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

James 1:19-25

Galatians 5:25-6:5

Romans 5:20-21

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!