Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Who is it for?
All believers everywhere
Anyone who is leading someone in a discipleship relationship
Church leaders looking for a way to make their church discipleship practice more intentional and effective
I don’t say this lightly, but this book has been changing my life.
It’s been well-documented around here that I have a strange relationship with social media. I recently just went on ahead and deleted all the apps from my phone, because I realized that I was spending way too much time in the doom scroll.
Even while writing this post, someone sent me a video, which I clicked on and watched in the browser, and then got sucked into the vortex of the algorithm. Yes, it’s embarrassing. Yes, we pretty much all do it.
But in my journey of trying to reclaim my time, I’ve working very hard to replace it with more beneficial, helpful things. Like reading lots of books, including this one. It would be hard for me to overstate how impactful this book has been for me, and I want to be careful about saying that.
I don’t want to build it up into something it’s not. It’s not necessarily revolutionary. It’s not introducing any brand-new concepts. It’s not filled to the brim with novel, earth-shattering truths.
So what is it? What Comer does well here (and in other works) is articulate simple, ordinary truths in a profound, impossible to ignore way. Reading his descriptions of spiritual formation and what it takes to truly walk closer with Jesus, you’re left without any excuse or way around it.
The other immense value here is that his application is nothing new—though it may seem that way for many. The truth is, the practices he suggests are very old. Old enough to be largely forgotten by modern Christians (Judges 2:10 comes to mind).
This book, for me (and hopefully for you), represents a realignment to what it means to follow Jesus. Here are a few key takeaways for me:
Your Time Is Not Your Own
When the conversation comes up to really change your life to be built around Christ alone, or to go a step further, create a “Rule of Life” for following Jesus (shudder), even mature Christians may shy away and decry the attempt at legalism.
Especially in western Christianity, it seems like we have inherited so many bruises from the Ghosts of Puritans Past that we can’t imagine any sort of rule following without flinching away from evil legalism. (Which, by the way, as I grow older and more mature, I find myself identifying with the Puritans more and more…)
Part of that is our wildly secularized culture. An overlooked part of that is our radically individualized brand of Christianity that runs rampant in our evangelical churches. We’ve wildly misinterpreted “judge not” and adopted a very “stay in your lane” brand of Christianity and discipleship.
As a result, we want to be in charge of our own spiritual formation, and we’re for darn sure not going to follow someone else’s rules.
But Comer posits (and I whole-heartedly agree) that the reality is we are all being formed by something outside of our direct control. What we watch or listen to, who we associate with, even how we allocate our time all play a part in our spiritual formation.
So the question we have to ask is: “What am I being formed by?” or “Is this forming me into a follower of Jesus or something else?”
It may sound overly conservative to suggest that we should ask that question about everything we do, but, well, following Jesus is a lifestyle, not a hobby. So we should probably ask that question about everything we do.
Following Jesus doesn’t happen by accident. You won’t wake up one morning and realize that you’re suddenly following Jesus by no effort of your own. Many of us want to follow Jesus, but we haven’t done anything to re-build our lives around following Jesus.
Our time and our habits are largely governed by other things, whether we want to admit it or not. Little addictions, habits, or responsibilities pull us in all directions all the time. No matter how individualistic we want to deign to be, we aren’t as in control as we think we are.
So we might as well give control to Jesus instead of TikTok, Netflix, our jobs, our families, you name it.
“There is no way to apprentice Jesus without him interfering in your life,”
How Is Jesus Interfering In Your Life?
So the reality is that we are all being formed by something. We are all abiding in something.
What are you abiding in? What are you being formed by?
One of the statements that has been taking over my meditations is this idea that following Jesus necessarily means that he will interfere with our lives. If Jesus isn’t interfering in your life, there’s a good chance that you’re not truly following him and trying to be more like him.
A life of followship to Jesus will mean constant realignment to who he has called us to be.
But here’s the trick: it sounds like more work, but it’s actually less.
More often than not, Jesus is calling us to give more things away than to do more things. As we do more things, we become more distracted from following Jesus and being who he has called us to be. Life is full of distractions that want to pull us away from our mission in Christ.
So how is Jesus getting in the way of your life? How is he interfering?
“For those of us who desire to follow Jesus, here is the reality we must turn and face: If we’re not being intentionally formed by Jesus himself, then it’s highly likely we are being unintentionally formed by someone or something else.”
Jesus’ Burden is Light
Sometimes it’s easy to get it in our head that we have to do more for Jesus. We have to work harder, work longer, be more than we are for Jesus. I can’t tell you how often I meet people in ministry that are just working their guts out above and beyond and burning themselves out for the cause.
Is this the way? Is this healthy?
If so, why did Jesus say that his burden was light?
Now I’m not advocating for laziness or slothfulness at all. We should work hard and diligently and do well.
But we should also avoid what amounts to earning our own salvation through toiling. It can feel good to churn the machine, but I don’t believe it’s what Jesus has called us to.
For most of us, the truth is that we don’t have nearly enough margin in our lives. We’re constantly moving and constantly going and leaving God very little room to actually work in us and through us.
If your lifestyle leaves you ragged and exhausted, it’s not what Jesus has called you to.
Or to go a step further: if you’re constantly feeling like you don’t have enough time to do what you’re supposed to do, so you work long hours, don’t sabbath, find your tasks bleeding over into every area of your life, staying up way too late, etc, you’re probably not being obedient in trusting God.
God gave us enough time to do what he expects of us. And if our work goes beyond that, we’re walking in disobedience and not trusting him to come through. I may unpack this idea more in a later post, but think about the Israelites in the wilderness: they were to gather manna daily, and on the sixth day, they were to gather double the manna and not gather any on the Sabbath.
If people did more than they needed or tried to go further than God expected, they were walking in disobedience. God gives us more than enough, and even with margin for us to rest. But we are constantly trying to do even more.
Maybe it’s time to consider doing less.
“Think subtraction, not addition... Following Jesus is not about doing more, but doing less.”
A few Quick Points
Those are some of the broad strokes of how this book has been rocking my world lately, but that’s not all. Here are a couple more rapid fire thoughts:
1. A Comprehensive Guide to True Discipleship
In "Practicing the Way," John Mark Comer addresses a critical issue in contemporary Christian life: the lack of understanding on how to transition from spiritual birth to maturity. He mentions that in our Christian culture, actually following Jesus daily is viewed as the optional next step for those who want to go deeper. Comer masterfully synthesizes historical and modern perspectives on discipleship, providing a clear and actionable path for those seeking to deepen their faith. This book is a profound invitation to live a life of discipleship to Jesus, blending timeless wisdom with practical steps for spiritual growth.
2. He has practiced what he teaches
Drawing from years of pastoral experience in practicing discipleship, Comer combines the teachings of Jesus with insights from various fields, including philosophy, sociology, and science. His use of a multitude of sources enriches the narrative, making it relatable and applicable to readers from diverse backgrounds. The book’s structure, filled with practical examples and supported by extensive references, ensures that readers can easily grasp and implement the concepts presented.
3. Practical Tools for Modern Spiritual Growth
"Practicing the Way" goes beyond theoretical discussions, offering concrete tools and resources to help readers craft a "Rule of Life" in community. These resources, located in the back of the book, are particularly valuable for anyone looking to integrate spiritual practices into their daily routine. Comer's emphasis on living out faith within a community and the practical advice on avoiding common pitfalls make this book a timeless resource for both new and seasoned believers.
Conclusion
John Mark Comer’s "Practicing the Way" is an essential read for anyone serious about their spiritual journey. It provides a comprehensive framework for discipleship, offers rich insights from a seasoned leader, and equips readers with practical tools for spiritual growth. Whether you are a new believer or someone seeking to deepen your faith, this book will guide you towards a richer, more fulfilling spiritual life.
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