In the fall of 2010 we introduced our new small groups ministry called Soma Life Groups. These body life groups were overwhelmingly well received providing opportunity for our people to enrich their fellowship and connection with one another.  As a result we will be offering eight Soma Life Groups Winter/Spring 2012.

While several Soma Life Groups will continue the series started last semester, the new Soma Life Groups will feature four new DVD messages from other excellent speakers like:  Dr. David Jeremiah and Paul David Tripp as well as book studies by Jerry Bridges.

Review the synopsis of the material covered in each respective Soma Life Group, note the leader couple teaching that material and make your choice as to which  Soma Life Group you would like to be a part of.

Registration for the Winter/Spring 2012 Soma Life Groups begins Sunday, January 15 and runs through Sunday, January 29 at the Welcome Center.  Just fill out a registration slip, place it in one of the eight boxes representing the small group you are choosing and names will be drawn at random from each box to fill up each respective small group.  After each group is filled, all additional names will go on a waiting list for next semester’s small groups.

SOMA LIFE GROUPS
DVD/BOOK Series Synopsis/Options

Five Options in Eight Locations!

Respectable Sins-Confronting the Sins We Tolerate (by Jerry Bridges)

Jerry Bridges seeks to make the point that there is a list of sins that all of us consider to be unacceptable.   But in addition to these, the Bible has another list of sins that our God finds unacceptable as well.  The problem is the average Christian accepts these sins as part of his life giving them a measure of respectability because of personal toleration.  Respectable Sins deals with a number of the most common sins we tend to tolerate in our lives all too often.  Again, the basis of each of these studies is a book and small Discussion Guide. The book and Discussion Guide will provide the group with a table of contents, outline with commentary, and a list of discussion questions for group discussion and application. (Group individuals/couples will be asked to purchase one copy of the book and Discussion Guide.  The total cost is $20.  Make check payable to IBC.

Soma Life Group Leaders (Dick and Pam Anthony – West End)

The Truth Project (Focus on the Family) by Dr. Del Tackett

This 12-part DVD series began with sessions 1-4 in the Winter/Spring semester of 2011 and will cover sessions 5, 7, 8, 9 during this fall 2011 semester. At this rate, the series will be finished during the Winter/Spring semester of 2012. This DVD-based small group study is designed to equip believers with a comprehensive biblical worldview as they are reintroduced to the truth claims of God. Session notes, outlines, and discussion questions will be provided for the Group Leaders and each group individual/couple. (No cost for this option)

Soma Life Group Leaders (David and Joy Johnston – West End/Rockville;  Keith and Kelly Ober – Mechanicsville)

Your Walk with God is a Community Project (Paul David Tripp)

Have you ever wondered why some Christians grow and some don’t?  We might be relieved if God placed our sanctification only in the hands of trained professionals, but that is not His plan.  Instead, through the ministry of every part of the body, the whole church will mature in Christ.  Following the example of Jesus, Tripp reveals how to get to know people and how to lovingly speak truth to them.  This study will help you catch a vision for living “in community.”  Each session comes with an overview and discussion questions. (Cost: $10.25/couple for the companion book, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands)

Soma Life Group Leaders (Al and Pat Collins/Larry and Jan Kicher -   Powhatan)

New Four Month DVD Series

As before, this new series of four stand-alone DVD’s, examines the signs of the decline of Western civilization and how this accelerating cultural shift might impact us all.  Since several Soma Life Groups chose this option, all four DVD’s will rotate among these groups. (There is no cost for this option)

Dr. David Jeremiah: When Jesus Would Be Profaned

Discussion questions will be provided.  Most cultures around the world have been essentially secular but have acknowledged a sacred dimension to life.  But in America that respectful recognition has slipped.  When people in the public eye take sacred objects-like images of Jesus Christ-and use them in profane ways, the message is, “Nothing is sacred anymore—and if it is, it shouldn’t be.  Get over it!  Dr. Jeremiah warns us of the radical desensitizing effect this can have on us as Christians and takes us to Hebrews in reclaiming the real Jesus.

Dr. David Jeremiah: When Marriage Would Be Obsolete

Our speaker here reveals the new attitude toward marriage as evidenced by the royal couple, Prince William and Kate, who lived together for eight months prior to their celebrated marriage, all with the apparent implicit permission of the one who had supreme authority over the Church of England, the Queen.  Despite what the Bible clearly teaches, why then shouldn’t we feel free to do as they have done?  The answer, six points from God’s Word defending a meaningful marriage.

Dr. David Jeremiah: When Morality Would Be in a Freefall

This session recounts the decision of BYU officials in suspending one f their star players from the basketball team negating any chance the Cougars had for a trip to the Final Four.  The school’s decision to hold to their honor code and suspend this star player was strongly resisted by the media who said “how dare the university discipline a star player.”  Today, so many schools have cravenly abandoned their standards at such a time as this, embracing athletic expediency over institutional principle.  Clear violations are standard practice and evil activity is down-played.  We have lost the standard of right and wrong…our standard of morality.  To counter this present-day thinking, Dr. Jeremiah takes us back to the Sermon on the Mount where human interpretations of the law are corrected with divine interpretations, where the difference between the letter and the spirit of the law is revealed as well.

Dr. David Jeremiah: When the Bible Would Be Marginalized and the Church Would Be Irrelevant

In this session, Dr. Jeremiah establishes the sad fact that there is a pervasive disrespect for the Bible and a lack of biblical principles being taught to influence the culture and the mores of the people.  Furthermore, many people view churches as having little to say that is more relevant than what can be found on television talk shows or in Internet advice columns.  To that end, Dr. Jeremiah advances five ways in which followers of Christ are contributing to the marginalization of the Word of God.

Soma Life Group Leaders (Phil and Sue Reese; Burt and Netti Hummer)

Pursuit of Holiness/The Practice of Godliness (Jerry Bridges)

This modern classic begins by posing a question, what does holiness look like?  For starters, it doesn’t look anything like perfection.  And it doesn’t necessarily look like victory.  Mostly, it consists of effort, prayer, grace, and obedience.  According to the author, “Scripture speaks of both a holiness we have in Christ before God and a holiness we are to strive after.”  In other words, we can ignore neither Christ’s role nor our own if we are to successfully pursue holiness.  Jerry takes holiness out of the realm of the impossible and brings it into “the real world” of our daily lives and decisions.  Then, in his sequel to The Pursuit of Holiness, The Practice of Godliness, Mr. Bridges tells us how we can continue working on becoming holy.  Together, they are the perfect bookends for living the Christian life God desires. (Cost: $10/couple for book & study guide)

Soma Life Group Leaders (Ralph and JoAnne Traver - Richmond/East)