Podcast appearances and mentions of John Ortberg

What does your soul actually need for self-care?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

We're surrounded by surveys.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.

Remember where you come from.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 fromWhy remembering your origin gives you identityWhat it means to be fearfully and wonderfully madeYour body as your “little kingdom”The biblical word golemGollum and the Ring“What's your ring?”William Wordsworth and “trailing clouds of glory”Why we lose our sense of wonderThe danger of “peaking too soon”Jesus and the lilies of the fieldWhy remembering where you come from gives you hopeThe 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

Only one in three pastors finish well. And 78% say they have no close friends. Kevin Abbott, who leads pastoral health and resilience work for Texas Baptists, joins Eric Bryant to talk honestly about the isolation that quietly derails so many pastors — and what it actually takes to keep going the distance.Drawing from 30 years in ministry, a season as a military chaplain, 13 years as a senior pastor, and now years spent walking hundreds of pastors through cohorts built on his doctoral research at Fuller Seminary, Kevin shares the habits that separate leaders who finish well from those who burn out. He gets real about his own dark nights of the soul, why "every leader has a limp," and the power of having a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in your life.This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and real stories — including pastors who found physical, emotional, and spiritual breakthrough through community, coaching, and the kind of friendship most pastors never let themselves have.

What happens when God shows you something about yourself you don't want to see?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 anyoneScriptures: Psalm 32 • Psalm 51 • Psalm 1 • Matthew 16:26 • 2 Samuel 11–12#Psalm32 #JohnOrtberg #Forgiveness #Psalms #Transformation #SpiritualFormation #Confession #ChristianFaith #Grace #BibleStudy

How is it with your soul?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 #SpiritualHealthSuggested YouTube Chapters00:00 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 Soul? 01:34 My Soul Thirsts for God 01:51 As the Deer Pants for Water 02:20 The Soul Is an Inner Stream 02:43 How Healthy Is Your Soul Today? 03:07 What a Healthy Soul Looks Like 03:34 Where Does Your Soul Get Its Life? 03:48 The Keeper of the Stream 04:11 A Beautiful Village in the Alps 04:35 The Old Man Nobody Noticed 04:59 The Unseen Work of Tending the Stream 05:25 What Happens When the Stream Is Neglected 05:39 At First, Nobody Noticed 06:02 The Whole Village Begins to Suffer 06:11 The Life of the Village Depends on the Stream 06:35 The Stream Is Restored 06:41 You Are the Keeper of Your Soul

What if you haven't lived up to your potential?In this reflection on Psalm 8, John Ortberg explores one of the great wonders of God's creation: human potential.You can count the seeds in an apple.But you cannot count the apples in a seed.Human beings possess an extraordinary capacity to grow, create, love, serve and become. Psalm 8 looks at the vastness of the heavens and then marvels that God is mindful of us.But there's another side to potential.It can become a burden.I should be further along.I should have accomplished more.I should have made better decisions.I should be more successful, disciplined, attractive, productive or fulfilled.What happens when the possibility of what we could become turns into disappointment over what we haven't become?John offers two truths to carry with us:“I am but dust and ashes.”And:“The whole world was created on my account.”One reminds us that we are limited creatures.The other reminds us that we are deeply loved.And if you're worried that too much of your life has already passed or that you've wasted your potential, remember:God never gets trapped in the past.Today is still here.And who knows what God may yet have in store?In this episode:Psalm 8 and human potentialRecovering awe and wonderWhy we become blasé about extraordinary thingsAbraham Joshua Heschel on human possibilityWhat it means to participate in the divine natureHow potential becomes a burdenThe pressure to constantly optimize our lives“I am but dust and ashes”“The whole world was created on my account”What to do when you feel insignificantWhat to do when you feel too importantLetting go of regret about wasted potentialWhy God isn't trapped in your pastScriptures: Psalm 8 • 2 Peter 1:4 • Genesis 18:27 • Luke 23:39–43#Psalm8 #JohnOrtberg #Potential #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Purpose #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Identity #Hope

What do you really want?According to the Gospel of John, that's the first question Jesus asks His would-be disciples:“What do you want?”In this reflection on Psalm 1, John Ortberg explores why that may be one of the most important questions we ever answer.Our lives have a way of organizing themselves around our deepest desires.How do you spend your time?Your money?What makes you angry?What are you willing to sacrifice for?Those things often reveal what we want more accurately than our words do.Psalm 1 gives us a picture of a different kind of life: a flourishing person, like a tree planted beside streams of water, with roots sunk deeply into God.And John closes with the remarkable story of Natan Sharansky, who spent years imprisoned in the Soviet Union and memorized the entire Book of Psalms.When he was finally released, Sharansky refused to cross the bridge to freedom until his captors returned his copy of the Psalms.What we fill our minds with matters.Because what fills our minds helps shape what we desire.So today, ask yourself:What do I really want?And:What am I filling my mind with?In this episode:The first question Jesus asks in John's GospelHow our lives reveal what we actually wantPsalm 1 and the meaning of “blessed”What biblical flourishing looks likeThe tree planted beside streams of waterWhy invisible roots matterThe progression of walking, standing and sittingWhy Psalm 1 isn't a formula for easy circumstancesHow inner goodness crowds out envy and greedNatan Sharansky's remarkable storyHow the Psalms sustained him through Soviet imprisonmentWhy what we fill our minds with shapes our livesScriptures: John 1:35–38 • Psalm 1 • Acts 20:35 • Matthew 7:12#Psalm1 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Jesus #SpiritualFormation #Flourishing #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith #Prayer #NatanSharansky

Today is a good day to die.Which means it's a good day to come alive.In this reflection on Psalm 51, John Ortberg explores an old Christian word that doesn't get used much anymore: mortification.It sounds miserable.But properly understood, mortification isn't about becoming miserable.It's about becoming free.John describes two selves within us: the impulsive self, driven by whatever we happen to want right now, and the valuing self, shaped by what we most deeply believe matters: love, joy, peace, patience and generosity.The goal of the spiritual life isn't to spend every day desperately resisting everything we want.It's to increasingly become the kind of person who is no longer controlled by destructive desires.Drawing from Psalm 51, Romans 8, and Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find, John explores Jesus' strange invitation to die in order to truly live.To mortify is to liberate.And it can begin with one very small act today.In this episode: What “mortification” actually means  Jesus' paradox of dying in order to live  Samuel Johnson on how death clarifies life  Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find Psalm 51 and David's prayer of repentance  The impulsive self vs. the valuing self  Why following Jesus isn't endless miserable resistance  How destructive desires lose their power  Mortification as liberation  A simple practice for becoming more free today Scriptures: Psalm 51 • Romans 8:13 • 2 Samuel 11–12 • Matthew 16:25#Psalm51 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Freedom #DyingToSelf #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Jesus #Transformation

What does it look like to bring your full faith into a 30-year career at the top of London banking? Filipe Santos, lead pastor at Echo Church in the Bay Area interviews Ken Costa — former Vice Chairman of UBS Investment Bank, Chairman of Alpha International, and advisor to the UK government on Saudi economic reform. They talk about the moment that changed everything for Ken as he realized his workstation was his worship station.In this conversation, Ken unpacks why "work-life balance" is the wrong framework, how to steward time, energy, and money as one integrated life, why the local church matters more than ever in a digital, disconnected age, and what he sees coming in the massive wealth transfer happening right now between generations. He also shares a candid word on AI, spirituality, and why church leaders can connect more with high-octane people working in the marketplace.Whether you're pastoring a church, leading in business, or just trying to figure out what your work has to do with your faith, this conversation will challenge how you see both.

You were made for great joy...but what do you do when you don't feel particularly joyful?In this reflection on Psalm 47, John Ortberg explores a surprisingly practical answer: Do something joyful.Sing.Clap.Dance.Go outside.Listen to birds.Look into the face of someone you love.Maybe even skip.The Psalms weren't merely written to be read. They were meant to be sung.Drawing from William Law and the James-Lange theory of emotion, John explores the fascinating relationship between our bodies and our inner lives.We can't simply command ourselves to feel happy. Our emotions don't work that way.But we can choose our actions.And because our bodies and souls are deeply connected, the things we choose to do can help shape what's happening inside our hearts.So don't wait until you feel joyful to sing.Sometimes, singing helps lead us toward joy.This is your day.You can make this day a song.In this episode:Psalm 47 and the command to singWhy the Psalms were meant to be sungWilliam Law on singing the PsalmsThe relationship between body and emotionWhy “just choose to be happy” doesn't workThe James-Lange theory of emotionWhy the Psalms include dancing and other physical practicesHow our outward actions can shape our inward livesPractical ways to move toward joyMaking your day a songScriptures:Psalm 47 • Psalm 113:3#Psalm47 #JohnOrtberg #Joy #Psalms #Worship #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Prayer #Happiness

What's the right way to wake up?In this reflection on Psalm 5, John Ortberg continues the daily rhythm begun in Psalm 4.Evening is the time of peace. Morning is the time of hope.And don't worry: you don't have to become a morning person.John explores how Psalm 5 gives us a practical way to begin an ordinary day with God, even when we wake up carrying heavy burdens, difficult circumstances, or unanswered questions.Drawing from the ancient Christian invitation Sursum corda, “Lift up your hearts,” and the wisdom of Francis de Sales, John invites us to preview the coming day with God.What meetings are ahead?Who will you encounter?Where might you be tempted?Where might you have an opportunity to serve or encourage someone?Bring your actual day to God.Then wait expectantly.Maybe we shouldn't call the thing that wakes us an “alarm clock” at all.As John puts it, perhaps we need a resurrection clock.God has given you another day. This one will never come again.In this episode:Psalm 5 as a morning prayerThe rhythm of Psalms 3, 4, and 5Why you don't have to be a morning personWaking up with God when life feels heavySursum corda: Lift up your heartsWhy waking shouldn't begin with alarmFrancis de Sales on morning prayerPreviewing your day with GodPreparing for difficult interactionsLooking for opportunities to serveWhy morning is the time of hopeThe “resurrection clock”Living this day surrounded by God's careScriptures: Psalm 3:5 • Psalm 4 • Psalm 5 • Proverbs 27:14 • Psalm 118:24#Psalm5 #JohnOrtberg #MorningPrayer #Psalms #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #MorningRoutine #Hope

Did you know the Bible gives us a way to go to sleep?In this reflection on Psalm 4, John Ortberg explores what sleep can teach us about surrender, control, prayer, and trusting God.Drawing from Answering God, John points out a fascinating biblical rhythm: evening comes before morning.Genesis says, “There was evening, and there was morning.”Sabbath begins at sundown.Psalm 4 gives us an evening prayer before Psalm 5 gives us a morning prayer.Why?Because before we wake up, accomplish anything, solve anything, or even become conscious of the new day, God is already at work.Every night, sleep asks us to relinquish our grip on our work, our relationships, our problems, our thoughts, and our need for control.The world keeps turning.God remains awake.And we can rest.In this episode:Psalm 4 as an evening prayerWhy the biblical day begins at nightEugene Peterson on evening and morning prayerSleep as an act of surrenderWhy we struggle to relinquish control"Search your hearts and be silent"Historical "first sleep" and "second sleep"Reviewing your day with GodGratitude before bedPsalm 4:8 and sleeping in peaceLearning to trust God's providence while we sleepScriptures: Psalm 3:5 • Psalm 4 • Psalm 5 • Genesis 1 • Genesis 2:2–3#Psalm4 #JohnOrtberg #Sleep #Prayer #Psalms #EugenePeterson #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #TrustGod

What if you prayed the Psalms as if they could really help?In this reflection on Psalm 30, John Ortberg explores the difference between simply reciting Scripture and allowing its words to become our own prayer.John shares the story of Rabbi Plotkin, whose life seemed to be falling apart. His marriage was ending. His future felt uncertain. Fear and self-pity had taken over.Then one morning, as he prepared to say the same prayers he'd prayed for decades, he challenged himself:“Don't pray as you always have. This time, pray as if it could really help.”The words were the same.But the speaker was different.When he reached Psalm 30 and read, “At night you go to sleep crying. In the morning there is joy,” something changed. The ancient words suddenly became personal.That's John's invitation to us today: don't merely read Psalm 30.Pray it.Bring your actual fear, grief, need, and hope to the words. Read them as though they're addressed to you. Let the Psalms become a vessel of God's grace in your actual life.In this episode:Psalm 30 and transformational prayerHow to turn Scripture into prayerRabbi Plotkin's story of crisis and hopeWhy familiar words can suddenly become personalThe difference between reciting and prayingHow the Psalms remind us we're not alone“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”Praying Scripture with your whole heartScripture: Psalm 30#Psalm30 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Psalms #PrayingScripture #BibleStudy #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Hope #Joy

What do you do when you find yourself in the pit?In this reflection on Psalm 30, John Ortberg explores one of the Bible's most powerful metaphors for suffering: the pit, the depths, the darkness, Sheol.Sometimes the pit is grief.Sometimes it's depression, failure, anxiety, physical pain, a broken relationship, a dream that has died, or something completely beyond our control.And sometimes the night lasts much longer than we ever imagined.John shares personally about a season when the pain didn't go away the next day...or the next. One thought became especially important:It will not always be this way.That doesn't mean circumstances will immediately improve. It doesn't even mean things can't get worse. It means that even in the darkness, God can still be found.Psalm 30 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”We don't know how long the night will last.But the night doesn't get the last word.In this episode:Psalm 30 and the biblical image of "the pit"What to do when suffering overwhelms youWhy "joy comes in the morning" isn't a formula or timelineFinding God in darknessPsalm 139 and finding God in SheolHow to keep going when circumstances don't improveWhy we can't lift ourselves out of every pitMourning and dancing existing togetherHope when the night feels endlessScriptures:Psalm 30 • Psalm 139:8 • Genesis 37 • Jeremiah 38 • Daniel 6 • Revelation 21:4#Psalm30 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Suffering #Hope #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Grief

What do you do with the mess inside your mind?In this reflection on Psalm 102, John Ortberg explores how the Psalms can become a kind of divine therapy, teaching us to bring our actual thoughts, emotions, fears, and beliefs honestly into the presence of God.Drawing from Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, the ABCDE framework associated with Martin Seligman, and insights from Walter Brueggemann and Dallas Willard, John shows us a practical way to process what's happening inside us with God.Psalm 102 doesn't clean up the mess.The psalmist pours it out.Fear. Despair. Exaggeration. Loneliness. Anger.And then comes the turn:"But You, Lord..."We bring God what we're actually thinking and feeling, then allow the truth of who He is to reshape the way we see our circumstances.In this episode:- Psalm 102 and lament- What "divine therapy" might look like- Why our inner lives rarely match what we present publicly- Lori Gottlieb's Maybe You Should Talk to Someone- The ABCDE framework- Why lament Psalms use exaggeration and hyperbole- Walter Brueggemann on Psalm 102- Bringing truth to our thoughts- Dallas Willard's "Eternity is now in session"- Walking through an ordinary day with the Eternal GodScripture: Psalm 102#psalm102   #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Prayer #MentalHealth #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #DallasWillard #Lament

In this message, John Ortberg explores the first three steps of discipleship - “I can't, God can, I think I'll let Him” - and invites us to let go of our need for control, trust God's power, and follow Jesus with our lives and wills.(https://slocity.church/groupguides) - Click here for group guides for this series(https://slocity.church/im-new) - Click here to fill out a connect card if you're new(https://slocity.church/events) - Click here to jump into events at SLO City(https://subsplash.com/slocitychurch/app) - Click here to download the app and stay connected(https://slocity.church/give) - We dream of being a generous church that trusts God fully and makes a difference. If God has put it on your heart to give, click the link above.

How do you deal with foolish people?The Bible gives a surprisingly complicated answer.In Proverbs 26:4 we're told:“Do not answer a fool according to his folly...”And then, in the very next verse:“Answer a fool according to his folly...”So which is it?In this reflection on Psalm 14, John Ortberg explores why biblical wisdom can't be reduced to a simple set of rules. Sometimes wisdom requires speaking. Sometimes it requires silence. Sometimes you engage. Sometimes you walk away.The goal of Scripture isn't merely to give us enough information to always follow the right rule. It's to form us into wise people, capable of judgment, discernment, and love.And Psalm 14 eventually turns the question around.Instead of asking only, “How do I deal with the fools out there?” perhaps we need to ask:“How do I deal with the fool in here?”In this episode:- Psalm 14 and the meaning of foolishness- Why sin isn't only bad, but foolish- Proverbs 26:4–5 and seemingly contradictory wisdom- Why the Bible doesn't simply give us rules- How Scripture forms judgment and discernment- When to engage a foolish person and when to walk away- Why biblical narratives require us to wrestle- The Psalms as honest journals rather than rulebooks- What it means to live as though "there is no God"- 1 Corinthians 13 and filling our minds with Scripture- How to become a wiser personScriptures:- Psalm 14- Proverbs 26:4–5- 1 Corinthians 13#Psalm14 #JohnOrtberg #Wisdom #Proverbs #Psalms #BibleStudy #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Discernment #Relationships

What if the goal today isn't to make your life extraordinary?What if it's to learn how to see the extraordinary gift hidden inside the ordinary?In this reflection on Psalm 104, John Ortberg explores how modern life has changed the way we see the world around us. We know more than ever about how nature works, yet we may have lost something along the way: our ability to experience creation as filled with meaning, wonder, and the presence of God.Drawing on Charles Taylor and Dallas Willard, John invites us to recover the eyes of "saints, poets, and artists" and rediscover what Willard called "the well-kept secret of the ordinary."Birds sing.Trees grow.Wild animals drink.Leviathan frolics.People go to work.And apparently God really likes hyraxes.Psalm 104 invites us to look again and recognize that ordinary creation is overflowing with the generosity, creativity, and goodness of God.In this episode:Psalm 104 and the wonder of creationCharles Taylor and the "immanent frame"Recovering the enchantment of realityDallas Willard and the secret of ordinary lifeWhy God made the hyraxSeeing creation as more than something to useThe love-letter analogyReceiving your life as a giftFinding God in everyday momentsScriptures:Psalm 104Genesis 1:26–27#Psalm104 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #CharlesTaylor #Psalms #Creation #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Wonder

Which version of you shows up when you pray?In this reflection on Psalm 55, John Ortberg explores a surprising truth about prayer: God doesn't want the cleaned-up, polished, "Disney version" of you. He wants the real you.The Psalms aren't theological essays or collections of perfectly polished emotions. They're raw prayers from real human beings bringing fear, anger, anguish, confusion, and desire honestly before God.John connects this idea to the original story of The Adventures of Pinocchio, which is much darker and more spiritually suggestive than the famous Disney adaptation. Pinocchio is lovingly created by his father, rebels against him, rejects his conscience, and longs for something he cannot accomplish on his own: to become real.And that's where Pinocchio's story intersects with ours.Transformation doesn't begin when we finally become the person we think God wants. It begins when the person we actually are becomes willing to stand honestly before Him.In this episode:Psalm 55 and honest prayerWhy every emotion in the Psalms isn't necessarily an instructionBringing our troubled thoughts before GodThe surprising theology of PinocchioConscience, rebellion, and the love of the FatherBiblical echoes of Jonah and the Prodigal SonMoving from a heart of stone to a heart of fleshWhy transformation begins with getting realScriptures:Psalm 552 Timothy 3:16–17Hosea 11:3Luke 15Jonah 1–2Matthew 12:38–40Ezekiel 36:26#Psalm55 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Psalms #Pinocchio #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HonestPrayer #Transformation

What are you looking to for help today?In this reflection on Psalm 121, John Ortberg explores two simple actions that can make today a blessed day:God watches over us.We lift our eyes toward Him.But "I lift up my eyes to the hills" may mean something different than we often assume. In the ancient world, the hills weren't merely beautiful. They were places of idolatry, uncertainty, and danger. The psalmist looks directly toward them and asks: Where does my help really come from?John explores what it means to live under God's watchful care, why Psalm 121 doesn't promise a life without suffering, and how this Psalm became deeply personal as he recited its final words at his father's deathbed.Whatever hills you're facing today, your help comes from the One who made them.In this episode:Psalm 121 and God's watchful care"I lift up my eyes to the hills"The high places and ancient idolatryWhat we're tempted to trust instead of GodNicholas Wolterstorff and Lament for a SonWhy God's protection doesn't mean a pain-free lifeRomans 8 and God's inseparable loveJohn Ortberg's final moments with his fatherScriptures:Psalm 1211 Kings 18Romans 8:35–39#Psalm121 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Prayer #TrustGod #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Faith #godspresence 

Should you pray every line of every Psalm?In this reflection on Psalm 109, John Ortberg tackles one of the most difficult passages in the Bible—and offers one of the most freeing insights of the entire Psalms series.What do we do with prayers that sound angry, vengeful, or even shocking?Drawing on the work of René Girard, John explains that the Psalms are not polished theological essays. They are honest prayers in process. They teach us how to bring our real emotions into God's presence without pretending, suppressing, or acting on them.This episode explores:- Psalm 109 and the imprecatory psalms- Why the Bible gives voice to victims- The difference between words and actions- Internal processors vs. external processors- Why prayer is a journey, not a performance- How Jesus Himself prayed the PsalmsScriptures:- Psalm 109- Psalms 113–118- Matthew 5:43–48- Matthew 26:30#Psalm109 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Psalms #RenéGirard #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HonestPrayer #Jesus

What does it really cost to follow Jesus?In this episode, John Ortberg explores one of Jesus' most misunderstood invitations: "Count the cost." Drawing from Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart, he explains why discipleship is not an emotional decision but a thoughtful one. More importantly, he asks a question many of us rarely consider: What is the cost of not following Jesus?Discover why surrender isn't the loss of life, but the pathway to the greatest treasure you'll ever find.

What if doing whatever you want doesn't actually make you free?In this episode, John Ortberg explores one of Dallas Willard's most profound ideas from The Renovation of the Heart: true freedom isn't the ability to satisfy every desire. It's becoming the kind of person who desires what is good and has the strength to live it out.Discover why self-denial is not the enemy of freedom, how envy quietly steals our joy, and why the path Jesus offers leads to the deepest kind of human flourishing.

Is Christianity about becoming a better version of yourself?In this episode, John Ortberg explores one of Dallas Willard's most challenging and hope-filled ideas from The Renovation of the Heart: the ruined life isn't meant to be enhanced, but replaced. Discover why self-denial isn't about self-hatred, why Jesus calls us to lose our lives in order to find them, and how true transformation goes far beyond self-improvement.If you've ever wondered what Jesus really meant by "deny yourself," this conversation offers a hopeful vision of the new life God desires to create in every believer.

What if the greatest obstacle to spiritual growth isn't what has happened to you, but what is happening within you?In this episode, John Ortberg continues exploring Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart by examining one of Christianity's most misunderstood ideas: remorse. Discover why the Bible distinguishes between the wounds we've suffered and the wrong we've committed, and why genuine remorse isn't meant to produce shame, but lasting transformation.Healing begins when we stop hiding from the truth and discover the grace of God waiting on the other side.

John explains what makes a soul lost and how the truth about ourselves is the beginning of being found.In this episode (2022), John Ortberg continues exploring Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart by examining one of the greatest barriers to spiritual growth: self-deception. Discover why the human heart naturally resists uncomfortable truths, what Jesus meant by "losing your soul," and how learning to love the truth becomes the starting point for genuine transformation.God doesn't reveal the truth to shame us. He reveals it so He can heal us.

What if your irritation is trying to tell you something?In this episode, John Ortberg explores one of Dallas Willard's most practical insights from The Renovation of the Heart: the everyday emotions and reactions we often dismiss may actually be warning lights revealing the true condition of our souls.Discover why denial is one of humanity's greatest spiritual obstacles, how God's grace exposes what needs healing, and why the path to transformation begins with honest self-awareness rather than self-condemnation.

Is self-esteem really the key to a better life?For years, psychologists believed increasing self-esteem would solve many of our greatest personal and social problems. But after decades of research, the evidence pointed in a different direction. In this episode, John Ortberg explores what Dallas Willard teaches in The Renovation of the Heart about the deeper human problem and why lasting transformation begins with truth, humility, and God's mercy.Discover why the Christian path isn't about thinking more highly of yourself, but about receiving the grace that makes genuine change possible.

Is self-care selfish? Or is it something Jesus actually invites us to practice?In this conversation, John Ortberg sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Rick Blackmon to explore Dallas Willard's vision of soul care from The Renovation of the Heart. Together they discuss emotional health, burnout, self-denial, and why understanding yourself is the first step toward caring for yourself well.Discover why true self-care isn't about self-indulgence, but about cultivating the kind of life that allows you to love God and serve others with greater joy, wisdom, and endurance.

What does it really mean to live by the Spirit?In this episode, John Ortberg explores Dallas Willard's understanding of the spiritual life through The Renovation of the Heart. Discover why every person is both physical and spiritual, what makes the human will so remarkable, and why Jesus teaches us to pray, "Your will be done."If you've ever wondered what surrender actually looks like in everyday life, this conversation offers a practical and deeply biblical vision of depending on God rather than simply relying on yourself.

What does it really mean to be a person?In this episode, John Ortberg explores Dallas Willard's powerful framework for understanding the human person through The Renovation of the Heart. Discover how the heart, mind, body, relationships, and soul work together to form the whole person, and why lasting spiritual transformation involves far more than changing behavior.If you've ever felt divided, fragmented, or like different parts of your life are pulling in opposite directions, this conversation offers a hopeful vision of becoming whole through the transforming work of God.

Can you experience God's peace while still struggling with anxiety?In this special conversation, John Ortberg is joined by his daughter, Laura Turner, to explore one of the deepest themes in Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart: peace. Together they discuss why peace is more than the absence of worry, how acceptance differs from giving up, and why receiving God's love often matters more than getting everything right.If you've ever wondered whether anxiety means you're failing spiritually, this honest conversation offers hope, wisdom, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live at peace with God, yourself, and others.

What do you do when your life feels like it's falling apart?In Episode 4 of our Become New series, John Ortberg continues exploring Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart by examining one of Scripture's most encouraging promises: "In Christ all things hold together." Even when our relationships, health, finances, or emotions feel fractured, Jesus offers a deeper kind of stability that circumstances cannot destroy.Discover how God's vision of wholeness, or shalom, provides lasting hope in a fragmented world and why spiritual formation is ultimately about becoming whole in Christ.Continue the journey as we walk through The Renovation of the Heart together.

Fear dominates much of modern life. But Jesus offers something deeper than optimism.In Episode 3 of our Become New series (2022), John Ortberg continues exploring Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart, asking why every human solution eventually falls short of changing the human heart. From ancient philosophy to politics, psychology, and self-improvement, people have searched for lasting hope. Jesus offers something radically different: transformation from the inside out.Discover why Dallas Willard called Jesus the greatest revolutionary in history and how becoming His apprentice changes not only individual lives but the world itself.Follow along as we continue this 15-part journey through The Renovation of the Heart.

In Episode 2 of our Become New series, John Ortberg continues exploring Dallas Willard's The Renovation of the Heart by unpacking Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Together, we examine why our responses to life often expose the deeper formation taking place within us and how Jesus invites us into lasting transformation from the inside out.If you've ever wondered why you keep reacting the same way, despite your best intentions, this conversation offers a hopeful framework for understanding spiritual formation and learning to let Christ shape your heart.Subscribe and follow along as we continue this 15-part journey through The Renovation of the Heart.

What if lasting spiritual transformation isn't about trying harder?In this opening episode of our Become New series, John Ortberg introduces Dallas Willard's classic The Renovation of the Heart and explores Jesus' invitation to become people whose lives are transformed from the inside out. Rather than focusing on behavior modification, this conversation examines the deeper renovation of the heart, the nature of spiritual thirst, and the promise of living water that satisfies our deepest longings.If you've ever felt stuck, spiritually dry, or frustrated by repeated attempts to change yourself, this episode offers a hopeful vision of how genuine transformation happens through life with Jesus.Subscribe for the rest of this 15-part journey through The Renovation of the Heart as we explore what it truly means to become new.

Why is comparison so hard to escape?In this reflection on Psalm 37, John Ortberg explores the hidden power of envy and why it quietly robs us of joy, gratitude, and peace.Drawing on insights from Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, John explains the difference between jealousy and envy, why comparison always leaves us feeling deficient, and how God's care frees us from measuring our lives against everyone else's.This episode explores:- Psalm 37 and overcoming envy- Why comparison is so destructive- The difference between jealousy and envy- Biblical stories of envy- Social media and the comparison trap- Living each day under God's loving careScriptures:- Psalm 37- Genesis 4- Genesis 25–30- Genesis 37- Matthew 5:5#Psalm37 #JohnOrtberg #Envy #Comparison #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Contentment #Faith

If God already knows everything...why pray?In this reflection on Psalm 74, John Ortberg wrestles with one of the oldest questions about prayer.Can our prayers actually matter?Drawing on insights from Walter Brueggemann and Dallas Willard, John explores the difference between the ancient philosophical idea of the "Unmoved Mover" and the God revealed in Scripture—the God who listens, responds, and is deeply moved by His people.This episode explores:- Psalm 74 and communal lament- Psalms of orientation and disorientation- Why the church needs lament- God's unchanging character and responsive heart- Dallas Willard's "Most Moved Mover"- Why your prayers matterScriptures:- Psalm 74#psalm74  #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #WalterBrueggemann #DallasWillard #Lament #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #God

What if the cure for loneliness isn't finding more people... but learning to be alone?In this reflection on Psalm 139, John Ortberg explores one of the deepest realities of being human: our longing to be fully known and never abandoned.Drawing on the wisdom of Dallas Willard, John explains why we spend so much energy avoiding solitude—and why silence may actually become the place where we discover God's loving presence most deeply.This episode explores:Psalm 139 and being fully known by God- The difference between aloneness and loneliness- Why we distract ourselves with constant noise- Dallas Willard's "strange cure for loneliness"- Romans 8 and God's inseparable love- How solitude leads to deeper communityScriptures:- Psalm 139- Romans 8:35–39- Hebrews 13:5#Psalm139 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #Loneliness #Solitude #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #GodKnowsYou

What do you do when you feel completely forsaken?In this reflection on Psalm 22, John Ortberg explores one of the most haunting prayers in all of Scripture:"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"These are not only the words of the psalmist—they are the words Jesus prayed from the cross.John explores the unique pain of abandonment, the difference between explanation and healing, and the remarkable hope hidden in one tiny word that many of us overlook:"My."This episode explores:- Psalm 22 and the experience of forsakenness- Why abandonment wounds so deeply- Jesus' cry from the cross- The man with the withered hand- The difference between explanation and healing- The hope found in belonging to God even in our darkest momentsScriptures:- Psalm 22- Matthew 27- Mark 15- Mark 3- Isaiah 53#Psalm22 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Jesus #Cross #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Hope #Suffering

Who really gets the good stuff?In this reflection on Psalm 113, John Ortberg explores what Dallas Willard called the Law of Inversion—one of the great themes running through the entire Bible.Again and again, God overturns the world's prestige system.The first become last.The overlooked become honored.The humble are lifted up.From Abel to Jacob, Hannah to Mary, the Beatitudes to Jesus washing His disciples' feet, Scripture tells one remarkable story: God's kingdom operates differently.This episode explores:- Psalm 113 and God's care for the overlooked- The Law of Inversion- The world's pecking order- Hannah's prayer and Mary's Magnificat- The Beatitudes- Jesus' upside-down kingdom- Why every person has access to "the good stuff"Scriptures:- Psalm 113- Genesis- Exodus 15- 1 Samuel 2- Luke 1- Matthew 5- John 13- Philippians 2#Psalm113 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #KingdomOfGod #Beatitudes #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Humility

What if the two most freeing words you could say are:"I can't."In this reflection on Psalm 143, John Ortberg explores why admitting our limitations isn't failure—it's the beginning of faith.Through a humorous story about assembling a chair, the story of Elijah's exhaustion, and a fresh look at Philippians 4:13, John reminds us that we were never meant to carry life on our own.This episode explores:- Psalm 143 and praying from weakness- Why self-sufficiency is a spiritual trap- Elijah's burnout and God's compassion- "The journey is too much for you"- A better understanding of Philippians 4:13- Why "I can't" opens the door to God's strengthScriptures:- Psalm 143- 1 Kings 19- Psalm 127:1- Philippians 4:13#Psalm143 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Faith #DependenceOnGod #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #SpiritualFormation #Philippians413 #Hope

John Ortberg has spent decades leading churches, writing books, and teaching leaders. But every leader has parts of the job they're not naturally good at. In this conversation, John opens up about pain in leadership, what it's like to be an introvert in ministry, and how to handle the work you'd rather avoid.

Is denial always a bad thing?In this reflection on Psalm 39, John Ortberg explores one of the Bible's strangest prayers:"Look away from me."Why would anyone pray that?Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard, Søren Kierkegaard, and Greg Ten Elshof, John explains the surprising difference between healthy denial and unhealthy denial, and why God often reveals truth gradually rather than all at once.This episode explores:- Psalm 39 and radical honesty- Why Job, Peter, and Jonah wanted distance from God- Healthy vs. unhealthy denial- Self-deception and procrastination- Why Jesus said, "You cannot bear it now"- The grace of gradual transformationScriptures:- Psalm 39- Job 7- Luke 5- Jonah 1- John 16#psalm39  #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #SelfDeception #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Truth #Healing

Is the opposite of fear really courage?In this reflection on Psalm 27, John Ortberg offers a surprising answer:No. The opposite of fear is God's presence.Drawing on the wisdom of Dallas Willard, John explains why Jesus could repeatedly tell His followers, "Do not be afraid," and what that invitation actually means.This episode explores:- Psalm 27 and trusting God- Why courage isn't the ultimate antidote to fear- The difference between emotional states and character traits- The powerful "Then what?" exercise- A practical prayer for anxious moments- Learning to be hidden in God's presenceScriptures:- Psalm 27- Exodus- Esther- Matthew 1- 1 Samuel 17#Psalm27 #JohnOrtberg #Fear #TrustGod #Prayer #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Anxiety

What actually makes someone a good person?In this reflection on Psalm 51, John Ortberg explores one of the most important differences between religion and the teaching of Jesus.David doesn't simply pray,"Forgive my sins."He prays,"Create in me a clean heart."Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard and the remarkable story of Joni Eareckson Tada, John explains why God is after something far deeper than behavior modification. He wants transformation from the inside out.This episode explores:- Psalm 51 and David's prayer- The difference between behavior and the heart- Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount- Why outward obedience isn't enough- Joni Eareckson Tada's powerful insight about sin- Becoming the kind of person who naturally desires what is goodScriptures:- Psalm 51- Matthew 5- Matthew 23- 2 Samuel 11–12#Psalm51 #JohnOrtberg #JoniEarecksonTada #DallasWillard #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HeartTransformation #SermonOnTheMount

What do you do when prayer feels impossible?In this conversation, John Ortberg is joined by pastor and author Glenn Packiam to reflect on Psalm 73 and the reality of spiritual slumps.Glenn shares why he always returns to the Psalms when he struggles to pray, and together they explore envy, self-pity, hope, and God's unwavering presence.This episode explores:- Psalm 73 and spiritual honesty- The danger of a wounded heart and bitter spirit- "The Bible is reading you"- Why "Yet I am always with You" changes everything- Christian hope beyond present circumstances- Ty Cobb's surprising lesson for prayer- Why the best thing you can do is simply keep showing upScriptures:- Psalm 73#Psalm73 #JohnOrtberg #GlennPackiam #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Hope #FaithInHardTimes

How should followers of Jesus love their country?In this Independence Day reflection, John Ortberg explores Psalm 8, the Gettysburg Address, and the biblical foundation of human dignity.Drawing from the writings of Abraham Lincoln, philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff, and the opening chapters of Genesis, John explains why every human being possesses immeasurable worth—not because of what they achieve, but because they bear the image of God.This episode explores:- Psalm 8 and human dignity- The image of God in every person- Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address- Biblical patriotism- Why human rights matter- Our ultimate citizenship in heavenScriptures:- Psalm 8- Genesis 1:26–28- Philippians 3:20#Psalm8 #JohnOrtberg #HumanDignity #BiblicalPatriotism #ImageOfGod #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #IndependenceDay #Genesis1 #Philippians3

What does it actually mean to fear God?In this reflection on Psalm 130, John Ortberg shares from a reunion with lifelong friends and explores one of Scripture's most misunderstood ideas.Why does the psalm say:"With You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared"?Drawing on the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas, John explains the difference between fearing punishment and revering someone you deeply love.This episode explores:- Psalm 130 and crying out from the depths- God's forgiveness and unfailing love- Servile fear versus filial fear- Waiting for the Lord with hope- Lifelong friendships and spiritual formation- Becoming the kind of person who honors God through loveScriptures:- Psalm 130#Psalm130 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #FearOfTheLord #Forgiveness #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Grace