the soma project - an overview

Diocesan Center for Spiritual Leadership


Soma – The Body Working Together


3 years – 12 sessions

1. The Body Working Together 2. My Faith In Christ 3. Call & Spiritual Gifts 4. Time/ Availability & Experiences 5. Passion / Compassion 6. Behavioral Style 7. Talents 8. Strengths / Skills & 9. Assets / Treasure 10. Education / Knowledge 11. Discipleship 12. Church Implementation


Understanding our Gifts


Soma Session 1

Key Learning Objectives

1. Accept the call and reason for spiritual leadership (Eph 4:1,11-13, 2:10; Heb 13:7; 1Pet 4:10; 1Cor 1:25; Col 1:28,29)

2. Accept the headship of God, the unity of the church, the role of every member, the value of all peoples (Eph 4:6,11, 1:18-23, 2:4-10; John 3:16; 1Pet 2:9-10)

3. Accept the challenge to grow in your faith and serve one another in love for the purposes of God (Eph 4:15,16; 1Cor 3:5; Phil 1:6, 2:13; 1Tim 4:14-16 Matt 25:14-30)


The Church is One Body

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism Eph 4:4,5


The Meaning of Sōma

• Sōma is the transliteration of the Greek word σῶμα (body)

• In the Bible it is used often to describe the people who followed Jesus.

• It often refers to a closely knit society, a family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body.

• Phonetic: so'-mah


Sōma Objective

• Nurture our intimacy with Christ

• Serve and lead out of our spiritual gifts, strengths and person

• Submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit to be trained up and fashioned for fruitfulness


Sōma Objective

• Become interdependently dependent upon Jesus

• Challenge our thinking to learn skills (mastery) as stewards and servants

• Disciple, equip and mobilize believers for ministry together

• Build and sustain Christian unity


Ephesians 4:1-3

1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.


Discussion Questions

1. If taken literally, how might the life transform your way of living and human interaction? Why is this so hard to achieve?

2. Compare this list with the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) and share what other virtues you value, appreciate in others and hope to express.

3. Share with the others what you feel called to be doing in the church -Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher (note Rom 12 and 1Cor 12).


Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.



1. How do you see the reality of oneness lived out by the Church?

2. What reaction would the world around you have if this reality were embraced and better lived out?

3. Of what importance is the authority of God? (Eph 1:18-23) in your personal life and the ministry of the church?

4. Where is this ministry supposed to take place? By whom? (Matt 28:19-20)


Ephesians 4:7-10

7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” 9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)



1. What is the gift of Christ? (Rom 8:9-11)

2. What spiritual gifts do you see in those gathered with you now?

3. What relevance is the power of Christ the incarnation, resurrection and ascension to the exercise of the various spiritual gifts? (Phil 3:10)


Ephesians 4:11-16

11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.



1. What is the chief purpose of those who are called? (Eph 4:12, 1Pet 4:10; Col 1:28-29)

2. In the human body, its parts are to react to directions provided by the brain. How might our responsiveness to the headship of God affect our collaboration, effectiveness, function and relationships?

3. Pray together, confessing your need for reconciliation with God, partnership with the body, and Gods transformative power to help you grow into the full nature of Christ.


STAY ENGAGED

On the WebIn the Online CommunityIn your ParishIn your DeaneryAt our Next Session – May 8, 2010Read the book of EphesiansRead Romans 12 & 1Corinthians 12

http://faithandfamily.orgsync.com/org/dcsl

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http://faithandfamily.orgsync.com/org/dcsl/Events


This Session of Soma was Facilitated by

Greg TroxellMember at St. Jude’s , Cupertino

Rev. Canon Brian NordwickMission House