Nationality American Spouse Nancy Ortberg Role Author | Name John Ortberg Subject Leadership, Theology | |
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Born May 5, 1957 (age 66)
Rockford, Illinois ( 1957-05-05 ) Occupation Theologian, Author, Minister Education Fuller Theological Seminary, University of Aberdeen, Wheaton College Books Soul Keeping: Caring Fo, The Life You've Always W, If You Want to Walk on Water - Yo, The Me I Want to Be: Becomin, When the Game Is Over - It Al Similar People Ruth Barton, Siang‑Yang Tan, Mallory Ortberg | ||
2014 pepperdine bible lectures john ortberg
John Ortberg, Jr. (born May 5, 1957) is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo Park, California, an ECO Presbyterian 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, The Life You've Always Wanted, has sold more than 500,000 copies as of 2008. On August 13, 2012, John Ortberg's book Who Is This Man? debuted at #3 on the New Release chart at Amazon.com.
Contents
- 2014 pepperdine bible lectures john ortberg
- All the places to go video bible study featuring john ortberg rightnow media original
- Background
- Spiritual formation
- Eternal cravings
- Modern influence of Jesus Christ
- In media
- Speaking
- References
All the places to go video bible study featuring john ortberg rightnow media original
Background
Ortberg was born in Rockford, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, and his M.Div. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has also studied at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. From 1985 to 1990 he served as senior pastor at Simi Valley Community Church, and then from 1990 to 1994 at Horizons Community Church (now Baseline Community Church in Claremont, California, see baselinecc.com). He then moved from California to Illinois to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois until 2003, when he assumed his current role at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, a multi-campus church in Northern California.
Ortberg is father to three children, Mallory, Laura, and Johnny. Mallory Ortberg is the founder, writer and editor of the popular feminist humor blog The Toast.
Spiritual formation
A central theme of his teaching and books is spiritual formation, the transforming of human character through authentic experiences with God. Ortberg argues that the desire for comfort and security often stands in the way of an authentic relationship with God — when people place too high a value on being secure and comfortable they may be reluctant to make the sacrifices God asks of them.
Eternal cravings
Ortberg has warned against the societal pressures which tell people that bigger is always better, saying "I think for all of us, whatever your ministry or job, bigness will never satisfy the call." In his books he has described his own desire for importance and success, and how achieving them did not ultimately bring him happiness. "Your cravings," according to Orberg, "if you could get to the bottom of them, are for the eternal."
Modern influence of Jesus Christ
According to John Ortberg in Who Is This Man, “Jesus and the movement that followed him influenced education, the rise of universities, and the movement for universal literacy.”
In media
Ortberg's retelling of his experience of playing Monopoly with his grandmother was used as the beginning narration of Peter Joseph's 2011 documentary Zeitgeist: Moving Forward.
An official video for Who Is This Man? was created and released to media in August, 2012.
Speaking
Ortberg has been a featured speaker at many events, including