Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer

What happens when you can’t be alone with your own mind?
Welcome to a new series of conversations with John Mark and friends about following Jesus out of the overwhelming noise of modern life and into the silent, still presence of the God of peace. In this conversation, John Mark and John Ortberg—a pastor and seasoned guide on spiritual formation—explore how the practices of solitude and Scripture support us in facing the ultimate challenge of life: managing our own minds. The conversation is followed by a time of question and response.
This episode is from the Into the Quiet Experience in San Francisco, California, in Fall 2026.
If you’d like to continue exploring what it means to build a life with God in solitude, we have two invitations for you. First, John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. Second, you can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to Ruth from Dallas, Texas; James from Johnston, Iowa; Christian from Aurora, Oregon; Paul from Hiawassee, Georgia; Maddy from Lubbock, Texas. Thank you all very much.
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous. 
Mentioned in this conversation:
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly
Dallas Willard
Edmund Husserl
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Mark Noll

What transformation waits for you in the quiet place?
In this final teaching in our series on the ancient practice of solitude, John Mark shares the ultimate purpose of solitude: an encounter with God that uncovers our identity and reveals our calling.
If you’d like to continue exploring what it means to build a life with God in solitude, we have two invitations for you. First, John Mark’s newest book, Into the Quiet, is now available for preorder at intothequietexperience.com/preorder. Second, you can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com/.
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Ronnie from McKinney, Texas; Jim from Fort Collins, Colorado; Amanda from Millcreek, Utah; Nic from Dallas, Texas; and Tabitha from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thank you all very much.
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous. 
Mentioned in this teaching:
Mark 1:32-39
Invitation to Solitude and Silence: Experiencing God's Transforming Presence by Ruth Haley Barton
Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.

Why does solitude sometimes feel less like rest and more like a battlefield?
In this teaching on the ancient practice of solitude, John Mark reveals what Jesus and the desert fathers and mothers knew: we don't always go into the quiet place to flee the noise of our lives, but to fight the enemies of our souls.
John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Rosalia from Trabuco Canyon, California; Hannah from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, United Kingdom; Eric from Tomball, Texas; Nancy from Edgewood, Washington; and Christian from Fairhope, Alabama. Thank you all very much.
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous. 
Mentioned in this teaching:
Matthew 4:1-11
Talking Back: A Monastic Handbook for Combating Demons by Evagrius Ponticus
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
"Christ in the Wilderness," painting by Moretto da Brescia
Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.

What are we afraid will surface when we leave the noise behind?
In this teaching on the ancient practice of solitude, John Mark invites us to follow Jesus’ path into solitude, where we can give our feelings, desires, and trust to God, and be shaped by His transforming love in return.
John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Jodi from Hillsboro, Oregon; Mallory from Yakima, Washington; Jordan from Robinson, Texas; Lauren from Moreland Hills, Ohio; and Quentin from Wilson, North Carolina. Thank you all very much.
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous. 
Mentioned in this teaching:
Matthew 26:36-46
Matthew 26:36 (cited specifically)
The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen
The Triumph of the Therapeutic by Philip Rieff
Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.

What are we missing by never sitting in the quiet?
Welcome to a new series of teachings on the ancient practice of solitude. Together we’ll explore how to step away from the noise of modern life and into the still, peaceful presence of God. In this teaching, John Mark explains what true solitude with God is, what it isn’t, and what might be waiting for us if we follow Jesus into the quiet place.
John Mark’s newest book Into The Quiet is now available for order at your book provider of choice. You can join John Mark in person for the Into the Quiet Experience, coming to a city near you between now and November 12. Purchase your ticket at intothequietexperience.com.
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Amy from Boulder, Colorado; Elizabeth from San Carlos, California; Catherine from Durham, North Carolina; Maryssa from Lake Oswego, Oregon; and Adam from Edmonds, Washington. Thank you all very much.
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/generous.
Mentioned in this teaching:
Luke 5:15–16
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
Invitation to Silence and Solitude by Ruth Haley Barton
Order your copy of the Solitude Companion Guide at practicingtheway.org/solitude.