Gospel Communities
God is a sending God, a missionary God, who has called his people, the church, to be missionary agents of his love and glory. Missional communities are the primary way Soma mobilises people on mission and connects people to a caring community . . .
A missional community consists of a committed
core of believers (Family) who live out the mission
of God together (Missionaries) in a specific area or to a particular group of people by demonstrating the gospel in tangible forms (Servants) and declaring the gospel to others – both those who already believe and those who are being exposed to the gospel (Learners).
To clarify, a missional community is not primarily a small group, bible study, support group, social activist group, or weekly meeting.
EACH MISSIONAL COMMUNITY WILL…
1. Be led by a team committed to leading, shepherding, equipping and organising a community on mission.
2. Grow together in understanding and applying who we are in the light of God’s work in and through Jesus (Gospel Identity).
3. Live out the rhythms of a family on mission together (Story-formed, Listen, Celebrate, Eat, Bless and Recreate) – and be the church together throughout the week.
4. Identify, equip and release new leadership to begin new missional communities.
DNA Groups
One more thing… everyone in Soma is encouraged to be part of a discipleship triad with two other believers in what we call a DNA group. DNA stands for Discover, Nurture and Act. These DNA groups (3 guys or 3 girls) meet weekly to share what they are learning, care for one another and be accountable.
Find a Gospel community
We currently have 11 Gospel Communities spread across the Blue Mountains. Here’s a bit about each of them and what they might get up to. Get in touch if you’d like to join one of them.
contact
Sun Valley GC
Living with joy and hospitality for the Lord. Loving the local homeschool community, and their neighbours, sharing home-grown food and honouring God with their gardens, meals, home-schooling and work. Running a weekly bible study for homeschoolers. Meeting in Sun Valley, Hazelbrook and Wentworth falls.
Millenial Falcons GC
Love to bless one another and neighbours, especially through good food, their homes and music. Building relationships as they support local artists and musicians in their ventures, going to gigs and putting on their own gigs across the Mtns. Meeting in the lower mtns. Have a key involvement in the writing and producing of our upcoming album.
On Belay GC
Stoked on climbing indoors and outdoors, aiming to bless the climbing community and make known the Glory of God at the crag. Meeting and climbing all over the mountains.
Florabella GC
Spanning the mid-upper Mtns, with a particular focus for the Wentworth Falls area. Seeking to show and share God’s love through all things creative. Florabella go on regular photo walks around the Mtns to enjoy and share in God’s creation with each other and the community.
Venture GC
People will know they are Christians by their love for each other. Living life together in a number of ways, including holidaying together, enjoying God’s beautiful creation. Meeting in Hawkesbury Heights, Winmalee and Blaxland.
Renew GC
Seeking to love God, one another and their neighbours in the daily rhythms, mess and beauty of life. Love using their gifts as they host parties, raise kids, brew beer, walk dogs and run, all to the glory of God. Meeting in Blaxland and Warrimoo.
Unnamed GC
Loving neighbours and colleagues, with their kids in tow and their doors wide open. Passionate about the truths of Jesus saturating all of life. Meeting in Springwood and around the lower to mid mtns.
Banksia GC
Loving netball-ers, neighbours and co-workers, seeking Jesus’ renewal of all things, together. Meeting in Faulconbridge and Lawson.
Olive Tree GC
Riverview GC
The Rock GC
Remembering who God is and what he has done through Jesus with our everyday rhythms, while we seek to love others on purpose by living like family, eating good food and camping. Meeting in Yellow Rock.
DNA Groups
As God restores us to himself, he is also restoring us to be who he intends
us to be. This restoring work does not happen in isolation. Instead, it’s in and through our relationships with each other as family. We don’t do it alone. We need each other.
WHAT IS A DNA GROUP?
A DNA group usually consists of three people— men with men, women with women—who meet together weekly to be known and to bring the gospel to bear on each other’s lives.
DNA groups are not about seeking the approval
of people. God’s approval – the only approval that matters – is already ours because of Jesus’ perfect life, death and resurrection, which makes us dearly loved children of God. (Galatians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
WHAT DOES A DNA GROUP DO?
Discover (Head)
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We remind each other of the gospel and our new Identity in Jesus Christ – a child of God, an ambassador of the King, a servant of the creator of the universe, a learner who is being made whole…
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We admonish and teach one another to obey Jesus’ commands. (Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 3:15-17)
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We train each other to serve in tangible ways. (Ephesians 4:11-3)
Nurture (Heart)
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We get to know one another’s stories, listening
closely to each other so we can carefully and empathetically direct each other to truth. (John 16:7-15)
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We check one another’s passions: How are you doing? Who are you loving well? Not so well? Where are you living in fear? What can we celebrate with you? What are you struggling through? (Romans 12:10,15)
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We pray with and for each other. (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16)
Act (Hands)
1. We encourage each other to live out what we
believe through making goals and helping each
other fulfil them. (Heb. 10:24-25)
2. We review the past week and how faithful we all
were to keep our word.
3. We speak the truth in love as we see areas of sin
(Ephesians 4:14-16), correcting and rebuking with the good news of the gospel. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
PATHWAYS INTO A DNA GROUP:
1. Express your interest to your missional community leader and ask them to help you get into a DNA group.
2. Find friends who want to form a DNA group, and run that by your missional community leader or an elder.