Why Resolutions Fail and What Actually Works (00:15:01)
Every January, millions of people make bold resolutions. And by mid-January… they’re negotiating with a Twinkie. In this teaching, John Ortberg draws on wisdom from Dallas Willard to explain why willpower alone always fails—and why that’s not because you’re weak, lazy, or spiritually defective. The real issue isn’t effort. It’s vision. We don’t fail because we want the Twinkie too much. We fail because we don’t yet have a compelling vision of life without it. This episode invites you to sto...
Little Habits = Lasting Change (00:11:55)
Why do so many goals fail, even when our intentions are good? John Ortberg explores why lasting change doesn’t begin with outcomes or even habits, but with identity. Drawing on wisdom from James Clear, the apostle Paul, and everyday experience, we’re invited to ask a deeper question: Who am I becoming? Transformation isn’t about achieving “it.” It’s about becoming a certain kind of person and allowing small, faithful habits to shape us over time. This is a vision of change that is patient, ...
Learn to Be Content (00:12:23)
We tend to believe contentment is always just around the corner. One change away. One upgrade away. One new season away. But what if that belief is the very thing stealing joy from our lives? John Ortberg reflects on wisdom from C. S. Lewis and The Screwtape Letters, inviting us to rediscover God’s gift of rhythm: change and permanence held together. Seasons that repeat. Days that feel familiar. Moments we rush past without seeing the miracle inside them. Contentment, it turns out, isn’t abo...
Why Jesus Wasn’t as Worried as We Are (00:12:14)
What if worry isn’t just a bad habit but a misunderstanding of reality? John Ortberg invites us to reconsider how we see God, how we see the world, and how we carry today’s concerns. What if trust is not passive resignation, but active attentiveness to a God who is already here? Jesus taught that with a good and competent God present all around us, the universe is a perfectly safe place to be. Not easy. Not painless. But safe. In this episode, we sit with some of Jesus’ most unsettling word...
"This is Holy Ground" from John Ortberg (00:03:01)
Becomenew.com/Give Thank you for being on the journey with us. We are so grateful and plan to keep at it. We will return with FRESH teaching from John on January 1st and then again January 19th for our new series: NO CONDEMNATION. 🙌 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 855-888-0444 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAI...
19. Why Jesus Was Born in a Manger (00:13:09)
Away in a Manger isn’t just a sweet song. It’s a radical message of hope. In today’s episode, John explores why Jesus was born in a manger, what that says about who He came for, and how Christmas answers the question we all carry: what will become of us? This episode is tender, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. A reminder that Jesus meets us where we are and heals what’s broken. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Be...
18. Your Soul Needs to Feel Its Worth (00:14:40)
This song doesn’t just sound beautiful. It tells the truth about you. In today’s episode, John unpacks O Holy Night and explores what it means for the soul to feel its worth. From the Bible’s understanding of the soul to the surprising backstory of this carol, this episode offers a new way to talk to God, to yourself, and to others. If you’ve ever questioned your value, this one is for you. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at...
17. The Surprising History Behind "Go Tell It on the Mountain" (00:12:48)
This Christmas song isn’t just festive — it’s revolutionary. In today’s episode, John unpacks Go Tell It on the Mountain, tracing its roots through Scripture, the African American spiritual tradition, and the long struggle for freedom and dignity. From Isaiah’s prophecy to Watch Night services to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final Christmas sermon, this episode reminds us that good news is meant to be shared — and lived. Especially by those who think good news isn’t for them. 🙌 New episodes ...
16. The Outsiders Were the First to Follow the Light (00:13:09)
The “three kings” weren’t kings at all. They were outsiders. In today’s episode, John explores We Three Kings and what this carol teaches us about light, belonging, and letting go of what weighs us down. From sunrise reflections to strange gifts to the invitation to “travel light,” this episode is a reminder that no one is beyond the pale and everyone is welcome in the light of Christ. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a ti...
Why the Birth of Jesus Changed Everything | John Orbterg (00:27:31)
Regardless of what anyone believes about Jesus, it’s impossible to deny his impact. In this special Christmas teaching, John Ortberg asks a simple but profound question: Who is this man? Without religious hype or argument, this episode explores how one uneducated carpenter from Nazareth reshaped history, compassion, human dignity, education, art, forgiveness, and hope itself. If you’ve ever wondered why Jesus still matters, this is an invitation to look honestly and decide for yourself. 🙌 Ne...
15. The Christmas Song from the Appalachian Trail (00:13:02)
This is a Christmas episode for anyone carrying trouble. In today’s teaching, John explores I Wonder as I Wander, a carol born out of poverty and lament, and reflects on how suffering can sometimes become a meeting place with God. If life feels uncertain, confusing, or heavy right now, this episode offers permission to bring your whole heart to Jesus and wonder in the wandering. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Be...
14. Why Silence Is Where God Comes Closest (00:13:09)
This Christmas carol was born out of a broken organ, a quiet night, and a simple guitar. In today’s episode, John explores Silent Night and invites us into a deeper understanding of intimacy, stillness, and God’s gentle presence. If you’re longing for connection with God or with others, this episode is a reminder that intimacy often begins in silence. 🙌 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...
13. Why This Carol Isn’t About Feeling Merry (00:13:55)
This Christmas carol isn’t saying “be happy.” It’s saying “be held.” In today’s episode, John unpacks the surprising meaning behind God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen and why this ancient song speaks directly to our need for strength, belonging, and hope. If you’ve been craving control but need peace instead, this one might change how you hear Christmas. 🙌 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 gr...
12. How to Have a "Merry Little Christmas" (00:11:21)
Today John sits down at the piano and plays Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, then talks honestly about expectations, hope, and real life during the holidays. This episode isn’t about a perfect Christmas. It’s about a real one. The kind where joy shows up in ordinary moments and Jesus meets us right where we are. If the season feels full or messy or both, this one is a gentle reminder that there is still treasure here. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help ...
11. Why Christmas Is About Presence, Not Fixing (w/Rolf Geyling) (00:19:58)
Today John sits down with Rolf Geyling, President of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, for an honest and moving Advent-conversation about suffering, generosity, and what it really means to be present. From powerful stories of life transformation to Rolf’s own journey through profound loss, this episode reminds us that Christmas is not about fixing pain, but about Emmanuel. God with us. Especially when life hurts. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow ...
10. What Handel Saw When He Wrote “Hallelujah” (00:13:07)
Today John tells the incredible story behind Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and why this single word shows up 48 times without losing its power. From Handel’s health collapsing to writing a 260-page oratorio in 24 days to the deep meaning of the word hallelujah itself, this episode is an invitation to let your whole life become an act of praise. If you need joy, strength, or a reminder that Jesus comes to imperfect people, this will speak to you. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, ...
9. Why the Christmas Story Keeps Spreading 2000 Years Later (00:14:25)
Today John looks at the carol Angels From the Realms of Glory and asks what kind of power we are living in. Through the remarkable story of James Montgomery and a deep dive into the upside down “power rankings” of the Christmas story, we learn why real power is not control but love. This episode will help you see Jesus differently and invite you into one simple act of altruism today. 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time...
8. Why the Angels Say “Hark!” at Christmas (00:14:23)
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...
7. The Missing Character in the Christmas Story (w/Dr. John Witvliet) (00:19:50)
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, ...
6. Why You Crave Glory (And How Christmas Answers It) (00:21:53)
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. 📲...
5. Do You See What God Sees? (00:13:26)
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...
4. This Christmas Song Will Change the Way You See People (00:13:31)
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 ...
3. Why the Gospel is Called the "Good News" (00:14:03)
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. ...
2. How This Generous King Became a Christmas Legend (00:14:40)
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. The True Meaning of Joy to the World (00:13:41)
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...
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