I preached to a group of prospective Bible College students about a year ago on the the theme: Receive Love. I told them that Jesus loved them. No matter what. I felt a little self-conscious—surely a professor could come up with something a little more profound. But then, is there anything more profound? In Practicing the Way, John Mark Comer does a similar simple-yet-profound move. He argues that Christians should follow Jesus.

What twenty-first Western Christian culture obfuscates, Comer simplifies. As the subtitle reads, “Be with Jesus. Become Like Him. Do as He Did.” This involves radical commitment, much more than a believe-so-you-go-to-heaven-after-you-die theology. Christianity is costly.

When you do the math, you may conclude that, yes, following Jesus will cost you—a lot. But here’s the thing. Not following Jesus will cost you even more. (214)

As the book moves from theory to practice, Comber calls for action. Christians need to order their lives like Jesus. He explores some classical spiritual disciplines and suggests ways to help modern-day Christians (re)order their life. There are even online helps for this at practicingtheway.org.

Practicing the Way is the clearest, simplest, and most profound call for a deeply Christian life that I’ve read in a long time. I would put this in the hands of any prospective follower of Jesus.

Comer, John Mark. Practicing the Way: Be With Jesus. Become Like Him. Do as He Did. Waterbrook, 2024.