12-Week Study & Discussion Guide

Practicing the Way

by John Mark Comer·96 discussion questions

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Week 1 — FreeRead the Introduction of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

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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?

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About This Study Guide

At a glance: this is a 12-week study and discussion guide for Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, with 96 questions organized by reading assignment. Week 1 is free to read, with no card required.

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.

Week 1: Introduction — The Invitation

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Read the Introduction of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer.

Before diving into practice, Comer invites us to feel the weight of the question underneath the whole book: Is the life Jesus offers actually available to ordinary people, right now, in the middle of ordinary life?

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?

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Week 1 sample · first 3 questions

Group handout: Practicing the Way

Week 1 sample · first 3 questions. Scroll to read the sample.

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12-Week Schedule

  1. Week 1Introduction — The Invitation8 questions
  2. Week 2Chapter 1 — You Are Being Formed8 questions
  3. Week 3Chapter 2 — Apprentice8 questions
  4. Week 4Chapter 3 — With Jesus8 questions
  5. Week 5Chapter 4 — Become Like Jesus8 questions
  6. Week 6Chapter 5 — Do What Jesus Did8 questions
  7. Week 7Chapter 6 — A Rule of Life8 questions
  8. Week 8Chapter 7 — Solitude & Silence8 questions
  9. Week 9Chapter 8 — Prayer8 questions
  10. Week 10Chapter 9 — Sabbath8 questions
  11. Week 11Chapter 10 — Community & Practices Together8 questions
  12. Week 12Review & Reflection8 questions

Week 2: Chapter 1 — You Are Being Formed

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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.

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 3: Chapter 2 — Apprentice

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 4: Chapter 3 — With Jesus

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 5: Chapter 4 — Become Like Jesus

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 6: Chapter 5 — Do What Jesus Did

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 7: Chapter 6 — A Rule of Life

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 8: Chapter 7 — Solitude & Silence

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 9: Chapter 8 — Prayer

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 10: Chapter 9 — Sabbath

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 11: Chapter 10 — Community & Practices Together

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 12: Review & Reflection

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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?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide
Book Club QuestionsMore by John Mark ComerSpiritual Growth & DisciplinesChristian LivingFor Small GroupsFor Individual StudyFor ChurchesFree Question GeneratorMake a reading schedule for this book

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About the Practicing the Way guide

How many weeks is the Practicing the Way study guide?

This study guide covers Practicing the Way in 12 weeks, with week-by-week 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.

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