Practices & Resources

The Way of Jesus theme in 2024 challenged us to move beyond just the teaching of Jesus to consider his lifestyle, to explore the habits and practices that fuelled him and have fuelled his followers through the ages to live out his teachings and grow into people of love.

We unpacked three goals of apprentices under Jesus – being with Jesus, becoming like him, and doing what he did, and many of us read John Mark Comer’s book ‘Practicing the Way’ where these goals are considered in more depth. We did an overview of a whole lot of spiritual practices (fasting, quiet, slowing, Scripture, simplicity) and then did a deep dive into the practices of Sabbath and Prayer.

Many of us began new habits. Many of us started experimenting with praying in new ways. Many tried fasting or meditating on God’s Word or making Sabbath a new normal. Many many of us looked at our calendars and our biggest time-wasters, and considered what we could cut, what habits were not life-giving, what apps needed to go, how to ‘parent’ our phones. And glimmers of life and joy and contentment and hope emerged.

But all this good stuff could come to nothing if we don’t stay the course. The Way of Jesus is not a sprint. It is a long path, a narrow path, a counter-cultural path. There are many voices that would call us away, distract us, re-direct us. But the Way of Jesus is the path to life – life now and in the age to come, and so in 2025 we ‘Press On in the Way of Jesus’, resolving to delve deeper, to strengthen new habits and build on what we started. That we may know God’s love more deeply, abide with Jesus more closely, and grow into the people and the community God desires, for the sake of his name and the world he loves.

Journey with us then in 2025, as we explore the Sermon on the Mount, the practices of Generosity and Scripture, an Old Testament book of wisdom, and as we press on together in the Way of Jesus.

Recommended Podcasts:

Much of our teaching in this series is based on John Mark Comer’s book ‘Practicing the Way’ and we highly recommend grabbing a copy of it, or tuning into his podcast vision series which does a fuller, more in depth dive into what it means to be with Jesus, become like him and do what he did.

Be With Jesus | Practicing the Way Vision Series E2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZQemGtnjEX4FWHs4UA0bE?si=864e29143d044870

Hurry, the Great Enemy of the Spiritual Life | Practicing the Way Vision Series E10 https://open.spotify.com/episode/7KVPKLufiecoFNnnlQm8Yz?si=HKyd0IXLSaS9yy9zZCY_Vw

Can We Trust the Bible | Scripture Series E1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SM2q2Ijfes8ifaYIZp7p4?si=0Iluj_IIRF2gdnWeG7AF4w

The Bible As an Alternative Story | Scripture Series E2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1t9haoflyaIL842vJX93Jw?si=gRmigox3T6ieVMuAh2EHLg

The Bible As Spiritual Authority | Scripture Series E3 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XdUQy51AaL8bcfQr4Q2G5?si=ihCa6q8kRNupuqiuTbTa6A

To Starve the Flesh and Feed the Spirit | Fasting E1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6djeiGeoIQZ3vJlpTOPjtq?si=598dc8b722b04ce0

To Pray | Fasting E2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pzDRXBIrT4frnytsAKfZN?si=e42edca7db54496e

The Propaganda of More | Simplicity E1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CvHrWeyzDUbMY49SnYKEX?si=3eb895d8d0a6492b

Simplicity of Heart| Simplicity E2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DWVPzjDCJA4BcKjTdmdAN?si=edb1e05e2e1249ab

Simplicity of Speech | Simplicity E3 https://open.spotify.com/episode/4oAdU7hC3VtbYKKczzIz4S?si=7fa9fbed319a4ce7

Simplicity of Stuff | Simplicity E4 https://open.spotify.com/episode/25Xi6De2EeUocseoPQMK3D?si=6bfb7a15c0934fc0

Jesus and the Lonely Place | Silence and Solitude E1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nJUl43JGrw6zh9kUVy0Z7?si=b6a8fe52fe4e42ff

Elijah and the Broom Tree | Silence and Solitude E2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NB9SqSNnxtF817V7Gn1rO?si=5f31e4de71f8498b

Recommended Readings: