Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

Most of us don’t really believe that less money, stuff, or activities is actually the way to a better life. But Jesus’s teachings tell us that life doesn’t consist of our possessions. John Mark introduces the practice of simplicity, also called minimalism, by reviewing Jesus’s teachings on money and discussing how simplicity can lead to a better, happier life. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 12v13-21...

Why should I so what the Bible says? Authority is a negative word in our individualistic culture, making the idea of Scriptural authority feel scary for some of us. John Mark challenges us to approach the Bible as Jesus did: with trust and obedience.  Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 3v1-7; Matthew 4v1-11 Resources: https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/scripture Cultural Backgrounds Study...

Why do authoritarian governments often ban the Bible? John Mark talks about the how the library of Scripture is an alternative story: one that points to Jesus as the center of reality. He challenges us to let this story shape our lives and engage with these writings, even through its confusing, difficult, or challenging aspects. Key Scripture Passage: Luke 4v14-22 Resources for this practice: http...

How did Jesus view the Scriptures? In contrast to how many people view the Bible today, either as an ordinary human text or as “golden tablets” from Heaven, John Mark explores how Jesus thought, taught, and talked about the Scriptures. Through that, John Mark shows us that our approach to the Bible matters and encourages us to adopt a posture of surrender as we read. Key Scripture Passages: Matthe...

If the Bible tells us to "rejoice always", how do we do it? John Mark walks through how to experience more joy. Since we can’t “will” ourselves to joy, he offers us practices based in the Scriptures that allow us to cultivate happiness and celebration in our everyday lives. Key Scripture Passage: Philippians 4v4-9 Resources for this practice https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/u...

How do we experience more joy in our everyday lives? John Mark talks about how the common human desire to be happy isn’t the problem, but that we’re searching for joy in the wrong places. He encourages us to examine what beliefs might be blocking us from experiencing the joy that Jesus offered to all who follow Him. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 1v39-45; Luke 2v8-11; Luke 4v14-21; Luke 10v17-21; Re...

Do you have margin in your life? In the digital age, it’s easy to operate outside our emotional and spiritual limit and undermine our formation into people of love. John Mark reminds us of the importance of margin in our lives and how the practice of simplicity can help us live within our limits. Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1v26-2v8, Genesis 3v1-7 Resources for this practice: https://practicin...

What if the greatest threat to faith today is not hedonism, but distraction? John Mark discusses the importance of making time for silence and solitude in our rule of life, and the benefits of quiet in our spiritual walk: helping us accept reality, experiencing God’s love, yielding to God’s will, hearing God’s voice, and ultimately becoming people of love. Key Scripture Passage: Luke 5v15, Matthew...

“If your rule of life does not find a way to ruthlessly eliminate digital distraction, it will likely fail.” Is distraction undermining our spiritual life? John Mark makes a case for a rule of life that accounts for our society of digital distraction by highlighting how our technology can be unhealthy for us. He also offers some guidance on shaping your rule of life to avert digital distraction an...

“A good rule of life can actually set us free to be our true and best selves.” In a world of distraction and speed, how do we arrange our lives so that we are experiencing deep joy, peace, and contentment in our life in God, as Willard said? John Mark talks about the ancient practice of creating a “rule of life” and offers seven tips for creating your own rule of life. Key Scripture Passage: John...

“Most people are just too busy to live an emotionally healthy and spiritually rich life.” We live in an age of chronic distraction and business. John Mark talks about hurry as the great enemy of our spiritual life. He proposes that the solution to “hurry sickness” is not more time, but rather become people of love through being intentional with our own “rule of life.” Key Scripture Passage: Luke 1...

“ When we honor people, we get access to whatever people carry, if it's friendship, relationship, conversation, wisdom, prophetic ability, healing, discernment, wealth, resources, opportunities, whatever it is. When we dishonor people, we cut off ourselves from whatever it is they have to offer.” John Mark talks about the importance of honor in in a culture of dishonor and contempt, highlighti...

Jesus intended his followers to become a family-like community. John Mark talks about how this idea of family was radical not only for first-century Jews, but also why it’s just as radical for us today. Through it, he offers advice on how to build relational skills to bless and love our communities well. Key Scripture Passage: Mark 3v31-35 Resources for this practice: https://practicingthewayarchi...

We are lonelier than ever. In the US, loneliness rates have doubled since 1980, with 35% of people saying that they are chronically lonely. Is there are practice from the life of Jesus to help us thrive in a culture that is more disconnected than ever? John Mark talks about Jesus’ practice and invitation into community, encouraging us to commit to community, despite the challenges, so we can embra...

Can pain make us more loving? Continuing our discussion of stage theory, John Mark uses the story of Leah and Rachel in Genesis to show how our responses to the pain in our lives can either lead us closer to God and acceptance of our circumstances, or towards bitterness and pain. Key Scripture Passages: Gen 29v15-35; Gen 30v1-24; Gen 35v16-20 Resources for this practice: https://practicingthewayar...

“Have you ever cried out to God in a time of distress, but felt nothing in return?” John Mark continues his discussion on the dark night of the soul, focusing on the two types of “dark nights” that are written about by St. John and St. Teresa in the 16th century. In it, he encourages us to continue to press into community and into God if we find ourselves in a dark night. Key Scripture Passage: Ps...

Have you ever felt like there is a wall between you and heaven? John Mark explores the Dark Night of the Soul, talking about what it is, what it isn’t, and some ideas for how to move through this season well. Key Scripture Passage: Psalm 42 Resources for this practice: https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/naming

“The farther we get down the path of the spiritual journey, the more our apprenticeship to Jesus feels less and less active, and more and more passive.” John Mark continues with our discussion on the stages of apprenticeship, this time talking about active and passive spirituality and its role in our formation. He shows us how to use practice (active) and surrender (passive) to be more formed into...

As we continue to explore stage theory paradigms, John Mark turns to the paradigm of the two halves of life by drawing on Jesus’s post-resurrection conversation with Peter. John Mark breaks down the common challenges and struggles of each half of life and offers some helpful ideas on how to move through these stages well. Key Scripture Passages: John 21v18-25 Resources for this practice: https://p...

How do we get unstuck? This week, John Mark introduces the newest spiritual journey paradigm: the Critical Journey, and discusses how we can get unstuck at the various stages and challenge us to push through the “wall” in the various places in our lives. Key Scripture Passage(s): John 21v15-19 Resources for this practice: https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/naming In the Name of Jesus:...

What is the meaning of life? According to Jesus, the meaning of life is love: becoming a person who loves God and loves others. Breaking down the story of the Road to Emmaus and our modern cultural moment, John Mark challenges us to embrace the good news of the resurrection and live as beacons of love and hope in our world. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 24v13-35 Resources for this practice: https:/...

Do you feel stuck in your apprenticeship to Jesus? Drawing from the wisdom of followers of Jesus throughout church history, John Mark discusses how identifying landmarks on the journey of our apprenticeship to Jesus can help us get unstuck. This week, he talks about one ancient journey paradigm called The Three Ways to show how the purpose of our spiritual formation is becoming people of love and...

Did Jesus practice sabbath? John Mark talks about Jesus’s teachings and relationship to the sabbath by highlighting four common words associated with the word “shabbat”: stop, rest, delight, and worship. John Mark shows how these four words give us clues on how to find happiness, joy, and peace in this practice. Key Scripture Passages: Mark 2v23-28; Mark 3v1-6 Resources for this practice: https://...

“Sabbath is an act of resistance, a prophetic act over against the accomplishment and accumulation of our society.” In a culture that is addicted to the twin drugs of accomplishment and accumulation, sabbath is how we “fight” back against Egypt, Pharaoh, and his empire. John Mark continues his biblical theology on sabbath with an exploration of work and rest in the story of the Exodus. Key Scriptu...

“If you go against the grain of the universe, you get splinters.” – HH Farmer Sabbath was built into the rhythm of creation and going against this rhythm has consequences. John Mark lays out a biblical theology of sabbath, showing that sabbath is instituted by God, blessed, holy, made for worship, a command and a gift, and a day to remember.  Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1v31-2:3; Exodus 16v9-3...