Soma Austin Community Church

Our lives are made up of stories within a larger story. Some of the stories we believe are true and some are false. As children growing up we learn our family story, our communities stories, our national story and worldwide stories. Some of our stories are brutal, some filled with sorrow, some with joy, some with poverty, some with wealth, some with health and some with sickness. We form stories about our personal identity, about the origins of life, and where we find happiness and joy. Some of us like our personal stories, but most of us wish we had someone else's story. A better story.

The beautiful thing is that a better story is available. The story of God at work in the world through Christ is the most beautiful story ever. It is the story of God at work, renewing the world and reconciling mankind to Himself through the grace of God in Christ. It is the story of Christ entering our world, living the life we all wish we could, and then paying the death that is due us all. Believing this story leads to ordering our lives around the eternal story. The true story.

On paper that is easy, but in truth all of these stories battle with one another to be the guiding story in our lives. History has shown this to be true when people 'committed to God's story' participate in horrendous acts and the battle of stories shows itself today when our lives are not any different than those who deny God's story in life. When we decide to commit ourselves to believing and living God's story our lives are wildly more abundant than when we let the battle for story supremacy rage in our hearts and minds. When we live like the story of God is true it changes how we view our own story, it brings peace internally through our new identity, reconciliation in our relationships, and we participate with God in bringing renewal to our neighbors, our cities and in our world.

At Soma Austin it means that we seek to grow in our understanding of who Jesus is and our identity in Jesus as adopted and beloved sons and daughters of God, and children of His mercy.  As we grow in this truth, we stop depending on money for status and security.  We choose to live more simply and to cut out debt so that we can be more generous.  It means that when a child is in danger of dropping out of school we mentor students through Communities in Schools and tutor them through the Smart Kids program.  It means when one of those families has a fire that destroys their posessions, we rally around and buy them food, clothing and furniture.  When we see homelessness we seek to relieve suffering by providing water, food and resources.  It means that we join the homeless task force with other city leaders to work toward eradicating homelessness in Austin, with the hope of spreading it to other cities.  It means that when we see spiritual brokenness and oppression, we offer the gospel of Jesus that heals and reconciles us toward God.

When we live like the story of God is true it puts all other stories under the main story of God, which leads to our growing understanding of the true and eternal story.