Advertise on podcast: Become New with John Ortberg

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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL 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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL 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. #JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL 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. #JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #Humility 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL 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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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. #JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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. #JohnOrtberg #BecomeNew #SpiritualGrowth 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ 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. 📲 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: 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. 📲 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ 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 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ 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

Why does God sometimes make us wait for something we’ve asked him for again and again? Jesus tells us to keep praying, asking, seeking, and knocking. Yet the silence can be difficult to understand, especially when someone we love needs help. John Ortberg explores that tension through Jesus’ encounter with a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. She comes to him pleading for her daughter, and at first Jesus says nothing. Drawing on New Testament scholar Kenneth Bailey, John considers how this encounter may also expose what Jesus’ disciples think about the woman and whether they will recognize her need. She keeps asking, and Jesus ultimately praises her faith and heals her daughter. John does not claim to explain every delay in prayer. He offers one question we can bring into the waiting: “God, is there a way you want me to respond?” Prayer can include honest persistence, listening, and a small step of love that is ours to take today. Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28; Luke 18:1–8; Matthew 7:7–11; Luke 22:31–32 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL

Can you lead with authority and still be genuinely vulnerable? Many of us treat those qualities as opposites. If we want to be strong, we assume we need to protect ourselves from being hurt. But in this conversation with Alan George, John Ortberg offers another picture of leadership. Drawing on Andy Crouch’s Strong and Weak, John explains that authority and vulnerability are two distinct qualities. Jesus held both. He acted with authority and willingly opened himself to pain for the sake of love. John and Alan explore the temptation to avoid that kind of openness, including the subtle habit of sharing stories that sound vulnerable while keeping what matters hidden. The conversation then turns toward genuine change. Why can we know what we’re supposed to do and still struggle to become different people? John reflects on Dallas Willard’s The Spirit of the Disciplines and the honesty found in recovery communities: admitting our need can open us to help we could never manufacture for ourselves. Where might you be protecting an image of strength? And what could become possible if you brought that part of your life into the light? 🙌 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 EMAIL US at [email protected] GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Welcome to the World by Sarah Watson License# MB01XUUTGU633PL