Por encima de todo
¿Que esperabas?
Above It All
What Did You Expect?
Above It All
What Did You Expect?
Por encima de todo
¿Que esperabas?

Crew Leader

Introduction (2 minutes)

Use the Zoom chat feature to keep everyone connected. As people join in, ask for their first and last name, email address, and where they are tuning in from. Save the chat as an attendance record.

Reflect

Ask Crew members to share their favorite points from the talk. What phrase or moment did they relate to the most?

Icebreaker: Reflection or Conversation Starter or Virtual Icebreaker (5 minutes)

For your icebreaker, choose from the options below. Have Crew members unmute themselves to share.

Conversation Starters (Choose One)
  • What's something you did this week that you feel proud of?
  • What did you eat for breakfast?
  • Name the best book you’ve ever read.
  • What’s your morning routine?
  • What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
  • If your life was a story, what would the title be?
Virtual Icebreakers (5 minutes)

Preaching Game - Choose random items and allow individuals to find ways to encourage others using that item. (Pick 2-3 volunteers)

Show-and-Tell - Pick an object in your home that has significance for you, something with a funny story behind it, anything unique, or something you've used to simply pass the time.

Crew Discussion

Christmas at Home: A Reason to Celebrate

Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr.

Continuing the Conversation
‍Last Crew's Call to Action

God calls for us to forgive while maintaining boundaries necessary to steward and nurture our souls. This week, lean in to the wisdom of Solomon and study the book of Proverbs to help you develop tools for cultivating Godly relationships while asking God for the courage to forgive. Don’t forget to check out additional resources at https://www.vouschurch.com/care.

Scripture

Luke 2:8-14

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

‍

REFERENCES: John 3:16, John 3:17, Matthew 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Ruth 1 - 4

Main Idea

One might easily have overlooked this quiet night in Bethlehem, an eternity altering moment wrapped in humble packaging. The Christmas story reminds us, that in even the most mundane moments God is working a miracle. Jesus, the messiah, Emmanuel — God with us, a promise fulfilled in the form of a baby. The birth of Jesus has always been a radical reminder, that in the midst of the wilderness, God fulfills his promise. For many, this season can be a time of pain. A reminder of what is missing. Maybe you are dealing with loss, a broken relationship, or a personal disappointment. Wherever you may find yourself today, we have this hope — when we couldn’t get to God, he came to us. For this good news, we have a reason to celebrate!

‍

The birth of Jesus allows us to be born again

1. Jesus Came to Love

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came to love us and to show us the way of love. Truth is, God loves us so much, he was willing to give Jesus for us. So don’t ever doubt if you’re worth it. It even gets better; as we’re loved by Jesus, we grow and learn to love Him and others in return. 

‍

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 KJV

Jesus is the picture and definition of love
He came on this earth to love us
If you love Jesus, show it to someone else

We have a walking definition of love

What has God taught you about love during this year?

2. Jesus Came to Fulfill

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus, the promised messiah came to fulfill what we never could. Before Jesus’ sacrifice we were obligated to measure up to God’s perfect standard of living. Now, even on our worst days, God still sees our righteousness through the lense of the Cross. 

‍

“This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17

In Jesus we have everything we need
Jesus came to fulfill the law not to abolish it
Even in your lowest moments, because of Jesus, God is for you

I celebrate because my righteousness is found in Jesus alone

When was the moment in your life you became aware you needed Jesus to be enough?

Summary

Jesus is the ultimate gift God could have ever given us. He brought us infinite love, made us whole and finally, saved us from a sinful life and eternal death. He is the main reason why we celebrate today and can keep on celebrating everyday of our lives.

Call To Action

  1. Ask God to show you a person you should forgive or a relationship you should reconcile
  2. Write a letter to someone you miss, someone you might want to forgive or even to yourself as an exercise 
  3. Spread Jesus’ love for people by inviting family and friends to watch our Sabbath Sunday service

Announcements

Care Request Form

If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.

Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.

We would love to come around you for the following life events:

+ Marriages

+ Births

+ Deaths

+ Hospitalizations/Illness

Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare

VOUS 10 Year Celebration

This Sunday, September 28th, VOUS is celebrating its 10 year anniversary!! Anniversary Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness over the last 10 years of VOUS. Come and celebrate at any of our locations and services happening all day Sunday!

Preview Day at VOUS College

Step into the VOUS College experience for a day designed just for you. This is a moment for you to get a firsthand look at what it’s like to be a VOUS College student. Meet our staff, connect with current students, explore ministry tracks, and discover how VOUS College can be the place where you grow in your calling and step into your future.

‍To register for Preview Day,  click here

Where: VOUS Miami Gardens

When: Thursday, October 9th

Time: 12:00PM-3:00PM

Address: 17801 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33169

Sundays at VOUS

VOUS SoMi

10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM

VOUS City

10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM

VOUS Miami Gardens

8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM

VOUS Design District

8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM

Church Online

10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español

‍

Growth Track

After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack

Crew Leader

Introduction (2 minutes)

Use the Zoom chat feature to keep everyone connected. As people join in, ask for their first and last name, email address, and where they are tuning in from. Save the chat as an attendance record.

Reflect

Ask Crew members to share their favorite points from the talk. What phrase or moment did they relate to the most?

Icebreaker: Reflection or Conversation Starter or Virtual Icebreaker (5 minutes)

For your icebreaker, choose from the options below. Have Crew members unmute themselves to share.

Conversation Starters (Choose One)
  • What's something you did this week that you feel proud of?
  • What did you eat for breakfast?
  • Name the best book you’ve ever read.
  • What’s your morning routine?
  • What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
  • If your life was a story, what would the title be?
Virtual Icebreakers (5 minutes)

Preaching Game - Choose random items and allow individuals to find ways to encourage others using that item. (Pick 2-3 volunteers)

Show-and-Tell - Pick an object in your home that has significance for you, something with a funny story behind it, anything unique, or something you've used to simply pass the time.

Crew Discussion

What Did You Expect?

Pastor Luke Barry

Continuing the Conversation
VOUSCon 2023: Reflect

VOUSCon was nothing short of a miracle! We're still praising God for all He did. Reflection builds gratitude. Spend the first few minutes of Crew sharing a testimony or reflection from VOUSCon 2023.

Continuing the Conversation
‍Last Crew's Call to Action

God calls for us to forgive while maintaining boundaries necessary to steward and nurture our souls. This week, lean in to the wisdom of Solomon and study the book of Proverbs to help you develop tools for cultivating Godly relationships while asking God for the courage to forgive. Don’t forget to check out additional resources at https://www.vouschurch.com/care.

Scripture

Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Additional Scripture References: John 11:32; Job 13:15; John 11:5; Matthew 14:31

Main Idea

Life often doesn't meet our expectations, leading to frustration and disappointment. We may hope for one outcome, only to be met with something entirely different, creating a gap between what we expected and what we experienced. This gap can lead us to question God, our faith, and our hope. But through stories like that of Lazarus and Job, we learn that God isn’t in the business of just meeting expectations, He’s in the business of exceeding them.

God’s power to perform exceeds our ability to ask

1. Hope and Expectation

Faith grows through hope and trusting God’s timing. Positive expectations can fuel faith, while unmet expectations can lead to disappointment. Often, we expect something specific from God but find ourselves limiting Him to only a particular outcome. When we don’t see Him come through just as we expected, we can find ourselves frustrated and disappointed — where was God? The truth is, God is always at work. We may not always see Him moving, or understand His plan, but He has something greater in mind.

Disappointment can tempt us to give up on expectations, but it’s an opportunity to strengthen our faith
God’s plans always exceed our expectations
Don't allow your expectations of what God was “supposed” to do get in the way of what He wants to do

If God always met your expectations, how could He ever exceed them?

What areas of your life are you waiting for God to show up? How can you operate from faith in the present as you hope for the future?

2. Endurance and Enjoyment

Job’s story is a powerful example of enduring pain and disappointment without losing faith. Even in his suffering, Job declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” Despite the immense loss, he continued to trust God, showing us that our hope can remain, even in the midst of struggle. Endurance is the ability to trust that God is working, even when we can’t see it.

Endurance strengthens our faith through trials
God hasn’t called us to merely endure life, He’s called us to enjoy it
Enjoying life is appreciating the little, it’s not a pain-free life, but a grateful one

We can say: “God, I don’t understand everything but I trust you in everything”

How has a difficult season strengthened your appreciation for God’s blessings?

Summary

Possibly the greatest source of frustration in life is unmet expectations. The difference between what we expected versus what we experienced often leads us to stop expecting. But there’s an invitation of faith amidst the frustration. Don’t lower your expectations; lift your faith. Give God something to exceed. God can do it, the question is: can you believe it?

Call To Action

Identify areas where you may be limiting God by expecting a specific outcome. Practice finding gratitude by celebrating the little things.

Announcements

Care Request Form

If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.

Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.

We would love to come around you for the following life events:

+ Marriages

+ Births

+ Deaths

+ Hospitalizations/Illness

Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare

VOUS 10 Year Celebration

This Sunday, September 28th, VOUS is celebrating its 10 year anniversary!! Anniversary Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness over the last 10 years of VOUS. Come and celebrate at any of our locations and services happening all day Sunday!

Preview Day at VOUS College

Step into the VOUS College experience for a day designed just for you. This is a moment for you to get a firsthand look at what it’s like to be a VOUS College student. Meet our staff, connect with current students, explore ministry tracks, and discover how VOUS College can be the place where you grow in your calling and step into your future.

‍To register for Preview Day,  click here

Where: VOUS Miami Gardens

When: Thursday, October 9th

Time: 12:00PM-3:00PM

Address: 17801 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33169

Sundays at VOUS

VOUS SoMi

10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM

VOUS City

10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM

VOUS Miami Gardens

8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM

VOUS Design District

8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM

Church Online

10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español

‍

Growth Track

After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack

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