Become New with John Ortberg

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Become New with John Ortberg

Become New

1023 episodes

9 hours ago

Today John takes us inside one of the richest carols ever written, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and unpacks the deep meaning behind Wesley’s lyrics. From ancient words like welkin to the difference between chronos and kairos to what it really means that God took on flesh, this episode is an invitation to pay attention again. If you need peace, hope, healing, or a reminder that God is with you today, this one is going to speak right to your heart. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, l...

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Religion & Spirituality

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Today John takes us inside one of the richest carols ever written, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and unpacks the deep meaning behind Wesley’s lyrics. From ancient words like welkin to the difference between chronos and kairos to what it really means that God took on flesh, this episode is an invitation to pay attention again. If you need peace, hope, healing, or a reminder that God is with you today, this one is going to speak right to your heart. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, l...

Show more...

Religion & Spirituality

Episodes (20/1023)

Become New with John Ortberg

8. Why the Angels Say “Hark!” at Christmas

Today John takes us inside one of the richest carols ever written, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and unpacks the deep meaning behind Wesley’s lyrics. From ancient words like welkin to the difference between chronos and kairos to what it really means that God took on flesh, this episode is an invitation to pay attention again. If you need peace, hope, healing, or a reminder that God is with you today, this one is going to speak right to your heart. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, l...

1 day ago

14 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

7. The Missing Character in the Christmas Story (w/Dr. John Witvliet)

Today John sits down with worship scholar Dr. John Witvliet to talk about the character we almost never include in our Christmas story. This episode uncovers why the Holy Spirit is actually central to Advent and why ancient prayers, global worship traditions, and even YouTube Christmas festivals can deepen our spiritual life right now. Come ready for fresh insight, a little history, and a reminder that Advent is about longing and joy held together. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, ...

2 days ago

19 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

6. Why You Crave Glory (And How Christmas Answers It)

Today John takes Angels We Have Heard on High and turns it into a masterclass on glory. Not the flashy, influencer kind of glory but the deep, soul-level kind that makes life feel meaningful again. From ancient Latin refrains to modern inspiration psychology to why Jesus put His whole self into the manger, this episode shows why glory is something your soul actually needs. Come ready for a little joy, a little conviction, and maybe a new way to live this week. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲...

3 days ago

21 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

5. Do You See What God Sees?

Today’s episode takes Do You Hear What I Hear? from “nice old Christmas song” to “wait, this is actually about my life.” John unpacks the wild story of a man who survived the Nazis, fell in love without speaking the same language, and somehow wrote a carol that invites us to see the world the way God does. This is your gentle Advent reminder that God knows you on a level your closest friends don’t. So if you are ready to move from thin faith to thick, honest, fully-alive faith, this one is go...

6 days ago

13 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

4. This Christmas Song Will Change the Way You See People

Today John explores the meaning behind The First Noel and why the angels chose the most unlikely people to hear it first. This episode invites us to rediscover the wonder of the incarnation and to see every person we greet today as God’s best work. Noel is not just a word. It is the joyful shout that changes how we look at God, at ourselves, and at every person we meet. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New ...

1 week ago

13 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

3. Why the Gospel is Called the "Good News"

Today John unpacks the meaning behind Good Christian Men, Rejoice and why the repeated word “news” lies at the center of the gospel itself. Learn how this medieval carol confronts the false gospels of success, power, and self-reliance, and rediscover why the incarnation is not advice but news; the life-changing announcement that heaven is now open and God is present with us today. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. ...

1 week ago

14 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

2. How This Generous King Became a Christmas Legend

Today John unpacks the surprising story behind Good King Wenceslas:a carol based on Proverbs 11:25 and the life of a real historical ruler whose generosity transformed Bohemia. Discover how this song invites us to ask a different daily question (“What can I give?”), why generosity actually increases what we have, and how following in the steps of Jesus, and those who follow Him well, leads to a flourishing life. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow s...

1 week ago

14 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

1. The True Meaning of Joy to the World

Today John dives into the surprising backstory of Joy to the World and why this famous Christmas song was never meant to be a Christmas song at all. Written by Isaac Watts as a reflection on Psalm 98, this carol points to the three Advents: Jesus coming in Bethlehem, Jesus coming into our hearts today, and Jesus coming again to set all things right. Learn why singing shapes our soul, how “collective effervescence” connects us to God and each other, and how you can choose the song you carry in...

1 week ago

13 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

How to Stop Feeling Anxious This Christmas (w/Steve Cuss)

Anxiety doesn’t just make you stressed — it makes you reactive. And reactivity spreads. In this powerful conversation, John Ortberg and Steve Cuss break down why family dynamics, stress, conflict, and unmet expectations trigger us… and how Jesus models a different way. Learn practical tools from systems theory, explore the false gospel of “the kingdom of me,” and discover how to become a non-anxious presence this Advent season. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to h...

1 week ago

33 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

How to Give Thanks in Every Circumstance (Paul’s Real Meaning)

Happy Thanksgiving! Discover the real meaning behind the cornucopia and how it can reshape your entire perspective on gratitude. John explores Greek mythology, the biblical vision of abundance, the psychology of the negativity bias, and a deeply moving reading from Neal Plantinga about the gifts of creation. If you need a reminder that God is wildly generous — and that life is overflowing with gifts you already have — this Thanksgiving reflection is for you. Watch now and begin your day wit...

2 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

Why Honesty Is So Hard

Honesty is one of the most valued qualities in relationships — yet one of the hardest to practice consistently. In this insightful conversation, John Ortberg and Dr. Rick Blackmon explore why honesty matters so deeply, why deception wounds us, and how truth-telling can rebuild intimacy and trust. Together they look at research from Christian Miller, the Honesty Project, and real stories from counseling — revealing practical ways we can grow in honesty starting today. 💡 Practice gratitude th...

2 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

The Most Courageous Song I’ve Ever Heard

This powerful true story from Burundi will change the way you think about courage, faith, and hope. John Ortberg shares the moving account of “Little Bird,” a Hutu teacher whose final act was to pray for his executioners and sing a hymn of surrender to Jesus. Discover what real Christian hope looks like — not in comfort, but in costly, radiant trust. If you need strength today, this story will meet you. 💡 Practice gratitude this week with us. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like...

2 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

How to Be Grateful for the Ordinary with Laura Turner

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling, it’s a practice, a perspective, and sometimes an act of courage. In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, John and his daughter, Laura Turner, explore why gratitude matters, why it’s often difficult, how comparison distorts it, and how witnessing gratitude in others can change your life. Featuring quotes from Chesterton, insights from positive psychology, and a powerful poem by W.S. Merwin, this episode will deepen your appreciation for the ordinary mome...

2 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

10. The Secret to Gratitude When Life Doesn’t Get Better

Gratitude gets harder when life gets harder — but John shares two surprising perspectives that make it possible again. One opens your eyes to small mercies; the other anchors you in a hope nothing can overcome. If you’re struggling to be grateful right now, this episode is for you. 💡 Practice gratitude this week with us. 🙌 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 ...

2 weeks ago

9 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

9. The Moment Gratitude Actually Begins

Most of us try to think our way into gratitude… but Scripture says something different. In this episode, John and his sister, Barbie, explore why gratitude begins the moment you actually taste your life — the moment you receive what’s in front of you instead of rushing past it. If you’ve ever struggled to feel grateful, this one is for you. 💡 Practice gratitude this week with us. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. B...

3 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

8. Jesus' Last Expression of Gratitude

John celebrates Become New’s five-year anniversary and reflects on how this ministry was born not from strategy, but from confusion, loss, and unexpected grace. In this episode, he explores the surprising way suffering and gratitude often intertwine—looking at the Pilgrims’ story and Jesus giving thanks on the night before the cross—and why the deepest gratitude can grow in our hardest moments. Remember your own seasons of pain, and take hope: God was with you then, He is with you now, and He...

3 weeks ago

14 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

7. The Worst Thank You in the Bible

Gratitude is good, but even gratitude can be corrupted. In this episode, John explores how self-centered spirituality, narcissism, and performative “thankfulness” distort the gift God intends for us. Drawing from Cornelius Plantinga, Robert Emmons, Barbara Ehrenreich, and the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, this teaching offers a deeper, more honest vision of what gratitude truly is. If you want to grow in humility, authenticity, and God-centered thanksgiving, this episode is f...

3 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

6. The RIGHT Moment for Gratitude

Today, John explores the surprising timing of gratitude. When does gratitude matter the most? When something good happens? When life goes right? Scripture gives a very different answer. Drawing from Paul’s words in Philippians 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5—and powerful reflections from Karl Barth, Kate Bowler, and the Psalms—John shows why the key moment for gratitude is right now, no matter your circumstances. Not because everything is good, but because God is God in this moment. You’ll hear sto...

3 weeks ago

11 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

5. Why Gratitude Might Just Save Your Life (Eventually)

In this episode of Thank God You’re Here, John Ortberg invites us to walk through a cemetery—not to be morbid, but to rediscover what matters most. Drawing from Gratitude by Cornelius Plantinga and the Christian tradition of memento mori, we explore how contemplating death doesn’t crush us—it clarifies us. When we face the brevity of life, we’re freed to truly live it. You’ll walk away from this episode with renewed perspective, a soul-level appreciation for life’s daily gifts, and the gentle...

3 weeks ago

12 minutes

Become New with John Ortberg

4. Why Gratitude Is Not About Feeling Good

In this powerful episode, John shares the unforgettable story of Dr. Goodluck, a man born into extreme poverty in Tanzania whose life was transformed by a single act of generosity—a sponsorship through Compassion International. Today, Dr. Goodluck is a heart and brain surgeon who returned to serve at the very hospital where he nearly died as a child. His story will move you and challenge you. Because real gratitude doesn’t stop at “thank you”; it rolls up its sleeves and asks, “How can I join...

4 weeks ago

12 minutes