In an era of relentless noise, digital distraction, and “hurry sickness,” John Mark Comer’s latest work, “Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did,” arrives as a cool glass of water in a desert of superficial spirituality.
If you’ve ever felt like your Christian walk is more about attending a 60-minute service than living a transformed life, this book is for you. This summary explores the profound shift Comer calls us to: moving from being mere “Christians” (in the modern, consumerist sense) to becoming true apprentices of Jesus.
Part 1: The Call to Apprenticeship
Apprentice to Jesus: More Than a Follower
Comer begins by stripping away the modern baggage of the word “Christian.” In the first century, following a rabbi wasn’t a hobby; it was an all-encompassing lifestyle. To be an apprentice (Greek: mathetes) was to tether your life to a master.
Jesus Was a Rabbi
We often view Jesus through a purely theological or “Savior” lens, but Comer reminds us that Jesus functioned as a Jewish Rabbi. He didn’t just give lectures; he invited people into a “Way” of living. His invitation wasn’t “Believe these five facts about me,” but “Follow me.”
The Three Goals of an Apprentice
The entire book—and the life of a disciple—is structured around three simple but monumental goals:
- Be with Jesus (Abiding)
- Become like Jesus (Formation)
- Do as Jesus did (Mission)
Disciple is a Noun, Not a Verb
Comer makes a linguistic point that changes everything: In the New Testament, “disciple” is a noun. It is an identity. It’s not something you do once a week; it is who you are.
Are You a Christian or an Apprentice?
This is the central “gut check” of the book. Comer points out that in the West, we have created a version of Christianity that doesn’t require following Jesus. You can “believe” without changing. He challenges the reader: Are you a student of the Master, or just a fan of the brand?
But What Are We Saved To?
Salvation isn’t just a “fire insurance” policy for the afterlife. Comer argues we aren’t just saved from sin; we are saved to a new kind of life. We are saved into the Kingdom of God, here and now.
A Way of Life
Following Jesus is a Way (the earliest name for the Church). It’s a set of habits, rhythms, and postures. It is a holistic approach to being human in the presence of God.
Whoever Means Whoever
The invitation is democratic. You don’t need a PhD or a high status. “Whoever” wants to apprentice under Jesus can start today, regardless of their past or their current baggage.
Goal #1: Be With Jesus (Abiding)
“Abide in Me”
Drawing from John 15, Comer explains that our primary “work” is to stay connected to the Vine. Without connection, there is no fruit.
Turning God into a Habit
How do we “be with” an invisible God? Through the Disciplines. By turning our attention toward God through prayer, silence, and scripture, we turn awareness of God into a “holy habit.”
“I Look at Him, He Looks at Me, and We are Happy”
Comer quotes a famous story about a peasant in a French cathedral to illustrate the goal of prayer: Contemplation. It isn’t always about talking; it’s about mutual gaze and the joy of simple presence.
The Reward for Following Jesus is Jesus
We don’t follow Jesus to get a better life, a better spouse, or more money. The prize is union with God. Jesus is not the means to an end; He is the end.
Find Your Secret Place
Borrowing from Jesus’ own rhythm, Comer emphasizes the “desert” or “mountain”—the place of solitude. You cannot be with Jesus if you are constantly with the crowd.
“You Must Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry From Your Life”
This is perhaps Comer’s most famous mantra (borrowed from Dallas Willard). Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life. You cannot love, you cannot pray, and you cannot be with Jesus while you are rushing.
Goal #2: Become Like Him (Formation)
Spiritual Formation Isn’t a Christian Thing
Everyone is being formed. Every person is a product of their environment, their habits, and their media intake. The question isn’t if you are being formed, but who you are being formed into.
Formation Defined
Comer defines Christian spiritual formation as “the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.”
No Accidental Saints
You don’t wake up one day and suddenly have the character of Jesus. It requires intentionality. Holiness is not something that happens to you; it is something you participate in through the Spirit.
Three Losing Strategies
Comer highlights why most of us fail to change:
- Willpower alone (It’s too weak)
- More information (Knowing isn’t doing)
- Wait for a miracle (God usually works through process, not just “zaps”)
Problem #1: Sin
We must acknowledge the reality of “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Sin is a structural and internal reality that deforms us.
Problem #2: You’ve Already Been Formed
You don’t start with a blank slate. You start with “vinal” (the habits of your past). Discipleship is a process of un-learning as much as learning.
A Working Theory of Change
Comer introduces a framework for how we actually grow:
- Teaching (The truth that sets us free)
- Practice (The habits that rewire us)
- Community (The people who support us)
- The Holy Spirit (The power that transforms us)
Terrible, Wonderful News: You Are Not in Control
Formation takes time. We cannot “hack” our way to maturity. This is frustrating (terrible) but also liberating (wonderful) because the pressure is on God’s grace, not our frantic effort.
Goal #3: Do as He Did (Mission)
Jesus the Prototype
Jesus lived the “perfect human life.” To follow Him is to copy His lifestyle. We don’t just admire His miracles; we mimic His service, His prayer, and His relationships.
Rhythm #1: Making Space for the Gospel (Hospitality)
One of the primary ways Jesus “did” his ministry was at a table. Comer argues that hospitality—opening our homes and tables—is a radical act of discipleship in a lonely world.
Rhythm #2: Preaching the Gospel
We are called to share the “Good News”—that the Kingdom of God is available. This isn’t just about tracts; it’s about announcing a new reality.
Rhythm #3: Demonstrating the Gospel
Words aren’t enough. We must heal, give, serve, and act in ways that prove the Kingdom is here.
The Joyous Burden of Love
Service isn’t a chore; it’s the natural overflow of being with Jesus. It is a “burden,” but it is one that brings deep joy because it aligns us with the heart of God.
How? A Rule of Life
The Trellis and the Vine
This is the core practical metaphor of the book. A Rule of Life is like a trellis. A vine (your soul) needs a structure (the trellis) to grow upward, or it will just crawl along the ground in the dirt.
You Already Have a Rule of Life
Even if you don’t call it that, you have a routine. If your routine is “Wake up, check Instagram, work 10 hours, watch Netflix, sleep,” that is your rule of life, and it is forming you.
Guarding and Guiding
A Rule of Life guards your time from the “thieves” of distraction and guides you toward the person you want to become.
Four Things a Good Rule Will Do For You
- Create space for God.
- Provide a rhythm for rest.
- Keep you connected to community.
- Align your spending with your values.
The Practices Defined
Comer identifies “The Nine” core practices that have sustained the Church for 2,000 years. These aren’t “rules” to earn God’s love; they are “tools” to receive it.
The Nine Practices
- Sabbath
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Solitude
- Scripture
- Community
- Silence
- Generosity
- Service
A Few Tips
Don’t try to do all nine at once. Start small. Be patient. Focus on “grace, not legalism.”
Find Your Inner Monk
You don’t have to move to a monastery, but you do need to cultivate a “monastic” heart—a part of you that is always “set apart” for God amidst the noise of the city.
Take Up Your Cross
Surrender
The final stage of apprenticeship is the death of the self. We surrender our will, our reputation, and our desires to Jesus.
The Cost of (Non-)Discipleship
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously spoke of “cheap grace.” Comer echoes this: There is a cost to following Jesus, but there is a much higher cost to not following Him—the cost of a wasted life, a hollow soul, and a fragmented heart.
Begin Again
Discipleship isn’t a linear path to perfection. It is a cycle of falling and getting back up. The invitation is always to “begin again.”
Extras: Resources for the Journey
The Practicing the Way Course
John Mark Comer didn’t just write a book; he launched a movement. He provides a free digital course for churches and small groups to walk through these concepts together.
The Rule of Life Builder
On the Practicing the Way website, there is a tool to help you literally “build” your own personalized trellis—balancing prayer, rest, work, and play.
Gratitude and Final Thoughts
Reading Practicing the Way feels like receiving a map when you’ve been lost in the woods. John Mark Comer manages to take ancient, monastic wisdom and translate it for a generation that is “digitally distracted and spiritually exhausted.”
What Message Does the Author Want to Convey?
The core message is simple: Modern Christianity is often a shadow of what Jesus intended. Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion; He came to show us a new way to be human.
The goal of our lives isn’t to be “busy” or “successful” or even “religious.” The goal is to be with Jesus, so that we can become like Him, and ultimately do what He did for the sake of the world.
It is a call to depth over breadth, silence over noise, and slow obedience over fast consumption.
FAQs
Q1. Is this book suitable for new Christians?
Yes, it’s accessible and deeply grounding.
Q2. Do I need theological background to read it?
Not at all. It’s practical and conversational.
Q3. Is this book more theory or practice?
Strongly practice-oriented.
Q4. Can this book be used in group study?
Absolutely—especially with the course.
Q5. What is the biggest takeaway?
Following Jesus is not about belief alone, but about becoming.