John Ortberg
John Ortberg
John Ortberg, Jr.is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, an evangelical church with more than 4,000 members. Ortberg has published many books including the 2008 ECPA Christian Book Award winner When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, and the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award winner If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. Another of his publications,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth5 May 1957
CountryUnited States of America
No one wants pain. Not even long-time, mature Christians who want to grow. We will always find ways to avoid pain. Pain itself is a bad thing.
Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you.
Prudence is not hesitation, procrastination, or moderation. It is not driving in the middle of the road. It is not the way of ambivalence, indecision, or safety.
Wise people build their lives around what is eternal and squeeze in what is temporary. Not the other way around.
There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.
Disciplined people can do the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason.
In community, we discover who we really are and how much transformation we still require. This is why I am irrevocably committed to small groups. Through them, we can accomplish our God-entrusted work to transform human beings.
I know that those of us who go into church work are to regard ourselves as servants, are to offer our lives as a gift.
I need an inspiration that is grounded in reality while thoroughly transcendent.
I'm not sure ministry can ever have the urgency it requires if it is not aware of evil, both externally and internally.
Skill at helping people grow spiritually, like skill at playing chess, depends on understanding and valuing differences.
Evil exists. Evil is real. One of the hallmarks of evil is that it seeks to convince its victims that it exists 'out there.'
We all want to feel spiritually vigorous, and we hurt when we don't. This pain is intensified for people who lead church ministries.
Far more books get written about how to get more people in your church than how to get the people already in your church to have more humility and sincere love.