Take a casual survey of how people practice their faith, and you might reasonably conclude that Jesus spent his life going door to door offering private lessons, complete with chalkboard and pop quizzes. We think about God in the comfort of our own minds, in isolation from one another; meanwhile the world waits for a people to practice the way of Jesus together. Mark Scandrette contends that Jesus has in mind something more lively for us: not a classroom so much as a kingdom, where our formation takes place not only in our heads but in our hearts and our bodies, and in the company of one another, in a way that blesses the world we've been entrusted with. In Practicing the Way of Jesus Scandrette draws from his experience as a spiritual director and leader of an intentional community, as well as the best contemporary thinking on kingdom spirituality, to paint a picture of life lived together, in the way of Jesus--which is another way of saying life lived to the full.
Practicing the Way of Jesus
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"In Practicing the Way of Jesus Mark Scandrette has brought together a remarkable array of stories, ideas and practical exercises that will enable us all to engage our faith more holistically. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a more kingdom-focused, justice-oriented approach to spiritual formation." (Christine Sine, author, activist and executive director of Mustard Seed Associates)
"This book provides something we urgently need today: a practice-based approach to spiritual formation. It is an honest account of someone, and several someones, who actually tried to do the things Jesus taught us to do. This book is inspiring because it shows a willingness to take risks, and is honest at the same time. Focusing on practice can tend toward legalism, but Mark avoids any hint of legalism by stressing the inner character over the outer action and, as he puts it so beautifully, not merely engaging in pious practices, but 'learning to dance to God's song.' In an age when we talk more about spirituality than we practice it, this book will provide us a healthy balance. It is a much-needed approach to Christian formation for the current generation and beyond." (James Bryan Smith, author of The Apprentice Series)
"We often think that spiritual formation is following the way of Jesus and abiding 'in' him. However, the author helps us to see that spiritual formation is to live 'out' the way of Jesus who abides in us. Our ultimate goal of spiritual formation is to be more like Jesus through our spiritual exercises and practices. This practical manual of spiritual formation will help you to be a little Jesus." (Rev. Joshua Choonmin Kang, author, Scripture by Heart and Deep-Rooted in Christ, and senior pastor, New Life Vision Church, Los Angeles, California)
"I am convinced that God's good news spreads best, not through force, but through fascination. Mark Scandrette is fascinating. He lives with imagination and beauty. He is a poet and artist. But he is not just about creative thinking; he is about creative living. His book is an invitation to love creatively and recklessly, so that we might do something to interrupt the status quo, surprise the world with God's goodness and fascinate the world with grace." (Shane Claiborne, author, preacher, activist and recovering sinner, www.thesimpleway.org)
"It has been a long time since I was this stirred and humbled by a book. Mark Scandrette is a voice for all who are 'sensing a pull towards a spirituality that is more holistic, integrative and socially engaged.' This inspiring leader of an intentional community gives me deep hope for the future. Reading this book I felt personally moved to be more intentional about living my life the way Jesus would live my life if he were me." (Gary W. Moon, Ph.D., Vice President and Chair of Integration, Richmont Graduate University, and author of Apprenticeship with Jesus)
"Wow. A beatnik Tolstoy who makes 'overcoming temptation' seem like a potentially playful enterprise. This book is full of examples of how a community might embody faith. It's immensely practical and inspiring." (Debbie Blue, author of Sensual Orthodoxy and From Stone to Living Word)
"Mark Scandrette has been a great inspiration to me for years now. In his latest book he gave me goose bumps just thinking about the possibilities that could arise if a group of people really did find a space where they could work out the vision and teachings of Jesus together in real life. Practical, wise, thoughtful and grace-filled, this book is a gift." (Michael Frost, author, Exiles, ReJesus and The Faith of Leap (with Alan Hirsch))
"Mark Scandrette is better than most in helping us move our faith from a thought to a lifestyle. In a magnetic and compelling way, he offers us an irresistible invitation to open our lives to the many ways in which we can follow Jesus. Reading about his 'experiments' in faith makes you close the book and think, 'I can do this! I want to do this!'" (Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God: An Unexpected Journey Through Tattoos, Tofu and Pronouns)
"This book provides something we urgently need today: a practice-based approach to spiritual formation. It is an honest account of someone, and several someones, who actually tried to do the things Jesus taught us to do. This book is inspiring because it shows a willingness to take risks, and is honest at the same time. Focusing on practice can tend toward legalism, but Mark avoids any hint of legalism by stressing the inner character over the outer action and, as he puts it so beautifully, not merely engaging in pious practices, but 'learning to dance to God's song.' In an age when we talk more about spirituality than we practice it, this book will provide us a healthy balance. It is a much-needed approach to Christian formation for the current generation and beyond." (James Bryan Smith, author of The Apprentice Series)
"We often think that spiritual formation is following the way of Jesus and abiding 'in' him. However, the author helps us to see that spiritual formation is to live 'out' the way of Jesus who abides in us. Our ultimate goal of spiritual formation is to be more like Jesus through our spiritual exercises and practices. This practical manual of spiritual formation will help you to be a little Jesus." (Rev. Joshua Choonmin Kang, author, Scripture by Heart and Deep-Rooted in Christ, and senior pastor, New Life Vision Church, Los Angeles, California)
"I am convinced that God's good news spreads best, not through force, but through fascination. Mark Scandrette is fascinating. He lives with imagination and beauty. He is a poet and artist. But he is not just about creative thinking; he is about creative living. His book is an invitation to love creatively and recklessly, so that we might do something to interrupt the status quo, surprise the world with God's goodness and fascinate the world with grace." (Shane Claiborne, author, preacher, activist and recovering sinner, www.thesimpleway.org)
"It has been a long time since I was this stirred and humbled by a book. Mark Scandrette is a voice for all who are 'sensing a pull towards a spirituality that is more holistic, integrative and socially engaged.' This inspiring leader of an intentional community gives me deep hope for the future. Reading this book I felt personally moved to be more intentional about living my life the way Jesus would live my life if he were me." (Gary W. Moon, Ph.D., Vice President and Chair of Integration, Richmont Graduate University, and author of Apprenticeship with Jesus)
"Wow. A beatnik Tolstoy who makes 'overcoming temptation' seem like a potentially playful enterprise. This book is full of examples of how a community might embody faith. It's immensely practical and inspiring." (Debbie Blue, author of Sensual Orthodoxy and From Stone to Living Word)
"Mark Scandrette has been a great inspiration to me for years now. In his latest book he gave me goose bumps just thinking about the possibilities that could arise if a group of people really did find a space where they could work out the vision and teachings of Jesus together in real life. Practical, wise, thoughtful and grace-filled, this book is a gift." (Michael Frost, author, Exiles, ReJesus and The Faith of Leap (with Alan Hirsch))
"Mark Scandrette is better than most in helping us move our faith from a thought to a lifestyle. In a magnetic and compelling way, he offers us an irresistible invitation to open our lives to the many ways in which we can follow Jesus. Reading about his 'experiments' in faith makes you close the book and think, 'I can do this! I want to do this!'" (Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God: An Unexpected Journey Through Tattoos, Tofu and Pronouns)
Review
"In Practicing the Way of Jesus Mark Scandrette has brought together a remarkable array of stories, ideas and practical exercises that will enable us all to engage our faith more holistically. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a more kingdom-focused, justice-oriented approach to spiritual formation." (Christine Sine, author, activist and executive director of Mustard Seed Associates )
'I am convinced that God's good news spreads best, not through force, but through fascination. Mark Scandrette is fascinating. He lives with imagination and beauty. He is a poet and artist. But he is not just about creative thinking, he is about creative living. His book is an invitation to love creatively and recklessly, so that we might do something to interrupt the status quo, surprise the world with God's goodness and fascinate the world with grace.'
—Shane Claiborne, author, preacher, activist and recovering sinner, www.thesimpleway.org
'It has been a long time since I was this stirred and humbled by a book. Mark Scandrette is a voice for all who are 'sensing a pull towards a spirituality that is more holistic, integrative and socially engaged.' This inspiring leader of an intentional community gives me deep hope for the future. Reading this book I felt personally moved to be more intentional about living my life the way Jesus would live my life if he were me.'
—Gary W. Moon, Ph.D., Vice President and Chair of Integration, Richmont Graduate University, and author of Apprenticeship with Jesus
'Mark Scandrette is better than most in helping us move our faith from a thought to a lifestyle. In a magnetic and compelling way, he offers us an irresistible invitation to open our lives to the many ways in which we can follow Jesus. Reading about his 'experiments' in faith makes you close the book and think, 'I can do this! I want to do this!''
—Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God: An Unexpected Journey Through Tattoos, Tofu and Pronouns
'I am convinced that God's good news spreads best, not through force, but through fascination. Mark Scandrette is fascinating. He lives with imagination and beauty. He is a poet and artist. But he is not just about creative thinking, he is about creative living. His book is an invitation to love creatively and recklessly, so that we might do something to interrupt the status quo, surprise the world with God's goodness and fascinate the world with grace.'
—Shane Claiborne, author, preacher, activist and recovering sinner, www.thesimpleway.org
'It has been a long time since I was this stirred and humbled by a book. Mark Scandrette is a voice for all who are 'sensing a pull towards a spirituality that is more holistic, integrative and socially engaged.' This inspiring leader of an intentional community gives me deep hope for the future. Reading this book I felt personally moved to be more intentional about living my life the way Jesus would live my life if he were me.'
—Gary W. Moon, Ph.D., Vice President and Chair of Integration, Richmont Graduate University, and author of Apprenticeship with Jesus
'Mark Scandrette is better than most in helping us move our faith from a thought to a lifestyle. In a magnetic and compelling way, he offers us an irresistible invitation to open our lives to the many ways in which we can follow Jesus. Reading about his 'experiments' in faith makes you close the book and think, 'I can do this! I want to do this!''
—Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God: An Unexpected Journey Through Tattoos, Tofu and Pronouns
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a friend-- now an earnest Christian-- who occasionally tells the story of his spiritual journey. Though he was born into Christianity, he wasn't very involved in church while he was growing up. In college, he engaged an exhaustive investigation of world religions, after which he joined a group of Tibetan Buddhists in his town. After several years, he came to a point of personal crisis in his life where he was not involved in Buddhism and did no meditation at all for over one year. At which point he declared that he was no longer Buddhist, because he wasn't practicing. And, as he says, a Buddhist who is not a practicing Buddhist is not a Buddhist at all.
I remind myself of this story frequently, because it reminds me of something obvious that I nevertheless missed for most of my life: Christianity is a set of practices. Like the other Eastern religions of the time, Jesus intended to lead people into a life that put into practice his teachings. He called people to `follow' him, even more in his deeds than in his words. He promised salvation not to those who gave ascent to his teachings, but to those who did what he said. In my years of pondering this, I've come to wish we possessed a term like `practicing Christian' to underscore the importance of this oft-ignored truth.
Mark Scandrette's new book Practicing the Way of Jesus put this issue front-and-center for me. In both his words and in the actions that he describes, Mark is a person who puts Jesus` teachings into practice. And in so doing, he sidesteps many of the trappings of the folk-religion that passes as Christianity, and many of the theological debates that inoculate us against the power for life transformation that Jesus offers. This book posits Jesus as more about ethics and worldview than theology and doctrine. It claims that Jesus was living in a way, rather than just reciting teaching. And that when he was teaching, Jesus was teaching things that were meant to be performed, rather than memorized or displayed in cross-stitch. It shows Jesus as a sage whose followers were doing just that-- following him, in word and in action.
I remind myself of this story frequently, because it reminds me of something obvious that I nevertheless missed for most of my life: Christianity is a set of practices. Like the other Eastern religions of the time, Jesus intended to lead people into a life that put into practice his teachings. He called people to `follow' him, even more in his deeds than in his words. He promised salvation not to those who gave ascent to his teachings, but to those who did what he said. In my years of pondering this, I've come to wish we possessed a term like `practicing Christian' to underscore the importance of this oft-ignored truth.
Mark Scandrette's new book Practicing the Way of Jesus put this issue front-and-center for me. In both his words and in the actions that he describes, Mark is a person who puts Jesus` teachings into practice. And in so doing, he sidesteps many of the trappings of the folk-religion that passes as Christianity, and many of the theological debates that inoculate us against the power for life transformation that Jesus offers. This book posits Jesus as more about ethics and worldview than theology and doctrine. It claims that Jesus was living in a way, rather than just reciting teaching. And that when he was teaching, Jesus was teaching things that were meant to be performed, rather than memorized or displayed in cross-stitch. It shows Jesus as a sage whose followers were doing just that-- following him, in word and in action.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Rob Boyd
Format:Paperback
PRACTICING THE WAY OF JESUS: Life Together in the Kingdom of Love.
This is a "first person account" book. And just as the "EVANGELISM EXPLOSION" program taught us many years ago that "evangelism is more caught than taught", so today this book reminds us that the way of Jesus must be practiced to be understood. And here also we are reminded that in our holistically-oriented culture today, skeptical people are curious to see whether Christian belief and practice actually make a difference in the character of a person's life.
It is a practical approach to spiritual formation that is serious about Scripture, action-focused, communal, experiential, and connected to real world challenges and opportunities. I have served the Lord for over 50 years of ministry with the Baptist General Conference and for about the last 20 years I have had the privilege of knowing personally Mark Scandrette and his family and of witnessing this ministry first hand. In that light I can assure you that this book is a "first person account", it is indeed a true and accurate description of the daily life and ministry of Mark and his family. Mark has not only written the words he shares with you here, he lives them.
Rev. Robert M. Boyd - Director of Church and Pastoral Vitality
Minnesota Iowa Baptist Conference, St. Paul, MN 55112
This is a "first person account" book. And just as the "EVANGELISM EXPLOSION" program taught us many years ago that "evangelism is more caught than taught", so today this book reminds us that the way of Jesus must be practiced to be understood. And here also we are reminded that in our holistically-oriented culture today, skeptical people are curious to see whether Christian belief and practice actually make a difference in the character of a person's life.
It is a practical approach to spiritual formation that is serious about Scripture, action-focused, communal, experiential, and connected to real world challenges and opportunities. I have served the Lord for over 50 years of ministry with the Baptist General Conference and for about the last 20 years I have had the privilege of knowing personally Mark Scandrette and his family and of witnessing this ministry first hand. In that light I can assure you that this book is a "first person account", it is indeed a true and accurate description of the daily life and ministry of Mark and his family. Mark has not only written the words he shares with you here, he lives them.
Rev. Robert M. Boyd - Director of Church and Pastoral Vitality
Minnesota Iowa Baptist Conference, St. Paul, MN 55112
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Brian Hui
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The greatest irony for a book like this would be an overly heady book about "practicing the way of Jesus." Yet on the other side of the pendulum, a book that was so specific would risk being reductionistic and legalistic. What I've found here in Mark's book is the 'third way.' An approach that is deeply theological, aware of history & tradition, and unabashedly Jesus-focused...and at the same time, taking serious the idea that the way of Jesus is an actual "way", that Jesus' words weren't simply meant to be studied and tossed around but to be followed, obeyed, and lived out.
More specifically, what you'll find here is a "handbook" of sorts that is the culmination of years of actual practice with Mark's Christian spirituality center in SF, Reimagine. You'll find the inspiration and the philosophy behind an embodied, lived-out form of spiritual formation here. But the greatest helps are the actual experiments that Reimagine uses/used. They help you imagine how you might start a Jesus Dojo on your own. And in-between, you find helpful comments that reveal that the successes, failures, and evolution of these groups as they've been practiced over time. And for a book whose purpose is to get your faith on its feet, on the streets, you could not ask for more.
More specifically, what you'll find here is a "handbook" of sorts that is the culmination of years of actual practice with Mark's Christian spirituality center in SF, Reimagine. You'll find the inspiration and the philosophy behind an embodied, lived-out form of spiritual formation here. But the greatest helps are the actual experiments that Reimagine uses/used. They help you imagine how you might start a Jesus Dojo on your own. And in-between, you find helpful comments that reveal that the successes, failures, and evolution of these groups as they've been practiced over time. And for a book whose purpose is to get your faith on its feet, on the streets, you could not ask for more.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshingly Innovative
Spiritual formation material can tend to be inward focused. Jesus formed his disciples in community and through shared practice. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read! very practical
I first heard about this idea of 'experiments' in living out the teachings of Jesus through an article by Scandrette in the recent CONVERSATIONS journal. Read more
Published 3 months ago by K. Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring Practice...
'"...the One in whom we live warns us that it is foolish to live cautiously (Matt 25:14-30) and calls us away from the safety and conventions of our kingdoms into the mystery and... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Lori D Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Something to be experienced
Read this book and you'll enjoy it. Put it into practice and you, your group, and/or your community will never be the same. There is a lot of talk in the world. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Ryan Walton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great insights from a thinker AND practitioner of faith
Mark Scandrette has written a book that allows the reader to engage on many levels. It is transparent about his own faith walk, clear about the need to push ourselves, and clever... Read more
Published 22 months ago by JunkyardWisdom
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Way of Jesus and All That Jazz
This review appeared at [...]
I first came across Mark Scandrette's writings earlier this year. Read more
I first came across Mark Scandrette's writings earlier this year. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Joseph Paparone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Field manual for following it the ways of Jesus
This is an awesome book for those who are serious about following in the ways of Jesus, I could not put it down, read it in two days. Read more
Published 23 months ago by david
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful & Practical
This book is about real life, not theory or abstract theology. What would it look like for followers of Jesus to band together and seek to follow the way of life that Jesus taught... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Nate Millheim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Freedom to experiment
Practicing the Way of Jesus: Life Together in the Kingdom of Love is a book for spiritual seekers everywhere! Read more
Published 23 months ago by Christopher Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tangible and entertaining
Practicing the Way of Jesus is a powerful tool for people who want to be more head on about being a disciple. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Stian Aarebrot
