Become New with John Ortberg

What is the secret to deep relationships?

In this teaching on Psalm 133, John Ortberg explores intimacy, connection, loneliness, and the small daily habits that strengthen relationships.

Drawing from the work of relationship researcher John Gottman, John explains the powerful idea of "bids for connection"—the small invitations people make every day to share life together.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 133 and unity
- What intimacy really means
- The epidemic of loneliness
- John Gottman's relationship research
- Turning toward connection
- Jesus as the master of connection
- God's invitation to relationship throughout Scripture

Featuring reflections on:
- John Gottman
- Dallas Willard
- Robert Putnam

Scriptures:
- Psalm 133
- Genesis 2
- Genesis 3
- Genesis 4

#Psalm133 #JohnOrtberg #Relationships #Connection #Intimacy #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #JohnGottman #BibleStudy #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
John Gottman, The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships  
Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community 

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

00:00 Psalm 133 and the Nature of Intimacy
00:34 What Intimacy Really Is
01:18 God's Presence, Unity & Flourishing
01:47 Invited Into the Trinity
02:09 Common Myths About Intimacy
02:54 The Epidemic of Isolation
03:28 Twinkies, Broccoli & Friendship
04:15 Dallas Willard on Shared Experience
05:26 John Gottman & Bids for Connection
06:08 What Is a Bid for Connection?
06:54 Relationships Are Built on Bids
07:37 Jesus: Master of Connection
08:22 Turn Toward, Turn Away, Turn Against
09:06 God's Bid for Connection in Eden
09:52 "Want to Go for a Walk?"
10:28 The Cross: God's Costly Bid for Connection
10:59 Building Unity One Moment at a Time
11:46 Move Toward the Bid

What if unity is one of the things God cares about most?

In this teaching on Psalm 133, John Ortberg explores unity, reconciliation, the Trinity, and Jesus' remarkable prayer that His followers would be one.

Moving from Psalm 133 to Ephesians 4 and John 17, John shows how unity is not merely a church strategy or relational ideal. It is rooted in the very nature of God Himself. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in perfect love, mutual submission, delight, and harmony.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 133 and unity
- Ephesians 4 and "one"
- The Trinity as a model for relationships
- Jesus' prayer for His followers
- Inclusion and reconciliation
- Becoming a builder of harmony

Featuring reflections on:
- Dale Bruner
- Greg Ten Elshof
- Dallas Willard
- William Shakespeare
- Bill Gaither

Scriptures:
- Psalm 133
- Ephesians 4:3–6
- John 17:20–23

#Psalm133 #JohnOrtberg #Unity #Trinity #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #John17 #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
William Shakespeare, “The Phoenix and The Turtle”

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

00:00 Psalm 133 & God's Favorite Word
00:31 Repair Work & Getting Names Right
01:01 How Good and Pleasant It Is
01:55 Oil, Dew & God's Blessing
02:20 Why Unity Matters So Much
02:38 One Spirit, One Lord, One God
03:19 The Mystery of the Trinity
04:10 Life Inside the Trinity
05:28 The Eternal Dance of Love
05:57 Shakespeare & Becoming One
06:50 Created for Oneness
07:41 Jesus' Prayer in John 17
08:28 "May They Also Be In Us"
09:27 Invited Into the Life of God
10:07 Bill Gaither & The Circle of Music
11:14 Welcomed Into the Center
11:49 Becoming an Includer
12:14 Repairing Relationships
12:52 How Good and Pleasant It Is

What do you do when your soul feels downcast?

In this conversation, John Ortberg sits down with Kevin Palau to explore Psalm 42, anxiety, discouragement, emotional honesty, and hope.

Kevin shares candidly about his own struggles with anxiety, the pressures of leadership, and why Psalm 42 has become one of the most important prayers in his spiritual life.

This episode explores:
- Anxiety and spiritual formation
- Psalm 42 and emotional honesty
- The pressure to appear spiritually strong
- Faith and discouragement
- Sabbath, rest, and slowing down
- Learning to put our hope in God

One of the great gifts of Psalm 42 is that it reminds us that faith is not pretending everything is fine. Faith is bringing our real selves before God and placing our hope in Him anyway.

Scriptures:
- Psalm 42

Featuring:
- Kevin Palau
- John Mark Comer (referenced)

#Psalm42 #JohnOrtberg #KevinPalau #Prayer #Anxiety #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Hope #BibleStudy #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters 

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

00:00 Introduction & Kevin Palau
00:54 Ministry, Leadership & Hidden Anxiety
02:06 Why Psalm 42 Resonates So Deeply
03:41 “As the Deer Pants for Streams of Water”
04:42 When Tears Become Your Food
05:45 The Pressure to Appear Spiritually Strong
07:05 Anxiety Beneath the Surface
08:27 It's Okay to Feel This Way
09:13 John Mark Comer, Rest & Sabbath
10:06 Speaking Hope to Your Soul
11:21 God Is My Savior and My God
12:04 Joy, Grandchildren & Future Hope
12:52 Hope and Discouragement Together
13:39 Why Honesty Makes Us Safer
14:31 Giving Others Permission to Be Real
14:56 Simply Read the Psalm

Can you really live without lack?

In this reflection on Psalm 23, John Ortberg draws from Life Without Lack to explore one of the most beloved passages in all of Scripture.

What does it mean to say, "The Lord is my shepherd"? What if "I shall not want" is not a promise that life will be easy, but an invitation to stop being driven by fear, scarcity, and unsatisfied desire?

This episode explores:
- Psalm 23 and the Kingdom of God
- Dallas Willard's vision of life without lack
- Freedom from fear and anxiety
- God's presence as the center of the spiritual life
- Green pastures, still waters, and restored souls
- Goodness and mercy following us every day

Featuring reflections from:
- Dallas Willard
- Charles Spurgeon
- C.S. Lewis
- Walter Brueggemann

Scriptures:
- Psalm 23
- Matthew 6:33
- John 4:14
- Matthew 5:44

#Psalm23 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #LifeWithoutLack #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #KingdomOfGod

📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard, Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 

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

00:00 Psalm 23: The Comfort We Need
00:30 Dallas Willard & Life Without Lack
01:22 The Lord Is My Shepherd
02:16 I Shall Not Want
03:09 Freedom From Unsatisfied Desire
04:00 Green Pastures & Still Waters
04:51 He Restores My Soul
05:43 Paths of Righteousness
06:05 I Will Fear No Evil
07:03 You Are With Me
08:07 Rod, Staff & Shepherd Care
08:29 A Table in the Presence of Enemies
09:16 Loving Your Enemies
10:09 My Cup Runs Over
10:48 Goodness & Mercy Follow Me
11:18 Grief, Goodness & Mercy
11:42 Living Without Lack

What's your story today?

In this teaching on Psalm 59, John Ortberg explores one of the most important lessons of the Psalms: prayer is always prayed from inside a story.

Drawing from Answering God, John challenges the idea of "spiritualized prayer" — prayer that removes the conflict, fear, anger, disappointment, and messiness of ordinary life.

Psalm 59 was written in the middle of David's crisis. Men were sent to kill him. His prayer wasn't polished. It wasn't neat. It was real.

This episode explores:
- Why every prayer comes from a story
- The danger of spiritually correct prayer
- Psalm 59 and David's honesty
- Fear, trust, and emotional authenticity
- Eugene Peterson's insights on prayer
- Bringing your whole self before God

Featuring reflections from:
- Eugene Peterson
- David's life in 1 Samuel

Scriptures:
- Psalm 59
- Psalm 3
- 1 Samuel 19

#Psalm59 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #EugenePeterson #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Authenticity #Faith

📚 Today's Resources:
Eugene H. Peterson, Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer

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

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GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 What's Your Story Today?
00:39 Eugene Peterson & Spiritualized Prayer
01:06 Psalm 3 and David's Story
01:51 Every Day Is a Story
02:32 Psalm Titles and Real Life
03:17 Why Scholars Often Ignore the Titles
04:02 Eugene Peterson's Insight
04:31 The Danger of Spiritualized Prayer
05:24 What Trouble Are You Facing Today?
06:21 Psalm 59 Begins
07:02 Trust, Fear & Emotional Honesty
08:20 Mrs. X and Spiritually Correct Prayer
09:19 The Problem With Polished Prayers
10:08 Living in the Mess With God
10:59 “I Am Not My Strength”
11:23 Every Story Matters to God
11:44 Your Outside Story and Inside Story