For anyone who wants to become a disciple of Jesus or take the next steps of apprenticing under Jesus, this book is a must read. It not only provides rich theological and historical insights on what it means to be a disciple but perhaps more importantly offers the practical "how to's" of apprenticing under Jesus. Full of humor, cultural commentary, biblical insights, and application for the modern world, this book is worth your time.

Can’t recommend. Too many things I majorly disagree with as well as his delivery of the content. There are okay aspects but so many red flags and slippery slopes mixed in.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love john mark comer and was lucky to hear him speak this year. His words on Jesus and knowing him and becoming more like him were so great. I'd read anything he wrote!

Another excellent book my John Mark Comer. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy through Net Galley, and this is definitely a “must buy the hard copy” book. This book will point you back to Jesus in the best ways.

This title is not to be read in one or even several sittings. Practicing the Way should be savored and thoughtfully devoured. John Mark Comer has created a written format of his podcasts and laid out each of the practices in an encouraging way to the reader and future apprentice to start where you are. A great resource to any Christian wanting to continue developing their relationship with Jesus and learning how to be more like him. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to deepen their faith and walk.

I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher, Waterbrook & Multnomah Publishers, in exchange for an honest review.

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is a deep, yet accessible book centered around spiritual formation and how we can follow Jesus wholeheartedly. I loved how the author wove together church history and spiritual parents with modern authors, psychology, and our culture. This powerful book was convicting and made me long to follow Jesus as an apprentice. I found it to be well written and had to fight between savoring the book and continuing to read to learn, grow, and deepen my relationship with the Lord. After reading this eARC, I promptly ordered a hard copy to linger over and implement the practices in my own life. I'm excited for my husband and/or others in my real life to read this book so we can consider it together.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This book is thoughtful and challenging -- the best kind when it comes to spiritual growth books. I enjoyed reading the quick, short chapters and found myself highlighting chunks of text. It has shaped my spiritual formation more than I thought it would, and I find myself coming back to things I highlighted or thinking about the concepts in the book over and over. I've recommended it to everyone I know! If you're looking to understand more about what it means to be a disciple OR how to "come and follow" Jesus, this book is for you!

John Marc Comer manages to create an approachable and accessible pathway for discipleship to Christ without ever losing its importance and gravity.
I particularly felt arrested and have not been able to stop thinking about the concept of the inevitable becoming nature of living. We don’t decide whether we become/transform into or conform to something, but we do get to choose what that thing — person — is, by the daily rituals and routines we fill our lives with. The idea is both terrifying and empowering. It’s even more reassuring that in the case become in the likeness of Christ, we don’t have to do it alone or solely rely on our own discipline abilities.
In this book Comer gives practical ways to start or take our efforts more seriously and see more success from them.

Ok, so to be honest I struggled with this book when I first picked it up.

The opening was a little off-putting? Jesus can solve all your problems… isn't that an over simplification?

But as I kept reading, the message became more clear. You will have problems; but be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do like Jesus did. You will find the answers to those problems.

"It's less of a transaction and more of a transformation."

This is a book that many people could read over and over and over; it's incredibly dense and thought-provoking, and I can't pretend I comprehended all of it. At the same time, there is something for every Follower of Jesus: Be-ers, Imitators, Doers.

Amazing and powerful book!
It has so many insights to help us in our daily walk with Jesus. It makes so clear the difference between a christian and a disciple of Jesus.
A powerful and needed resource for everyone that wants to know more about Jesus!

It's quite hard to summarise this book in a few lines for review purposes, simply because it is such an excellent piece of work. But here goes.

I expect this is the book Comer has been wanting to write for years. The deepening of his faith, his experiences at Bridgetown Church and then his business 'Practicing the Way' and his ferocious appetite for learning and reading have all led to the book.

Comer writes in an easy to understand manner. It's active, so he's always encouraging the reader to respond to his words. Using short sentences with plenty of space, he challenges the reader to consider their own relationship with Jesus and how to deepen it.

How? By apprenticing oneself to Jesus.

He doesn't shy away from saying that this will require change and eliminating certain things in our lives, but that's part of what surrendering our lives to Jesus involves. He appreciates that it's hard and not everyone will do it, hence, why there aren't more Jesus apprentices wandering the earth.

Comer provides a path to follow with guidelines regarding 9 practices that will help people to apprentice themselves. In addition, his vast reading library provides some excellent references and support for his words and recommendations.

But what I like most about this book is that Comer has walked that path (he's still walking it because it never stops) and as s such is a walking demonstration that such a life is possible.

I initially received an early ebook copy of the book from the publisher via Net Galley but I'd already ordered my own copies and 10 more for friends so it clearly had a positive effect on me.

I suspect this book will be being read by our children and grandchildren in years to come.

I will read anything written by John Mark Comer - everything I have read of his is based in scripture and wisdom, and Practicing the Way is no exception.
This book is a list of truths that often hit straight between the brows, addressing the problem of spiritual formation in a practical and beautiful way:
"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."
The author doesn't just present the gospel in romantic terms, but gives readers practical wisdom in what it looks like following Jesus and being spiritually formed by Him in our every day ordinary lives. He outlines daily rhythms and habits we can practice and create to become who we were created to be.

Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for the ARC!

John Mark Comer in Practicing The Way has provided a transformative and vital book for Christian communities. Recognizing that all are being shaped and formed, Comer speaks to ways we can be formed to be more like Jesus. Focusing on how one can be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did, stands the journey of becoming apprentices that take up the cross to follow Jesus well. This remains the beautiful challenge.

Comer challenges readers with the beauty of walking like Jesus, recognizing the difficulties believers will face in the 21st-century cultural, technological, and divisive climate. Practically, Comer seeks to provide readers with tools to begin this apprenticeship by reading scripture, developing a rule of life, and understanding the cost of non-discipleship. The cry to be like Jesus has never been more real and comer transcends divisions to provide this work of pure beauty.

However, the longevity of this work in the minds of readers will depend on the readers decisions. Comer desires readers to follow Jesus well and who knows where following the Rabbi will take each apprentice. That is the beautiful journey.

This book offers Attainable step by step disciples that can be put into practice. I definitely recommend this to help you love God more and love people more ! What we do with this will also help generations to come

Wow.
I finished the bulk of this book in under 24 hours. I’m not sure this has ever happened for me for a non fiction, Christian read.
I love Jesus so much, and what was so special about this book is that it affirmed some things I already have and do, but also gave me an actual solid road map for how to have MORE, which is what I have really wanted. I know the path isn’t easy, and I respect the author for writing this book, as it’s not full of comfortable content. Instead he gives a compelling vision for what life could be, if we were only willing to take the bold step of becoming Jesus’ apprentices.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this advanced review copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is a fine introduction for people unfamiliar with spiritual practices in the Christian life.

John Mark Comer does it again! In his latest book, "Practicing the Way : Be with Jesus, Become Like Jesus and Do as He did," Comer speaks to the ache of our cultural moment. In the midst of political polarization, sexual ethics changing, and the social media black hole, there is hope to live counter cultural in this moment. Through immense wisdom, experience, and precision, John Mark lays out the ancient blueprint for following Jesus and becoming His apprentice in the 21st century. It's not more things we ought to do, but less. His central focus is develop a rule of life so that we may bear fruit in order for our world to reflect more of Heaven on Earth. Our formation is not just for us, it's for our neighbors, children, teachers, or anyone who we cross paths with. This is not an intellectual idea but is a vision to be lived out until we meet Jesus face to face. If you are serious about living out your days in wisdom, pick up a copy!

In his newest book, Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer asks some tough questions, examining how far removed our modern, Western Christianity is from the words of Jesus. What if we've twisted and diluted the idea of discipleship until it looks nothing like what He created and intended?

JMC distinguishes between assenting philosophers and active apprentices, exploring what it really means to follow Jesus. "The problem," JMC writes, is that "we have created a cultural milieu where you can be a Christian but not an apprentice of Jesus." As if there's two tiers. One for safety and one for super saints. But that idea isn't found anywhere in Scripture.

What if it's less about getting out of hell and more about being in Jesus? What if it's about loving and treasuring and respecting Jesus and becoming more like Him as we follow His Words and His Way?

It's a radical kind of life that Jesus offers. The kind of life worth going on forever. And it's available to everyone. It's available for you, if you're ready to let go of lesser things and follow Him with everything you've got. This is a beautiful, practical, accessible invitation to make your home with Jesus.

Transformational - If you are a Christian and you are discouraged by the great chasm between the life you are living and the life Jesus models, or if you are not a Christian and you are disappointed by the hypocrisy of Christians and are interested in learning how Jesus actually calls His followers to live, this is a very helpful read. John Mark provides a clear picture of the life Jesus envisions along with a roadmap of how to structure our days to provide space for the Holy Spirit to change us and bring us into that way of living.

Brief Synopsis: What does it mean to truly follow Jesus? What does "the way" of Jesus look like? To be formed by Jesus means becoming his apprentice.

My thoughts: John Mark Comer has such a easy flow of his writing style that it feels more like a conversation than a book. There wasn't a ton that was earth-shattering for me, but it was a good reinforcement of things that I already knew. I love JMC's experience and insight he brings into simple concepts.

What did I like about this book?
• the simplistic explanation of gospel truth
• practical ways given to follow Jesus

What did I not like about this book?
• chapter numbers - there are no chapter numbers so it was hard for me to track in audiobook and the physical book

My rating: 4/5 stars

Content warnings: none