Become New with John Ortberg

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.

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

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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 Learning from an unwelcome experience
09:39 When people don’t like the speaker
10:16 Jesus, Paul, and facing rejection
10:38 Letting another person’s success teach us
11:01 Moving from malice toward growth

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

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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 without an echo chamber
11:29 Be informed, involved, humble, and hopeful
11:58 Putting our ultimate hope in the right place
12:31 Rome, the cross, and sacrificial love
14:13 Loving our country with perspective
14:46 Our hope is built on Jesus

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.

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

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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 The danger of our everyday choices
10:54 Why we don’t have to live in fear
11:19 Jesus in the wilderness
11:32 David Garland on the wild beasts
12:21 Jesus faces darkness on the cross
13:19 Resurrection and confidence
13:43 Our little hand in God’s big hand

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.

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

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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 Putting the noisy mice in a jar
08:10 Working before an audience of One
08:20 Anonymous service and imaginary applause
08:43 Today’s practice: Quiet the voices
09:07 Resting in God’s love
09:33 Returning to an audience of One

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.

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

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00:00 What matters most is who we become
00:45 How pride creates self-deception
01:14 The subtle beginnings of pride
01:43 Lucifer’s clothing and the rules of exception
02:57 An invitation to assess ourselves
03:17 Stage 1: Restless comparison
04:01 Stage 2: Measuring our strengths and weaknesses
04:25 Stage 3: Making light of other people’s mistakes
04:47 Stage 4: Boasting and interrupting
05:19 Stages 5–6: Needing to be special and superior
05:36 Stage 7: Refusing good advice
06:10 Stage 8: Defending wrongdoing
06:24 Stage 9: Dishonest confession
06:44 The final stages of pride
06:58 Stage 10: Rebellion and refusing accountability
07:37 Stage 11: Freedom to sin
08:05 Giving up after crossing the line
08:42 Stage 12: Habitual sin

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.

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

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Music Credits:
Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
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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 Trusting the mercy of God
04:46 A toddler, plastic flowers, and delight
06:00 Enjoying good work without competing
06:32 Madeleine L’Engle on becoming childlike
07:09 Humility, creativity, and our limitations
08:11 God creates and sees that it is good
08:35 Practicing delight in everyday work
08:55 A small kindness and a triple espresso
10:02 Making room to notice other people
10:28 Praying for the people around us
11:05 Joining God in small, beautiful ways
11:28 Make it a “yay” day

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.

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

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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-contempt
05:39 Problematic medieval approaches to humility
07:44 Accurate self-knowledge without exaggeration
08:08 Between pride and self-loathing
08:35 Why “think of yourself less” is difficult
09:30 Knowing yourself requires honest reflection
10:07 Self-consciousness versus self-awareness
10:58 Getting curious about our motives
11:29 Grace frees us from proving our worth
11:57 Today’s invitation: Simple dependence on God

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.

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

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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 ego and a greater God
04:59 David Brooks on the culture of “Big Me”
05:24 Importance, self-regard, and fame
07:30 Why we notice other people’s character flaws
08:30 Narcissus and the mirror turned inward
09:20 Recovering the language of character
09:36 A struggle worth giving our lives to
10:00 A daily review of our recurring failures
10:56 Putting care above prestige
11:26 Today’s prayer: What am I not seeing?

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

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

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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, perspective, and letting go
02:36 Healthy satisfaction and unhealthy pride
03:33 The damage pride can do
04:08 When self-promotion becomes normal
04:37 Pride and the insecurity underneath
05:21 A remarkably self-confident personal ad
06:23 Why pride is easier to see in others
06:52 God is God, and I am not
07:32 “Jesus Loves Me” and childlike humility
08:27 Why entering the kingdom requires humility
08:59 Admitting weakness and asking for strength
10:07 Loved without having to be impressive
10:38 The freedom and relief of humility

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

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.

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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 sin

04:39 Thoughts, temptation, and choosing wrong

05:28 Thoughts plus inclination: Temptation

05:42 Churchill and the temptation of pride

06:30 When intention enters the picture

07:22 The role of the will

07:38 Sin can begin before outward action

08:00 Beyond white-knuckling through the day

08:41 Where do I set my mind?

09:44 Why the struggle matters

10:41 Moving toward love, joy, and peace

11:08 Today’s practice: What shall I think about?

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.

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.

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Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
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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
04:39 Wanting generosity, choosing more stuff
05:00 Thinking about the life we leave behind
05:22 Defensiveness and protecting our image
06:03 When approval matters more than courage
06:20 “Feed me”: The demands of pride
07:03 Little Shop of Horrors and insatiable desire
08:06 Humility puts God at the center
08:34 A four-year-old’s unexpected song
09:23 Learning to accept limits
09:50 Making the Lord my shepherd
10:28 A life coming into alignment

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.

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

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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 understand our interior lives

04:11 Sin as distorted love

05:01 Dante and compassionate confrontation

05:51 How the deadly sins became trivialized

06:45 Silicon Valley rediscovers an ancient framework

07:03 Technology and the seven deadly sins

08:32 Artificial intelligence and human virtue

09:26 A better “swing thought” for life

09:56 Romans 7 and receiving God’s help

10:18 Brother Lawrence and God’s presence

10:39 Before the task: Invite God in

10:58 During the task: Keep asking for help

11:16 After the task: Give thanks

11:38 A simple rhythm for today

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.

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.

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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

01:46 A framework for examining our lives

02:16 The Character Gap and human behavior

03:24 Wanting right, but prepared for wrong

04:16 Can we develop a different character?

04:56 Langdon Gilkey’s Shantung Compound

06:02 What pressure and scarcity reveal

07:09 Eric Liddell: A different kind of life

08:40 Six questions for each day

09:00 Surrendering the day to God

09:37 What can I thank God for?

09:48 Forgiveness, cleansing, and making amends

10:18 Who should I pray for?

10:33 Applying Scripture to my life

10:56 What should I do, and how?

11:21 The race I want to run

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.

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.

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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 today?

11:01 Stay connected with Become New

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.

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

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Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson

License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

00:00 Becoming a deeply truthful person

00:42 Why isn’t lying a deadly sin?

01:34 Facing the truth about ourselves

02:17 A pastor’s temptation to exaggerate

03:53 How we fudge the truth

05:04 What does it mean to repent?

05:53 Repentance begins with curiosity

06:30 What was I trying to gain?

07:14 Finding freedom from the need to impress

07:39 Peter’s confidence and coming denial

09:15 Getting curious about our motives

09:49 How did my sin affect someone else?

10:57 Making amends and changing within

11:20 A prayer for cleansing

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.

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

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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 from the Middle Ages

02:33 Sugarcoating difficult feedback

03:31 Wendell Berry’s demanding classroom

04:51 A teacher who cared enough to be honest

06:19 Jesus speaks hard truth

07:17 What gets in the way of becoming good?

08:02 Hearing Scripture as a diagnosis

08:36 The sins we excuse

09:53 An invitation to honest self-examination

10:42 Knowing we are loved

11:04 Wendell Berry’s “Original Sin”

12:06 Today’s prayer: Truth and grace

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?

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.

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

00:00 Introduction
00:14 What’s your problem?
01:04 A parallel-parking lesson
02:45 Three kinds of problems
04:21 Are you measuring what matters?
04:58 Romans 7: Doing what I hate
06:31 The difference between sin and sins
07:01 Behavior modification and its limits
07:46 Dallas Willard on the deeper power of sin
09:09 Confession, gossip, and hidden motives
10:13 A series about grace
10:47 No condemnation in Christ
11:00 Today’s practice: Ask God to show you

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?

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.

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Quince Kitchen by Rore (pizzicato theme)
License#: MB01WXJ6PNCW2IV

Alaska by Sarah Watson
License#: MB01KOIGMJPRZHD

Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson
License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

0:00 What the Church Can Learn from AA

0:41 An Invitation to Practice the 12 Steps

1:30 Why We Need Each Other to Change

2:19 Why Do I Keep Doing What I Don’t Want to Do?

3:32 The Gap Between Who We Are and Who We Want to Be

3:54 How Jesus Helps Stuck People

4:57 Jesus’ Promise of Freedom

5:31 Bill W. and the Beginnings of AA

6:17 The Oxford Group and Practices of Transformation

7:24 Could the 12 Steps Help You, Too?

8:13 The Church Needs These Practices Back

9:15 An Invitation to an Honest Journey

9:43 Explore the Free Steps Masterclass

10:07 About Become New

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.

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

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!”

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

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

0:00 What to Say When You Make a Mistake
0:18 Benjamin Zander and the Nervous Cellist
1:02 “How Fascinating!”
1:34 Living Without Condemnation
2:31 Mistakes and the Learning Zone
3:18 A Disciple Is a Learner
3:39 Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
4:49 “How Do I Look?” vs. “What Can I Learn?”
5:55 Your Worth Is Already Established
6:48 Responding to Challenges, Setbacks, and Criticism
7:55 Eugene Peterson’s Rejected Manuscript
8:46 What Peter’s Mistakes Can Teach Us
9:25 Your Practice for Today