Soma Austin: Recent Episodes
Soma Austin
Matthew 5:13-14
Look for that Narrow road
Stay on that Narrow Road
Show others the Narrow Road
We are Soma - A FAMILY of SERVANT MISSIONARIES sent to share and show Jesus in all of life.
Hansol Jung reminds us that we must train and learn to live out our new identities in Jesus as a servant.
We are Soma - A Family of Servant Missionaries… sent to share and show the good news of Jesus in all of life!
I Am the Good Shepherd
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Genesis 1v31-2v3: God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [sabbathed] from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested [sabbathed] from all the work of creating that he had done.
Matthew 11:
- One of Jesus’ most famous invitations is from Matthew:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [Mt. 11v28-30]
- I love pastor Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Matthew 11:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Jesus brought the Kingdom - inaugurated the Kingdom, is the kingdom of God
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus Declares and disisplays the Kingdom
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
Jesus Transforms the Kingdom
Israel’s messianic hopes focused on the coming of a military conqueror who would rescue them from their geo-political enemies. That is why they sought to make Jesus king (John 6:15). But Jesus reorients their vision by declaring, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:33-36). 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus transforms the kingdom, showing it is holistic in its nature, redemptive in its mission, and cosmic in its scope.
Jesus shows him what it means to be the King of his Kingdom
Most kings ask their people to give up their life for the King or Kingdom
Jesus lays down his life, sacrifices himself
Most kings want their people to give them everything,
Jesus gave all of himself so that we might have a relationship with God
Jesus endures mocking, wears a crown of thorns, Is lifted up but nailed to a tree, rather than kneeling they spit, instead of Hosana - They Cry Crucify him.
Jesus Purchases the Kingdom - A better way to say that is that Jesus Redeems the Kingdom
Through his victorious death and resurrection, Jesus redeems the kingdom. As he satisfies the wrath of God poured out for those who rebel against his rule, Jesus defeats Satan, sin, and death (Col 2:14-15). He overcomes the world, the flesh, and the Devil by destroying the power of the kingdom of darkness. By redeeming a kingdom people at the cross, Jesus proves himself to be the rightful ruler of the restored kingdom.
Eph 1:3-10
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Jesus brought the Kingdom - inaugurated the Kingdom, is the kingdom of God
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus Displays the Kingdom -He is, Declares and Displays
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan
Jesus transforms the kingdom.
Israel’s messianic hopes focused on the coming of a military conqueror who would rescue them from their geo-political enemies. That is why they sought to make Jesus king (John 6:15). But Jesus reorients their vision by declaring, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:33-36). 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus transforms the kingdom, showing it is holistic in its nature, redemptive in its mission, and cosmic in its scope.
Acts 9:1-19
There is no one that Can’t be saved
Jesus does the saving
Our role is obedience
Grass Roots - Counter Cultural Movement was born. It started among the Jewish people who have been scattered all over the world but no matter where they lived or where they would go - they kept their identity as the family of Abraham.
The Lame Beggar Healed
3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant[b] Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus[c] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Saw each other
Connected with Them
Gave to him as they had recieved
Explanation - Power is from God not from Man 12-13
Acts 2:42-47
Beginning of the church Church - Ekklesia: Gathering of people/assembly
Matthew 16: 13-20
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Jesus was building a people not a
Not a building
Not a program
Not an activity
Devoted to the apostles’ teaching
Fellowship
Communion
Prayer
Hindrances
- God’s Word - Devotion to other things
- Fellowship - Fear of being known - exposing needs/ sharing
- Communion - Individualism I don’t need others. I am better by myself
- Prayer - BUSY Don’t think it is necessary or does anything
EMPOWERED BY HOLY SPIRIT. - Not meant to do on our own power…
- Daily encounter in God’s Word - plan Bible Project, Lectio 365, Bible App
- Being Known - Commitment to DNA regularly knowing others, others knowing you
- Communion with God - Be still and Know. Wait on the Lord.
- Communion with others - MC Meals and other life together
- Prayer - Corporate, On your own, spouse, family, others. Pray for people to be saved… God can do it….
Acts 2:14-41
It is SIMPLE - He does not complicate the Gospel… uses simple terms that can be explained. Uncomplicated, not argumentative, more informative.
It is Scriptural -
In this, Peter’s first sermon, the element of scriptural proof dominates. Three major texts form the framework of the speech: Joel 2:28–32; Ps 16:8–11; 110:1. Echoes of other texts and Old Testament traditions occur as well.
He gives solid biblical reasons to believe in Jesus.
IT IS CHRIST-CENTERED
Acts 1:12 - 26
Waiting on God - Obedience
Waiting on God in Unity
Waiting on God in Prayer
Waiting on God because he is Sovereign
Acts 1: 1-12, 2:1-13
The Holy Spirit gives life - John 3:5-6
The Holy Spirit indwells - John 14:15-18
The Holy Spirit brings fullness - John 4:13-14
The Holy Spirit teaches - John 14:26
The Holy Spirit convicts - John 16:7-8
The Holy Spirit guides - John 16:13
The Holy Spirit transforms - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
The Holy Spirit imparts gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
The Holy Spirit fills - Acts 1:4-5
The Holy Spirit empowers - Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-4
The Holy Spirit helps - John 14: 25-27
The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus - John 15:26
On this Pentecost Sunday, I am asking the Father, together with the Son, and the indwelling, personal presence of God - the Holy Spirit, would fill us, our families and churches - today and every day - with his Holy and loving presence. That we would live dependent upon the Spirit's work in our life. That we would be emboldened and empowered to be His witnesses to the world we live in. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, We are yours; fill us and send us! Amen!
Psalm 103
God is Great - So I don’t have to be in CONTROL
God is Good - So I don’t need other COMFORTS - So don’t need to look elsewhere.
God is Glorious - So I don’t need others APPROVAL - So we don’t have to fear others
God is Gracious - So I don’t have to PERFORM - We don’t have to prove ourselves
Reorient towards Formation
Reorient towards Invitation
Reorient towards Mission
Build our structure
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 1: 21-23
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us)
Mark 10:42-45
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Our friend - Kendrick Banks, shares from John 15:12-17 - helping us See Jesus as a Friend.
What needs do you need Jesus to meet in your life?
Prayer:
Father, will you help me live a life that can’t be explained apart from Jesus and requires the power of the Holy Spirit.
Where/ how do you struggle to see Jesus as a teacher?
Do you need to repent and believe that Jesus is the son of God to come to bring the Kingdom of God and make us right with God?
Commit to being a disciple of Jesus
Reorder your life around him and his purposes for you!
GOD IS MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN TO US. He is showing us what he is like by sending and giving us Jesus.
John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
simply: what God had to say to us was not only or mainly what Jesus said, but who Jesus was and what he did. His words clarified himself and his work. But himself and his work were the main truth God was revealing. “I am the truth,” Jesus said (John 14:6)
God help me see myself the way you see me.
Jesus - show me your Glory and help me experience the love of the Father
Holy Spirit - Unite our church in the love of the Father and Son that others will see them and follow!
Action
- Read a chapter of a Gospel a day for the rest of the year. - Starting Oct 4, begin your day reading one chapter from a Gospel for the next 89 days, starting with Matthew 1.
- Watch The Chosen series - This is series gives us a new way to imagine what Jesus was like. https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen
Grow
Everyone in Soma is encouraged to be part of DNA group. By the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we help one another to Discover Jesus in the Scriptures, Nurture the truths of the gospel in our hearts, and take Action to obey what Jesus calls us to. These groups (three people of the same gender) meet weekly to share what they are learning and how they are growing as believers in Jesus. This is a time to care for one another and bring deep accountability into each other’s lives.
GO
We believe a missional community (MC) is a family of servant missionary’s seeking to make disciples who make disciples. An MC is not primarily a bible study, weekly meeting, mealtime, or a social activist group. Though elements of each are often experienced in an MC (i.e. we will go to Scripture at times for teaching, reproof, correction, and training as when necessary for equipping in good works- 2 Tim. 3:16-17.). An MC is not only any one of those things. MC’s are where we together worship and submit to Jesus in all of life (7 days out of each week) by learning to love one another as family, serve the “least of these” in our midst, and be a witness to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Gather
We gather regularly on Sunday mornings to meet with God and celebrate all that Jesus is for us. We, as a church family, use this time to sing, listen, interact, share and give. Here we emphasize the upward posture of our worship to our Father, the Son (as King) and the Holy Spirit (the one who leads and guides our life). We are sent out, empowered by the Spirit to share and show the gospel with our city. We gather to remind each other of our love for Jesus, and his love for us. We take communion together as physical reminder of the love our Father has for us and the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
Give
We are a people that share our time, talents and treasure. This means we help to serve our body in all the areas mentioned above. We are both free and gifted to do this. Free, because Jesus as King served us with his life, so that we can now serve others with His love and power. Gifted, because God, through Jesus, has made us and given us each unique personality and gifting so that we can bring glory to him by serving others in our community. This means we are generous with our money and our possessions in order that the world can be blessed. We are free to do this because God has shared his greatest riches with us by giving us his Son Jesus.
Reflection Prayers
- Jesus, will you show me where I trust my own works rather than living in the freedom I have in you?
- Holy Spirit show me how I can use my freedom as an opportunity through Love to serve others.
- God, would you help me see me as you see me?
- Father, Son, Holy Spirit - help me see Jesus.
God loves you.
God delights in you.
God looks at you and smiles!
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - AW Tozer
"How God thinks of us is not only more important but infinitely more important. Indeed, how we think of Him is of no importance except in so far as it is related to how He thinks of us." - CS Lewis
Start each day in stillness hearing God say:
- “I see you."
- "You are accepted."
- “You are free from bondage to sin.”
- “You are not alone"
- "You have authority with the freedom to resist and expel the powers of darkness!”
3 Prayers:
God, would you help me see me as you see me?
God, help me experience your love.
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Who is someone you want me to show the love of God to?
www.somaaustin.org
Week 3 of the BLESS Rhythm series - Sabbath
May we be a community of Rest in a culture of exhaustion
Are you tired, weary, and heavy-laden - COME TO JESUS - Rest can only be found in the presence of God.
Let's IMMITATE our heavenly father, who rested on the 7th day. Let's rest because we have been LIBERATED from the "pharaoh" of our heart to earn!
Week 2 of our BLESS Rhythms - Eat and Speak
Do you have a person or people the Spirit is leading you to eat with or speak and share the Good News with?
You are loved and empowered - live with intentionality this week!
Week 1 of our BLESS Rhythms Series Bless and Listen
How have you been able to Bless or Listen to others this week? How have others Blessed or Listened to you?
I have another resource for us to help implement these Rhythms with intentionality - another Soma church developed the Bless Grid App - https://blessgrid.com/.
This allows you to plan how you can be intentional with each rhythm in your relationship with God, Our church, and your neighbors.