John Mark Comer Teachings
Practicing the Way
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.practicingtheway.org
Episodes
Mentioned books
45 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 60min
The Prophet | The Prophet E1
John Mark Comer, pastor and author focused on spiritual formation, unfolds the prophetic books through Isaiah 1. He explains why prophets unsettle us and how they call out injustice, idolatry, and hollow worship. He contrasts prophetic judgment with restorative hope and invites listeners to lean into God’s refining fire.
28 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 57min
Fixed-Hour Prayer | Prayer E8 (From the Archive)
John Mark Comer, pastor and author who teaches spiritual formation, explores fixed-hour prayer as a way to reorient your heart throughout the day. He explains prayer as a whole-life posture, the need to slow down and invite the Spirit, and practical rhythms like morning, noon, and night. Short, practical challenges and ancient examples make the practice feel doable.
31 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 54min
Prayer Training (ft. Alex Rettman) | Prayer E7
Alex Rettman, a senior pastor and trainer in prayer ministry, offers practical prayer training. He explains Jesus' model of listening to the Father. He presents a three-step method: interview, listen, then act. He covers listening to people and the Spirit, prophetic words, dealing with the demonic, healing, and follow-up care.
21 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 49min
Imaginative Prayer (ft. Josh Porter) | Prayer E6
Josh Porter, pastor, author, musician, and podcast creator, shares how imaginative prayer can open new ways of encountering God. He leads memory experiments, explores visions and biblical examples, and offers practical steps for creating inner sanctuary practices. Listens to exercises for hearing Jesus speak, walking memories with him, and bringing imagination into daily companionship with the Spirit.
69 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 35min
Singing Prayer (ft. Alex Rettman) | Prayer E5
Alex Rettman, former pastor and worship leader, explores sung prayer and worship as transformative practice. He explains how singing changes us as we behold God, how costly praise moves God's heart, and how worship can shift circumstances and partner with God in spiritual battle. Practical prompts include pausing in Selah, singing new songs, and declaring blessing over places.
52 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 51min
Unanswered Prayer | Prayer E4 (From the Archive)
John Mark Comer, pastor and author who teaches practical Christian formation, wrestles with why prayers seem unanswered. He outlines a fifteen-reason framework, explores competing wills, free will, spiritual opposition, and the role of lament. He closes with practices for honest prayer and a guided lament to bring grief and trust before God.
76 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 49min
Intercessory Prayer | Prayer E3 (From the Archive)
John Mark Comer, pastor and author focused on spiritual formation, explores intercessory prayer through Luke 11 and Genesis. He frames prayer as collaborating with God to bring justice and goodness. He teaches persistence, shameless audacity in asking, and practical practices like prayer cards and praying the room.
77 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 40min
Contemplative Prayer (ft. Father Rick Ganz) | Prayer E2
Father Rick Ganz, a Jesuit priest who leads the Farber Institute, shares contemplative practices and spiritual direction. He reframes prayer as a way of perceiving God in everyday life. Short reflections explore John 15’s vine image, the discipline of the Examen, and abiding as presence rather than nonstop doing. A guided mini-Examen invites simple, daily noticing and gratitude.
126 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 44min
Teach Us to Pray | Prayer E1 (From the Archive)
John Mark Comer, a pastor and teacher on spiritual formation, explores the Lord's Prayer and Jesus's prayer rhythms. He contrasts delight-filled prayer with rote duty. He tackles modern barriers like distraction and offers the Lord's Prayer as a flexible template. He shares practical practices to move from discipline to delight in prayer.
55 snips
Jan 19, 2026 • 18min
Three Shifts of Discipleship | Spiritual Cartography E3
Discover the three crucial shifts in discipleship: embracing trust over fear, cultivating hope instead of despair, and moving from self-centeredness to love. John Mark explains that faith, hope, and love are not merely feelings, but deep-rooted conditions of the heart shaped over time. He highlights how radical trust in God can alleviate anxiety and transform relationships. Gratitude serves as a vital practice to nurture hope and joy, ultimately guiding us towards agape love, which is the true aim of Christianity.
