A Vision for Discipleship and Formation
The Vine has a primary task- to help form people into disciples fashioned in the way of Jesus. This vision displays how we believe people experience change and are shaped into Jesus’ likeness- through the integration of our practice-based culture, experiences of community, and narratives rooted in the Gospel. We do this so that people are shaped by the life and love of Jesus; for the sake of this world.
* Foundational Passages: Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:9-17, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
These three formational elements are not separate or distinct programs or pursuits but naturally overlap and fuel one another. Our narratives shape our habits and communities. Our habits strengthen our narratives and community. Community inspires narratives and habits. We believe significant transformation takes place when these three elements take place with integration and in unison.
Narratives Experience: Fall 2026
Our Narratives Experience is a six-step journey into the stories that shape how we see ourselves, God, and each other. It draws on psychology, neuroscience, and faith.
This fall there are two ways to join:
Self-paced with a coach. Work through the workbook and videos at your own pace. A coach will check in with you and meet to talk through each step, in person or virtually.
Weekly pod. Starting the week of Oct 12, meet in person with a small group once a week for six weeks and go through all six steps together. New content is taught in person, either on your pod night or for 30 minutes after church on Sunday. Videos are there if you miss a week.
Both tracks start with a kickoff gathering the week of Oct 5 (date and location TBA).
Interested? Sign up at the link below:
The Three Transformational Elements
NARRATIVES: We will explore the narratives we hold and bring them into the light of the Gospel. This includes the stories we believe about God, ourselves, and why we exist in this world. The Narratives Experience is a program that includes teachings on Sundays after church and a cohort group. At the end of this experience, people will integrate the truth and grace of Jesus into the narratives that shape how we see this world.
To find out more information, click here!
HABITS: We will invite Covenant Community members into our “Rule of Life Community.” This community will seek to be support and encouragement for people who desire to live into The Vine’s Rule of Life. Info at thevineaustin.org/habits or signup with this form.
Connected to this effort, we also want to deepen our “practice based” culture by going deeper into the habits of Jesus found in the Rule of Life practices. Utilizing Practicing the Way, we will host several 4 week-long experiences a year where we experiment with a particular spiritual practice (ie- prayer, Sabbath, fasting, community, witness, etc) - not only in content but especially experimented in action.
COMMUNITY: We primarily transform and change in the context of community. It is through the “one another” commandments we find in Scripture that we deepen our understanding of Jesus’ Good news, embody that good news for one another, and find encouragement to bear witness in this world. The primary way we experience community at The Vine is through our VineGroups. These groups will process the sermon series, deepen friendship and create a place of support and prayer.
