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Articles by John Ortberg
The Divine Comedy
A prophet, a governor, and a high priest walk into a bar mitzvah … (Excerpt from a sermon on Haggai 2:1-9). Does God have a sense of humor? I might not be able to answer that question with a proof-text, but I can genuinely say that God changed my life through a Bible college improv team. Improv comedy was a craft I picked up my sophomore year of high school, but at that time, I was full of fear and pride.
12 Defining Moments: The Moment to Endure
Inevitably, a moment comes in ministry when the shadows begin to replace the light. A series of setbacks, an ongoing conflict, a loss of passion, an unaddressed distraction, or a growing disillusionment. Years ago, I was leading an international church in Holland. It was one of those Dutch winter nights. The rain was pelting against the windows of my study, and it suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in. What I most remember was an unanticipated spiritual darkness. Despair was laying hold of me.
Though I Walk Through the Shadowed Valley
“Different, not less” is how Eustace Grandin describes her young daughter Temple in the award-winning HBO film bearing her name. As depicted in that film, the real-life Temple would grow up to become a renowned animal behaviorist, college professor, and be named one of Time 100’s most influential people in 2010. Temple Grandin is autistic. Daniel Bowman serves as associate professor of English at Taylor University.
National Reflections
Introduction This past week, our elders met to pray and talk about our church and the level of churning in our nation these days around issues of political decisions and tone and divisiveness. The consensus was that if we're in a series called "Flourishing," we need to take a week and talk together about how to follow Jesus in a politically challenging climate. I ended up scrapping the sermon I was going to do and writing this one, which our elders have all read and on which we all stand together.
Let the Message Live in You
One of my favorite things to do is to get outside, whether it’s walking through the neighborhood in the afternoon, hiking out in the woods, going for an early morning run, or just sitting somewhere to watch the wind blow through the trees and carry the clouds across the sky. When I hike, there are certain seasons when it’s hard not to notice the beauty of what’s growing. In early spring, crocuses bring the first signs of new life, sprouting up amidst the last vestiges of snow.
The Beginning of Courage
Introduction What gives you courage? What gives you courage to do hard things, unthinkable things? If you grew up watching sports on television, you probably noticed at some point that Red Bull became the main sponsor of every extreme sports event out there. I’m not talking about football or basketball. No, I’m talking about the X-Games on ESPN, things like cliff diving, skateboard mega ramp, wingsuit flying. Watch those sports and I guarantee you’ll see Red Bull somewhere.
Preaching Is Beautiful and Burdensome
“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” This wisdom from Langston Hughes’ 1922 poem, Mother to Son, accentuates that even as life is strangely grueling and laden with rusty nails, trip hazards, barrenness, and the fresh tar of injustice, each day people relegated to life’s shadowy corridors decide to keep climbing. They hope and grind. They endure. Fueled by dignity, grace, and grit, they strive to make something out of nothing.
God's Big Story: The Bible on Homosexuality
Editor's Note: This sermon was originally part of a three-sermon series given by Jim Nicodem. (That's why you'll notice that this sermon ends rather abruptly.) Part 1 focused on how to view homosexuality within the context of God's larger biblical narrative. In the series' second message, Nicodem's sermon was a lengthy and honest interview with a Christian young man who deals with same-sex attraction as he strives to remain faithful to that larger biblical narrative.
How Has Dr. King Impacted Your Preaching?
Note from PreachingToday.com: We recently posted a previously unpublished Martin Luther King Jr. sermon called "Guidelines for a Constructive Church." So, we asked a handful of preachers the following question: What aspect of Dr. King's life and work has had the greatest impact on your role as a pastor and preacher? In this article we feature answers to that question from Dr. George C. Waddles, Rev. Bryan Loritts, and Pastor John Ortberg. Speaking Truth to Power Dr. George W.
Investing Your Life
Find a small, inexpensive piggy bank for each of your group members, OR go to a local bank and pick up enough deposit slips for each person. If you are using a bank, also have small pieces of paper to write on. Have each person write on paper or deposit slip where they have invested their lives. (i.e. teaching school, leading a small group, children, music, etc.) After everyone has done that, take turns sharing what they wrote down.
Hockey Hiccups
The Stanley Cup Playoffs provides a perfect time for high-speed scoring and also deserved penalties. Sticks wave furiously as pucks sail through the air. Arms flailing, elbows jabbing, and fists flying are the causes of many a violent violation. The responsive official can spot these skating encroachments and call them out. Our veteran hockey officials have assembled some of the most flagrant hockey-like hiccups that frequently occur in preaching which most often result in a stiff penalty.
Overcoming the Monday Morning Blues
Overcoming the Monday Morning Blues 4 quick tips for fighting the dreaded MMBs. Image: Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Most preachers have experienced the Monday Morning Blues (MMBs). “Blues” is a euphemism for the regret, feelings of failure, emotional exhaustion, and discouragement that often surfaces in the preacher after the preaching event. These blues drain the joy from the preacher. When the drain occurs, the preacher becomes vulnerable to various temptations.
What My Kids Wish Preachers Did When Preaching
What My Kids Wish Preachers Did When Preaching 5 insights to help us reach the youngest hearers in our congregations. Image: Jupiterimages / Getty In recent months, our family has been looking for a new church, due to our recent move to Waco, Texas. After the service, as we are driving home or going out to eat for lunch, we have debriefed as a family: What was good? What was bad? Just how thoroughly undigestible were those vacuum-sealed communion wafers anyway?
Recognizing Divine Interruptions
Matthew 1:18-25: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
Learn God's Law
Introduction We naturally like to hear of philanthropy, of charity, of giving. Our hearts may be warmed as we hear of Bill Gates or Warren Buffett choosing to give billions of dollars away.
Guide
Click here to listen to the audio. The story behind the sermon (from John Ortberg) I have grown to love the theme of God's guidance. This is a chance to help explain the reality of God's presence for many people who hunger for it but don't know how to name it. It's also a chance to try to coach and connect some of the mistaken practices and language that can creep into all our lives.
Divine Revelation
Introduction We've been in a series called "Can Smart People Believe in God?" Last week we had Dallas Willard with us to answer some tough questions, and I want to start with a comment he made in one service about how getting life right is surprisingly uncorrelated with having a high IQ. Dallas asked the question, "Did you ever notice that sometimes smart people do dumb things?" That's kind of the human condition. You can just look around you to see really smart people doing really dumb things.
Christian Unity and Politics: Why Both Parties Are Wrong
Introduction My aim in part one of this series was to show how the two truths of baptism—dying with Christ and rising with Christ—correspond to our political impulses. I made the observation that the “dying with Christ” truth of baptism corresponds to a politically conservative impulse, and the “rising with Christ” truth of baptism corresponds to a politically liberal impulse.
Baseball Bungles
Baseball Bungles World Series errors for preaching. Image: David Madison / Getty Introduction In this COVID-19 era, baseball season may be shorter than usual this year, but the "penalties" called by the officials know no limit. Infractions are called-out no matter if the season is sixty or one hundred and sixty-two games. The wise preacher will take into consideration the penalty call and improve upon the fundamentals and performance of his or her preaching.
Webinar Series: Preaching Through Disruption
John Ortberg joins Preaching Today for 3 free webinar sessions to explore thriving in your calling in the midst of a crisis. This season of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has forced a shift in preaching. We’re no longer preaching face to face, but to a camera. It’s also highlighted how vital it is for preachers to be taking care of their own souls in the midst of this crisis. There’s also the pastoral challenge of not being able to walk beside your people and shepherd them.
Basketball Blunders-Preaching Penalties of a Different Kind
By the Refereeing Team of Jared Alcántara, Scott M. Gibson and Joel Gregory Editor’s Note – This article was supposed to be released during March Madness. Well, we all know what happened to that. But this article is too good to let sit for another year, and we at Preaching Today think we all need a laugh right now.
The Penalties of Preaching
The Penalties of Preaching By the Refereeing Team of Jared E. Alcántara, Scott M. Gibson and Joel C. Gregory Image: Dave Adamson/Unsplash Introduction Football’s Super Bowl displays its penalties for all to see on their televisions worldwide. Referees throw their yellow flags to alert players and coaches of infractions either team makes while on the field. What about the penalties of preaching? Sunday to Sunday some of the most egregious violations take place when preachers stand to preach.
God’s Extravagant Love in Creation - Articles
We’re all familiar with Carl Sagan’s clever quip about our living on “an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.” Astronomers conclude that the universe has been around for some 13.7 billion years; an amount of time that is truly incomprehensible. In evolutionary terms, your own life on earth isn’t even the neural impulse that leads to the blink of an eye.
What Were You Thinking? With John Ortberg on Apple Podcasts
1 episode Join John Ortberg, the award winning author of the Life You've Always Wanted and senior pastor at Menlo Church, as he digs deep during conversations with influential thinkers, leaders, writers, and personalities who share THE "light bulb" moment that changed the trajectory of their lives. With John as the guide, he and our weekly guest will unpack how thoughts change lives--because thoughts change people.
Sermonic Self-Care
I was once foolish enough to think that since I served God full-time, I would be exempt from suffering, for all-time. What a naïve thought, right? For the first thirty-six years of life, I could honestly say that I had a care-free life of sorts, sans major hardships. Over the last twelve years, however, my life has been nothing short of unexpected sufferings.
Embracing Contemplation
"What a great gift from John and Kyle. These are rich ores of spiritual life that all too often are left unmined. May they teach us again what and how to read." "In popular Christian culture where contemplation often is dismissed as Buddhist or New Age, this collection of essays convincingly argues, biblically and historically, that Spirit initiated abiding in and communing with the divine presence powerfully enriches love for God.
The Christmas Gift of Disequilibrium
Because we live on this side of Christmas, we want to rush to the end of the story where everything turns out okay. We miss the anxiety in a young woman's announcement, "I'm pregnant," and the tension on a man's brow as he parses the right decision. You might even be tempted to think Joseph was slow spiritually and should have figured out what was going on a lot sooner.
Walking in Billy’s Shoes
For more than half a century, the most familiar voice in American spiritual life belonged to Billy Graham. When I was a student at his alma mater, Wheaton College, in the 70s, impersonating his voice was almost a varsity sport. To this day, it is the only impression I can do. Charlie Emmerich did it so well that he would do an annual faux-crusade; he got his picture in the yearbook shaking hands with Billy Graham himself.
Soul Care for Leaders
It’s imperative that leaders in small-group ministry are leading from a place of health. As a leader, you have to lean on your relationship with God in order to lead well. Whether you’re planning for the future of your ministry, coaching group leaders through difficult situations, caring for group members in a tough time of life, choosing and preparing curriculum, or the thousands of other things you do, you have to be attuned to the Spirit for guidance.
Pastor, You Need a Spiritual Growth Plan
A man I'll call Paul (because that's actually his name) told me he recently started going to church. In his mid-seventies, with no faith background, he woke up one morning with a sudden urge to hear the pope, and that launched him on a journey that led a few months later to a Presbyterian church and then to a commitment to follow Jesus. Every week he comes to church and marvels at all he gets to learn about prayer and worship and faith.
These 4 Things Distract Pastors from the Whole Point of Christ...
Eugene Peterson once said that ministry often reinforces inattentiveness to Christ. Ironically, that is rarely more true than at Christmas time, when the rest of the world is most likely to attend to him.
Hopeful Ministry: A Long-Term Strategy
Several years ago I spent a couple of hours with a newly minted seminarian our church was thinking about hiring. We talked about why he wanted to do church ministry, about the dreams he cherished about how he might serve God. Toward the end of the conversation, he turned to me and said, "I just hope I'm able to last in the ministry as long as you have." I was, at that time, in my mid-forties. Sadly, we could not find a place on our staff for him.
Advent 2017: 30-Day Devotional Guide
Advent is a 30-day devotional to help individuals and families journey through the 2017 Advent season. It features devotions by Christianity Today contributors and editors such as N.T. Wright, John Ortberg, Fleming Rutledge, Peter Chin, and more. This single-copy printed guide offers 30 days of daily devotions for the season of Advent and Christmas, plus weekly ideas and activities for families and small groups.
Living in Christ's Presence
"Living in Christ's Presence is a superb discussion of the many issues surrounding the reality of life in the kingdom of God here and now. I recommend it highly." "My soul grew reading this book. Or perhaps more precisely, my soul grew as this book read me." "I actually think the best moments with Dallas are in Q and A sessions where you can get that wisdom in kind of bite-sized chunks that all of us are able to access and absorb.
National Reflections
National ReflectionsHow to think biblically in times of political chaos. John Ortberg Average Rating: [see ratings/reviews] Read Full Transcript Introduction I. Naming some concerns II. We proclaim God's truth III. We humble ourselves before God and others IV. We make disciples V. How do we respond? Conclusion John Ortberg is pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California.
What I Learned on My Sabbatical
I just got back from a seven-week sabbatical … my first one. The elders of our church gave me very explicit instructions—no work. No speaking, no writing, no teaching, no email, no counseling, no meetings, no calling in to check how things were going, no helping out at home, no meal preparation, no chores around the house. Actually, those last few were not among their instructions. I thought I would see if I could slip them past my wife, but I could not. It was her sabbatical too.
The Almost Alternate Ending in Charleston
According to news reports, Dylann Roof told police that he “almost didn’t go through with it because everyone was so nice to me.” I wonder what went through his mind as he sat in the basement room at Emanuel AME church, receiving the hospitality of those who had so many reasons for suspicion and fear. I wonder, as he heard them read the Bible and pray and welcome him into their lives, if he thought for a moment about not killing them. But I don’t wonder why he did it.
The Barnacles of Life
We have all seen people neglect their souls for the sake of "ministry," which usually means building a large church or a successful organization. For most of my life, I believed there was a tension between caring for the demands of ministry versus caring for the needs of the soul. Now I'm not so sure. A distinction might be helpful here.
Eternal Living
Preface 1. Gary W. Moon: Introduction: Living in the Glow of God I. Husband, Father and Friend 1. Richard J. Foster: If Death My Friend and Me Divide 2. Family Voices Jane Willard: Birth of the Books: He Never Planned to Write About Christian Spirituality Becky Heatley: Living with the Great Thinker—and Feeler Larissa Heatley: Give?em Heaven John Willard: Fond Memories of My Dad 3. Jan Johnson: A Word from a Different Reality 4. Keith Matthews: The Beauty of a Virtuous Man II.
When Bad Sermons Happen to Good Preachers
As long as there are sermons, there will be bad sermons. And I hate preaching a bad sermon. I hate it because preaching is such a vulnerable activity. If I lead a meeting poorly or have a bad counseling session, it's known only by a limited number of people. A bad sermon is like a car wreck—everyone slows down to see what happened. You don't want to seem callous, but it's irresistible. I hate it because there's no one and no thing to blame.
Dallas Willard, a Man from Another 'Time Zone'
Editor's note: Dallas Willard died May 8 at age 77, days after being diagnosed with cancer. A shorter version of the following tribute from John Ortberg ran on CT's site that day. When Dallas Willard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late summer 2012, he said, "I think that when I die, it might be some time until I know it." Dallas was always saying things that no one else would think to.
Troubled Minds
"Having written about my own family's experience with mental illness, I know what it must have cost for Amy Simpson to root her highly informative book in her family's heartbreaking, yet hopeful story. Because of stigma and ignorance, far too many of us live with the pain of mental illness in silence and without compassionate support from our Christian communities.
The 5 Comments Preachers Hate Most
The single oddest response I ever received after a sermon (true story) came from a man I had never met. "Excuse me," he said, "Do you mind if I disturb you for a moment?" "No," I said. He put his thumbs in his ears, wiggled his fingers wildly, and made a noise that sounded like Ruga Ruga Ruga. Then he walked away. I haven't seen him since. It was the oddest response I have received, but not the worst. The moments after preaching are an unusually vulnerable time.
Higher Stakes Friendship
I was feeling a little depressed last week because I found out that the Hostess Corporation declared bankruptcy, carrying more than $800 million of debt. We still haven't recovered from the crash of 2008, and the election year already seems even more rancorous than usual, but the thought of a world without Twinkies is too much to bear. My own personal belief is that the Twinkie is one of the great arguments for God.
When Good Things Happen to Bad People
Introduction One of the strangest lawsuits in US court history was filed on September 14, 2007. Nebraska Senator Ernie Chambers—one of the first African-American senators in Nebraska history—was seeking to stop evil and injustice in the world, and he actually filed a lawsuit against God. The lawsuit sought a permanent injunction against God's interference in this world.
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