John Mark Comer Teachings

In the journey to discover your identity and calling, a transformation from who you are now to who you are becoming in Christ needs to take place. During that "inward journey," you have to come face-to-face with your sin. In this teaching, John Mark gives insight into how to navigate this journey. First, he walks us through the "layers of sin" and shows us how to address our sins at their roots. Then, he equips us with some tools to help us face our sin, including a short teaching on the Enneagram. And finally, John Mark reminds us that we can't do it on our own: we need the salvation that only Jesus can offer. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 4v18-22; Matthew 9v9-13Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-callingThe Road Back to You, Suzanne CollinsInvitation to a Journey, Robert MulhollandThe Road to Character, David Brooksenneagraminstitute.com

Who am I? Somewhere in our hearts, we all are seeking the answer to this question, trying to find security and worth. In this teaching, John Mark teaches us about who the Bible says we are. Jesus found his identity from Heaven, but we often find our identities from earthly things: in what we do, what we have, what we want, or even what others think about us. But the Bible says that not only is our identity rooted in Jesus and what He did on the Cross, but it is also rooted in our future with Him, rather than our past or present reality. John Mark closes by exhorting us to "live in a manner worthy of calling with which we have been called," and to embrace the fullness of God's identity and calling on our lives. Key Scripture Passages: Matthew 3v13-17; Ephesians 1v1-15; Ephesians 4v1-3Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

Discovering our identity and calling is one of the key tasks of apprenticeship to Jesus because what we believe about our identity and calling has ramifications for who we become and what we do with our lives. And while the journey of discovery can be scary and difficult, the Scriptures and millennia of Christian tradition show us that it is essential. In this teaching, John Mark lays out the biblical basis for the practice of discovering our identity and calling. Then he explains what this journey is like by breaking down its stages. Finally, he offers resources to help in our journey and encourages us to embrace the process with community and the Holy Spirit. Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/identity-and-calling

We are all called to spend our lives abiding (John 15:4). Paul called it "praying without ceasing;" Brother Lawrence called it “practicing the presence of God." Jesus claimed that there is a strong connection between abiding and joy. In this teaching, John Mark gives us key insights to practicing this joy-filled lifestyle. First, John Mark challenges us to slow down, open our lives to the flow of the spirit, and practice the presence of God. Then he shows how the practice of fixed-hour prayer can be an effective tool to unlock this lifestyle. By pressing into the discipline of fixed-hour prayer, we can open our hearts to the joy and peace that Jesus promises. Key Scripture Passages: 1 Thessalonians 5v16-18; Daniel 6v1-28Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer

What do you do when your prayers are not answered? In Jesus' teaching to His disciples in John 14-17, He tells them three times that whatever they ask for in His name will be done. So how do we make sense of Jesus’ promise to answer prayer with the reality that we all have unanswered prayers? In this teaching, John Mark goes through the various types and reasons for unanswered prayer in the Bible and explains how "laments" in the Psalms can serve as an example for how to bring our unanswered prayers to God. Key Scripture Passages: John 14v12-13; John 15v7, 16-17; John 16v23-24; Daniel 10; Matthew 21v21-22; Luke 18v1-8; Psalm 66v18; Isaiah 58v6-12; Psalm 13Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer

Last week, John Mark walked us through Jesus teaching us how to pray. This week, we learn why we pray. In this teaching, John Mark covers Jesus' teaching and parable on prayer in Luke 11 to show that Jesus sees prayer differently. He believes that prayer is a way to collaborate with God to create good in the world. John Mark also challenges our preconceptions of prayer by talking through Jesus' command to ask with shameless audacity and don't stop asking. The episode concludes with some practical tips to make prayer a consistent element of your discipleship to Jesus. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 11v1-13; Genesis 1v26-28; Genesis 2v15-17; Genesis 3v6-7; Exodus 32v1-10Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer

How should we pray? For most of us, prayer is a weak point in our apprenticeship to Jesus, and it's hard to do in the digital age. But Jesus made prayer a consistent part of His lifestyle, and it didn't seem to be a chore for Him. In this message, John Mark breaks down the practice of prayer. After defining prayer and explaining why it is so hard for many of us, John Mark explains what the Lord's Prayer teaches us about the attitude Jesus's had toward prayer and how we can press into prayer not just to meet our needs and wants, but primarily to enjoy the Father's presence. Key Scripture Passages: Luke 5v15-16; Luke 6v12; Luke 9v18, 28-34; Luke 11v1-4Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/prayer

Our families of origin and past experiences impact every human, both for bad and for good. In this teaching, John Mark explores the nature of blessing throughout the Bible and God's plan to bring blessing to the whole world, while showing how blessings are passed from one generation to the next. Because of the influence that we can have and our authority to bless, John Mark invites us to partner with God's plan by blessing our children, our friends, and our circumstances as a way to pass on good to the next generation. Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 12v1-3; Genesis 25v7; Genesis 26v23-25; Genesis 27v1-40; Genesis 28v10-15; Genesis 48v1-20; Genesis 2v24; Mark 10v13-16Resources for this practice: https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/dealing-with-your-past

Our family of origin and past experiences shape our present. And past hurt and trauma don't go away on their own. They need to be dealt with, or these hurts and traumas will emerge in unhealthy ways as we try to cope with our pain. So how do we deal with our past so that we can move forward in our apprenticeship to Jesus? In this teaching, John Mark shows us why it is important to deal with our past in our discipleship to Jesus. After discussing common objections to dealing with your past, he takes us through the Bible and shows how sins get passed from one generation to the next. He finishes this teaching by giving practical tips on how to engage these topics in community and begin your journey to healing and freedom.Key Scripture Passages: Genesis 12v1-20; Genesis 20v1-18; Genesis 26v1-11; Genesis 27v18-20; Genesis 37v2-4; Genesis 37v31-35; Exodus 34v6-7; Mark 5v24-34Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/dealing-with-your-past

Why is it so difficult for us to be alone with God? Many believers struggle to practice silence and solitude, and others outright avoid it. This practice often evokes discomfort because it forces us to address the hard emotions we'd often like to ignore, whether it's loneliness, anxiety, or fear. This week, John Mark discusses these issues. Through the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, we find that this is a common experience, and we also find a roadmap for how to deal with our emotions with God in a healthy way. Key scripture passages: 1 Kings 19v1-21Resources for this practice:https://practicingthewayarchives.org/practices/silence-solitude