In Jesus’ day, his followers were known as “disciples.”  They were kind of like students in that they learned information but Jesus also taught them some very important “how to’s.”  It was a combination of curiosity meeting on-the-job training.  It was an abundant and dynamic life; full of encounters, experiments and exploration as Jesus’ followers became fully immersed in learning how to be like their teacher.
Dallas Willard, a philosophy professor and student of Jesus, writes in his book Renovation of the Heart that, “A disciple is not a person who has things under control, or knows a lot of things.  Disciples simply are people who are constantly revising their affairs to carry through on their decision to follow Jesus.”
Jesus’ followers did this by worshiping, studying, and praying.  They also walked around with Jesus helping people and they even went to weddings and parties and funerals and celebrations and family suppers.  They‘d talk with and care for people from all around and even invite them to come and see what this life with Jesus was like. 

Praxis is Greek for “acts” and it is also the root of our words “practice” and “practical.”  In the book Finding Faith, the author says that a follower of Jesus is a person who lives “in authentic community for the good of the world.”  Life following Jesus is not something we do alone.  It should be real and genuine and this life together should be a good thing.  Not only for ourselves but for everyone (and everything) else God created. Another way to say it might be, “I think I just want to get to know God a little better and get along a little better in this world God created.” Praxis is a time to explore what this means and how it looks and how it feels.  For example, what does prayer look like and feel like?  Do we stand? Do we kneel? How do we pray together and not feel stupid, or feel like dorks? How does it work? Is there a “right way” to pray?  Praxis meets on Thursday nights at 8pm.  Dress comfortably and be ready to practice.

Soup and Study gets our school week started as we continue to consider our life in God and our worship.  It’s really an interactive time for worship preparation.  On Mondays we share a meal (some brown bag it but most eat whatever is served), choose a topic or a Scripture and then our questions and discussions begin to form what Sunday’s worship gathering will look like. It’s a great way to connect with one another and stay connected to the scriptures throughout the week.  It’s like a small group Bible study except you’re free to come and go as your schedule allows.  Soup and Study meets on Mondays for lunch (time TBA) at Howie’s Place (the downstairs café.)  

200 N Russell St West Lafayette, IN 47906 | [765] 743.2371