seminar
01:19 What the Psalms Have Taught Me
01:56 From Wisdom to Praise
02:20 Psalm 148
02:41 All Creation Is Invited to Praise
03:14 You Couldn't Get More Inclusive
03:43 Make Every Breath Worth Celebrating
04:10 Duets on the Psalms
04:16 Two Very Different Worship Services
04:58 Which…
85. The Surprising Connection Between Therapy and the Psalms (w/Dr. Rick)

18 september 2026 · 17 min
Afspelen

What can a therapist teach us about prayer? Lees meer

John Ortberg sits down with his longtime friend and therapist Dr. Rick to explore the Psalms as a kind of “divine therapy with God.”

The Psalms are messy. Angry. Afraid. Contradictory. Unfiltered.

And according to Rick, that's exactly where healing begins: ruthless honesty inside a relationship where we know we're accepted.

So what would happen if we approached God that way?

Can we tell Him what we actually think and feel, not merely what we believe we're supposed to say?

Can God become our fully disclosing friend?

Maybe the path toward becoming who God made us to be begins by bringing Him who we actually are.

In this episode: prayer • therapy • Psalms • emotional honesty • healing • friendship with God

#JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Therapy #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #MentalHealth

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Salvation, Healing & the Psalms
00:27 The Psalms as Divine Therapy
00:48 What Can Therapy Teach Us About Prayer?
01:13 The Psalms Are Messy
01:36 How Raw Are Our Actual Thoughts?
01:56 Psalm 88: Darkness and Despair
02:19 Psalm 83: Angry, Contradictory Prayers
02:39 Psalm 89: From Anguish to Praise
03:24 What Therapy Is Trying to Do
03:58 Your Ideal Life vs. Your Actual Life
04:35 The Me I Want to Be
04:54 Ruthless Honesty
…
84. How Hope Changes Suffering

17 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Suffering can do one of two things: break us or break us open. Lees meer

Beginning with Frederick Buechner's unforgettable image, John Ortberg explores Psalm 110 and one of the deepest ways Christians have read the Psalms: seeing the story of Jesus in their suffering, longing, and hope.

Drawing from C.S. Lewis, Plato, and the mysterious biblical figure Melchizedek, John looks at how Jesus brings together two ancient hopes: the victorious king and the suffering servant.

Jesus doesn't overcome suffering by avoiding it.

He enters it.

And because the story ends in resurrection, suffering doesn't have to get the final word.

The difference between being broken and broken open is hope.

In this episode: Psalm 110 • suffering • hope • Jesus • C.S. Lewis • Melchizedek • resurrection

#Psalm110 #JohnOrtberg #Suffering #Hope #Jesus #CSLewis #Psalms

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a writt…
83. Why Happiness Never Seems to Last

16 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Are you actually experiencing joy, or are you mostly experiencing relief when problems finally go away? Lees meer

In Psalm 68, John Ortberg explores the biblical idea of exultation: deep, expressive joy that can exist even when life isn't going perfectly.

Drawing from C.S. Lewis and Dallas Willard, John looks at why we can spend our lives clearing one hurdle after another and mistaking the resulting relief for genuine joy.

Lewis called the Psalmists' delight an “appetite for God.”

So how's your appetite?

Maybe we've filled ourselves with so much achievement, entertainment, information, and distraction that there's little room left for something better.

Today, try getting hungry again.

In this episode: Psalm 68 • joy • relief • C.S. Lewis • Dallas Willard • fasting • appetite for God

#Psalm68 #JohnOrtberg #Joy #CSLewis #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll…
82. There Are 3 Kinds of Friends. Here’s the One You Need.

15 september 2026 · 15 min
Afspelen

There are three kinds of friends. Two can be valuable, but the third can actually help you become the person God created you to be. Lees meer

Beginning with Psalm 122 and the simple words “Let us go,” John Ortberg explores why friendship is so essential to human flourishing and why it seems increasingly difficult to find.

Drawing on Aristotle's three kinds of friendship, John looks at useful friends, pleasant friends, and spiritual friends: people with whom we can be honest, vulnerable, challenged, encouraged, and pointed toward God.

So take inventory today:

Do you have that kind of friend?

And perhaps more importantly:

Are you becoming one?

In this episode: Psalm 122 • friendship • loneliness • Aristotle • spiritual friendship • community

#Psalm122 #JohnOrtberg #Friendship #Loneliness #Community #SpiritualFormation

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 I Rejoiced When They Said “Let Us Go”

00:44 The Joy of Doing Life Together

01:04 “Let Us Go”

01:23 I'm Always the One Reaching Out

01:49 The Three Kinds of Friends

02:09 Jesus's Greatest Miracle? 😂

02:38 Why Friendship Gets Harder With Age

03:00 America's Friendship Paradox

03:34 The Anti-Social Century

03:59 Even College Students Are Lonely

04:27 We're Spending Less Time Together

04:59 An MIT Student Who Eats Alone

05:22 …
81. Two Kinds of Commitment. Only One Transforms You.

14 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

There are two kinds of commitments: contracts and covenants. Lees meer

We need both. But John Ortberg explains why one can enhance your life while the other can actually transform it.

Beginning with Psalm 35, John explores the difference between transactional relationships and covenant relationships, from Casablanca to a remarkable moment in American history when Psalm 35 was read before the Continental Congress.

A contract protects individual rights.

A covenant creates a “we.”

And Scripture doesn't describe God as the God of contract. He is the God of covenant, inviting us into relationships built on something deeper than what we can get from one another.

So where might you be treating a covenant like a contract?

In this episode: Psalm 35 • covenant • commitment • relationships • American history • spiritual formation

#Psalm35 #JohnOrtberg #Covenant #Relationships #SpiritualFormation #Psalms

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Let's Try This Again 😂

00:22 Two Kinds of Commitment

00:54 One of Them Will Transform Your Life

01:09 Psalm 35

01:31 A Psalm That Changed American History

01:50 Rabbi Soloveichik's Discovery

02:14 Contract vs. Covenant

02:41 What a Covenant Does

03:08 When Relationships Become Transactions

03:21 God Is Not the God of Contract

03:54 What Casablanca …
80. How to Get "Unstuck" in Praise

11 september 2026 · 15 min
Afspelen

Why does God want us to praise Him? And what if praising God sometimes feels awkward, artificial, or forced? Lees meer

In this reflection on Psalm 67, John Ortberg explores the same question that once troubled C. S. Lewis.

Lewis eventually discovered that God doesn't need praise like an insecure person needs compliments. Praise is actually part of our enjoyment of what's good.

We naturally praise the things we love, and we want other people to enjoy them too. That's why Lewis concluded that praise doesn't merely express joy:

Praise completes joy.

And when praise still feels like duty? Keep tuning the instrument. The duty exists for the delight.

In this episode: Psalm 67 • C.S. Lewis • praise • worship • doubt • awe • joy

#Psalm67 #CSLewis #JohnOrtberg #Praise #Worship #SpiritualFormation

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Today We're Going to Praise God
00:08 Does Praising God Feel Awkward?
00:28 When Praise Feels Artificial
00:48 Psalm 67: May All the Peoples Praise You
01:21 C.S. Lewis Had a Problem With Praise
01:42 Why Does God Want Compliments?
02:12 Is God Egotistical?
02:34 The Problem With the Psalms
02:56 Does God Need Our Praise?
03:23 Bargaining With God for Praise
03:48 Lewis Could Understand Everything Except This
03:58 Are There Questions God Doesn't Want You to Ask?
0…
79. What to Do When You’re Afraid

10 september 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

What do you do when you're afraid? Lees meer

In this reflection on Psalm 62, John Ortberg shares a memorable Dallas Willard story about a terrified cat clinging to a tree, and asks a surprisingly revealing question:

What's your branch?

When we're afraid, we clutch. We grasp for control over relationships, money, health, reputation, work, or whatever makes us feel secure.

But Psalm 62 offers another way.

Let go. Lean on God. And stand firm.

John explains how these two seemingly contradictory postures belong together: “I'm standing on the outside and leaning on the inside.”

You don't have to hold everything together today. Open your hands. Lean on the everlasting arms. Then stand firm and do the next right thing.

In this episode: Psalm 62 • fear • control • Dallas Willard • letting go • trusting God

#Psalm62 #JohnOrtberg #Fear #TrustGod #SpiritualFormation #Psalms

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 This Is for Anyone Who's Ever Been Afraid
00:34 Two Ways to Deal With Fear
00:49 Psalm 62: A Leaning Wall
01:29 Where Do You Feel Unsteady?
01:54 What Fear Really Is
02:20 Dallas Willard's Cat
02:34 He Needed a Crowbar 😂
02:45 What's Your Branch?
03:01 What Are You Trusting In?
03:40 We Cling When We're Afraid
03:59 What Won't You Let Go Of?
04:20 You Can Let Go
04:45 Leaning on the Everl…
78. How to Not Waste Your Most Valuable Asset

9 september 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

Who has your attention? Lees meer

In a world where screens, money, health, worries, ambitions, and countless other forces compete for our focus, John Ortberg asks a deeper question: Who is my master?

Psalm 143 teaches us how to pay attention to God through two important practices: focused attention and open attention.

John explores why attention is so powerful, how what we consistently attend to can actually change us, and how we can learn to notice God's presence throughout an ordinary day.

The invitation is simple:

Pay attention to the God who is already paying attention to you.

In this episode: Psalm 143 • attention • distraction • spiritual formation • neuroscience • noticing God

#Psalm143 #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #Attention #Psalms #ChristianFaith

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Pay Very Careful Attention
00:12 Are You Still With Me?
00:31 Attention Is Something We Pay
00:55 Who Is Your Master?
01:18 God Is Paying Attention to You
01:39 Two Kinds of Attention
02:01 How Attention Changes Your World
02:28 How Do You Attend to Other People?
02:49 Attention Changes You
03:15 You Become More Like What You Attend To
03:45 Focused Attention
04:14 How a Bird Pays Attention
04:42 Open Attention
05:09 Two Very Different Ways of Seeing
05:33 Seeing Yourself as Part of Something…
77. Finding Perspective Changes Everything

8 september 2026 · 11 min
Afspelen

Sometimes you need to stop moving long enough to notice where you actually are. Lees meer

In this reflection on Psalm 100, John Ortberg pulls over at a vista point and invites us to create a “vista point” in our own day: pause, look around, notice the beauty and goodness of God, and make a joyful noise.

John also shares the remarkable story of a $3 thrift-store jersey that turned out to be worth $90,000. It looked discarded, but it was a treasure.

Maybe you need that reminder too.

You are not self-made. You are the work of a master craftsman.

So pause today. Look around. Say “Wow.” Say “Thank You.” And don't miss the view.

In this episode: Psalm 100 • gratitude • joy • identity • God's creation • serving with gladness

#Psalm100 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Joy #SpiritualFormation #Psalms

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 You Need a Vista Point Today
00:26 Pull Over & Look Around
00:43 Seeing Your Life From God's Perspective
01:10 Psalm 100: Make a Joyful Noise
01:32 All the Earth Is Invited
01:51 John's Dad Makes a Joyful Noise
02:14 “Why Don't You Just Say It, John?” 😂
02:41 You Don't Need a Beautiful Voice
03:01 How Can You Make a Joyful Noise Today?
03:35 Notice What's Good
03:48 Know That the Lord Is God
04:14 There Is a God. It Is Not Me.
04:44 God Is Pleased That You Exist
05:07 …
76. What Dallas Willard Taught Us About Psalm 23 (w/Keith Matthews)

7 september 2026 · 12 min
Afspelen

What do people experience when they're around you? Lees meer

In this conversation on Psalm 23, John Ortberg is joined by Keith Matthews, who spent 18 years teaching alongside Dallas Willard.

Keith shares what Dallas was really like, why he loved Psalm 23, and a remarkable story about a young woman whose life changed after simply watching Dallas interact with someone on the USC campus.

Dallas often prayed that people would have “a radiant life and a radiant death.” His life embodied a deep confidence in the sufficiency of God: The Lord is my shepherd. I have what I need.

Keith leaves us with a powerful thought:

“Our presence goes before us.”

What might your presence communicate to the people you encounter today?

In this episode: Psalm 23 • Dallas Willard • God's sufficiency • spiritual formation • becoming a radiant person

#Psalm23 #DallasWillard #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 John & Keith Matthews
00:28 An Undisclosed Location of Spiritual Formation 😂
00:47 Spontaneity vs. Actually Preparing
01:11 Why Psalm 23?
01:38 Dallas Willard's Favorite Psalm
01:57 Memorizing Scripture
02:19 Teaching With Dallas for 18 Years
02:38 Dallas the Person
03:03 A Radiant Life & a Radiant Death
03:20 What Does a Person Radiate?
03:46 “The Lord Is M…
75. Life-Maxing? No, No, No...Try This Instead

4 september 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

We're surrounded by voices telling us to maximize ourselves: our looks, productivity, wealth, health, status, experiences, and potential. Lees meer

But Jesus offers a radically different path to maximum life.

In this episode, John Ortberg explores the “self-maximizer” inside us and contrasts it with John the Baptist's famous words: “He must increase; I must decrease.”

The paradox of God's kingdom is that abundant life doesn't come from making ourselves bigger. It comes as we loosen our grip on ego, reputation, and self-promotion and give ourselves to love and service.

Want to live life to the max?

Try a little less of yourself.

In this episode: life-maxing • John the Baptist • Philippians 2 • the self-maximizer • Psalm 146 • abundant life

#JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #Psalm146 #AbundantLife #Jesus #ChristianFaith

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 How to Maximize Your Life
00:29 Welcome to the Age of Life-Maxing
00:50 Looks, Status & Productivity Maxing
01:08 What's Wrong With Self-Maxing?
01:34 God Is Actually Into Abundance
02:04 Biblical Maxers
02:26 Absalom: The Looks-Maxer
02:42 Five Pounds of Hair?!
03:04 He Maxed Himself to Death
03:26 The Wealth-Maxer & Bigger Barns
03:47 Solomon Maxes Pleasure
04:19 The Original God-Maxing Temptation
04:30 The Self-Maximizer Inside You
…
74. The Number One Self-Care Solution

3 september 2026 · 16 min
Afspelen

What does your soul actually need for self-care? Lees meer

Psalm 19 gives a surprising answer: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”

In this episode, John Ortberg explores why God's instruction isn't meant to burden us, but to help make us whole. Our souls become divided when our thoughts, desires, values, words, and actions pull in different directions. God's Word shows us what is good and helps bring our lives back into alignment.

John also shares how memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 helped him confront anger and resentment in his own life. Sometimes soul care is as simple as taking one piece of God's Word and asking Him to help us actually live it.

Go ahead and take the walk, light the candle, or get the massage. But don't miss the deeper invitation:

Let God revive your soul.

In this episode: Psalm 19 • wholeheartedness • internal integration • 1 Corinthians 13 • Dallas Willard • becoming whole

#Psalm19 #JohnOrtberg #SoulCare #SpiritualFormation #Psalms #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith

🙌 New episodes every weekday.

📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

TEXT us at 51504

EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe

GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504

SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/

🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:

Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE

Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 What Does Your Soul Really Need?
00:32 Self-Care Isn't Just Candles & Massages
00:49 Psalm 19 & the Surprising Answer
01:10 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
01:42 The Sun Is Not God
02:27 Creation Is Good, But It's Not #1
02:52 The Law Revives the Soul
03…
73. Two Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day

2 september 2026 · 14 min
Afspelen

We're surrounded by surveys. Lees meer

Rate your phone call.

Rate your church experience.

Rate your doctor's visit.

John even got asked to rate his experience giving a urine sample. 😂

But what about the things that actually matter?

In this reflection on Psalm 36, John Ortberg gives us two surveys worth taking every day.

Survey #1: Is there anything in me that needs correcting?

Instead of reading about “the wicked” and immediately thinking about someone else, Psalm 36 invites us to look honestly at ourselves.

What am I seeing?

How am I speaking?

Where am I shading the truth?

What good am I failing to do?

Where are my thoughts taking me?

John compares this to surfing. His instructor repeatedly tells him:

“Look at the wave.”

If you don't pay attention to the wave, you won't know where it's taking you.

Our thoughts work the same way.

Then comes:

Survey #2: How good is God?

His love reaches to the heavens.

His faithfulness reaches to the skies.

His righteousness is like the highest mountains.

His justice is like the great deep.

How high do you rate God's goodness?

The numbers don't go high enough.

And if you want one final survey, John offers a little extra credit:

“When I survey the wondrous cross...”

Look honestly at yourself.

Look carefully at God.

Then look at the cross, where the fullness of His love and goodness is on display.

In this episode:

Why we're living in “survey palooza”

What the Psalms teach us about honest self-examination

Psalm 36 and the human heart

How to recognize what needs correcting

Sins of omission

Why our words become subtly deceitful

The importance of listening

John's surfing lesson: “Look at the wave”

How to pay attention to your thoughts

Measuring the goodness of God

God's immeasurable love and faithfulness

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

Scripture:
Psalm 36

#Psalm36 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #SelfExamination #Prayer #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #GodsLove #Faith

🙌 New episodes every weekda…
72. Psalm 139, Gollum, and Finding Our Identity

1 september 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

Remember where you come from. Lees meer

According to John Ortberg, remembering where you truly come from gives you two remarkable gifts: Identity and hope.

In this reflection on Psalm 139, John explores what it means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

In this episode:
Psalm 139 and where we truly come from
Why remembering your origin gives you identity
What it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made
Your body as your “little kingdom”
The biblical word golem
Gollum and the Ring
“What's your ring?”
William Wordsworth and “trailing clouds of glory”
Why we lose our sense of wonder
The danger of “peaking too soon”
Jesus and the lilies of the field
Why remembering where you come from gives you hope
The more important question: Where are you headed?

Scriptures:
Psalm 139:13–16 • Genesis 2:7 • Matthew 6:28–30

#Psalm139 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Identity #Hope #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Purpose #FearfullyAndWonderfullyMade

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com

GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team
DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides

😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/

Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Remember Where You Come From
00:34 Where Do I Come From?
00:57 The Birds & the Bees Mix-Up
01:17 A Deeper Question About Your Origin
01:44 Remembering Gives You Identity
02:02 John Is a Rockford Guy
02:25 Humility & Knowing Who You Are
02:49 Psalm 139: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made
03:15 Your Body Is Your Little Kingdom
03:…
71. Becoming Defensive Doesn't Help. Here's Why

31 augustus 2026 · 13 min
Afspelen

What happens when God shows you something about yourself you don't want to see? Lees meer

Our instinct is often to defend.

Explain.

Distract ourselves.

Push it away.

But what if the uncomfortable truth is actually an invitation to transformation?

In this reflection on Psalm 32, John Ortberg explores the relationship between pain, honesty, forgiveness, and genuine change.

John begins personally, describing a conversation in which a longtime friend helped him recognize uncomfortable patterns of comparison, envy, and competition in himself.

Instead of defending himself, John is learning to say:
“Yep. That's me. God, I need Your help.”

Psalm 32 describes the blessed person as someone “in whose spirit is no deceit.”

Then John tells the extraordinary story of Tom Tarrants, a violent white supremacist and KKK terrorist who was imprisoned in Mississippi.

In prison, Tarrants encountered the words of Jesus:
“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

His life began to change.

The man who once participated in racist terrorism eventually devoted himself to forgiveness, racial reconciliation, and serving the very people he once hated.

How far can somebody fall and still be changed by God?
Maybe much further than we imagine.

So when your conscience shows you something today, don't immediately run.

Don't defend.

Don't hide.

Ask:
God, help me see the truth about myself.

And then:
Would You change me?

In this episode:
- Psalm 32 and honest confession
- What happens when we become defensive
- Dallas Willard on pain and reality
- Why hiding the truth fragments us internally
- David, Psalm 51, and forgiveness
- The story of Tom Tarrants
- Radical transformation from hatred to reconciliation
- What it means to have “no deceit” in your spirit
- How to respond to conviction
- Why God's grace can change anyone

Scriptures:
Psalm 32 • Psalm 51 • Psalm 1 • Matthew 16:26 • 2 Samuel 11–12

#Psalm32 #JohnOrtberg #Forgiveness #Psalms #Transforma…
70. How to Keep Your Soul Healthy

28 augustus 2026 · 9 min
Afspelen

How is it with your soul? Lees meer

It's probably not a question anyone else will ask you today.

But it may be one of the most important questions you can ask yourself.

In this reflection on the Psalms, John Ortberg draws from Renovation of the Heart to explore what the soul actually is and why its health affects everything else in our lives.

Dallas Willard describes the soul as an inner stream of water that brings strength, direction, and harmony to the rest of our being.

That's why the Psalms repeatedly use the language of water:

“My soul thirsts for You.”

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You.”

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.”

John then tells the story of a beautiful village whose life depended upon a crystal-clear stream. When the unseen keeper of that stream was dismissed, everything seemed fine...for a while.

Then the water began to change.

Eventually, the entire village felt the effects.

Our souls can work the same way.

We can neglect what's happening beneath the surface while remaining busy with everything that seems more urgent.

But eventually, everything flows downstream.

So ask yourself today:

How is it with my soul?

The stream is your soul.

And you are its keeper.

In this episode:

What is the soul?

Why the Psalms are the great “soul book”

Dallas Willard on the inner life

Why the Psalms repeatedly use water imagery

The soul as an inner stream

How the health of your soul affects everything else

Why unseen spiritual work matters

The parable of the keeper of the stream

What happens when we neglect our souls

How to begin tending your inner life

Scriptures:
Psalm 121:7 • Psalm 63:1 • Psalm 42:1–2 • Psalm 46:4

#JohnOrtberg #Soul #Psalms #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation #Prayer #ChristianFaith #InnerLife #BibleStudy #SpiritualHealth

Suggested YouTube Chapters

00:00 How Is It With Your Soul?
00:33 What Is the Soul?
00:59 The Psalms: The Great Soul Book
01:16 Who Is the Keeper of Your…

Alle afleveringen

18. Three Practices for a More Contented Life

17. A Trainwreck Named Desire

16. Two Flavors of Envy and How to Deal with Them

How to Vote and Not Lose Heart

15. Humanity’s Fascination with Monsters & Understanding the Spiritual Realm

14. Why rejecting every compliment can deepen our hunger for approval

13. Twelve Stages to Becoming PRIDEFUL

12. A Pride With No Ego

11. The Problem with, “Just Think About Yourself Less”

10. What We Lose When We Prioritize Success Over Character

09. Good Pride, Bad Pride

08. What Actually Counts as Sin?

07. Is Pride Running My Life?

06. “STOP IT” Doesn’t Work When It Comes to Sin, Here’s Why

05. SIX Questions to Help You Stop Drifting

04. The TWO Kinds of Sin (And How to Fight Each)

03. I Want to Be Honest. So Why Do I Lie?

02. Why Do I Get So Defensive?

01. Identifying your BIGGEST problem and how to overcome it

First Steps | A 10-Minute Look Inside the Live Masterclass with Dr. John Ortberg

RR. I Desperately Need Peace

RR. I Messed Up, I Made a Mistake, Now What?

RR. How to Wait on God: A Verse-by-Verse Guide (Matthew 15:21-28)

RR. How to Be Strong AND Vulnerable (feat. Alan George)

RR. The Good that Suffering Can Bring

RR. I'm Struggling to Find God

RR. Billions Invested in Leadership but Where are All the Good Leaders?

RR. We asked 1,000 people which habits they wish they could break.

RR. How to Handle Your LIMIT

Psalms Bonus! What Happens When Someone Really Listens to You

RR. The Most Important Thing to Believe About Jesus

Thank You from John and Become New

87. The Lord of the Rings' Most Important Lesson

86. What the Psalms Are Trying to Teach Us

85. The Surprising Connection Between Therapy and the Psalms (w/Dr. Rick)

84. How Hope Changes Suffering

83. Why Happiness Never Seems to Last

82. There Are 3 Kinds of Friends. Here’s the One You Need.

81. Two Kinds of Commitment. Only One Transforms You.

80. How to Get "Unstuck" in Praise

79. What to Do When You’re Afraid

78. How to Not Waste Your Most Valuable Asset

77. Finding Perspective Changes Everything

76. What Dallas Willard Taught Us About Psalm 23 (w/Keith Matthews)

75. Life-Maxing? No, No, No...Try This Instead

74. The Number One Self-Care Solution

73. Two Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day

72. Psalm 139, Gollum, and Finding Our Identity

71. Becoming Defensive Doesn't Help. Here's Why

70. How to Keep Your Soul Healthy