Become New with John Ortberg

Latest Episodes:

25. How to Keep Living with an Untroubled Heart | John Ortberg May 09, 2025

Show notes

In this final episode of the series, John reflects on Jesus’ invitation to carry peace even in the middle of life’s messes. From a hilarious wedding gone off the rails to his own birthday steak getting swiped by the dog, he gently reminds us that while trouble is guaranteed, so is God’s love. Blending Scripture, recovery wisdom, and everyday grace, he paints a picture of what it means to be chosen, held, and steady—no matter what comes.

Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

24. There is nothing in the world like LOVE | John Ortberg May 08, 2025

Show notes

In this message, John speaks to those facing anxiety and heartbreak, urging them to “not let your heart be troubled,” because love—true, sacrificial love—is the only way to live with peace in a troubled world. Rooted in Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you,” John draws on Scripture, personal stories, and cultural references—from Inside Out and Saving Private Ryan to ancient Roman values—to show that the most transformative kind of love is the one that suffers willingly for others. Unlike Greco-Roman ideals that reserved sacrifice for the worthy, Jesus offers a love that dies for the unworthy, changing the meaning of suffering and friendship forever. Whether through a friend’s call, a stranger’s kindness, or Christ’s death on the cross, we are invited to live in love and be shaped by it.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

23. How to Find Joy When Life Feels Heavy | John Ortberg May 07, 2025

Show notes

Today’s reflection from John centers on the theme of joy—not as fleeting pleasure or a product of desire, but as the deep, lasting joy that Jesus offers. Speaking on the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus emphasizes joy more than ever, urging his followers to remain in his love, trust God, and obey his command to love one another. Real joy, John explains, is often found not by pursuing it directly but by living in love, in connection, and in the presence of God. Drawing from Scripture, psychology, and personal stories, he reminds us that joy is a gift already at our door—not something to merely talk about, but something to live.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

22. How to Remain in God's Love in Moments of Trouble | John Ortberg May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this message from John 15:9–10, we’re invited to remain in God’s love even when trouble hits. Drawing on James 1 and personal stories, the talk explores how challenges—like criticism, stress, or a flooded bathroom—can either cause us to resist and ruminate or become moments of spiritual growth if we welcome them as friends. Instead of stuffing emotions or avoiding discomfort, we’re encouraged to abide with Jesus in the present moment, trusting that trials are a way to build endurance and deepen our character. The simple practice? When trouble hits, pause and say, “Welcome, friend.”
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

21. Abide in Christ Every Day | John Ortberg May 05, 2025

Show notes

John Ortberg invites us into a gentle, grounded reflection on Jesus’ words from John 15:4–8 — “Abide in me.” It’s not about trying harder or achieving more, but about learning to rest our minds and hearts in God’s presence. John encourages us to let go of tension, notice where our thoughts dwell, and choose to place them in the love, peace, and life of Jesus. Fruitfulness, he says, begins on the inside — love, joy, peace, patience — and flows out from abiding, not from effort. With a quiet and humble image of the marsh hen building its nest on “the greatness of God,” John helps us see that we too can root ourselves in something steady and true, even in a messy or uncertain world. Today can be a quiet adventure in abiding.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

20. Pruning! | John Ortberg May 02, 2025

Show notes

The word for today is: Pruning.
In today’s episode, John Ortberg invites us into a deep and honest reflection on what it means to live with an untroubled heart—even in a troubled world. Joined by Susie Lipps, he explores Jesus’ words from John 15: “I am the true vine… and my Father is the gardener.” Together, they unpack the spiritual practice and painful beauty of pruning—how God lovingly cuts away what is unnecessary so we can bear real, lasting fruit. With wisdom from C.S. Lewis, Dale Bruner, and ancient voices like Irenaeus, this teaching reframes hardship, loss, and frustration as invitations to deeper growth. Whether it’s traffic delays or soul-level disappointment, this episode will help you see where God may be shaping you through it all.

19. Spiritual Lessons in the Vineyard | Susie Lipps and John Ortberg May 01, 2025

Show notes

In this honest and deeply thoughtful conversation, Susie Lipps and John Ortberg sit down to explore the real weight and meaning of Good Friday. They unpack the political pressure, religious tension, and personal cost surrounding Jesus’ final hours — not just as a historical moment, but as a mirror to our own lives. With compassion and clarity, they challenge us to sit in the discomfort of the cross, to wrestle with why Jesus was really killed, and to see how this ancient story still confronts power, pride, and injustice today. If you’ve ever wondered what makes Good Friday truly “good,” this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

18. Jesus Warned Us About the Prince of This World | John Ortberg Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

In today's teaching, we reflect on Jesus’ words, “Do not let your heart be troubled,” spoken even as he faced the ultimate darkness of the cross. Jesus warns of "the prince of this world" (the devil), emphasizing that evil, while real and deeply damaging, holds no power over him. Drawing from C.S. Lewis and psychiatrist Scott Peck, the talk explores how evil often hides behind lies and self-deception, yet remains parasitic on the good that God created. Even in the face of heartbreaking darkness and cruelty, Jesus’ love for the Father and his obedience shine through, showing that God's goodness ultimately triumphs. No matter how deep the brokenness, we’re invited to trust God and live with untroubled hearts.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

17. Find Peace That Doesn’t Depend on Circumstances | John Ortberg Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

In a world full of troubles, Jesus offers not just any peace, but his peace—a soul-deep, unshakable assurance that transcends circumstances. Peace isn’t found in perfect conditions but in trusting God's presence and sovereignty. Stories of courage, studies on happiness, and reflections on suffering all point to the same truth: we don't need a peaceful life to have a peace-filled heart. True peace grows when we stop resisting hardship, step into it with trust, and find God waiting for us there. Today’s call is simple but brave: want what you’ve been avoiding, and find peace inside the struggle.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

16. Today, Remember. | John Ortberg Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

Memory runs deeper than facts—it’s how we stay rooted in faith, identity, and love. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as a living reminder, guiding us back to his words. From ancient genealogies to remembering cucumbers in Egypt, scripture shows how memory shapes desire, regret, and belonging. In moments of deep spiritual connection, like Jimmy in Oliver Sacks’ account, memory transcends biology—soul and spirit align, and we remember who we truly are.
Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/
Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com
📧 Subscribe for daily emails with these videos and accompanying thoughts: https://bit.ly/46AZ0rN
🙏🏻 Need prayer? Text us at 855-888-0444, we would love to pray for you!
🙌🏻 Interested in content for leaders? Subscribe to Become New for Leaders: https://bit.ly/3PH4FWn
Be sure to join our Facebook Group (link below) to continue the conversation and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel BecomeNew.Me and say hello 👋 in the comments. And make sure you tap the bell icon 🔔 to be notified when the next episode releases.
CONNECT WITH US AT:
😊 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/
🎙Podcast: https://becomenew.buzzsprout.com
🤳Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/
📲 For daily alerts, text the word BECOME to the number 855-888-0444

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Become New with John Ortberg

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected