The Noble Pursuit of Being Ordinary - Dr. John Ortberg

About this sermon

What if the goal today isn't to make your life extraordinary? What if it's to learn how to see the extraordinary gift hidden inside the ordinary? In this reflection on Psalm 104, John Ortberg explores how modern life has changed the way we see the world around us. We know more than ever about how nature works, yet we may have lost something along the way: our ability to experience creation as filled with meaning, wonder, and the presence of God. Drawing on Charles Taylor and Dallas Willard, John invites us to recover the eyes of "saints, poets, and artists" and rediscover what Willard called "the well-kept secret of the ordinary." Birds sing. Trees grow. Wild animals drink. Leviathan frolics. People go to work. And apparently God really likes hyraxes. Psalm 104 invites us to look again and recognize that ordinary creation is overflowing with the generosity, creativity, and goodness of God. In this episode: Psalm 104 and the wonder of creation Charles Taylor and the "immanent frame" Recovering the enchantment of reality Dallas Willard and the secret of ordinary life Why God made the hyrax Seeing creation as more than something to use The love-letter analogy Receiving your life as a gift Finding God in everyday moments Scriptures: Psalm 104 Genesis 1:26–27 #Psalm104 #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #CharlesTaylor #Psalms #Creation #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Wonder 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Make It an Ordinary Day 00:27 Recovering the Eyes of the Psalmist 01:06 Psalm 104 Begins 02:17 Charles Taylor & the Loss of Enchantment 02:51 Dallas Willard's Secret of the Ordinary 03:28 Listen to the Birds Sing 03:51 Rediscovering an Ordinary Gift 04:13 All Creatures Are God's Creatures 04:56 Meet the Hyrax 05:49 Why Did God Make Hyraxes? 06:14 We've Forgotten How to See 06:50 The Love Letter Illustration 07:18 You're Missing the Words 07:40 Creation Is Filled With Meaning 08:06 Every Leaf Is Charged With God's Presence 08:31 Go Outside and Actually Look 08:42 Why Did God Make Leviathan? 09:08 The Gratuitous Goodness of God 09:54 God Rejoices in His Creation 10:16 The Gift of Being Ordinary 10:53 Receive Your Life as a Gift 11:15 Give the Gift of Life to Others 11:36 Make It an Ordinary Day