Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
In this episode we discuss John Mark Comer's teaching on abiding in Christ. We show that he draws on practices from church history rather than the means of grace. One example of this is "practicing the presence of God" as taught by Brother Lawrence. These practices are appealing to unbelievers, but they aren't biblical means of grace and have no promises attached to them. We contrast that with the biblical definition of "abiding" as found in First John 4:12-16. When we are born again through the preaching of the gospel God abides in us and we abide in Him, but it distinctively Christian and grounded in the gospel. Those who are truly abiding in Christ will testify about Him.
A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 19 - Dangerous Deluding Practices from Church History
This is a critique of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, WaterBrook, 2024.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Resources:
First John Sermons:
https://www.ggf.church/sermons/_scripture/1-john
What Shall We Practice?
Wrestling with Brother Lawrence's Concept of Practicing the Presence of God
cicministry.org/commentary/issue97b.htm
In this episode we discuss John Mark Comer's teaching on abiding in Christ. We show that he draws on practices from church history rather than the means of grace. One example of this is "practicing the presence of God" as taught by Brother Lawrence. These practices are appealing to unbelievers, but they aren't biblical means of grace and have no promises attached to them. We contrast that with the biblical definition of "abiding" as found in First John 4:12-16. When we are born again through the preaching of the gospel God abides in us and we abide in Him, but it distinctively Christian and grounded in the gospel. Those who are truly abiding in Christ will testify about Him.
A Critique of Practicing the Way, Part 19 - Dangerous Deluding Practices from Church History
This is a critique of Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, WaterBrook, 2024.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Resources:
First John Sermons:
https://www.ggf.church/sermons/_scripture/1-john
What Shall We Practice?
Wrestling with Brother Lawrence's Concept of Practicing the Presence of God
cicministry.org/commentary/issue97b.htm
