Practicing the Way
John Mark Comer's "Practicing the Way" emerges from his recognition that contemporary Christianity has largely abandoned the formational practices that shaped disciples for centuries. Writing as the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, Comer addresses what he sees as a crisis of spiritual maturity in modern evangelicalism, where conversion is emphasized but transformation is often left to chance. The book draws heavily on his experience leading a community that has intentionally structured itself around ancient Christian practices.
Comer argues that discipleship requires more than intellectual assent or emotional experience—it demands a way of life organized around specific practices that gradually conform believers to the image of Christ. He presents what he calls "The Rule of Life," a framework built around four core practices: sabbath, silence and solitude, simplicity, and slowing. Each practice addresses particular aspects of contemporary spiritual formation challenges: sabbath counters the modern epidemic of busyness and workaholism, silence and solitude provide space for genuine encounter with God in an age of digital distraction, simplicity challenges consumerist excess, and slowing resists the frantic pace that characterizes much of contemporary life. Throughout, Comer weaves together insights from desert fathers, monastic traditions, and contemporary psychology to demonstrate how these ancient practices address uniquely modern spiritual ailments.
The book has gained significant traction within evangelical circles seeking more substantive approaches to spiritual formation, particularly among pastors and church leaders frustrated with shallow discipleship models. Comer's accessible writing style and practical frameworks have made contemplative practices more approachable for evangelicals who might otherwise be suspicious of such traditions. His emphasis on community-based practice rather than individual spirituality has influenced numerous churches to adopt rule-of-life approaches to discipleship.
Who should read this: Evangelical Christians seeking deeper spiritual formation practices and church leaders looking for practical frameworks to move beyond surface-level discipleship will find this immediately useful. Those from liturgical traditions may find Comer's presentation of ancient practices somewhat elementary, though his evangelical perspective offers valuable insights for cross-tradition dialogue.