This Fall CGLC is immersing itself in the apprenticeship tools provided by The Practicing the Way Course. The course aligns heavily with our values and our leadership feels Holy Spirit-led to this opportunity. We will learn, and practice, the Way of Jesus together. It begins with a fall Preaching series supported by weekly small group studies, then you'll have practices and exercises to integrate the way of Jesus into your everyday life.

PTW Update From Dan (8/10/25)

What is practicing the Way?

The earliest followers of Jesus weren’t called Christians; rather, they were followers of “the Way” (see Acts 9:2), which was Jesus’s way of life. To be disciples of Jesus, we need to become his apprentices, following his way, including his spiritual practices; hence, Practicing the Way.

Practicing the Way (the organization) has created resources, including books, courses, and podcasts, to help our community be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did in accessible, faithful, historically rooted ways that align with CGLC's values.

How do we live into our values?

Be with Jesus—Become like him—Do as he did

What if we could See, Love, Serve, and Teach people the way Jesus did, because we’re becoming more like him? We believe that tools provided by Practicing the Way, in concert with the Holy Spirit, can move us in this direction.

Practicing the Way Preaching series: September 21–November 23

The Practicing the Way Course (8 Weeks): September 21–November 16

How do I participate in Practicing the Way?

If you’re in a group:
Group leaders can run the course by signing up for an account at PracticingtheWay.org and accessing the free tools. Your group members will also want an account to rewatch videos, catch up on any weeks they may have missed, and have access to digital guides and other resources like the Rule of Life Builder.

If you need a group:
CGLC is recruiting leaders to run the course on different days and times for an 8-week period. Sign up now for the Practicing the Way Course in Church Center to be the first to know when these dates and times become available.

If you can’t make a group work:
Our intent is to use the PTW tools to help us live into our values. If you can’t make a group work, you won’t be left behind! We’ll be preaching through the concepts and weaving the practices into our congregational life. We would recommend reading the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer (if you’re a reader), and if not, consider the 5-day reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app for a simple introduction. There is also an audiobook and podcasts available. Find on Amazon.

Any other questions? Reach out to Director of Discipleship Dan Lugo at or visit practicingtheway.org.

FAQ (Answered by Dan Lugo)

Q: If I'm taking The Practicing the Way Course, should I buy the book, the Companion Guide, or both? Do I need to buy either of them?
A: You will need a copy of the Companion Guide, because it is the workbook for the Course; it will help you follow along, as well as keep track of your thoughts and learnings, as serves as a handy reference guide for what you've experienced. You can either buy a copy or access it digitally for free.
The book, Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer is optional. For people who love to read, it's really great. But the Course and Companion Guide were designed to go together.

Q: What is the course like? Is there homework?
A: The Course follows this pattern: Learn > Practice > Reflect > Process Together
Each week you will Learn via video teaching on a topic, discussing relevant questions to the teaching material in groups of 3-4 called triads. You will have a Practice for homework (like a Spiritual Health Assessment, a Formation Audit, Prayer, Sabbath, Scripture, etc.) to complete. The Course will be as helpful to you as the intention that you put into these practices. Entering in with a mindset that this will require effort will be a good way to begin.
Before returning you will Reflect on the practice from the previous week in your workbook or journal and then Process Together in your triads what you've experienced and how you are experiencing Jesus through it.

Q: What do I do after the course?
A: The culmination of the course involves creating a "Rule of Life," or a set of practices you commit to for further formation in your life with Jesus. Your particular rule of life will more or less dictate what comes next, because you are being intentional about your spiritual life. It is intended to fit into your life where you are, not where you want to be, and is a helpful step in cultivating lifelong discipleship to Jesus.
If you find that you're really loving structured spiritual formation, Practicing the Way offers 4-week in-depth small group Practices that dive deeply into the 9 spiritual practices covered in the Course; so if you're really intrigued with the idea of fasting I'd love to help you lead a 4-week study and practice on fasting.
Additionally, if you're super excited about spiritual formation, we're discussing the possibility of a Spiritual Formation Cohort, which would last 9-12 months. Contact me ( ) if that gets you excited!