This year, almost 200 CGLC members participated in The Practicing the Way Course, making time and space to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. We also preached through a series, The Way of Jesus, addressing many facets of what being an apprentice of Jesus looks like, and which areas of our lives that should affect. The stories have been coming in, and people have really responded to Jesus' invitation to be with him, letting him change their lives!

For those of you who haven't yet taken the course, there are more opportunities, beginning January 18. Sign up today!

And if you have taken the course?
Practicing the Way has developed 4-week courses on each of the 9 practices of Jesus. We will offer opportunities to participate in those early 2026, or your existing group can run these courses at any time through practicingtheway.org.

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.

The Practicing the Way Course (8 Weeks): January 18–March 8, 2026

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! Check out our YouTube preaching series, The Way of Jesus. 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.

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 purchase a book for $15 while supplies last when you register through Church Center.
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. Ideally, you will live this Rule out within Community, one you've developed through the 8 weeks.

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; for example, 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, beginning in Fall 2026. Contact me ( ) if that gets you excited!