Claim OwnershipJohn Mark Comer Teachings
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The teachings of Jesus lead us to a better, fuller life. This was true in the ancient world where Jesus first taught, and it’s still true today. But what does it mean to actually practice the way of Jesus in today’s complex, secular world? In this podcast by Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer responds to that important question through his teachings at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon. Join us as John Mark provides practical insight on how you can be with Jesus, become like Him and do what He did wherever you are today.
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How do we experience more peace? In this Advent teaching, John Mark shares about his journey with anxiety and explores the theme of peace throughout the Scriptures. He challenges us to see that inner peace isn't just about feeling better—it's essential for becoming people of love. Key Scripture Passages: Colossians 3:15; John 14:27; John 20:19-21; 1 John 4:18This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Brad from Dallas, Texas; Alexa from Tampa, Florida; Dan from Sellersville, Pennsylvania; Andrew from Floyds Knobs, Indiana; and Heather from Camarillo, California. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it mean to wait with hope? Gemma Ryan explores the story of Simeon—a man who waited decades for the Messiah—and invites us into three transformative questions: What are you waiting for? Who are you becoming as you wait? And what is sustaining you in the waiting? She shows us how waiting isn't passive but active, and how our seasons of in-between can become the very places where God refines and transforms us.Key Scripture Passages: Luke 2v1-7, 22-35; Psalm 130; Isaiah 40; Galatians 4v4This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kathleen from Dallas, Texas; Shailaja from Cranbury, New Jersey; Edward from Pacific Palisades, California; Jeremy from Shoreview, Minnesota; and David from Hove, East Sussex. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What do we do when community gets difficult? John Mark explores the inevitable challenges that arise in deep community and introduces a six-stage cycle that all healthy relationships go through. He shares why commitment is required to stay together long enough to actually grow into people of love.Key Scripture Passages: 1 Corinthians 3v1-4; Matthew 6v15This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Connie from Newton, Kansas; Gayle from Woodstock, Georgia; Todd from Costa Mesa, California; Adam from Fircrest, Washington; and Richard from Laconia, New Hampshire. Thank you all very much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
1Why is authentic community so hard to find? John Mark explores the modern challenges that keep us isolated—busyness, transience, digital distraction—but then goes deeper to reveal the ancient enemy underneath it all: shame. He shows us how shame disconnects us from God and each other, and how the often-overlooked practice of confession can heal our deepest wounds and reconnect us to the love we're desperate for.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 2v25; Romans 7v21-25, 8v1-3; Mark 2v17; James 5v16This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Heather from West Linn, Oregon; Andy from Austin, Texas; Kim from Lakeside, California; McKenna from Oviedo, Florida; and Veranda from Coppell, Texas. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
How do we go deep in community? John Mark explores the practice of sharing our joys and sorrows in community—following Jesus' example of both celebrating around the table and bearing his deepest pain with trusted friends. Key Scripture Passages: Mark 14v22-24, 32-34; Genesis 2v18; Galatians 6v2; Hebrews 10v24-25; John 15v11; Isaiah 53v3This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Trent from Madera, California; Simone from Arcadia, Oklahoma; Allison from Lynchburg, Virginia; Megan from South Jordan, Utah; and Breanna from Henderson, Nevada. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it mean to live as the family of God? John Mark explores how we're created for relationship and why spiritual formation can't happen in isolation. He unpacks the biblical vision of church as a "fictive kinship group" and shows us how transformation happens not just on Sunday mornings, but around the dining room table with people who become family.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1v26-27; Mark 1v16-18; Mark 3v13-14, 32-35; Romans 8v15; Acts 2v42-47This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Adam from Austin, Arkansas; Brett from Huntersville, North Carolina; Grace from Jacksonville, Florida; Brandon from Waconia, Minnesota; and Jordan from Palmer, Alaska. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
Can we rest our way to freedom? John Mark explores how Sabbath is far more than a wellness practice—it's an act of defiance against the relentless pace of modern life. He shows how God built a rhythm of work and rest into creation itself, and how the command to Sabbath is actually a way to resist cultural forces of busyness, consumerism, and endless accumulation. Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 2v1-3; Exodus 20v8-11; Deuteronomy 5v12-15This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Joan from Coto De Caza, California; Rob from Marble Falls, Texas; Steve from Deptford, New Jersey; Dustin from Los Angeles, California; and Anna from Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at https://practicingtheway.org/give.
What does Jesus really teach about money? John Mark unpacks Jesus' radical teaching from Matthew 6 on treasure, generosity, and trust. He challenges the "work more, buy more, repeat" cycle that dominates Western culture and invites us into an alternative way of life marked by simplicity, generosity, and a God-centered vision. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 6v19-34; 1 Timothy 6v6-19This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Christine from San Francisco, California; Chelsey from Cedar Park, Texas; Brad from Fort Worth, Texas; Ed from Fort Liberty, North Carolina; and Tara from Orleans, Ontario. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
How do we live focused, purposeful lives in a world of endless opportunities and demands? John Mark explores the power of saying "no" as a spiritual discipline—showing us that Jesus' ability to fulfill His calling wasn't just about what He said yes to, but also about what He said no to. He challenges us to identify our God-given vocation and then ruthlessly eliminate distractions, even good ones, so we can say our deepest "yes" to what truly matters.Key Scripture Passages: Mark 1v9-38; John 17v4; John 19v28-30This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: James from Wilmington, Delaware; Tommy from Carrollton, Georgia; Lewis from West Palm Beach, Florida; Stephen from Birmingham, Alabama; and Andrew from Bend, Oregon. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
How do we work for the glory of God? John Mark unpacks Paul's vision in 1 Corinthians 10 to "do everything for the glory of God" and applies it to our everyday work, showing how we glorify God not only in what we do, but in how we do it.Key Scripture Passages: 1 Corinthians 10v25-31; Romans 1; Proverbs 22v29; Daniel 1This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Caleb from Fort Mill, South Carolina; Michael from Peyton, Colorado; Aaron from Redding, California; Diane from Bend, Oregon; and Josh from Buford, Georgia. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it mean to be a culture-maker? John Mark explores the cultural mandate from Genesis and argues that God commands all human beings to make culture—both corporately by building civilization and individually by discovering our unique vocations. He walks through eight practical questions to help us discern our God-given identities and callings.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1:26-28; Acts 9:1-16; Psalm 33:15This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Jeanne from Greenwood, South Carolina; Kelcey from Twinsburg, Ohio; Daniel from Charlotte, North Carolina; Travis from London, Kentucky; and Zachary from Salt Lake City, Utah. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What is our purpose? John Mark opens a new series exploring the ideas related to work, rest, and our human condition. He challenges the sacred-secular divide and calls us to see all of life as spiritual, encouraging listeners to dream big about their God-given identity and calling.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1v26-28; Genesis 2v8-15; Revelation 22v1-5This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Ashley from Draper, Utah; Jennifer from Melbourne, Florida; Rebecca from Leicester, Leicestershire; Landon from Prescott, Arizona; and Ethan from Valrico, Florida. Thank you all so much!If you'd like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it look like to follow Jesus for your whole life? John Mark sits down with Father Ronald Rolheiser—author, priest, and spiritual writer—to talk about the stages of the spiritual journey. Drawing from decades of pastoral leadership, personal suffering, and theological study, Father Rolheiser reflects on how we struggle to get our lives together, give our lives away, and ultimately give our deaths away as a final act of love. Key Scripture Passages: John 13–17; Matthew 5–7; Luke 12v16–21This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Austin from Fort Wayne, Indiana; Laura from Forest Grove, Oregon; Veronica from Clayton, California; Ian from Loveland, Colorado; and Michael from Reno, Nevada. Thank you all so much! If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
"If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus."John Mark concludes the Vision series with a pastoral word on hurry, unpacking how hurry does violence to the soul, erodes our capacity for transformation, and why following Jesus requires us to slow down and adopt his lifestyle, not just his teachings.Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 11v28–30; Luke 10v38–42This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Julianne from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Janet from West Lafayette, Indiana; Laura from Newberg, Oregon; Staci from Colleyville, Texas; and Bianca from San Luis Obispo, California. Thank you all so much!If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it mean to follow Jesus in a culture obsessed with self-fulfillment? John Mark explores Jesus’ words in Luke 9, where He calls His disciples to “take up your cross and follow me.” Contrasting the way of self-denial at the heart of apprenticeship to Jesus with the modern pursuit of personal satisfaction, John Mark encourages us to embrace the cruciform life that leads to our deepest satisfaction in God.Key Scripture Passages: Luke 9v18-24; Galatians 5v16-24; Luke 9v57-62; Luke 14v25-33; Luke 18v18-23; Matthew 13v44This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks today goes to Loida from Santander, Spain; Ashley from Greensboro, North Carolina; Kara from Cincinnati, Ohio; Kalani from Fargo, North Dakota; and Katherine from Monument, Colorado. Thank you all very much! If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What role does the Holy Spirit play in our transformation? John Mark unpacks how true transformation always requires partnership with God’s Spirit, encouraging us to rely on his presence and power to form us into the image of Jesus.Key Scripture Passages: 2 Corinthians 3v17–18; Exodus 34v29–35; John 15v5; Galatians 5v22–25This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Caleb from Portland, Oregon; Carrie from Saint Louis, Missouri; Nick from Houston, Texas; Carolyn from San Luis Obispo, California; and Abbi from Yukon, Oklahoma. Thank you all so much!If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
When we live in community, conflict is inevitable. But how do we handle conflict well? Alex Rettman—former Bridgetown pastor and now Lead Pastor of Saints' Hill Church in Newberg, OR—explores how conflict—when done in love—can be one of the primary ways we move from disillusionment to acceptance in our relationships, encouraging us use conflict to point one another back to Jesus.Key Scripture Passages: Philippians 2v1–4; Matthew 18v15–17; Romans 8v1This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Daphne from Utrecht, Netherlands; Whitney from Northport, Alabama; Cade from Plano, Texas; Amy from Quincy, Illinois; and Cooper from Hartselle, Alabama. Thank you all so much!If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What does it really mean for a church to be a family? Bethany Allen unpacks a powerful vision of community not as an optional add-on to the Christian life, but as the very environment where transformation takes place. Bethany explores why community is both beautiful and broken, and how Jesus invites us to move through disappointment, unmet expectations, and past pain into a healing family of faith.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 1v26–27; Genesis 3v6–13; Genesis 12v1–3; Luke 8v19–21; Galatians 3v26–29This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Alan from Suwanee, Georgia; Andrew from Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Matthew and Chyril from Pittsford, New York; Lora from Bristol, Tennessee; and Randy from Port Angeles, Washington. Thank you all very much!If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
Can we follow Jesus alone? John Mark explores the essential—but often overlooked—role of community in spiritual formation. Drawing from the life of Jesus and the early church, he shows how transformation doesn’t happen in isolation but in the messy, beautiful tension between the ideal of community and its imperfect reality. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 4v18-22; Matthew 9v9-13; Acts 2v42-47; Romans 12v15; 1 John 4v20This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Margreet from Drachten, Netherlands; Will from Lewisburg, Ohio; Bruce from Memphis, Tennessee; Abby from Sandpoint, Indiana; and Rebecca from Friendswood, Texas. Thank you all so much!If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
What do spiritual disciplines have to do with real transformation? John Mark double clicks on the concept of the practices of Jesus—also called the spiritual disciplines—and explains why they’re not optional for those who want to become like Him. He shows us how transformation doesn’t come through trying harder but through training wisely.Key Scripture Passages: 1 Corinthians 9v24-27; Acts 20v24; Galatians 5v7; 1 Timothy 6v12; 2 Timothy 4v6-8This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Sid from Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Josh from Oxford, Oxfordshire; Margaret from Woodland Hills, California; Ashley from Dallas, Texas; and Erin from Centralia, Washington. Thank you all so much! If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
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thank you :) 🙏🏾