A must read for anyone interested in spiritual formation and the real work of being a disciple or apprentice of Jesus.
Probably John Mark Comer‘s best book yet! Highly recommend!

John Mark Comer is an auto-read author for me, and this book is different from all of his others. A gospel primer of sorts, he looks at what discipleship really meant for the first disciples and what it really means for us.

"Practicing the Way" by John Mark Comer is a timely and approachable masterpiece that breathes new life into the contemporary Christian landscape. In a world where faith often becomes confined to intellectual assent, this book serves as a rallying cry for a deeper, more transformative engagement with the practices of Jesus. In an era where many churches struggle to move beyond the surface of religious rituals, this guide is a refreshing call to what it means to adopt the practices of Jesus in order to be formed like him.

Joh Mark takes readers on a challenging journey encouraging them to move beyond the comfort of doctrinal affirmations and into the realm of active, intentional discipleship (apprenticeship). The author's keen and often funny insights combined with passionate prose invite believers to explore the profound richness of following Jesus beyond the boundaries of mere mental acknowledgment.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary living. Drawing inspiration from the timeless practices of the early Christian church, John Mark skillfully and practically adapts these principles to the challenges of our modern society. The result is a comprehensive and accessible guide that equips readers with practical tools to give God space to transform their lives.

The book is particularly resonant for the current Western, especially American, church context. In a culture often marked by superficiality and a tendency towards consumer-driven spirituality, "Practicing the Way" stands as a beacon of hope. It unveils a roadmap for churches to move beyond the trappings of religious nominalism, Christian Nationalism, and secular influence and instead cultivate a community centered around authentic discipleship.

What sets this book apart is its ability to inspire without imposing. It avoids a one-size fits all prescriptive tone, allowing room for personal exploration and growth. The narrative is both convicting and compassionate, inviting readers to embark on a transformative journey rather than prescribing a rigid set of rules.

"Practicing the Way" is not just a book; it is a guide for a paradigm shift within the contemporary Christian experience. It challenges readers to move from passive believers to active practitioners of the faith, offering a compelling vision for a church that embodies the teachings of Jesus in a tangible and radical way.

All said, John Mark Comer's "Practicing the Way" is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper, more authentic connection with their faith. It’s a road map for how to go from discipleship 1,0 to discipleship 2,0 and beyond. My enthusiastic endorsement stems from its power to rekindle the flame of genuine discipleship and to guide the Western church towards a countercultural (both secular and Christian), more vibrant and transformative apprenticeship of Jesus. This book is not just relevant; it is essential for the spiritual vitality of our time.

I have looked forward to getting my hands on this book since the day I heard about it and it most definitely did not disappoint! In his unmistakable and iconic writing style John Mark Comer perfectly blends the right amount of humor with the serious topic of discipleship to create what will likely be considered his Magnum Opus. Not only does he explain the importance of practicing the way by apprenticing Jesus, he breaks down the how into simple steps and the why behind it all. A must read for anyone who wants to grow closer in their walk with Jesus.

A very enjoyable and easy read from John Mark! He has a gift for making complex concepts clear. Not necessarily any new "information" if you have followed his teachings and writings for the last 5+ years, but this book encapsulates the philosophy and the practice of following Jesus in one place. This is a great book for anyone looking to follow Jesus in a way that will continue through all of life.

Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah (Penguin Random House)/NetGalley for the ARC.

John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way is based on the premise that all of us are daily being formed by our habits and beliefs. This book is, above all, a call for Christians (or really anyone) to examine their life and ask what it is you are being formed by. Practicing the Way describes a lifestyle where one is, as Comer labels it, an “apprentice” to Jesus. Rather than your faith just being a statement you make professing your belief in order to get to heaven, apprenticeship to Jesus is daily living your faith, resulting in a transformation by God’s love and peace into being a more loving and peaceful person.

I really enjoyed this book and enjoy Comer’s writing style. His short, simple sentences and paragraphs make it easily digestible. There is some history given as well as background/translation on a few Greek words used in the original Biblical manuscript. His book is also full of quotes/references regarding spiritual formation from other theologians, pastors and psychologists. I also appreciated that he takes into account that each person’s walk with Jesus will look different based on personal likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses and season of life. He gives guidelines and suggestions for this lifestyle of apprenticeship but there are no hard and fast rules.

This is a book I will read again when released 1/16/2024 and plan to share with others. I would recommend Practicing the Way to anyone interested in what Christianity is or those who are Christians and want to renew or strengthen their faith.

In comparison to other John Mark Comer books, this one took me the longest to read and I think that’s because I felt like I had a lot to sit with and reflect on. Comer’s practicality, synthesis of thoughts from theologians throughout the centuries, and use of the scriptures to talk about the Way may sound intimidating, but it all felt very straightforward. His chapters on surrender and sacrifice particularly gave me a lot to sit with and then take to the Lord. I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who feels like they are stuck in their faith; Comer beautifully discusses that there is so much more to life with Jesus than we tend to believe in our mundane, busy lives. A quote I sat with for a while:
“Apprenticeship to Jesus is about turning your body into a temple, a place of overlap between heaven and earth - an advance sign of what one day Jesus will do for the entire cosmos, when heaven and earth are at long last reunited as one.”

I’m probably not the target audience for a book like this, but I do enjoy reading Christian theology. Your dude is a savior of humanity? That’s awesome. He calls you to do good works, expecting nothing in return? Fabulous! People have asked me more than a few times why, being Jewish, I support a lot of Christian causes, and it’s simply that while I love my Jewish brothers and sisters, we are a very small people. We can’t have the kind of impact that Christian causes can have, so I support who is providing for the greatest needs.

This is the type of book that calls people to be the type to serve those most in need.

I have a degree in church history (mostly American, mostly evangelicals, mostly their influence on politics and society) and this is probably the most convicting book I’ve read calling Christians to remember who their savior is, what he called them to do, and giving them the agency and authority to do it.

He structures this not unlike an introduction to religion course, but it is clearly for Christian’s who’ve lost their way, who’ve bought into Christian culture rather than theology. He pulls excerpts from the Bible, puts them in context, provides perspective and instruction, imagining how the people in the first century would have heard these words. It’s hard not to read these and be in awe. Jesus’ words compel believers to do and be certain things in the world, and at a time when the world is quibbling over words and their meaninglessness, the disintegration of “truth,” and how we are all to coexist, these words feel like a hammer finally righting a ship tossed amongst the waves.

If you’re a Christian, I highly recommend this book, and if you’re not, this does a great job of explaining what a world with Christian followers of the way could look like.

JMC did a great job on his practicing the way series, and he didn't let us down in his book. I highly recommend this book, it's one of my favorites! This will be a book I will look back on!

This is a book for you if you are looking to deepen your relationship with God and to build spiritual disciplines.

John Mark Comer's Practicing the Way, is a beautiful crescendo in his literary work, approaching some of the same issues Dallas Willard addressed in The Great Omission - The lack of understanding of what being a disciple of Jesus is in the western church. Like some of his contemporaries, He often draws upon the vast stores of wisdom from saints of the past.

Comer’s examinations of discipleship, the nature of the gospel (what are we saved to?), and the spiritual disciplines are careful, thoughtful, and in the case of the spiritual disciplines, wonderfully concise. Though the spiritual disciplines are a key component of the book (and his non-profit), He takes the right approach by not trying to deliver a comprehensive deep dive into each discipline. Finally, I really like his humble and compelling tone throughout the book. On several occasions, he offers up a winsome invitation not to be a religious convert, but to become an apprentice of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit to be transformed into His image in this life. I wanted to drop my nets and anything else in my hands all over again to sit at the feet of the master and learn. I hope you will too.

JMC does it again. I love the way he approaches walking with Jesus and pushes up against cultural Christianity with such compassion and grace.

Summary of this book- apprenticeship to Jesus is growing and maturing into the kind of person who can do and say things that Jesus said and did

The layout includes the following: the three goals of apprenticeship to Jesus (be with Jesus, become like Jesus, do as Jesus did), JMC’s definition of discipleship, the change involved in the spiritual formation practice, a call to practice (train) our minds that doesn’t just happen in an instant but in a life time, and more!. The book ends with practical application of developing a rule of life and how culture shapes our lives.

This book is full of scripture, questions to reflect on your own life, and resources to help apply the lessons from the book.

I think this book would be great for the mature Christian or someone who has just started walking with Jesus

Excited for this book to be released on 1/16/2024. Thank you to NetGalley and WaterBrook and Multnomah publishing (penguin random house)for the ARC!

Comer is no Dallas Willard, but it's good to have another book on spiritual formation. Very user friendly. Could spark a lot of conversation with new believers or in a small group church community.

If you're interested in learning more about Christian Spiritual Formation, there's no better intro than this. JMC does a masterful job of summarizing a ton of the best that the Spiritual Formation movement has to offer in an extremely readable, and pretty short book. If you have followed along with John Mark's teaching at Bridgetown Church over the years, and all of the stuff being posted now to his podcast, much of this won't be new to you. But it's still worth checking out.

If you want to learn how to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do the things he did then this is a great place to start.

Thank you to Waterbrook/Multnomah and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

"Unfortunately, many of us still view following Jesus as a means to an end– a ticket to heaven, to nice feelings, to a successful, upwardly mobile life, and so on.
We still don't get it: He's the end."

In Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer takes his many years of experience as a pastor, knowledge as a practitioner of spiritual formation, and development as a disciple of Jesus to create a book that helps new believers navigate discipleship as well as encourages seasoned believers into the Spiritual Disciplines. He methodically breaks down the duties and calling of disciples of Christ, and encourages the disciple into further development by breaking down common misconceptions about growth.

"You see, Jesus is not looking for converts to Christianity; he's looking for apprentices in the kingdom of God."

This book is a must-read for new and old followers.

As a lead pastor, my leadership team and I will be going through this book as well as new followers of Jesus. I cannot wait to implement this text in our discipleship process and learning in our church!

As a follower of Christ, I took notes on every page, dog-eared too many pages to go back to, and will add this to my yearly reading list during my summer breaks.

I so deeply desire to be a "resilient disciple" as described by Comer, and I believe this book provides a pathway for just that.

5 Stars.

Wow, John Mark Comer does it again. I was absolutely thrilled when I received an advanced copy of this book. I am a huge fan of the author and his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, is at the top of my non-fiction list. Practicing the Way was a life-changing read.

John Mark Comer's writing is so well-researched but also poetic. It's easy to read but packs a punch at the same time. It's structured in a way that makes it easy to follow along with and easy to recall. Practicing the Way is full of quotes from some of the best theologians but also personal stories of John Mark's family and church.

I can't recommend this book enough! It is not only an inspiring read but practical. It is a breath of fresh air in the Christian genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher - WaterBrook & Multnomah - for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Practicing the Way" provides an insightful exploration of spiritual formation, offering the reader an impactful guide to nine spiritual practices. While an understanding of Biblical principles is required, it remains accessible to readers of diverse Christian backgrounds thanks to John Mark’s approachable writing style. The book succeeds in extending a convicting invitation to a deeper spiritual life as an “apprentice of Jesus”. While admitting that these practices are both counter-cultural and difficult, John Mark beautifully outlines the true reward of “practicing the way”. Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did by John Mark Comer is a call to follow in Jesus’s footsteps. This book is one that we all should read. What is the way we should love? All we need to do is look to Jesus. Amazing, inspiring read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is essential reading - no other way to put it. I don't know if I've read a more practical book. It leaves you with absolutely no excuses. If you do desire to deepen your relationship with God - what you need to do is clearly stated in this book. Comer lays out everything we life-long Christians have learned/read throughout our lives but kicks it up and breathes new life. The purpose and mission of this book is clear in every chapter - that of wanting the reader to choose and decide how they want to go about with their relationship with God.

"Practicing the Way", by John Mark Comer is a call to discipleship, to fully engage in apprenticing to Jesus Christ and the process of spiritual formation. Early in the book, there is a poignant question put to the reader - would the people around you, and who know you best, say that you are becoming a better person? If we are honest, most of us would say we need some help here!

A quote that stood out to me is when Comer says "The things we do, do something to us; they get into the core of our being and shape our loves and longings." This quote sums up the message of this book in that we are all being formed and shaped by our habits and manner of life. The challenge for those who call themselves Christians is to intentionally build habits into our lives that make us more like Jesus, and at the same time resist those habits that make us ugly! For the attentive reader, there is so much wisdom, useful tips and resources to help in our own journey.

I did not find this book as "cohesive" as his previous book "Live No Lies", but I am glad I read it. I have been deeply challenged and inspired and have already begun to form my own "rule of life" and make changes in my life. This is a book for every follower of Jesus Christ and I will be recommending it thoroughly to my friends.

In "Practicing the Way," John Mark Comer extends an open hand, inviting us on a journey that feels both ancient and urgently necessary. This is not a book to simply read; it's a book to respond to, a spiritual exercise that Comer assures us is worth every ounce of effort we can muster. With the poise of a seasoned writer and the humility of a true seeker, Comer weaves a narrative that beckons us toward a life of intentional practice, one that Jesus himself modeled.

Comer's use of the skull on his desk is not a macabre fascination but a stark and compelling reminder to live with the end in mind. This memento mori, a staple of monastic tradition, is emblematic of the book's central theme: life, when lived in light of our mortality, is a precious gift not to be squandered. The historical depth provided by references to the Rule of St. Benedict and other monastic practices offers a weighty backdrop to Comer's modern application of ancient wisdom. It's a compelling contrast to the frenetic pace of contemporary life, urging us to reclaim the lost art of living with eternity in our hearts.

Yet, the book does not merely call us to ponder the divine from a distance. Comer insists that knowing God is inherently tied to knowing love — and not just any love, but a sacrificial, self-denying agape that places the well-being of others above oneself. This is where "Practicing the Way" challenges the modern self-help gospel, boldly declaring that the path to true self-actualization is found in self-crucifixion. It's a message counterintuitive to our culture, but Comer argues it with the conviction of one who has walked this path and found it to be true.

Reading "Practicing the Way" is like taking a deep breath in a world suffocated by superficiality. It offers a lucid reflection on what it means to live well by embracing practices that are deeply transformative. Comer's work is a poignant reminder that spiritual formation is not a solitary endeavor but a communal pilgrimage that compels us to love more deeply, live more fully, and leave the world around us better than we found it. For anyone who senses that there must be more to faith than what modernity has offered, this book is a treasure worth discovering.

Thank you Waterbrook/Multnomah and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.