Become New with John Ortberg

How do you actually learn to love God?

In this reflection on Psalm 31, John Ortberg explores one surprising pathway to loving God more deeply: curiosity.

Drawing from theologian Cornelius Plantinga Jr., relationship researcher John Gottman, and Dallas Willard, John invites us to think about building a "love map" for God.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 31 and loving God
- Curiosity as a spiritual discipline
- John Gottman's concept of love maps
- Fascinating biblical images of God
- The mystery and wonder of God's character
- Learning to love God with all your mind

Scriptures:
- Psalm 31
- Deuteronomy 6:5
- Matthew 22:37
- Luke 23:46
- Psalm 78

#Psalm31 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #LoveGod #SpiritualFormation #DallasWillard #JohnGottman #BibleStudy #Psalms #ChristianFaith

📚 Today's Resources:
Cornelius Plantinga, “Intellectual Love of God,” Pro Rege, March 2016
John Gottman, The Relationship Cure: A 5 Step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family, and Friendships 
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy 

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

00:00 Learning to Love God
00:31 Psalm 31: Love the Lord
01:11 The Greatest Commandment
02:15 Cornelius Plantinga on Loving God
03:01 Are Christians Interested in God?
03:29 Lovers Become Fascinated
03:50 John Gottman & Love Maps
04:48 The Jalapeño Ketchup Story
05:55 Curiosity as a Spiritual Discipline
06:25 Fascinating Images of God
07:13 God Like a Warrior Awakening
07:41 Via Negativa & Via Analogia
08:30 Dallas Willard on the Wonder of God
09:25 What Must It Be Like to Be God?
10:19 Letting God Be God
11:03 Giving God the Benefit of the Doubt
11:44 "God, You've Got Some Explaining to Do"
12:27 Loving People, Loving God
12:45 Learn More About God Every Day

What if grace has a rhythm?

In this teaching on Psalm 46, John Ortberg explores stillness, spiritual disciplines, grace, and the river of life that flows throughout Scripture.

Drawing from A River Runs Through It, John shares a powerful picture of spiritual formation through the practice of learning God's rhythms.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 46 and God's presence
- The purpose of spiritual disciplines
- Grace as power, not merely forgiveness
- The river in Eden and Revelation
- Jesus as the source of living water
- The practice of stillness
- Learning the rhythm of grace

Featuring reflections from:
- Norman Maclean
- Dallas Willard

Scriptures:
- Psalm 46
- Genesis 2
- John 7
- Revelation 22

#Psalm46 #JohnOrtberg #Grace #SpiritualFormation #Prayer #DallasWillard #ARiverRunsThroughIt #Stillness #BibleStudy #Psalms

📚 Today's Resources:
Norman MacLean, A River Runs Through It, and Other Stories

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

00:00 The Rhythm of Grace
00:24 A River Runs Through It
00:56 All Good Things Come by Grace
01:24 Learning God's Rhythms
02:09 The Metronome & Spiritual Formation
03:19 There Is a River
04:14 The River in Eden
04:40 The River in Revelation
05:20 Jesus and the Water of Life
06:06 Grace Is More Than Forgiveness
07:28 Grace as Power
08:16 The River Is Jesus
09:04 Seeking Power Without Grace
09:49 Be Still and Know That I Am God
10:17 Practicing the Pause
11:05 “I Am Haunted by Waters”
12:31 There Is a River
12:39 Be Still

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 

🙌 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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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