Become New with John Ortberg

Do you matter?

It may be one of the most important questions a human being can ask.
In this teaching on Psalm 127, John Ortberg explores meaning, significance, anxiety, achievement, and what the Bible says about human worth.

Drawing from the work of Rebecca Goldstein, John examines what she calls a "crisis of mattering" and why so many people feel insignificant despite living in an age of unprecedented progress.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 127 and the search for meaning
- Why achievement cannot provide lasting significance
- The lie that your life doesn't matter
- Your story inside God's larger story
- The Incarnation and human worth
- How every act of faithfulness matters

If you've ever struggled with purpose, significance, discouragement, or the feeling that your life doesn't make a difference, this conversation is for you.

Scriptures:
- Psalm 127
- Genesis 1
- Matthew 10

#Psalm127 #JohnOrtberg #Meaning #Purpose #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Prayer #BibleStudy #Significance #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us

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

00:00 What Matters?
00:30 Progress Without Hope
01:45 The Decline of Meaning & Belonging
02:11 Global Birth Rates & The Future
03:07 The Crisis of Mattering
03:40 Iris Murdoch on Human Worth
04:04 “I Don’t Matter”
04:30 Psalm 127 Begins
04:49 Why the Psalms Are Organized Into Five Books
05:40 Your Story Inside God's Story
06:09 The Lie That You Don't Matter
06:33 Unless the Lord Builds the House
07:26 Everything Matters to God
08:11 Children, Hope & The Future
09:13 The Mattering Index
10:07 Infinite Meaning
10:36 The Incarnation & Human Worth
10:59 You Matter More Than You Think
11:58 Every Small Thing Matters
12:47 Learning to Live Like It Matters

What is the difference between being nice and being kind?

In this reflection on Psalm 138, John Ortberg explores one of the most beautiful biblical ideas: God's loving kindness.

Why does Scripture constantly praise God for His kindness but never describe Him as "nice"? What is the difference? And how might understanding God's kindness transform the way we live?

This episode explores:
- Psalm 138 and God's loving kindness
- The Hebrew idea of hesed
- Niceness versus kindness
- Compassion, courage, and truth-telling
- Naomi Shihab Nye's poem Kindness
- The Incarnation as God's ultimate act of kindness

Featuring reflections on:
- Naomi Shihab Nye
- Cecil Rhodes

Scriptures:
- Psalm 138
- Philippians 2
- John 13

#Psalm138 #JohnOrtberg #Kindness #LovingKindness #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Hesed #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
Naomi Shihab Nye, “Kindness”

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

00:00 God Is Kind, Not Merely Nice
00:29 Psalm 138 & Loving Kindness
01:28 The Meaning of Hesed
01:48 Miles Coverdale & "Loving Kindness"
02:23 Nice vs. Kind
03:02 God Looks Kindly on the Lowly
04:01 Kindness in a Difficult Season
05:06 Naomi Shihab Nye's Poem "Kindness"
06:01 Before You Know What Kindness Is
07:30 Kindness, Sorrow & Compassion
08:01 Only Kindness Makes Sense Anymore
08:49 Receiving and Offering Kindness
09:14 The Story of Cecil Rhodes
10:14 The Incarnation as Kindness
10:49 Jesus Wore Our Clothes
11:16 A Prayer for Kindness

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”

🙌 New episodes every weekday.
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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 

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

Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.
TEXT us at 51504
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GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
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 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