Quotes from John Ortberg

When people feel they're getting to speak into what's being preached, there is high built-in motivation to participate.

The day people around me stop questioning my character is the day my character begins to grow vulnerable.

Some leaders are not intimidated by opposition; they actually thrive on it. It wakes them up. It energizes them. It calls them to battle. It causes them to mobilize their thoughts and energy.

To have my mind racing and my heart beating fast over glorious possibilities is very close to the summit of life experience for me.

Both hope and pessimism are deeply contagious. And no one is more infectious than a leader.

People cheer the Bible, buy the Bible, give the Bible, own the Bible - they just don't actually read the Bible.

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.

Real question is not who was this man (Jesus), but who is this man?

Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.

Peace does not lie in getting God to give me other circumstances. Peace lies in finding God in these circumstances.

Genuine brokenness pleases God more than pretend spirituality.

God wishes to be seen, wishes to be sought, wishes to be expected, and wishes to be trusted.

For the soul to be well, it needs to be with God.

There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.

The Bible does not say you are God's appliance; it says you are his masterpiece. Appliances get mass-produced.

Self-improveme nt is no more God's plan than self-salvation.

It may be a very bad thing that I needed God to die for me, but it is a wonderful thing that God thinks I am worth dying for.

God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.

Over and over in the Bible, it is fear that threatens to keep people from trusting and obeying God.

Waiting on the Lord is a confident, disciplined, expectant, active, sometimes painful clinging to God.

The only cure from sin is by maintaining a vision of God.

One reason why we fail to hear God speak is that we are not attentive. We suffer from what might be called 'spiritual mindlessness.'

The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.

The Holy Spirit says: You are it. You are God's plan. In a thirsty world, people need to be refreshed. It is a broken world, and people need to be healed. Now get out there and do it!