Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

Do you ever feel stuck in prayer? As if there is a wall between you and heaven? In this teaching, John Mark shows us different ways that fasting can be used in combination with prayer. Using examples from the Scriptures, he shows us five different ways that people fast and pray: to repent, to grieve, to cry out to God in a crisis, to ask God to relent, and to know God's mind when making decisions. John Mark concludes by reminding us that this practice, like all the practices, is about building our relationship with God, and encourages us to keep pressing in even when it's hard.

Key Scripture Passages: Acts 13v1; 1 Samuel 7v3-6; 1 Kings 21v27-28; Leviticus 23v26-32; 1 Samuel 31v11-13; Nehemiah 1v2-4; 2 Chronicles 20v1-12; Jonah 3v1-10; Joel 2v12-14

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/fasting

God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

Why should you fast? In modern society, fasting as a spiritual practice is almost unheard of, even among Christians. So why does Jesus assume that his followers will fast? (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:15-16). In this teaching, John Mark discusses the what and the why behind fasting. First, he shows that fasting helps us break free from "slavery" to food, feeds our flesh and starves the spirit, and allows us to "pray" with our bodies. Then he outlines what fasting is and what it isn't and what that means for us as we press into this practice from the way of Jesus.

Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 2v4-7; Genesis 3v1-6; Matthew 4v1-4; John 4v7-30; Matthew 6v16-18; Galatians 5v13-25

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/fasting

Our God-given dreams are how God leads us and guides us into our identity and calling, to be who God made us, and to do what God made us to do. But dreams can be difficult to live with because there is always a gap between the dream and its fulfillment. In this teaching, John Mark lays out a theology of biblical dreams by exploring the story of Joseph. Through it, John Mark shows that God's fulfillment of our dreams is different, harder, longer, but also better than we can imagine. By remaining faithful to how God is calling us to live in the here and now, we can live with boldness and conviction in the identity and calling that God has for us.

Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 37v2 - Genesis 45v8; Philippians 4v11-13

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

We are all being formed into someone. For us, as apprentices of Jesus, how do we become more like Him? In this teaching, John Mark tells us that our apprenticeship to Jesus needs to be stronger than the stories we believe, our habits, our relationships, and our environment. Then he lays out how teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit can help us counter these influences. John Mark closes by equipping us with tools and practices to help us be intentional in our spiritual formation with the goal of becoming more like Jesus. 

Key Scripture Passages: Luke 6v39-40; Romans 12v2; Matthew 5-7

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

The Cost of Discipleship by Diedrich Bonhoeffer

We are all being shaped. The question is, what is shaping you? This week, John Mark challenges us with this question as he unpacks how our beliefs, habits, relationships, and experiences all shape the person that we are. Rather than passively let these influences shape us, we are called, as apprentices of Jesus, to be intentional with our beliefs, habits, relationships, and experiences as we seek to curate our lives to grow in our love for Jesus.

Key Scripture Passages: Ephesians 4v1-24; Galatians 4v19; Proverbs 4v23

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

In the journey to discover your identity and calling, a transformation from who you are now to who you are becoming in Christ needs to take place. During that "inward journey," you have to come face-to-face with your sin. In this teaching, John Mark gives insight into how to navigate this journey. First, he walks us through the "layers of sin" and shows us how to address our sins at their roots. Then, he equips us with some tools to help us face our sin, including a short teaching on the Enneagram. And finally, John Mark reminds us that we can't do it on our own: we need the salvation that only Jesus can offer. 

Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 4v18-22; Matthew 9v9-13

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

The Road Back to You, Suzanne Collins

Invitation to a Journey, Robert Mulholland

The Road to Character, David Brooks

enneagraminstitute.com

Who am I? Somewhere in our hearts, we all are seeking the answer to this question, trying to find security and worth. In this teaching, John Mark teaches us about who the Bible says we are. Jesus found his identity from Heaven, but we often find our identities from earthly things: in what we do, what we have, what we want, or even what others think about us. But the Bible says that not only is our identity rooted in Jesus and what He did on the Cross, but it is also rooted in our future with Him, rather than our past or present reality. John Mark closes by exhorting us to "live in a manner worthy of calling with which we have been called," and to embrace the fullness of God's identity and calling on our lives.

Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 3v13-17; Ephesians 1v1-15; Ephesians 4v1-3

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

Discovering our identity and calling is one of the key tasks of apprenticeship to Jesus because what we believe about our identity and calling has ramifications for who we become and what we do with our lives. And while the journey of discovery can be scary and difficult, the Scriptures and millennia of Christian tradition show us that it is essential. In this teaching, John Mark lays out the biblical basis for the practice of discovering our identity and calling. Then he explains what this journey is like by breaking down its stages. Finally, he offers resources to help in our journey and encourages us to embrace the process with community and the Holy Spirit.

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

We are all called to spend our lives abiding (John 15:4). Paul called it "praying without ceasing;" Brother Lawrence called it “practicing the presence of God." Jesus claimed that there is a strong connection between abiding and joy. In this teaching, John Mark gives us key insights to practicing this joy-filled lifestyle. First, John Mark challenges us to slow down, open our lives to the flow of the spirit, and practice the presence of God. Then he shows how the practice of fixed-hour prayer can be an effective tool to unlock this lifestyle. By pressing into the discipline of fixed-hour prayer, we can open our hearts to the joy and peace that Jesus promises. 

Key Scripture Passages: 1 Thessalonians 5v16-18; Daniel 6v1-28

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer

What do you do when your prayers are not answered? In Jesus' teaching to His disciples in John 14-17, He tells them three times that whatever they ask for in His name will be done. So how do we make sense of Jesus’ promise to answer prayer with the reality that we all have unanswered prayers? In this teaching, John Mark goes through the various types and reasons for unanswered prayer in the Bible and explains how "laments" in the Psalms can serve as an example for how to bring our unanswered prayers to God. 

Key Scripture Passages: John 14v12-13; John 15v7, 16-17; John 16v23-24; Daniel 10; Matthew 21v21-22; Luke 18v1-8; Psalm 66v18; Isaiah 58v6-12; Psalm 13

Resources for this practice:

https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer