John Ortberg

In this five-session DVD-based small group bible study, Who Is This Man?, John Ortberg reveals how Jesus made an inescapable influence on our world and you will learn how you can make one too!Jesus is history’s most familiar figure. His impact on the world is immense and non-accidental. From the Dark Ages to Post-Modernity he is the man who won't go awayAnd yet …He did not brashly defend his movement in the spirit of a rising political or military leader. He did not lay out a case that history would judge superior in all future books. He did not start by telling his disciples, "Here are proofs of my divinity; affirm them and I'll accept you."Who Is This Man? illustrates how Jesus’ influence has swept over history, bringing his inspiration to the evolution of art, science, government, medicine, and education. And how his vision for us to lead lives of dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope continues to inspire and challenge humanity todaySessions include:The Man Who Won’t Go AwayA Revolution of HumanityThe Power of ForgivenessWhy It’s a Small World After AllThree Days That Changed the World

SPANISH EDITION: The soul is NOT 'a theological and abstract subject.' The soul is the coolest, eeriest, most mysterious, evocative, crucial, sacred, eternal, life-directing, fragile, indestructible, controversial, expensive dimension of your existence. Jesus said it's worth more than the world.You'd be an idiot not to prize it above all else.Shouldn't you get pretty clear on exactly what it is?Shouldn't you know what it runs on?Wouldn't it be worth knowing how to care for it? Two things are for sure. One is: you have a soul. The other is: if you don't look after this one you won't be issued a replacement. Bestselling author John Ortberg writes another classic that will help readers discover their soul and take their relationship with God to the next level.

In this six-session small group Bible study, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg, you’ll learn how to move beyond fear to discover God’s unique calling for your life!Peter may have been the first one out of the boat, but Jesus’ invitation to walk on water is for you as well. But walk on water? What does that mean?If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat helps you answer helps you answer Christ’s call to greater faith, power-filled deeds, and a new way of knowing how to discern God’s call, transcend fear, risk faith, manage failure, and trust God. Relating to the story in Matthew 14 to life today, teacher and bestselling author John Ortberg invites you to consider the incredible potential that awaits you outside your comfort zone.This Participant Guide is designed for use with the companion DVD (sold separately). It’s filled with insights, questions for discussion, and applications that will help you connect a new way of thinking to actual deeds and a different approach to life. Out on the risky waters of faith, Jesus is waiting to meet you in ways that will change your forever, deepening your character and your trust in God.Sessions include:What’s Water Walking?The Tragedy of the Unopened GiftFind Your Calling and Get Your Feet Wet!Facing Our Challenges, Conquering Our FearsGood News for Cave DwellersLearning to Wait on Our Big God

In the six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), God is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg helps you to discover and enjoy a vibrant, moment-by-moment relationship with God the Father.Today you can see God in action. Today you can hear God speaking to you. Today you can connect with God heart-to-heart. Today!Intimacy with God can happen right now – a closeness you can feel, a reality you can experience for yourself. God is closer than you think, and connecting with him isn’t the exclusive domain of monks and ascetics. It’s for business people, high school students, busy moms, single men, single women…and most important, it’s for YOU!In God is Closer than You Think, Ortberg reveals the face of God waiting to be discovered in the complex mosaic of your life. This insightful and impactful small group study will help you:Find God where you least expect himListen to God’s voiceIdentify which pathway of relationship you’re uniquely designed to travelAlign yourself with the flow of the Holy SpiritDraw closer to God even when he seems absentThis Participant Guide is designed for use together with the God Is Closer Than You Think Video Study (sold separately) and includes discussion questions for individuals and groups. When used together they provide you with a practical tool than can transform your faith.Sessions include:God’s Great Desire for PeopleWhere is God in My World?Partnering with God TodayListening to the Voice of GodGod Wants a Relationship with YouHeaven Breaking Through

Interweaving biblical insights and personal narratives, this eloquently written book shows how God often uses suffering and desert experiences to form us into Christ's image. Marlena Graves shares her experiences of growing up poor in a house plagued by mental illness as a means to explore the forces God uses to shape us into beautiful people in the midst of brokenness.This book offers a window into suffering through the motif of desert spirituality, revealing how God can use our painful experiences to show himself faithful. While no one welcomes suffering, God often uses desert experiences--those we initially despise and wouldn't wish on anyone--to transform us into beautiful souls who better resemble Jesus. Graves shows how God can bring life out of circumstances reeking of death and destruction, whether those circumstances are crises or daily doses of quiet desperation.Readers who have experienced suffering and question God's purpose for it will benefit from this book, as will counselors, pastors, professors, and mentors. It includes a foreword by John Ortberg and Laura Ortberg Turner.

Unpack the secrets of strong, thriving communities and relationships.When we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that "normal" does not exist and that the very idea of normality runs counter to Scripture. We enter an endless attempt to fix others, control them, or pretend that they are what they're not. One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes "as is."In Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them, teacher and bestselling author John Ortberg zooms in on the things that make community work. You’ll get a thought-provoking look at God’s heart, at others, and at yourself. And you’ll gain wisdom and tools for drawing closer to others in powerful, impactful ways as Ortberg walks you through the secrets of strong, Christ-like relationships, unpacking qualities of healthy communities, such as:ForgivenessConfrontationInclusionGratitude With humor, insight, and a gift for storytelling, Ortberg shows how community pays tremendous dividends in happiness, health, support, and growth. It’s where all of us weird, unwieldy people encounter God’s love in tangible ways and discover the transforming power of being loved, accepted, and valued just the way we are.

In Soul Keeping, John Ortberg helps Christians rediscover their soul—the best connection to God there is—and find out why it’s hurting and why neglecting it has set so many believers so far back spiritually.In this six-session video-based small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Ortberg shows that caring for your soul is necessary for your Christian life. John shows participants what your soul is, why it is important, how to assess your soul’s health, and how to care for it so that we can have a meaningful and beautiful life with God and others.When you nurture your soul your life in this world will come to make sense again; you can find your way back to God from hopelessness, depression, relationship struggles, and a lack of fulfillment. Your soul’s resting place is in God, and John Ortberg wants to take participants to that home. Sessions include:What Is the Soul?The Struggle of the SoulWhat the Soul NeedsThe Practice of GraceThe Practice of GratitudeThe Practice of GrowthDesigned for use with Soul Keeping Video Study (sold separately).

Jesus said the soul is worth more than the world. The soul is the key to our lives, binding our heart, our mind, and our spirit together. Shouldn't you get pretty clear on exactly what the soul is? And how to care for it? Taken from John Ortberg’s book Soul Keeping, this booklet reveals what the soul’s greatest need is, now and for eternity.Have you ever thought about why your soul is hurting and if that could be standing in the way of your spiritual growth? Ortberg writes that once your soul has been properly cared for, you will find your way back to God from hopelessness, depression, relationship struggles, and lack of fulfillment. Jesus said we could find rest for our souls. Ortberg points us in that direction.

For the past forty years, Jim Stump could be found sitting in a café on the Stanford University campus chatting with some of the most talented athletes in the world, walking with them, getting to know them, sharing his life with them, and loving them. He understands that the best way to have an eternal impact on the world is to develop deep and meaningful relationships with a handful of people. When Jesus walked the earth, he focused his energies not on filling stadiums but on twelve handpicked disciples whom he mentored and equipped to carry out ministries of their own.With engaging personal stories of the famous athletes he has mentored, along with examples from the life of Jesus, Jim Stump shows how to develop rich mentoring relationships with the people in our lives. He answers the question so many of us have--"How can I help to bring my friends to faith?"--by providing simple steps toward developing those relationships, living life authentically, and sharing faith with those we care about.Pastors, youth pastors, small group leaders, and individual believers will find The Power of One-on-One inspirational, encouraging, and practical.

Var det här allt? Blir det inte mer?Frågan dyker upp då och då - vi önskar att livet skulle se lite annorlunda ut, att vi kunde ana åtminstone en liten förändring, en känsla av förnöjsamhet, lite mer ordning i vårt inre ...Just det liv som du och jag lever är Gud intresserad av. Och han vill förvandla det.Livet jag längtar efter är författaren och pastorn John Ortbergs försök att göra heliga vanor tillgängliga för vanliga människor. Klosterkyrkor och ökenfäder må verka fjärran när disktravarna tornar upp sig i köket, men det är just där, i vardagen, som Gud vill möta oss."Livet jag längtar efter är en av de bösta böcker jag läst. Den svävar inte på doktrinens breda vingar ut i det blå. Den är livsviktig och vardagsnära och berör vardagsmänniskan på ett igenkännande sätt."Skaraborg läns tidning "Ortbergs böcker är vardagsnära och lär den läsare som vill ta vara på ögonblickets glädje att träna sig i långsamhet och vara Guds tjänare i praktiken."Svenska Dagbladet

El impacto causado por Jesus en nuestro mundo es altamente inconcebible, imposible de evitar, sumamente desconocido y decididamente cortante como espada de doble filo. Es inconcebible, a la luz de las graves limitaciones que tuvo durante su vida terrenal. Es imposible de evitar, debido a la amplitud que ha tenido ese impacto. Es sumamente desconocido, porque la historia no tiene la costumbre de relacionar entre si los hechos puntuales. Y decididamente, es cortante como espada de doble filo, porque sus seguidores han causado incontables estragos, muchas veces en su nombre. Es el personaje mas familiar de toda la historia y, sin embargo, es el hombre a quien nadie conoce. Su impacto en el mundo tiene unas proporciones inmensas, pero no tiene nada de accidental. Desde la Edad Media hasta la epoca postmoderna, Jesus es el Hombre que no esta dispuesto a desaparecer. No obstante, es posible que no lo encontremos en las listas de nombres que nos presenta la historia, por numerosas razones. Tal vez la mas obvia de todas sea la forma en que vivio. No defendio su movimiento con ruido ni con manifestaciones, como lo habria hecho un politico o un lider militar que busca hacerse con el poder. No presento su causa de tal manera que la historia tuviera que juzgar la manera de creer que ofrecia como superior en todos sus libros del futuro. Su vida y sus ensenanzas se limitaron sencillamente a atraer hacia el a la gente, para que lo siguiera. Hizo historia comenzando en un lugar humilde, con un espiritu de amor y aceptacion, y dandoles a todas las personas la oportunidad de responderle tranquilamente. Su vision sobre la vida sigue persiguiendo y desafiando a la humanidad. Su influencia ha ido barriendo toda la historia, llevando inspiracion a cuanto ha sucedido en el arte, la ciencia, el gobierno, la medicina y los estudios. El ha sido quien nos ha ensenado a los humanos lo que son la dignidad, la compasion, el perdon y la esperanza.

Det normala när någon dör är att den personens påverkan på världen omedelbart minskar. Men Jesus vände ut och in på den normala mänskliga gången, precis som han så ofta gjorde. Jesus hade större inflytande hundra år efter sin död än han hade medan han levde. Efter fem hundra år var det ännu större, och efter tusen år låg arvet efter honom till grund för en stor del av Europa. Efter två tusen år har han fler efterföljare på fler olika ställen än han har haft någon gång tidigare.När en människa dör märks det ofta tydligt om arvet efter henne kommer att leva vidare. Alexander den store och kejsar Augustus och Napoleon och Sokrates och Muhammed var enormt ryktbara vid tiden för sin död. När Jesus dog såg det helt klart ut att bli slutet för hans pyttelilla, misslyckade rörelse. Om det fanns ett pris för "bäst chans att lyckas postumt" som delades ut till historiens mest inflytelserika personer samma dag som de dog, då skulle Jesus ha varit allra längst ifrån att få det. Och ändå...ur boken John Ortberg är tillbaka med en bok om den person som är allra viktigast i hans liv - Jesus. En person som inte lämnar honom ifred, som ständigt bryter mot konventionerna, som utmanar och vänder och frågar och påminner. En vän och räddare som är här för att stanna.

For the new small group leader, the seasoned leader who feels their small group lacks purpose, or the leader who is working to move their small group to the next level, Leading Small Groups with Purpose is the road map to follow. Steve Gladen takes small group leaders step-by-step toward a healthy, dynamic group with focus and purpose. Every chapter includes ideas that small group leaders can implement immediately as well as ways to shape their small groups over time. Includes a foreword by John Ortberg and a free small group assessment tool ($12.50 value).

What's at stake in our worship? Everything. Worship is the dangerous act of waking up to God and God's purposes in the world. But something has gone wrong with our worship. Too often worship has become a place of safety and complacency, a narrowly private experience in which solitary individuals only express their personal adoration. Even when we gather corporately, we often close our eyes to those around us, focusing on God but ignoring our neighbor. But true biblical worship does not merely point us upward--it should turn us outward as well. In this prophetic wake-up call for the contemporary church, pastor Mark Labberton reconnects Christian worship with biblical justice. From beginning to end, worship must pursue justice and seek righteousness, translating into transformed lives that care for the poor and the oppressed. Labberton shows how to move beyond the comfort of safe worship to authentic worship that is awake to the needs of the world.

Every leader functions on two stages--the front stage or public world, and the back stage or private world. One cannot lead successfully front stage when one is completely depleted back stage. In a time when pastors are leaving the ministry in record numbers due to cynicism, disillusionment, weariness, and personal scandals, there is an urgent need for soul care in the private lives of leaders.Replenish helps leaders focus on the back stage, the interior life, in order to remain spiritually healthy. In a caring, encouraging tone, it will show pastors how toprioritize matters of the souldevelop healthy spiritual practicesaddress problems that lead to burnoutcreate a healthy rhythm in their livesimprove their people skills and the spiritual climate of their teamdevelop better systems in their churchesdiscover how to lead an unhurried lifeFor the many ministry leaders who feel alone, in over their heads, or simply worn out, this book will offer welcome relief and a healthy way forward.

In this five-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), John Ortberg reveals how there’s a real you (the one God intended) hiding under the one you pretend to be. There is a God (it isn’t you). Your life is a project (it isn’t yours). The real you is waiting (it isn’t hard).God’s best version of you is waiting. But first, John Ortberg has two very important questions:Are you REALLY LIVING? (Full of joy and peace, in harmony with God, others and self; curious, willing to learn and experience opportunities to grow toward the best version of yourself)orAre you DECAYING? (Lacking mental and emotional energy, feeling uneasy and not very content, too self-focused)In his usual style, Ortberg has some intriguing answers to those questions in this study and will help you gauge your spiritual health and deal with real issues you face as a teen in today’s world. Underneath the “me” you pretend to be (the one that acts cool while fearing you’re not) and the “me” you fail to be (the one that doesn’t always feel very excited about life) you will discover something remarkable…This is an excellent study for teen small groups and youth groups.Sessions include:Discovering the SpiritRenewing My MindRedeeming My TimeDeeping My RelationshipsTransforming My ExperienceDesigned for use with the Me I Want to Be Teen Video Study (sold separately).

The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg---the bestselling author of When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box; God Is Closer Than You Think; and The Life You've Always Wanted---will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to 'live in the flow of the spirit.'But if God has a perfect vision for your life, why does spiritual growth seem so difficult?John Ortberg has some intriguing answers to that question, and he has organized his thoughts and God's words into a straightforward and timely guide for living your best life in The Me I Want to Be.This book will show how God's perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise. All those who trust in God 'will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit' (Jeremiah 17:7-8).Ortberg urges you to recognize your brokenness, understand that God is the project manager, and follow His directions. The author first helps gauge your spiritual health and measure the gap between where you are now and where God intends you to be. Then he provides detailed tasks and exercises to help you live in the flow of the Spirit, circumventing real-world barriers---pain and sorrow, temptations, self-doubt, sin---to flourish even in a dark and broken world.As you start living in the flow, you will feel: --- a deeper connection with God --- a growing sense of joy --- an honest recognition of your brokenness --- less fear, more trust --- a growing sense of being 'rooted in love' --- a deeper sense of purposeGod invites you to join Him in crafting an abundant and joy-filled life. The Me I Want to Be shows you how to graciously accept His invitation.

What does true spiritual life really look like?What keeps you from living such a life? What can you do to pursue it? If you're tired of the status quo---if you suspect there's more to Christianity than what you've experienced---John Ortberg points you to a road of transformation and spiritual vigor that anyone can take -one that leads to 'The Life You've Always Wanted'.