Discussion question your group will work through:
1.Comer opens by describing a growing hunger he observed — people who were spiritually restless, attending church, even believing the right things, but not actually being transformed. Does that description resonate with your own experience? What drew you to pick up this book?
$24.99 for the full 12-week guide·7-day refund·One purchase, whole group
About This Study Guide
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer is a clarion call to rediscover what it actually means to follow Jesus — not merely to believe the right things about him, but to apprentice ourselves to him as a way of life. Comer argues that we are all being spiritually formed, constantly, by the world around us — by our phones, our schedules, our habits, and our desires — and that the urgent question is not whether we will be formed, but by whom. His answer is a return to the ancient path: becoming disciples who are with Jesus, who are becoming like Jesus, and who are doing what Jesus did. The vehicle for that transformation, Comer argues, is a Rule of Life — a set of intentional practices and relational rhythms that open us up to God's transforming work in the ordinary hours of our days.</p><p>This study guide is designed for small groups or individual study over twelve weeks, with one week devoted to the book's introduction, one week per chapter, and a final week of review and reflection. The best way to use this guide is to read the assigned chapter before your group meets (or before you sit down to journal), then work through the questions slowly — pausing to think, write, and pray before moving to the next one. You don't need to answer every question every week; let the ones that provoke the most resistance or resonance guide your time. A brief closing prayer is included each week to help you move from reflection into response.</p><p>By the end of this guide, you will have a clearer picture of what spiritual formation actually is and how it works, a honest assessment of what is currently forming you, and — most practically — the beginnings of your own Rule of Life. Comer is not asking you to become a monk; he is asking you to become a disciple. These questions are designed to help you take that invitation seriously, not as a self-improvement project, but as a response to the love of a God who wants you to become fully alive.
12-Week Schedule
- Week 1Introduction — The Invitation8 questions
- Week 2Chapter 1 — You Are Being Formed8 questions
- Week 3Chapter 2 — Apprentice8 questions
- Week 4Chapter 3 — With Jesus8 questions
- Week 5Chapter 4 — Become Like Jesus8 questions
- Week 6Chapter 5 — Do What Jesus Did8 questions
- Week 7Chapter 6 — A Rule of Life8 questions
- Week 8Chapter 7 — Solitude & Silence8 questions
- Week 9Chapter 8 — Prayer8 questions
- Week 10Chapter 9 — Sabbath8 questions
- Week 11Chapter 10 — Community & Practices Together8 questions
- Week 12Review & Reflection8 questions
Week 1: Introduction — The Invitation
Free sampleRead the Introduction of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer opens by describing a growing hunger he observed — people who were spiritually restless, attending church, even believing the right things, but not actually being transformed. Does that description resonate with your own experience? What drew you to pick up this book?
2.The book is organized around three goals: to be *with* Jesus, to *become like* Jesus, and to *do what Jesus did*. In your own words, what is the difference between those three things? Which of the three feels most distant from your life right now?
3.Comer suggests that many of us have reduced Christianity to a set of beliefs to hold rather than a life to live. Where do you think that reduction came from — culturally, historically, or personally?
4.The word *disciple* in the ancient world meant something very specific: an apprentice who lived alongside a master to become like them. How does that definition differ from how the word is typically used in your church context? What does the difference suggest about what we might be missing?
a.What would it practically look like for you to "live alongside" Jesus the way a first-century apprentice lived alongside a rabbi?
b.What would have to change in your schedule, your habits, or your priorities for that to be possible?
5.Comer introduces the concept of a *Rule of Life* — not a set of rules *about* life, but a rhythm of practices that create space for God. What is your first emotional reaction to that phrase? Does it sound freeing, legalistic, or something else?
6.Comer is honest about his own story of burnout and disillusionment that led him to these questions. How does his personal vulnerability in the introduction affect how you receive his arguments? What does it tell you about the kind of teacher he is trying to be?
7.The introduction sets up a tension between the *speed* and *noise* of modern life and the *slow, quiet* work of spiritual formation. Where do you feel that tension most acutely in your own daily life?
8.If the goal of this entire book is to help you become more like Jesus, what does "more like Jesus" actually look like to you? Try to be specific — what emotions, habits, relationships, or responses would be different?
Week 2: Chapter 1 — You Are Being Formed
Read Chapter 1 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer makes the claim that "we are all being spiritually formed — all the time, by everything around us." What are two or three of the most formative forces in your own life right now? Be honest — not just the ones you wish were most formative.
Week 3: Chapter 2 — Apprentice
Read Chapter 2 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer argues that "disciple" was not a religious word in Jesus' day — it was a vocational one. An apprentice organized their entire life around learning from and becoming like a master. How does that historical context redefine what you thought discipleship meant?
Week 4: Chapter 3 — With Jesus
Read Chapter 3 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer argues that the most fundamental need of the human soul is not information, not forgiveness (as crucial as that is), but *presence* — the felt nearness of God. Does that framing surprise you? What does it suggest about what we should be looking for in prayer, worship, or Scripture reading?
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Become Like Jesus
Read Chapter 4 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer argues that the goal of the Christian life is *Christlikeness* — becoming like Jesus in the deepest parts of our character and personality. How does that goal differ from being a "good person" or a "moral person"? Why does the distinction matter?
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Do What Jesus Did
Read Chapter 5 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.Comer argues that "doing what Jesus did" is meant to flow from "being with" and "becoming like" Jesus — that mission is meant to be the overflow of formation, not the substitute for it. Why do you think so many churches get this backward, starting with doing rather than being?
Week 7: Chapter 6 — A Rule of Life
Read Chapter 6 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.
1.The phrase "Rule of Life" can sound off-putting — even legalistic — to Protestant ears. How does Comer reframe what a Rule of Life actually is? What is the difference between a rule *about* life and a rhythm *for* life?
Week 8: Chapter 7 — Solitude & Silence
Read Chapter 7 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Key passages: Luke 5:16; Mark 1:35.
1.Comer notes that Jesus — who had a world-saving mission — consistently withdrew to solitary places to pray. What does it say about the pace Jesus thought was sustainable? What does it say about the source of his power?
Week 9: Chapter 8 — Prayer
Read Chapter 8 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Key passages: Matthew 6:5-13; Luke 11:1-4.
1.Comer begins by acknowledging what most Christians feel but are reluctant to admit: prayer is hard, often boring, and frequently feels one-sided. How does naming that difficulty honestly change the conversation about prayer? Have you felt permission before to admit that prayer is hard?
Week 10: Chapter 9 — Sabbath
Read Chapter 9 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Key passages: Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2:27.
1.Comer describes Sabbath not as a restriction but as a gift — a weekly protest against the lie that our worth is in our productivity. How does that reframe change how you feel about the idea of a regular day of rest?
Week 11: Chapter 10 — Community & Practices Together
Read Chapter 10 of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. Key passages: Acts 2:42-47; John 13:34-35.
1.Comer argues that spiritual formation in isolation is both dangerous and incomplete — that we need community to see our blind spots, bear our burdens, and sustain us through the long haul. Do you agree? Have you experienced the limitations of trying to grow spiritually on your own?
Week 12: Review & Reflection
Review your notes, journal entries, and any marked pages from Practicing the Way as a whole.
1.Looking back across the entire book, which chapter or concept landed most deeply with you? What was it about that particular idea that resonated — or unsettled — you most?
Why You Can Trust This
What You Get, and Our Promise
Here's exactly what's in every guide — and what happens if it falls short.
What's in every guide
- 9 sections per guide: overview, chapter summaries, discussion questions, key themes, important quotes, thematic analysis, character profiles, timeline, and practice review
- Multi-week format with a closing prayer for each session
- PDF download + permanent web link — keep it forever, share with your entire group
- Delivered to your inbox in about 5 minutes
- One purchase covers the whole group — no per-seat fees, no subscription
7-day money-back guarantee
If the guide doesn't meet your expectations, email support@bookstudyguide.com within 7 days and we'll refund you in full. No forms, no questions. Keep the guide either way.
A note from the founder: I'm Josh, and I built this because most Christian books don't come with study materials — leaving volunteer leaders to build discussion questions from scratch on a Saturday night. That shouldn't be the default. If anything about your guide isn't right, reply to your order email and it comes straight to me.
The free Week 1 sample for Practicing the Way is above. Get the full 12-week guide for $24.99 when you're ready.
Get the Practicing the Way GuideSkip Saturday-night question writing
12 weeks of discussion questions, reading schedule, closing prayers, and a downloadable PDF — built specifically for Practicing the Way, ready in 5 minutes.
- All 96 discussion questions organized by week
- Weekly reading schedule and orientation
- Closing prayers for each session
- Final review and reflection week
- Downloadable PDF to print and share
What you're trading
4+ hours writing your own
Plus the weekly anxiety of “what should we discuss this week?”
$24.99, once
Less than two coffees. Covers your whole group, the whole study.
Continues to secure Stripe checkout. $24.99 one-time, no subscription, 7-day refund.
Related Study Guides
If your group enjoys Practicing the Way, these studies pair well with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weeks is the Practicing the Way study guide?
This study guide covers Practicing the Way in 12 weeks, with chapter-by-chapter discussion questions, reading references, and closing prayers for each session.
How many discussion questions are included?
The complete guide includes 96 discussion questions across 12 weeks — an average of 8 questions per week, designed for group conversation.
Can I use this guide for a book club?
Yes — the questions are written for group discussion and work well for small groups, book clubs, church studies, and couples reading together.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Any published book — not just bestsellers that have existing curriculum. Whether your group is reading a classic like Mere Christianity or a newer title without a published study guide, we can create a complete discussion guide for it.
Most guides are ready within 5 minutes. We'll email you the link as soon as your guide is complete, and you'll have permanent access from that point forward.
Every guide includes 9 sections: a book overview, chapter-by-chapter summaries, key themes and concepts, important quotes with context and analysis, discussion questions for group conversation, thematic analysis, character and figure profiles, a chronological timeline, and a practice review with model answers.
Yes. One purchase gives you a permanent web link and a downloadable PDF. Share either with your entire group — there's no per-person fee or seat limit.
No. Enter the book title, author, and your email address, complete the $24.99 payment, and your guide arrives in your inbox. No account, no login, no subscription.
We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee. If the guide doesn't meet your expectations, email support@bookstudyguide.com for a full refund.
Free discussion questions online tend to be surface-level — "What did you think of chapter 3?" Our guides include questions designed to spark real conversation: questions that connect the book's ideas to personal experience, draw out different perspectives, and help group members open up and share honestly.
Still have questions? Email support@bookstudyguide.com
Get Your Guide