Rule of Life

The practice of generosity, and specifically our open-handedness with money, is not a peripheral issue in the teachings of Jesus. It is a central aspect of our apprenticeship to him. It is also a counterintuitive pathway to joy. Jesus’ teaching on money and possessions sound absurd or even reckless to our modern ears. Yet social science over the last few decades attests to his wisdom: Generous peo...

How often should I practice solitude? What if I don’t have a good time or the right place to practice solitude? What if solitude makes me more anxious? These are all questions that you, our audience, wanted help with! Join John Mark Comer, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin on this final Question and Response episode of season 4 of the Rule of Life podcast. You may just hear the question you asked...

In this podcast season so far, we’ve discussed two encounters that we may experience during solitude — an encounter with ourselves and an encounter with God. In this final interview of the season, John Mark Comer and Bryan Rouanzoin interview Emily P. Freeman about how solitude enables us to encounter the living God. Through this encounter, we can experience his presence, hear his voice, and witne...

In solitude, we not only encounter ourselves and who we are before God, we also encounter the voices of others. We can be met with fear, regret, and external voices that may be challenging to distinguish from God or ourselves. Is this why solitude can be so challenging? How can we tell the difference between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy? Why does solitude and silence facilitate this enco...

Solitude is a place of encounter, where we confront the reality of who we are before God. There are so many voices, including our own false selves, that we use to curate who we are. But in solitude, we encounter our true selves — created and loved by God. And we are free to bring all of our selves before God for healing, prayer, and reflection.  In episode 2 of the Solitude season, John Mark Comer...

Jesus regularly oscillated between rich time in community and beautiful time connecting with God in solitude in the eremos . The “quiet place” was an intentional space Jesus entered to be alone with God and himself. As apprentices of Jesus, we desperately need to set aside time for this too. In episode 1 of the Solitude season, Bethany Allen and John Mark Comer interview John Ortberg. John Ortberg...

Our world is noisier than it’s ever been. Between noise pollution, our phones, and the digital era we live in, it is now possible to be alone but never truly be alone. Solitude has essentially disappeared from our modern world. And yet, Jesus prioritized solitude.  In the first episode of the Solitude season, Bethany Allen and Bryan Rouanzoin interview John Mark Comer about the practice of solitud...

After discussing the ancient practice of fasting — its origins, practicalities, and benefits — the questions still remain: What about those of us with a history of disordered eating? Or a medical condition that prevents us from fasting? How do I know if it is healthy for me to fast? Am I missing out if I struggle in this way?  This final episode of the Fasting series dives into these questions alo...

Does a practice like fasting matter in the face of injustice and evil in the world? Can fasting really change any of it? If so, how? For the fourth week of our Fasting series, pastor and writer, Tyler Staton joins John Mark Comer, Yinka Dawson, and Jarin Oda to talk about three key characteristics of biblical justice, the differences between standing for and with the poor, and how fasting is a pow...

Last week, we heard a story of miraculous, physical healing through prayer and fasting. But how does fasting heal communities? Generations? Systems? What is the effect of fasting outside of individuals?  In this episode, our roundtable is joined by South African church planter Chris Wienand. Chris shares his experience in fasting and praying during Apartheid rule in South Africa, the opportunity f...

Do you have a theology of the body? Many of us Western followers of Jesus have been formed to separate our bodies from our spirituality. But fasting might be the discipline we’ve been missing — a way to integrate our faith and our bodies and bring our whole self before God. To sanctify our souls as we fight sin in the flesh.  In episode 2, John Mark Comer, Yinka Dawson, and Jarin Oda are joined by...

Fasting is arguably one of the most neglected spiritual practices in the Western world. Disciples of Jesus and non-Christians alike have so many questions: What is fasting? How can I practice in a healthy way? What about body shame and eating disorders? Is it mandated in the Scriptures? Where do I start? Join us for episode 1 of the Fasting series, where we hear a roundtable discussion with John M...

In this final episode of season 2 of the Rule of Life podcast, we are joined by Strahan Coleman for a conversation on experiencing God, the differences between the fruits of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit, the dangers of depersonalizing God, and how to bring ourselves to silence.  Strahan Coleman is an award winning musician, poet, writer, and spiritual director from Aotearoa New Zealand....

How should we exist in the tension between contemplation and action? Between listening and speaking? Between public and private? Where do our thoughts and prayers enter in? Join us for a conversation with luminary thinker, Jonathan Tremaine Thomas. This conversation covers contemplative activism, praying in the spirit, and the communion with God found in fasting.  Jonathan Tremaine Thomas is a pas...

What is it to simply be with God? What does it look like? What does it feel like?  In this discussion on the fourth movement of prayer, you’ll hear what it means to go from talking to God, talking with God, and listening to God…to being with God. Existing together in his presence…free from any words at all.  This episode features wisdom from Rich Villodas and Strahan Coleman as well as everyday ap...

Have you ever wondered: Does God still speak? If he does, how does he speak? And what is he saying? How can I know that it’s him? In the last two episodes of the series, we learned about talking to God and talking with God. And like in many contexts in our modern world, we are better at talking than we are at listening. So what does it look like to listen to God? To hear his voice?  In this third...

If you have any amount of experience with prayer, you probably have questions. Why does God answer some of my prayers and not others? Why does God wait to answer my prayers? If Jesus came to seek and save the lost and if prayer is powerful, then why doesn’t God seem to answer prayers for my lost friends and family?   These questions can compound into confusion about God Himself and eventually lead...

In Luke 11, the very first disciples of Jesus ask him something profound. They don't ask Him how to heal the sick, or how to perform miracles, or how to gain salvation. They ask Jesus something simpler: to teach them to pray. In this second season of the Rule of Life podcast, John Mark Comer is joined by Gemma Ryan, Reward Sibanda and Tyler Staton for a conversation on four different movements...

In this final episode of season one of the Rule of Life podcast, you will hear an interview with luminary thinker, Andy Crouch. Topically, this conversation covers a wide range - touching on topics like the spiritual implications of labor saving devices, modern magic, Sabbath, and the truth about human desires. Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at  Praxis , an organization that works...

In previous episodes of the Rule of Life podcast, listeners tune in to a roundtable discussion as well as audio-snippets from luminary thinkers, pastors, and apprentices who are following Jesus in the every day. Featured in the Sabbath series (season 1) is luminary thinker, Tish Harrison Warren. This episode of the Rule of Life podcast is the interview between John Mark and Tish in its entirety. I...

What do you worship? And are you sure ? Often times we have a narrow view of what worship is. We think that worship is just singing songs at the front end of a church service, but how do we orient our whole lives toward worship? In this fourth roundtable discussion, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan discuss the fourth movement, the climax, of sabbath. This discussion on worship is accompanied by clips...

In a delight deficient culture, what does it look like to delight in God? Is delight different from happiness? What does delight have to do with practicing the sabbath? In this third episode of the sabbath series, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan dive into the third movement through the lens of one core reality: God is joyful.  These podcasts accompany nine Practices developed by Practicing the Way....

When you hear the word rest , what comes to mind? Relief? Pressure? Familiarity? Foreignness? In this second episode of the sabbath series, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan answer two ever-present questions: what is rest? And why is rest so hard? Alongside the wisdom of luminary thinkers and every day followers of Jesus, they discuss this second movement of Sabbath through the lens of external and in...

What does it mean to stop in an ever-moving, always quickening, “just a bit more” culture? In this first episode of the Sabbath series, John Mark Comer, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin take a deep dive into the spiritual significance and soul-wide implications of stopping. They’re joined by the wisdom of Rich Villodas and Tish Harrison Warren, as well as the personal testimonies of everyday app...

What is a Rule of Life?  Whether you know it or not, you already have a Rule of Life. You already have rhythms by which you map your days and live. But is this rule working for you or against you? Listen to this trailer to hear a brief overview of the ancient church model of a Rule of Life, as well as to learn what’s coming from the Rule of Life podcast. And stay tuned for Season 1: Sabbath. This...