Rule of Life
The Rule of Life podcast guides listeners in arranging their everyday lives around being with and becoming like Jesus. Each season focuses on one of nine ancient practices from the Way of Jesus: Sabbath, Prayer, Fasting, Solitude, Scripture, Community, Simplicity, Generosity, and Hospitality. Hosted by John Mark Comer and produced by Practicing the Way, the podcast features insights from pastors, thought leaders, and everyday apprentices of Jesus. Each season is released alongside a four-week practice designed to integrate these ancient practices into daily life.
Episodes
Witness 04: Share the Good News (featuring Shaila Visser)
What becomes possible when we embrace a patient yet courageous approach to sharing the good news of Jesus? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore how to share the gospel through your life and words, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Shaila Visser.In this episode’s luminary interview, Jo
Witness 03: Partner with the Holy Spirit (featuring Pete Hughes)
What changes when we know that the Holy Spirit is already at work in the lives of those around us who don’t know Jesus? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in our witness, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Pete Hughes. In this episode's luminary interv
Witness 02: Practice Hospitality (featuring Drew Hyun)
What if our ordinary homes and tables were brimming with latent potential for gospel encounters? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the role hospitality plays in our witness, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Drew Hyun.In this episode's luminary interview, John Mark and Drew dis
Witness 01: Begin With Love (featuring Ger Jones)
How can we move beyond duty and obligation, into a witness motivated by a deep love for the lost? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the core motivation for the practice of witness — featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Ger Jones.In this episode's luminary interview, John Mark and
Service 04: Where Does Service Lead? (featuring a Luminary Roundtable)
What if service in the way of Jesus was meant to lead not first to life change or impact, but to relationship? Join Tyler Staton and Shelbi Shutt as they explore kinship as Jesus’ destination for a life of service, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with a roundtable including Charlee Tchividjian, Gabrielle Clowdus,
Service 03: How Do I Serve? - Part 02 (Edwin Colon)
How can we cultivate an intentional and interruptible life of service in our everyday rhythms and routines? Join Tyler Staton and Shelbi Shutt as they explore this “Good Samaritan” way of being in the world, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with Pastor Edwin Colon. In this episode’s luminary interview, Tyler and E
Service 02: How Do I Serve? - Part 01 (featuring Jonathan Tremaine Thomas)
How can service grow beyond projects and campaigns and into a lifestyle? Join Tyler Staton and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the primary environments and relationships where Jesus invites us to serve, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Jonathan Tremaine Thomas.In this episode’s luminary interview, Tyler
Service 01: Why Do I Serve? (featuring Gary Haugen)
Love is the hallmark of Jesus’ followers, but what does it look like? Join Tyler Staton and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the topic of love — the core motivation of a life of service — featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Gary Haugen.In this episode’s luminary interview, Tyler and Gary discuss how loving
Community 04: What We Avoid in Community (featuring David Kim)
What kind of community do we desperately long for, and yet, what are we often unwilling to do to form it? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore five practices for cultivating community, featuring testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary David Kim. In this episode’s luminary interview, John Mark and David discuss the process of cultivating deep rela
Community 03: Overcoming Shame — The Ancient Enemy of Community (featuring Dr. Curt Thompson)
What is the main culprit behind so much disconnection and damage in our relationships? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the universal experience of shame, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with shame expert Dr. Curt Thompson. In this episode’s luminary interview, John Mark and Dr. Thompson disc
Community 02: Family Systems and Life in Community (featuring Jay and Danielle Pathak)
Is Grandpa really in my bones? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the topic of Family Systems, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminaries Jay and Danielle Pathak.In this episode’s luminary interview, John Mark, Jay, and Danielle explore Family Systems Theory — how we carry our family dynam
Community 01: Rediscovering Jesus’ Vision for Family (featuring Andy Crouch)
How can we cultivate the deep relationships Jesus invites us toward in an age of isolation, transience, and superficiality? Join John Mark Comer and Shelbi Shutt as they explore the topic of kinship groups, featuring conversations with everyday people in the West, testimonials from real-life practitioners, and an interview with luminary Andy Crouch. In this episode’s luminary interview, John Mark
Scripture 04: Reading Scripture as a Spiritual Discipline
John Mark and guests Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley explore what it means to read Scripture as a spiritual discipline and why, as apprentices of Jesus, reading is ultimately about following him and becoming like him.Reading Scripture aloud in groups, a tradition rooted in early house churches, allowed for a shared, transformative encounter with Scripture — and it’s a practice
Scripture 03: Unlocking the Wisdom of Scripture
John Mark and BibleProject’s Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley discuss what it means to approach Scripture as “wisdom literature” and “meditation literature.”Wisdom literature encourages readers to internalize God’s values, making decisions that promote flourishing for themselves and others. Meditation literature invites readers to slow down, immerse themselves in Scripture, and
Scripture 02: Scripture as a Cross-Cultural Experience
BibleProject’s Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley continue a conversation with John Mark around BibleProject’s seven-part paradigm for understanding Scripture. Episode 02 addresses common struggles with interpreting ancient texts, such as reconciling difficult laws or cultural norms with modern values, and how to approach puzzling or morally complex passages with patience and res
Scripture 01: Three Problematic Approaches to Scripture
In this first episode of the Scripture season of the Rule of Life podcast, John Mark is joined by BibleProject scholars Dr. Tim Mackie, Dr. Brittany Kim, and Hakeem Bradley for a conversation on the nature of Scripture and our relationship with it. Common traditional approaches to Scripture — such as the “reference book” approach, the “domesticated grab-bag” approach, and others — can limit our un
Generosity 06: Roundtable with John Cortines, Jimmy Mellado, Sara Miller, and Christian Huang
In this second roundtable on Generosity, John Mark is joined by John Cortines, co-author of God and Money; Jimmy Mellado, president of Compassion International; Sara Miller, founder of A House on Beekman and partner at Praxis Labs; and Christian Huang, president of Mobilize Love.This wide-ranging conversation explores nuanced issues around giving and generosity, including tithing, serving the poor
Generosity 05: Roundtable with Patrick Johnson and April Chapman
John Mark leads the first of two roundtable conversations with leaders who have devoted a significant share of their lives to advancing generosity and giving.This episode features Patrick Johnson, founder of Generous Church; April Chapman, CEO of Generous Giving; and Reward Sibanda, Senior Advisor at World Vision.Their conversation explores the reasons for our disordered relationship with money, m
Generosity Testimonial 04: Josh & Abbi
Josh and Abbi learned early on in marriage to live on a meager income – just enough to cover essential needs, and not much else. Today they consider it a gift, because it taught them how little they really needed. When they did make enough for a small surplus and sensed the pull of materialism, they incorporated practices into their lives to maintain radical generosity. The result has been joy and
Generosity 04: Be Generous to the Poor
The early church was marked by extravagant generosity to the poor. Followers of Jesus formed socioeconomically diverse communities that cared for each other like family, something unheard of in the 1st century Greco-Roman world.All of this was in response to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, which repeatedly emphasize the call to care for those in need. John Mark Comer and Christian Dawson
Generosity Testimonial 03: Lola
Lola grew up in a family that, in her words, “gave with ease.” When she joined a community of followers of Jesus, she experienced the same generosity during a period of unexpected difficulty. Taking in generous love softened her heart and kindled a desire to show up for others in need.This podcast accompanies the Generosity Practice, a four-session experience designed to help integrate generosity
Generosity 03: Everything Belongs to God
From the first pages of Scripture, this simple truth is clear: We are guests in God’s world. Our role is that of a steward, not an owner, and in that role, we are entrusted with God’s resources for our own good and for the good of others.Through careful examination of key passages such as Luke 12 and 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, John Mark Comer and Christian Dawson discuss areas of theological controver
Generosity Testimonial 02: Sunny
Sunny believes that how we use money is a concrete reflection of what we truly value. That conviction, along with the understanding that everything he owns is really God’s, has produced a lifestyle of increasing generosity in his family. As an engineer, Sunny knows that measuring and reporting is key to improving, and he’s given that same scrutiny to his stewardship; he and his family check on the
Generosity 02: Watch Out for Greed!
Accumulation and acquisition are often celebrated as the path to security and happiness, but Jesus warns against the broken human desire to always want more. In Episode 02 of the Generosity Season, John Mark and Christian Dawson explore how Jesus’ way of generosity can set us free from enslavement to greed and slowly train our hearts to be deeply happy and content. Learn how the pursuit of posses
Generosity Testimonial 01: Jim and Jan
Jim and Jan faithfully tithed over the years, but their vision for generosity was dramatically expanded through a Generous Giving conference. After hearing Jesus’ counterintuitive words on money and listening to testimonials from people who’d given over $100 million over their lifetime, they left with a deep conviction that everything they had was truly God’s, and that stewarding those resources w
Generosity 01: There is More Joy in Giving Than Receiving
The practice of generosity, and specifically our open-handedness with money, is not a peripheral issue in the teachings of Jesus. It is a central aspect of our apprenticeship to him. It is also a counterintuitive pathway to joy.Jesus’ teaching on money and possessions sound absurd or even reckless to our modern ears. Yet social science over the last few decades attests to his wisdom: Generous peop
Solitude 06: Question + Response
How often should I practice solitude? What if I don’t have a good time or the right place to practice solitude? What if solitude makes me more anxious? These are all questions that you, our audience, wanted help with! Join John Mark Comer, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin on this final Question and Response episode of season 4 of the Rule of Life podcast. You may just hear the question you asked
Solitude 05: Encountering Our God with Emily P. Freeman
In this podcast season so far, we’ve discussed two encounters that we may experience during solitude — an encounter with ourselves and an encounter with God. In this final interview of the season, John Mark Comer and Bryan Rouanzoin interview Emily P. Freeman about how solitude enables us to encounter the living God. Through this encounter, we can experience his presence, hear his voice, and witne
Solitude 04: Encountering Our Enemies with Ken Shigematsu
In solitude, we not only encounter ourselves and who we are before God, we also encounter the voices of others. We can be met with fear, regret, and external voices that may be challenging to distinguish from God or ourselves. Is this why solitude can be so challenging? How can we tell the difference between God’s voice and the voice of the enemy? Why does solitude and silence facilitate this enco
Solitude 03: Encountering Our Self with Bethany Allen
Solitude is a place of encounter, where we confront the reality of who we are before God. There are so many voices, including our own false selves, that we use to curate who we are. But in solitude, we encounter our true selves — created and loved by God. And we are free to bring all of our selves before God for healing, prayer, and reflection. In episode 2 of the Solitude season, John Mark Comer
Solitude 02: The Quiet Place with John Ortberg
Jesus regularly oscillated between rich time in community and beautiful time connecting with God in solitude in the eremos. The “quiet place” was an intentional space Jesus entered to be alone with God and himself. As apprentices of Jesus, we desperately need to set aside time for this too.In episode 1 of the Solitude season, Bethany Allen and John Mark Comer interview John Ortberg. John Ortberg i
Solitude 01: An Introduction to the Solitude Practice
Our world is noisier than it’s ever been. Between noise pollution, our phones, and the digital era we live in, it is now possible to be alone but never truly be alone. Solitude has essentially disappeared from our modern world. And yet, Jesus prioritized solitude. In the first episode of the Solitude season, Bethany Allen and Bryan Rouanzoin interview John Mark Comer about the practice of solitude
Luminary Interview: Dr. Alison Cook
After discussing the ancient practice of fasting — its origins, practicalities, and benefits — the questions still remain: What about those of us with a history of disordered eating? Or a medical condition that prevents us from fasting? How do I know if it is healthy for me to fast? Am I missing out if I struggle in this way? This final episode of the Fasting series dives into these questions alon
Fasting 04: To Stand with the Poor
Does a practice like fasting matter in the face of injustice and evil in the world? Can fasting really change any of it? If so, how?For the fourth week of our Fasting series, pastor and writer, Tyler Staton joins John Mark Comer, Yinka Dawson, and Jarin Oda to talk about three key characteristics of biblical justice, the differences between standing for and with the poor, and how fasting is a powe
Fasting 03: To Amplify Our Prayers
Last week, we heard a story of miraculous, physical healing through prayer and fasting. But how does fasting heal communities? Generations? Systems? What is the effect of fasting outside of individuals? In this episode, our roundtable is joined by South African church planter Chris Wienand. Chris shares his experience in fasting and praying during Apartheid rule in South Africa, the opportunity fo
Fasting 02: To Grow in Holiness
Do you have a theology of the body? Many of us Western followers of Jesus have been formed to separate our bodies from our spirituality. But fasting might be the discipline we’ve been missing — a way to integrate our faith and our bodies and bring our whole self before God. To sanctify our souls as we fight sin in the flesh. In episode 2, John Mark Comer, Yinka Dawson, and Jarin Oda are joined by
Fasting 01: To Offer Ourselves to God
Fasting is arguably one of the most neglected spiritual practices in the Western world. Disciples of Jesus and non-Christians alike have so many questions: What is fasting? How can I practice in a healthy way? What about body shame and eating disorders? Is it mandated in the Scriptures? Where do I start?Join us for episode 1 of the Fasting series, where we hear a roundtable discussion with John Ma
Luminary Interview: Strahan Coleman
In this final episode of season 2 of the Rule of Life podcast, we are joined by Strahan Coleman for a conversation on experiencing God, the differences between the fruits of the spirit and the gifts of the spirit, the dangers of depersonalizing God, and how to bring ourselves to silence. Strahan Coleman is an award winning musician, poet, writer, and spiritual director from Aotearoa New Zealand. H
Luminary Interview: Jonathan Tremaine Thomas
How should we exist in the tension between contemplation and action? Between listening and speaking? Between public and private? Where do our thoughts and prayers enter in? Join us for a conversation with luminary thinker, Jonathan Tremaine Thomas. This conversation covers contemplative activism, praying in the spirit, and the communion with God found in fasting. Jonathan Tremaine Thomas is a past
Prayer 04: Being With God
What is it to simply be with God? What does it look like? What does it feel like? In this discussion on the fourth movement of prayer, you’ll hear what it means to go from talking to God, talking with God, and listening to God…to being with God. Existing together in his presence…free from any words at all. This episode features wisdom from Rich Villodas and Strahan Coleman as well as everyday appr
Prayer 03: Listening to God
Have you ever wondered: Does God still speak? If he does, how does he speak? And what is he saying? How can I know that it’s him?In the last two episodes of the series, we learned about talking to God and talking with God. And like in many contexts in our modern world, we are better at talking than we are at listening. So what does it look like to listen to God? To hear his voice? In this third mo
Prayer 02: Talking With God
If you have any amount of experience with prayer, you probably have questions. Why does God answer some of my prayers and not others? Why does God wait to answer my prayers? If Jesus came to seek and save the lost and if prayer is powerful, then why doesn’t God seem to answer prayers for my lost friends and family? These questions can compound into confusion about God Himself and eventually lead u
Prayer 01: Talking to God
In Luke 11, the very first disciples of Jesus ask him something profound. They don't ask Him how to heal the sick, or how to perform miracles, or how to gain salvation. They ask Jesus something simpler: to teach them to pray. In this second season of the Rule of Life podcast, John Mark Comer is joined by Gemma Ryan, Reward Sibanda and Tyler Staton for a conversation on four different movements
Luminary Interview: Andy Crouch
In this final episode of season one of the Rule of Life podcast, you will hear an interview with luminary thinker, Andy Crouch. Topically, this conversation covers a wide range - touching on topics like the spiritual implications of labor saving devices, modern magic, Sabbath, and the truth about human desires.Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as
Luminary Interview: Tish Harrison Warren
In previous episodes of the Rule of Life podcast, listeners tune in to a roundtable discussion as well as audio-snippets from luminary thinkers, pastors, and apprentices who are following Jesus in the every day. Featured in the Sabbath series (season 1) is luminary thinker, Tish Harrison Warren. This episode of the Rule of Life podcast is the interview between John Mark and Tish in its entirety. I
Sabbath 04: Worship / Whole Life Orientation Toward God
What do you worship? And are you sure? Often times we have a narrow view of what worship is. We think that worship is just singing songs at the front end of a church service, but how do we orient our whole lives toward worship? In this fourth roundtable discussion, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan discuss the fourth movement, the climax, of sabbath. This discussion on worship is accompanied by clips
Sabbath 03: Delight / The Joy of Sabbath in Community
In a delight deficient culture, what does it look like to delight in God? Is delight different from happiness? What does delight have to do with practicing the sabbath? In this third episode of the sabbath series, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan dive into the third movement through the lens of one core reality: God is joyful. These podcasts accompany nine Practices developed by Practicing the Way. T
Sabbath 02: Rest / An Act of Resistance
When you hear the word rest, what comes to mind? Relief? Pressure? Familiarity? Foreignness? In this second episode of the sabbath series, John Mark, Bethany, and Bryan answer two ever-present questions: what is rest? And why is rest so hard? Alongside the wisdom of luminary thinkers and every day followers of Jesus, they discuss this second movement of Sabbath through the lens of external and int
Sabbath 01: Stop / The Rhythm of Creation
What does it mean to stop in an ever-moving, always quickening, “just a bit more” culture? In this first episode of the Sabbath series, John Mark Comer, Bethany Allen, and Bryan Rouanzoin take a deep dive into the spiritual significance and soul-wide implications of stopping. They’re joined by the wisdom of Rich Villodas and Tish Harrison Warren, as well as the personal testimonies of everyday app
Trailer
What is a Rule of Life? Whether you know it or not, you already have a Rule of Life. You already have rhythms by which you map your days and live. But is this rule working for you or against you?Listen to this trailer to hear a brief overview of the ancient church model of a Rule of Life, as well as to learn what’s coming from the Rule of Life podcast. And stay tuned for Season 1: Sabbath.This wor
