In a post-Christian West grappling with a profound crisis of discipleship—where 63 percent of Americans identify as Christian yet only 4 percent live as active apprentices—John Mark Comer offers a timely and necessary intervention. Drawing from decades spent working out what it means to follow Jesus, the New York Times bestselling author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry issues a compelling call to re-evaluate the very essence of faith. Comer’s central thesis is a provocative re-centering of the faith: Jesus’s primary invitation was not to a belief system called "Christianity," but to a life of apprenticeship. The book’s central challenge is its sharp distinction between the modern, often passive identity of a "Christian" and the active, intentional life of an "apprentice," arguing that genuine transformation is possible when we arrange our lives around the same practices and rhythms that Jesus himself followed.

The path Comer outlines is the core curriculum of this apprenticeship, structured around the three driving goals of a first-century disciple: to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. This framework is designed to resonate with a broad readership, from those new to faith and counting the cost, to existing Christians seeking greater intentionality, and even to longtime followers who feel spiritually stagnant, offering each a tangible pathway beyond passive belief toward intentional formation. Practicing the Way ultimately addresses the perennial questions of discipleship: How does one bridge the gap between intellectual belief and embodied practice? And in a culture of relentless hurry, what does it truly mean to be intentionally formed by Jesus rather than unintentionally manipulated by the liturgies of digital distraction?