John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become Like Him, Do as He Did is a luminous, deeply practical invitation to rediscover what it truly means to follow Jesus. Known for The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Live No Lies, Comer returns with what might be his most mature and integrated work yet a roadmap for spiritual formation that bridges ancient Christian wisdom with modern restlessness.
At a time when faith is often reduced to belief systems or cultural identity, Comer reminds readers that Christianity was first and foremost a Way a way of life patterned after Jesus himself. To be a disciple, he argues, is not simply to admire Jesus but to apprentice under him, learning to be with him, become like him, and do as he did.
A return to apprenticeship
Comer frames spiritual growth around a concept both simple and profound: apprenticeship. “Are you a Christian or are you an apprentice?” he asks, pressing readers to recognize that transformation requires more than belief. It requires practice. Drawing inspiration from centuries of spiritual formation, monastic rules of life, and his own years pastoring a community in Portland, Comer lays out what it looks like to intentionally shape our days around the presence of God.
Central to this formation is the idea of a Rule of Life a set of spiritual rhythms designed not to control us, but to create space where God can work. Through practices such as Sabbath, silence, fasting, prayer, and simplicity, Comer invites readers to slow down enough to let their inner world be transformed.
As Gavin Restifo observes, the strength of Practicing the Way lies in its synthesis. Comer bridges theology, psychology, and history to answer one of the most pressing spiritual questions of our time: How do people actually change? He points out that the problem is not a lack of desire for change, but a lack of structure. We are eager but unformed, spiritually adolescent in a culture that prizes speed over depth. Comer’s solution is not another self-help strategy it is a return to ancient spiritual apprenticeship.
Practical, personal, and deeply human
One of Comer’s greatest gifts is translating spiritual depth into approachable language. His tone is warm, conversational, and free of religious jargon. Julia Hayward notes that Practicing the Way reignited her excitement to follow Jesus. Rather than overwhelming readers with lofty ideals, Comer meets them in their humanity, reminding us that growth happens in small, embodied steps.
He also gives permission to adapt practices to one’s temperament and season of life. For example, someone who struggles to sit still can begin by prayer-walking. Parents of young children can explore creative forms of Sabbath that fit their family rhythm. Comer’s approach is compassionate, never legalistic. His framework asks one key question: “Is this bringing me closer to Jesus?” It reframes spirituality away from guilt and toward intimacy.
Julia’s reflections highlight how relatable and inspiring Comer’s teaching is. She writes about feeling drawn to practice solitude by the river near her home, seeing it not as wasted time but as sacred presence. That is the essence of this book reclaiming unhurried time and allowing it to become holy ground.
Wisdom for a weary church
Readers familiar with Comer’s previous works will recognize recurring themes: hurry, distraction, and the spiritual poverty of modern life. Yet here, they converge into a coherent whole. Practicing the Way is both the culmination of Comer’s earlier insights and the blueprint for a movement. His focus on community formation on learning these disciplines together rather than alone may be one of the most important contributions to contemporary Christian thought.
Ben Fridge describes the book as “the vanguard of a micro-movement of followers committed to the future of the Church that is not modern, but ancient.” That sense of grounded renewal pervades every chapter. Comer’s writing weaves together Scripture, philosophy, sociology, and lived experience, reminding us that spiritual depth has always been countercultural.
A vision for transformation
Practicing the Way is more than a guidebook; it is a manifesto for becoming whole again. Comer calls us to reorder our days around love rather than productivity, presence rather than performance. He reminds us that transformation is not instant it is slow, relational, and sustained by grace.
For longtime believers, this book offers a chance to fall in love with Jesus again. For those new to faith, it answers the question, “Now what?” with clarity and tenderness. Comer’s central invitation to build a life with Jesus at the center is as ancient as the gospel and as urgent as the present moment.
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