Practicing the Way of Jesus: Introduction

Here at Sea Road Church we are engaging in a journey of learning and practicing spiritual disciplines. Much of what we are doing is inspired and helped by Practicing the Way, an organization founded by John Mark Comer to help churches to develop these practices in their own body. These spiritual disciplines are not new or unique to any particular group—their roots go back to the very foundation of the church, as followers of Jesus have, from the beginning, asked what it means to be a disciple of Christ. In this post, Pastor Paul introduces us to the concept of practicing the way of Jesus by examining that very question.

Discipleship is not about learning more or trying harder but rather—and more importantly—about living differently. Being a disciple of Jesus is so much more than what you believe. If you really want to know the truth of Jesus and experience the life of Jesus then you must also commit your whole life to practicing the way of Jesus. There are no shortcuts or quick paths on the road of discipleship. The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, but it is always worth it. To be clear, practicing the way of Jesus is not a program: rather, it is a way of life that impacts, shapes, and forms the entire person into the likeness of Jesus.

In what is arguably the greatest sermon of all time, Jesus makes very clear in the Sermon on the Mount a sobering and thought-provoking distinction between the wise and the fool. The wise person hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice. The foolish person also hears the words of Jesus but fails to put them into practice. The end result is catastrophic, the difference between a house that stands fast in the midst of storms and a house that shatters and falls. And what is at the core of separating the wise from the fool? Practice.

This month of September we will be doing a three week mini-series on practicing the way of Jesus with the purpose of organizing the animating center of our lives around three driving basic goals: be with Jesus, become like Jesus, do what Jesus did. Jesus invites us not to reduce salvation to conversion but to deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow him, which in the usual paradox of Christian life brings more fullness of life, not less. We are excited to be on this journey of spiritual formation together and to have you join us on this journey as we seek to rearrange and reorder our lives around practicing the way of Jesus together. Let us not only believe in Jesus, let’s become like Jesus in every way. Let us aim our wholehearted attention and affection at being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did.

-Pastor Paul