John Mark Comer: What Constant Noise Is Doing to Your Soul

Watch our Extra Innings conversation on Patreon, where John Mark Comer shares his evolving views on women in church leadership and the questions he’s still wrestling with: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintherawWhat is constant noise doing to our souls? And why can being alone with God feel so uncomfortable?John Mark Comer joins Preston to discuss his latest book, Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise. We explore how noise affects our capacity to love God and others, what surfaced during John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat, and why silence often brings us face-to-face with the pain we’ve been avoiding.John Mark also shares why quiet doesn’t come naturally to him, how to practice solitude within the demands of everyday life, the difference between solitude and loneliness, and the surprising structure of the small church he helps pastor.John Mark Comer is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including Practicing the Way, which was named the 2025 Christian Book of the Year by the ECPA, and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into over 20 languages. His latest book is Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise, which forms the basis of our conversation. John Mark is a pastor and the founder of Practicing the Way, an organization working to see the renewal of apprenticeship to Jesus in our time.CHAPTERS00:00 Why solitude is so hard00:49 Introducing John Mark Comer03:57 Running, ministry, and friendship07:24 Why your body matters for spiritual formation10:27 Writing theology that people can understand12:53 Noise is a threat to our souls13:48 Sponsors15:45 How noise affects our bodies and relationships21:47 John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat24:32 What we learn when distractions are stripped away27:36 Jesus’ rhythm of retreat and return30:49 Becoming a person of quiet in an anxious world34:45 Solitude for busy people and extroverts38:39 Finding quiet within the life you actually have42:08 The difference between solitude and loneliness44:56 Inside John Mark’s small church community47:51 Extra Innings: Women in church leadership

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