The way of Jesus leads us to a deeper, fuller life. This was true in the ancient world where Jesus first lived and taught, and it’s still true today. But what does it mean to actually practice the way of Jesus in today’s complex, secular world? In this podcast, join John Mark Comer and other guides as they explore this important question through practical teachings and conversations. At Practicing the Way, we are here to help you journey to a deeper life with God.
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What difference can being different make? In this conversation, John Mark and Dr. Gerald Sittser uncover how the early church functioned as a genuine, lived community against the backdrop of the dense and challenging environment of Roman cities, and explore why that counter-cultural life drew people in. This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Stephen from Torrance, California; Jordan from Galena, Ohio; Ka...
What happens when our faith comes under pressure? In this conversation, John Mark and Dr. Gerald Sittser discuss the marginalization and persecution of the early disciples of Jesus, and how their faithfulness—rather than their safety—defined the first years of the Christian movement. This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Heather from Littleton, Colorado; Gail from Fillmore, California; Tayler from Cleve...
How has Christian spirituality evolved throughout history? Welcome to a brand-new series of conversations between John Mark and Dr. Gerald Sittser called “Water from a Deep Well.” This series explores the rich history of Christian spirituality and the wisdom of the early followers of Jesus across twelve different eras of the Church. This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Tina from Franklin, Tennessee; Em...
The way of Jesus leads us to a deeper, fuller life. This was true in the ancient world where Jesus first lived and taught, and it’s still true today. But what does it mean to actually practice the way of Jesus in today’s complex, secular world? In this podcast, join John Mark Comer and other guides as they explore this important question through practical teachings and conversations. At Practicing the Way, we are here to help you journey to a deeper life with God. Discover more of our resources ...
How do we move forward after forgiveness? John Mark and Bethany Allen walk through the four essential steps of reconciliation—confession, repentance, restitution, and restoration—and show us why forgiveness isn't complete until we've done the hard work of making things right. They challenge us to move beyond our culture's victimization mindset and take personal responsibility for the relationships we've damaged. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 17v1-4 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by Th...
What do you do when you can't forgive? Gerald Griffin, pastor and coach at Practicing the Way, walks us through a practical, step-by-step process for moving beyond the decision to forgive into deep emotional healing. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 6v9-15 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Adam from Edmonds, Washington; Logan from Grand Rapids, Michigan; Russ from Dublin, Ohio; Verne from Arlington, ...
How do we truly forgive from the heart? John Mark unpacks Jesus' radical call to forgive without limit and shows us how to absorb evil into ourselves with God's help, becoming agents of healing instead of remaining victims. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 23:32-34; Ephesians 4:30-5:2 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Althea from San Diego, California; Rand from Snohomish, Washington; ...
Why do we need to forgive? Bethany Allen, Associate Pastor at Bridgetown Church, opens a new series on forgiveness by clearing away common misconceptions and returning to the teachings of Jesus. She walks through what forgiveness is not and invites us to release our grip on revenge and surrender to the justice of God. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 7v36-50; Matthew 6v14-15 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goe...
Is noise undermining our spiritual life? John Mark highlights how the increasing "noise" of modern life is detrimental to our souls, exploring the importance of quiet and solitude for our spiritual growth and maturity. He challenges us to fight for solitude, silence, and stillness amidst a world that's louder than ever. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 5v15-16; Luke 4v1; Mark 1v35; Mark 6v31; Philippians 2v12-13; Hebrews 13v21 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community o...
What happened at the Resurrection? John Mark reviews the panoramic impact of the Resurrection on world history, arguing that many of the good things we enjoy result from Jesus's life, ministry, and ongoing Kingdom expressed in the world through his Church. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 28v1-7; John 1v8; Colossians 2v9; Hebrews 1v1-3 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Jason from Cape Town, South Afr...
What does the kingdom of God actually look like? John Mark walks through Isaiah's prophetic vision of the Messiah and the coming Kingdom of God, then explores its fulfillment in Jesus's ministry and parables. He leaves us by challenging us with Jesus's words to "seek first the Kingdom" in a culture full of competing visions of the good life. Key Scripture Passages: Isaiah 10v33-11v9; Luke 3v21-22; Mark 1v1-3, 14-15; Mark 4v30-34; Matthew 6v21, 31-33 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by ...
What is prophecy? John Mark dives into the prophetic books of the library of Scripture and explores what the role of the prophet is in the Old Testament. He shows us how these books are designed to wake us up from our indifference to sin and comfort us in hard situations, and challenges us to lean into God's refining fire. Key Scripture Passages: Isaiah 1; Hosea 11v8-9; Hebrews 12v5-11; Isaiah 40v1,29-31; Isaiah 50v10; Isaiah 30v15 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our co...
What does it mean to "pray continually"? John Mark explores Paul's command to pray without ceasing and introduces the ancient practice of fixed-hour prayer: pausing multiple times throughout the day to reorient your heart and mind toward God. He shows us how prayer is less about getting God to do something and more about moving through all of life in joyful, grateful relationship with Him. Key Scripture Passages: 1 Thessalonians 5v16-18; Psalm 55v17; Daniel 6v1-10; John 15 This podcast and its e...
How do we actually pray for others? This week, Alex Rettman offers a practical training on prayer ministry. He covers the theology behind effective prayer and then walks through a simple three-step method: interview, listen to what God is doing, and say or do what He's saying or doing. Key Scripture Passages: John 5v19; John 8v28; Zephaniah 3v17; Matthew 7v11; Matthew 8v2; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 14v3; 1 Timothy 2v4 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our ...
What is "imaginative prayer"? Josh Porter explores the practice of imaginative prayer and shows us how our God-given imagination can become a powerful tool for intimacy with God, showing us how we can use the gift of our imagination as means of encounter with the Trinity. Key Scripture Passages: Romans 12v2; Philippians 4v8; Colossians 3v1-2; John 14v9; John 1v14; Colossians 1v15; Hebrews 12v1-2; Acts 2v17-18 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly give...
This episode explores the profound truth that singing can be a powerful form of prayer. Speaker Alex Rettman outlines three core effects of worship: it transforms us as we behold God's glory, moves God's heart when we offer costly praise, and shifts circumstances by inviting His kingdom. He encourages listeners to express delight in God not just through songs, but in ways that complete joy and partner with Him in pushing back darkness.
This episode delves into the difficult reality of unanswered prayer, squaring Jesus' promises with personal experiences. John Mark Comer, citing Pete Gregg's "God on Mute," identifies fifteen reasons why prayers may go unanswered, grouped into "God's world," "God's will," and "God's war." The teaching culminates by introducing lament as a vital, honest way to engage with God amidst pain and confusion, ultimately strengthening faith.
John Mark Comer delves into Jesus' teachings on intercessory prayer from Luke 11, challenging the common understanding of prayer by explaining its biblical "why" and "what." He uses Old Testament stories to illustrate God's original intent for human collaboration and how prayer acts as a relational exchange to align the world with God's will. The episode encourages believers to pray with "shameless audacity," not passively, and provides practical exercises to integrate intercession into daily life, emphasizing that prayer makes a real difference in ushering in God's kingdom.
Father Rick Ganz unpacks contemplative prayer, drawing from John 15 and the image of the vine and branches to explain what it means to "abide in God." He illustrates the power of simply being present through a compelling story and teaches the ancient Jesuit practice of the Examen. This practice offers a path to experiencing God's friendship and perceiving His presence in all life's moments.
This episode from John Mark Comer delves into Jesus's profound prayer life, contrasting it with the modern struggle and distractions that make prayer difficult. He breaks down the Lord's Prayer into four foundational truths: God as Father, His closeness, the joy of His company, and the real impact of our prayers. The episode encourages listeners to adopt Jesus's framework, transforming prayer from a religious duty into a joyful connection with God.
This episode unpacks the three essential shifts in discipleship: moving from fear to trust, melancholic despair to joyful hope, and self-focus to sacrificial love. John Mark Comer explains that faith, hope, and love are not mere feelings but theological virtues, settled conditions of the heart cultivated over a lifetime of following Jesus. The discussion delves into how these shifts enable believers to overcome anxiety, negativity, and ego-driven living, fostering deep peace, gratitude, and agape love.
What does it look like to stay faithful to Jesus through every season of life? John Mark unpacks the concept of the "first and second halves of life"—a simple but profound framework for understanding the different stages of spiritual maturity. He explores the unique temptations and invitations of each season, showing us how transformation isn't about climbing higher but about surrendering deeper. Key Scripture Passages: John 21v18; Genesis 2v24; Matthew 7v21-23; 1 Corinthians 3v1-3; Hebrews 5v12...
This episode introduces "Spiritual Cartography," a framework for understanding our spiritual journey through the purification of sin. John Mark Comer delves into four layers: gross, conscious, unconscious, and attachments. He emphasizes that true freedom comes from moving beyond mere behavior modification to the painful yet liberating work of surrendering our deepest dependencies and finding peace in God alone, often through suffering.
This episode unpacks Jesus' self-description as "gentle and humble in heart" from Matthew 11, presenting it as the key to finding true soul rest amidst pervasive modern burnout. John Mark Comer contrasts our performance-driven culture and anxiety-inducing social media with God's patient, non-compelling nature, inviting listeners to emulate Christ's virtues for deep spiritual formation and lasting peace. The teaching emphasizes that understanding God's true character as gentle and humble is foundational to overcoming internal and external exhaustion.
How do we love well? Bethany Allen explores the final theme of Advent: love. She shows us that receiving love requires surrender, vulnerability, and trust, and challenges us to intentionally receive God's love as an active, life-changing invitation to become the people we were always meant to be. Key Scripture Passages: Micah 5v2-5a; 1 John 4v10 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: James from Stafford,...
This episode explores how the arrival of Jesus brings what Tolkien called "the sudden joyous turn," a miraculous shift that offers deep and enduring joy, even in sorrow. Ken Shigematsu illustrates this through the story of POWs, Mary's Advent experience, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. It also touches on the importance of savoring good gifts from God and being a channel of His life to others, leading to unique joy.
In this Advent teaching, John Mark Comer bravely shares his lifelong struggle with anxiety, tracing its roots to early trauma and demonstrating its physiological impact. He introduces Saint Seraphim's call to acquire inner peace and delves into Colossians 3:15, explaining how Christ's peace, distinct from worldly calm, is a divine gift that enables true love. The episode concludes by outlining two pathways to this peace: intentional attunement to God and active surrender to His will.
What does it mean to wait with hope? Gemma Ryan explores the story of Simeon—a man who waited decades for the Messiah—and invites us into three transformative questions: What are you waiting for? Who are you becoming as you wait? And what is sustaining you in the waiting? She shows us how waiting isn't passive but active, and how our seasons of in-between can become the very places where God refines and transforms us. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 2v1-7, 22-35; Psalm 130; Isaiah 40; Galatians 4v4...
What do we do when community gets difficult? John Mark explores the inevitable challenges that arise in deep community and introduces a six-stage cycle that all healthy relationships go through. He shares why commitment is required to stay together long enough to actually grow into people of love. Key Scripture Passages: 1 Corinthians 3v1-4; Matthew 6v15 This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Connie from...
This episode explores the profound challenge of shame in relationships, tracing its origins to the Garden of Eden and identifying it as the underlying cause of modern isolation despite issues like busyness and digital distraction. John Mark explains how true confession, not just to God but to trusted community, acts as a powerful healing practice, liberating us from shame and fostering deep connection and spiritual growth. The episode emphasizes that being fully known and truly loved is key to overcoming our deepest fears.
