Podcast appearances and mentions of John Ortberg

In this episode, John Ortberg explores the story of Raskolnikov from Crime and Punishment. A man whose pride and guilt nearly destroy him and how his journey mirrors our own. Through the lens of Scripture and soul-searching questions, we discover the dangerous trap of self-justification and the radical gift of grace. If you've ever felt crushed by your mistakes or isolated by your ego, this one's for you.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

In today's episode, John Ortberg explores one of the most surprising spiritual invitations Jesus offers: not try harder, but try softer. When your efforts lead to exhaustion, and faith feels forced, there's another way. Learn what it means to walk with Jesus under the easy yoke, to trust the Spirit's gentle power, and to release the illusion of control. You'll hear stories, practical wisdom, and biblical truth from Matthew 11 and beyond. Take a breath, lean in, and discover how trying softer might change your life.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

Your character is being shaped right now. In this episode, John Ortberg invites you to consider the quiet truth we all feel: we're always becoming someone. Whether it's intentional or accidental, today you will change. Drawing from Matthew 6:33 and insights from C.S. Lewis, this teaching explores how to seek first the Kingdom of God in a world of noise, distraction, and drift. If you've ever felt stuck, aimless, or overwhelmed by your own habits—this one's for you. You'll walk away inspired, challenged, and reminded that change is not only possible—it's inevitable. The question is, what kind of person are you becoming?Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

What do you do when the pain lingers but forgiveness still calls your name? In this powerful and honest teaching, John Ortberg explores the emotional and spiritual complexities of forgiving when you've been deeply hurt. Drawing from Scripture, real-life stories, and spiritual practices, this episode dives into what forgiveness really is and what it's not. Learn how to forgive without forgetting, trust God with justice, and take one step closer to freedom.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

The habits you already have are shaping who you're becoming, whether you mean them to or not. In this episode, John Ortberg shares how small, ordinary routines can become sacred rhythms that turn your attention back to God. Transformation doesn't start with willpower; it starts with what you practice every day.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

Is God really in control… or just controlling? In this powerful message, John Ortberg explores the surprising truth about God's relationship to control and how it invites us into a life of freedom, trust, and creativity. If you've ever wrestled with anxiety, the need to manage everything, or the fear of letting go, this episode is for you. Learn how to release your grip, listen to the Spirit, and experience the expansive life God designed you for.

John Ortberg writes: “Obedience has become the virtue that nobody wants.”*What does he mean?The apostle Peter says that to “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue” (2 Peter 1:5). Patience is a virtue, as we often hear. So is kindness. So is loyalty. But many people find obedience a tougher pill to swallow.Perhaps … Continue reading The virtue nobody wants

Life can feel like a game—filled with goals, strategy, and the desire to win. But in the end, Jesus reminds us that everything goes back in the box. In this opening message of The Game of Life series, Pastor Mark Reynolds unpacks Jesus' parable of the rich fool and challenges us to think about what truly matters.What does it mean to “win” in God's eyes? How do we measure success in a world that keeps score differently? This sermon invites you to live richly toward God—through generosity, compassion, and trust—and to invest your life in what lasts forever.

Feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and the need to control everything? In this powerful episode, John Ortberg sits down with clinical psychologist and spiritual leader Dr. Rick Blackmon to unpack Philippians 4:6—“Do not be anxious about anything.” Together, they explore the difference between healthy planning and harmful preoccupation, how to build a tolerance for uncertainty, and why surrendering control may be the most powerful step toward peace. If you've ever wrestled with worry, this conversation offers both spiritual insight and psychological tools to help you let go and shine.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

Today on the No Regrets Podcast, Steve is joined by author and pastor John Ortberg for a powerful conversation about transformation—what it means to move beyond trying harder toward training our lives around the practices that truly change us into a more godly person. John unpacks the difference between behavior modification and genuine spiritual transformation, sharing how Jesus invites us not just to follow Him but to become like Him. They discuss what it means to be a godly person first, and then a godly man—loving God with everything we've got, loving others well, and building character that lasts. Drawing from his new book Steps, John highlights how the church can learn again from the wisdom of the 12 Steps: that real change begins with surrender—“I can't. He can. I think I'll let Him.” Transformation, he explains, always requires both a way of life and a community of people who walk alongside us. John and Steve also talk about the role of real accountability—how openness, honesty, and voluntary transparency create the soil where lasting change can take root. This conversation will challenge and inspire you to live transparently, pursue Christlikeness, and embrace a path of discipleship that leads to joy and wholeness. Resources Mentioned: Steps by John Ortberg More about John Ortberg Become New Teachings

What does the Bible actually say about the Antichrist, Armageddon, and the end times? In this episode, John Ortberg clears away the clutter of speculation—like presidential “666” theories, modern rapture charts, or end-times guessing games—and returns us to the words of Scripture itself. Drawing from 1 John, Revelation, and the prophets, John shows how terms like “Antichrist” and “tribulation” were meant for real people facing real suffering, not just future predictions. Along the way, you'll hear insights from Bruce Metzger's Breaking the Code and Dallas Willard's vision of our eternal destiny—not endless bureaucracy, but creative life with Christ. Instead of fear, we're invited into faithfulness, hope, and love, living today as people of God's kingdom while looking forward to the day when all is made new.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

In his book, Soul Keeping, John Ortberg writes that we are created with souls that crave to be loved, secure, and significant. Given the time and energy we spend at work, it can be easy to turn to our work to meet those needs. But Ortberg writes that only God can satisfy the needs of ... The post Soul Filling appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

We continue our series about rage in our Sept 21 Sunday gathering. This week's discussion questions are below: Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways have you noticed culture forming you toward outrage, anxiety, or self-centeredness? The sermon mentioned consumerism, individualism, and digital formation. Which of these has the strongest pull in your life, and how do you see it affecting your peace? 2. Read Matthew 16:24–26. What do you think Jesus means by “deny yourself” in practical, everyday terms? How does Jesus' prayer in the garden—“Not my will, but yours”—challenge the way you usually respond when you don't get what you want? 3. John Ortberg said, “Anger is the energy I feel when my will gets frustrated.” Can you think of a recent time when your will was frustrated? How did you respond? What would a response of peace have looked like instead? Why do you think our happiness so often depends on “getting our way”? How does that set us up for outrage? 4. The sermon suggested practices like fasting, eating leftovers, letting someone else decide, or keeping a clever thought to yourself. Which one of these would be hardest for you? How might intentionally denying yourself something small help you resist larger temptations or grow in peace? 5. How could practicing self-denial not just change you personally, but change the way you interact with your family, coworkers, or neighbors? Imagine a community of people truly living this way—laying down their right to always get their way. What impact would that have on the world around them? 6. Where in your life do you most need to practice self-denial right now? What is one concrete step you can take this week to move toward becoming a person of peace rather than outrage?

Over the past half-century, evangelical Christians have rediscovered spiritual formation. Richard Foster, Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and more recently John Mark Comer have helped re-emphasize spiritual practices and the interior life. But why does so much popular writing and teaching on spiritual formation lean on Catholic sources – mystics and monks and Merton? Is there a distinctly Protestant stream of spiritual formation that we can rediscover? If so, what might it teach us? In this episode, we interact with a new book from Matthew Bingham, A Heart Aflame for God. Bingham asserts that there IS a deep Protestant tradition of spiritual formation, and one of its distinctives is the centrality of Scripture. In this episode, we discuss why we tend to minimize Scripture in spiritual formation, why the Puritans saw Scripture as central to spiritual formation, and how we can practically foreground the Scriptures in our spiritual practices.Chapters:(0:00) Introductions: Have We Lost the Thread on Spiritual Formation?(4:26) The Primacy of the Word of God(13:23) Some Critiques of a Word-Centric Spiritual Formation(20:43) What the Puritans Have to Say(26:22) Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly

John Ortberg unpacks what the Gospel according to Jesus is, how Dallas Willard's theology informs us still today, why all of us should strive to be apprentices of Jesus, and why churches need to take the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous back. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.Resources Mentioned in the Episodebecomenew.com Steps by John OrtbergThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardThe Life You've Always Wanted by John OrtbergSoul Keeping by John OrtbergThe Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas WillardRenovaré & Spiritual Formation resourcesRed Letter Living resourcesVoices of the LCMS YouTube VideosAre you following Jesus? Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don't know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it's free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.You can take the FREE Red Letter Challenge Assessment here. Spiritual growth isn't about willpower. It's about training with Jesus in everyday life. #JohnOrtberg #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #RedLetterChallenge #ZachZehnderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill and Kristi Gaultiere discovered that before they could truly empathize with each other in marriage, they first needed to experience God's deep empathy for them. In this conversation, the Type 1 and Type 2 couple share how understanding their different Enneagram approaches to apologies and empathy transformed their relationship. They discuss practical calming exercises, breaking cycles of anger, and how each Enneagram type naturally blocks empathy. Bill and Kristi talk about their new book "Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You" and share type-specific tools for building marriages where authentic connection feels safer than emotional withdrawal. Watch here on YouTube! "Reading this book is like sitting with close friends who truly get what you're going through."--Dr. Tim Clinton, president of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) "Bill and Kristi Gaultiere have provided an oasis of care in the 'empathy desert.'"--John Ortberg, teacher at BecomeNew; author of Steps Next Steps: Get the brand new book by the Gaultiere Deepy Loved right here: https://a.co/d/iGXog7V Find everything you need from Bill and Kristi here at Soul Shepherding https://www.soulshepherding.org/ Find Soul Shepherding at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulshepherding/?hl=en Come on retreat with them! https://www.soulshepherding.org/institute/ Get healthy together as a couple this Fall! Begin your personal healing journey in the Enneagram Relationship Intensive with Christa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave Christa a podcast question anonymously by sending an MP4 recording to enneagramandmarriage@gmail.com. Love what you're learning on E + M? Make sure you leave us a podcast review so others can find us, too⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul's words — “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” — confront us with life's deepest questions. But what if we struggle to believe? Through C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, George MacDonald, and others, we see that even when certainty wavers, we can choose to live as if the gospel is true. Faith is not just mental assent; it's the decision to live a life worth following, even amid doubt and darkness.00:00 — What does “to live is Christ, to die is gain” mean?01:05 — Why is it harder today to believe in life after death?01:36 — What do we really know about what happens after death?02:24 — C.S. Lewis on doubt and faith in The Silver Chair03:36 — Is the Christian story just a fairy tale?04:25 — Puddleglum's answer: why I choose faith anyway06:05 — Tolkien, courage, and fighting on the losing side07:06 — George MacDonald: why I would live my life believing08:24 — Would you still follow Jesus even if you doubted?09:28 — Why living as if Christ is true is the only way worth living10:24 — How to keep going with faith through grief, doubt, and lossBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team

Season 9 of The Red Letter Disciple Podcast launches September 9th with 11 powerful episodes featuring world-class disciples. We'll kick off with a special Episode 100 guest, John Ortberg, followed by 10 conversations focused on helping the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod walk together as disciples. A big thanks to our Season 9 partner, Child Beyond International—we're using this platform to inspire generosity and rescue children through their ministry. For details, show notes, or to listen on your favorite platform, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we kick off today's episode of Shine, consider this question: Who is the most difficult person in your life right now? A family member? Maybe a coworker or a friend? Paul knew people like that, too. In Philippians 1, he talks about brothers and sisters in Christ who were trying to cause trouble for him while he was in prison. Paul says that some were operating out of love, but some were motivated by selfish ambition. His response to this is remarkable. Translated from the Greek, he uses two little words: “So what?” The motives of others didn't derail the direction of his life. The gospel was still being advanced.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

This is your day to shine. The only thing is… (tough news incoming) shining won't be in your ideal situation. Shining means right now, right where you are, right in the middle of your current circumstances. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

Very often, we plan about the things in our lives, but it's not often that we plan the person we will become. Today, as we continue through Shine, we're asking these questions: What are your spiritual goals? Who would you like to become today? Keep those in your back pocket as we dive into our teaching. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

When should we be confident? That's what we're studying today as we look at Paul's teachings to the church of Corinth. The world often lives by self-confidence. Do we have it all together? Are we successful? Are we winning? But Paul was confident in a different way. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

We greet you in the name of a brand-new series, Shine! Throughout the next many weeks, John Ortberg will walk us through Paul's letter to the Philippians, and here's our kick-off thought: God can be found even in our greetings to others. Through something as simple as how we greet someone, we can demonstrate the love of Christ.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT US at 855-888-0444EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.comGET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text BECOME to 855-888-0444SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamWEBSITE: BecomeNew.comPODCAST: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.comSOCIAL MEDIA:

Episode: Forgiving YourselfSeries: PASSAGE TO WISDOMBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Idiot Lights for the SoulSeries: BECOME NEWBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Ambition EditionSeries: MADE TO COUNTBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Humility 1; Hubris 0Series: BECOME NEWBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

“Habit eats willpower for breakfast.” As the apostle Paul says in Romans 7, we do the evil we don't want to do, and we don't do the good we want to do. Pastor and author John Ortberg joins Mark Labberton on Conversing to discuss his latest book Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough. Drawing on decades of pastoral ministry, the wisdom of the Twelve Steps, and the profound influence of Dallas Willard, Ortberg explores the limits of willpower, the gift of desperation, and the hope of genuine transformation. With humour, honesty, and depth, he reflects on why human will is insufficient, why churches struggle to embody desperation, and how communities of honesty and grace can become places of real healing. Episode Highlights “Habit eats willpower for breakfast.” “The first step is a deeply despairing step. I can't, and it feels like hell and death—and that opens people up to God.” “If you have a wimpy step one, you will have wimpy steps two through twelve.” “Desperation really is a gift.” “Failure and pain so often become helps in our meeting God.” Helpful Links and Resources Find more from John Ortberg at becomenew.com John Ortberg, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart Kent Dunnington, Addiction and Virtue: Beyond the Models of Disease and Choice Stephen R. Haynes, Why Can't Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? About John Ortberg John Ortberg is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author dedicated to spiritual formation and transformation. He served as senior pastor at Menlo Church from 2003 to 2020, and has written numerous books, including The Life You've Always Wanted and Faith & Doubt. He studied at Wheaton College and Fuller Theological Seminary and has been a trustee at Fuller. His most recent book, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough, reframes the Twelve Steps as a wisdom tradition for all seeking deeper life with God. Show Notes The Nature of Willpower and Habit John Ortberg reflects on Dallas Willard's framework for understanding persons. “Habit eats willpower for breakfast.” The human will is essential, but terrifically weak when confronting sin, ego, or deep habits. The Gift of Desperation and the Twelve Steps First step: “We admitted we were powerless.” “The first step is a deeply despairing step. I can't, and it feels like hell and death—and that opens people up to God.” Desperation becomes a gateway to spiritual power. “If you have a wimpy step one, you will have wimpy steps two through twelve.” Comparing church and AA Ortberg: “Desperation really is a gift.” The church often resists being a community of desperation. Honesty is not the same as desperation; both are needed for transformation. Why AA's structure works: fellowship plus program. “Failure and pain so often become helps in our meeting God.” Storytelling and Transformation Testimonies and stories at the center of AA's power. Why narrative makes meaning for human life. “Story is the essential unit of meaning for personhood.” Spiritual Practices and Confession Step 5: “Confess to God, ourselves, and one other person the exact nature of our wrongs.” John recalls confessing to a close friend: “John, I love you more right now than I've ever loved you before.” The liberating power of being fully known and loved. Addiction, Sin, and Disease The debate: is addiction a disease, a habitus, or sin? Disease language reduces shame but risks erasing agency. The overlap of sin, brokenness, and habit. The challenge of shame, judgment, and superiority in church contexts. Fellowship and Program “If you have program but not fellowship, you're dead. If you have fellowship but not program, there is no hope.” AA as a model for church life: communal honesty plus concrete practices. The gospel calls for grace-filled action, not passivity. Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Episode: FollowSeries: MADE TO COUNTBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Overcoming Your "Limiting Belief"Series: HABITBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Wax On, Wax OffSeries: IN THE BEGINNINGBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Angry Thoughts, Second ThoughtsSeries: SECOND THOUGHTSBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: A Problem and a PurposeSeries: IN THE BEGINNINGBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Episode: Pass the ZestSeries: CHARACTERBecome New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

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

Our devices promise constant connection, but too often, they leave us isolated, anxious, and spiritually numb. When we lose signal or misplace a phone, we feel unmoored, unable to navigate, communicate, or find joy. That's the invitation at the heart of today's reflection: to ask, Am I truly connected? Not to Wi-Fi, but to God, to my values, to the people I love. Technology can serve connection, but it cannot substitute for it. We were made for something deeper.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Life's greatest lessons often come from unexpected places. In today's devo, John tells a story of a little boy in a developing village who hears about tithing for the first time. After giving a single fish to his teacher, he responds to the question “Where are the other nine?” with something unforgettable: “Oh, they're still in the river. I'm going to go catch them now.” That is how faith responds. It's a childlike confidence that God's provision isn't scarce or hidden, but abundant, always flowing like a river.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

When was the last time you were genuinely wowed? With all the content we consume on the daily it's getting more and more difficult to find these moments of amazement. But the truth is that we were made to be astonished. Whenever we neglect that part of who we are our souls shrink a little. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt observes that screen addiction damages our capacity for transcendence. His research and others' affirm what the Bible has been talking about for millennia: the heavens are telling the glory of God. Awe is a gateway to God. It reminds us of our smallness and God's grandeur.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

We learn through imitation. This is why we have role models and icons. Those who have gone before us and shown us what's possible. Whether we know it or not, we are followers first. The Apostle John talks about this in 3 John, where he writes, “Do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” In other words, you will imitate what you watch, so watch wisely. From spiritual mentors to social media influencers, the people and patterns we imitate form our character and ultimately how we make our way in the word.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Today's We Should Get Out More brings us to this phrase, straight from Dallas Willard: Bless what you dread. We were blessed by God and we are made to be a blessing. For fun and to put this into perspective, we're taking a lesson from the Hokey Pokey song and applying it to blessing others: you put your whole self in. (Sing it with us: You put your right foot in, take your right foot out…) To truly bless is to do so intentionally and with your whole heart and spirit. The very act of blessing is something we see in the Bible from the beginning of time. God creates, God gives, God adds value. He blesses the trees and the seas and the sky and the earth. The world exists to be blessed, and you were made to be a blessing.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

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

Have you ever felt like you wanted to change… but couldn't? Sometimes, change isn't possible by the flesh alone. True change is often only available with God's help. That's what today's lesson highlights as we continue our journey through We Should Get Out More. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Today's episode of We Should Get Out More features an interview with Andy Crouch, one of the central thought leaders of this series, whose work we've been studying together. He's a partner for theology and culture at Praxis and the author of several books like “The Tech-Wise Family” and “The Life We're Looking For.” Today, Andy and John discuss the intersection of technology and human flourishing. Tune in for a chat about how our “glowing rectangles” (as Andy refers to smartphones) are sometimes forming us in ways we're not fully aware of. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Today, as we continue through We Should Get Out More, we're talking tech, but not just the usual doom-scroll warnings. John sits down with Pat Gelsinger, a tech mogul and lifelong follower of Jesus, to talk about how faith and technology don't have to live in separate worlds. In fact, Pat argues this moment in history is a “Gutenberg moment”: a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Church to use technology to spread goodness, beauty, and truth. So instead of running from it, what if we stepped into it, with wisdom and courage?Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

What is self-control? Is it trying through blood, sweat, and tears to make ourselves miserable? Maybe not. Maybe, a miserable life of constant resistance isn't a God shaped life. The Apostle Paul calls self-control the final fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5), not because it's least important, but perhaps because (maybe) it takes the longest to grow. At its core, self-control is about spiritual renovation. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

When Tiffany and her husband Cam moved across the country to pursue their dream of running a mountain camp, they had no idea what was waiting for them. A financial crisis, a pandemic, wildfires, floods, and windstorms. They had to deal with one disaster after another. Each event felt like a reason to give up. But looking back, those same struggles became the soil where deep spiritual resilience took root. Instead of running from discomfort, they stayed and as a result they witnessed God bring life from ashes and strength from suffering. That's the strange grace of challenge: it forms us in ways comfort never can.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

God didn't design us to live behind glass, protected, isolated, or untouched by risk. That's the danger of our screen-saturated, control-craving world: we can build an “unrisky life” that appears safe but leaves our spirits weak. John draws out a striking metaphor from Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, where he talks about trees planted in a perfectly controlled environment that grew fast but fell before maturity because they lacked the stress and strain of wind. Without this stress, they never developed the “stress wood” that would make them strong enough to withstand life. You and I need wind too. We were made for challenge.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.

Sometimes the best theology is found on the back deck. A small bird on a simple patrol caught the attention of a friend, and in that moment the truth came to light. That mockingbird, later named “Jabez,” seemed to be extending its reach, enlarging its territory. And just like that, we're reminded of a prayer tucked quietly into 1 Chronicles 4:10, a prayer that asks God not for riches or comfort, but for blessing, for growth, for protection, and for freedom from pain. But it's not self-centered, it's a vision of hope in the face of the world's curse, a longing that our lives might be vessels of blessing for others.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.