Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

How do we identify the lies that we are believing about God and ourselves? John Mark talks on the destruction that deception and believing lies can cause in our lives with a teaching on the Fall. Then he shows us how to identify and overcome those lies: by living with spirit and truth and refining our desires with the practices of Jesus. 

Key Scripture Passages: John 8v44-45; Genesis 3v1-15; Luke 4v1-13; Ephesians 6v13; James 4v7-8; 1 Peter 5v8-9

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/fighting

The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck

Why Liberalism Failed, Patrick Deneen

What is the truth? The modern, secular world laughs off the idea of the devil as a relic from the pre-scientific age. But for Jesus, there is an invisible but intelligent evil at work in the world, but his primary strategy isn’t what most of us expect. It’s lies. Fighting the devil is first and foremost about the war to believe truth over lies.

Key Scripture Passages: John 8v31-47; John 18v36-38

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/fighting

Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard

The Truth About Lies and Lies About The Truth, David Takle

The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis

The practice of communion has changed throughout church history. In part two of this teaching, John Mark continues to discuss the the many names for this practice and its use over the centuries. He leaves us with a challenge to press into community even when it's mundane and messy.

Key Scripture Passages: 1 Corinthians 11v20-34

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

Come to the Table by John Mark Hicks

What is communion, really? The practice of eating with God, or the Lord's Supper, shows up throughout the New Testament. In part one of this teaching, John Mark breaks down the many names for this practice and its use in the Scriptures and throughout church history to give us a better understanding of the essence of this practice.

Key Scripture Passages: Luke 22v7-30; Acts 2v42; Acts 20v7; 1 Corinthians 11v20-34;

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

The Meal Jesus Gave Us by NT Wright

Seven Practices for the Church on Mission by David Fitch

In a culture that focuses on the negatives, how do we stand apart and live with joy? In part two of this teaching, John Mark talks about how to practice joy in our day-to-day lives and how the practice of eating and drinking together is one of the best ways to go about living a happy life.

Key Scripture Passages: Philippians 4v4-9

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

Can Jesus show us how to be happy? In part one of this teaching, John Mark teaches about God's joyful nature and how that reality can give us wisdom to improve our everyday emotional health.

Key Scripture Passages: Hebrews 1v9; Psalm 45v7; John 2v1-11; John 15v11; John 16v24; John 17v13

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

What does hospitality in the church have to do with architecture? John Mark explores the story of this practice in Church history: throughout the New Testament, we see followers of Jesus gathering in homes around a table and a meal. But as the church changed, so did their meeting place, which impacted the practice of eating and drinking in fellowship. John Mark encourages us to recapture this practice of breaking bread together and gives us practical ways to get started.

Key Scripture Passages: John 13v1-17; Acts 2v42-47; Romans 16v3-5; Colossians 4v15; Philemon 1-2; Galatians 6v9

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

From Tablet to Table, Leonard Sweet

Community and Growth, Jean Vanier

What if, when Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself, he meant your actual neighbor? John Mark teaches on Jesus's command to love our neighbors as ourselves and the parable of the Good Samaritan. Then he explains the history of hospitality and finishes by walking through exercises to help us begin our journey with this practice.

Key Scripture Passages: Luke 10v25-37

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

The Gospel Comes with a House Key, Rosaria Butterfield

How can we practically love others and reach the lost in a post-Christian culture? In this teaching, John Mark looks at Jesus's habit of eating and drinking with the societal outcasts of his culture through the Gospel of Luke. Then he explores the biblical commands to practice hospitality in the New Testament letters. Finally, John Mark gives practical and spiritual guidance for how we can apply this practice to love and build relationships with the lost.

Key Scripture Passages: Luke 19v1-10; Luke 7v33-50; Romans 12v13; 1 Peter 4v8-10; Hebrews 13v1-2

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/eating-drinking

The Gospel Comes with a House Key, Rosaria Butterfield

"The question isn't, 'How do you get through life without being hurt?' Not gonna happen. The question is, 'When you are hurt, how do you deal with it?'"

When we forgive, we first need to release the person who hurt us. But our journey doesn’t end there. We also need to learn to forgive ourselves, the unfairness of life, and finally, learn to release the feelings of anger that we have toward God. This week, John Mark challenges us to address our hurt and provides guidance for us to walk in forgiveness.

Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 18v21-35; Luke 23v32-34; Ephesians 4v30-32

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/forgiving

Sacred Fire, Ronald Rolheiser