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

For the Sake of Eternity: What is Your Life?

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

JAMES 4:13-14

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.


REFERENCES: JAMES 4:15, 5:1–3, 7–11; MATTHEW 6:19-21

Main Idea

A puff of smoke, a gust of wind, a spark of lightning, all transient, lasting only seconds, but all having the potential for great impact. Such are our lives, a mist, here today and gone the next. But what will we do with the mist that’s been given to us? Will we choose earthly success for ourselves or will we choose to impact the lives of others? In comparison to eternity, all we have here are mere seconds. To make those seconds count beyond this life, our motivation has to be to live for more than ourselves. In the mountains and valleys of life, we don’t get to have control. All we can do is take our God appointed place and walk it out with the goal of not merely success, but true significance. By adding value to those around us and leaving a legacy that will touch heaven.


Success is about adding value to you; significance is about adding value to others.

1. Obedience

Oftentimes we make plans in our lives and forget to ask God what he wants us to do. And when we do that we are missing the chance to live a life of true significance. When we are obedient to God’s voice, not only we are showing him that we trust him, but that we are also willing to live a life that’s more than just about self-fulfillment.


Instead, you ought to say “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” —James 4:15

When you give your life to Jesus your soul is secure, but your schedule is at risk
Be a person that operates out of obedience, not out of convenience
Delayed obedience is still disobedience

A life marked by significance is a life full of obedience

What distractions or internal conflicts keep you from immediately obeying God’s promptings?

2.  Service

Service is about what you do with what you have. Many times we are called to do big things with our talents, gifts or money. There are resources and talents instilled in us that we store away. We may accidentally fall into greed when we hoard what is given us.


“For where your treasure is, your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19

You have seeds in your hand that have to be planted
You are contributing to your eternity when you have a heart of service
Break the sin of greed by being generous

You have been saved to serve.

In what areas are you intentionally giving back for the sake of eternity?

Summary

Following Jesus requires our commitment day in and day out. This path is demanding and our perseverance is successful when we focus with the end in mind. We can easily drift away from what God has called us to be without this kingdom mindset. Our ultimate goal is to build the kingdom of heaven. This requires us to not only be obedient and serve others but we must do so with joy in our hearts, without grumbling and complaining as we wait for the promises of Christ. Be patient and stand firm. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy in the midst of our suffering. Rejoicing in Christ allows us to persevere through every season and every circumstance. As the farmer waits patiently for the harvest, we must wait expectantly for the glorious promises Christ has for us.

Call To Action

Write down 3 areas in your life for which you desire perseverance. Ask God to see if this aligns with his plans for you and surrender it to God. Pray for God's promises and courage to follow his will.


Join in on accelerating the vision. Give Today!

Announcements

Slow Burn

In Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson’s newly released book, Slow Burn, you are invited to see waiting not as punishment, but as a sacred process of transformation. Whether you're longing for healing, breakthrough, or change, this season is an invitation to draw closer to a faithful God. With honesty and hope, this book offers strength for your soul, helping you live fully right where you are, confident that even in the slow burn of faith, God is powerfully at work.

To order Slow Burn, please click here

VOUSCon Team Night

On Wednesday, May 14th, all VOUSCon teams will gather large at VOUS SoMi for a time of worship and encouragement. When we break into team workshops, some will stay at SoMi while select teams head to the Watsco for on-site walkthroughs and details.


If you're not signed up to serve VOUSCon yet, this night is for you, too!
Come learn more about what it looks like to help host thousands of leaders from around the world. Discover all of the ways you can serve at VOUSCon and get registered.

To RSVP for Team Night, please click here!

Where: VOUS SoMi

When: Wednesday, May 14th

Time: 7:00 PM

Address: 6767 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL, 33143

May I Love My City

ILMC will be taking place Saturday, May 17th.

This month's spotlight initiative is on Foster Care. We will partner with organizations such as 4KIDS, One More Child, His House & Citrus Family network to support Foster Care Parents and children currently in foster care.

To get more information about serving opportunities, click here

Beach Baptisms

On Sunday, May 18th, we are having baptisms on the beach in Key Biscayne! If you are interested in being baptized, please click here to sign up.

Where: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

When: Sunday, May 18th

Time: 8:30 AM

Address: 1200 S Crandon Blvd

Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Pavilion #: C16 (near Lighthouse Compound)

VOUSternship

VOUSternship (Ages 18-28) applications are open for FREE now through May 9th! This is your chance to jump into a summer of purpose, growth, and hands-on ministry experience. Spots are limited and we kick off in just a few weeks—don’t wait! Apply today and take your next step at vouscollege.com/apply!

The Road to VOUSCon

Join us on the road to VOUSCon as we embark on a 40-day relay run through the state of Florida. From Jacksonville to Miami, runners from every region are invited to participate in carrying the good news. Our finish line? VOUSCon 2025. Led by a core VOUS team, we’ll link arms with partner churches along the way, spotlighting the body of Christ and championing the local church through weekly outreach initiatives.

Starting Line: Sunday, May 11
Finish Line: Thursday, June 19

Learn More

Sundays at VOUS

VOUS SoMi

8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM

VOUS City

10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM

VOUS Miami Gardens

10:30AM / 12:30PM

VOUS DD

10:30AM / 12:30PM

Church Online

10AM / 12:00 PM / 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

Slow Burn

In Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson’s newly released book, Slow Burn, you are invited to see waiting not as punishment, but as a sacred process of transformation. Whether you're longing for healing, breakthrough, or change, this season is an invitation to draw closer to a faithful God. With honesty and hope, this book offers strength for your soul, helping you live fully right where you are, confident that even in the slow burn of faith, God is powerfully at work.

To order Slow Burn, please click here

VOUSCon Team Night

On Wednesday, May 14th, all VOUSCon teams will gather large at VOUS SoMi for a time of worship and encouragement. When we break into team workshops, some will stay at SoMi while select teams head to the Watsco for on-site walkthroughs and details.


If you're not signed up to serve VOUSCon yet, this night is for you, too!
Come learn more about what it looks like to help host thousands of leaders from around the world. Discover all of the ways you can serve at VOUSCon and get registered.

To RSVP for Team Night, please click here!

Where: VOUS SoMi

When: Wednesday, May 14th

Time: 7:00 PM

Address: 6767 Sunset Dr, Miami, FL, 33143

May I Love My City

ILMC will be taking place Saturday, May 17th.

This month's spotlight initiative is on Foster Care. We will partner with organizations such as 4KIDS, One More Child, His House & Citrus Family network to support Foster Care Parents and children currently in foster care.

To get more information about serving opportunities, click here

Beach Baptisms

On Sunday, May 18th, we are having baptisms on the beach in Key Biscayne! If you are interested in being baptized, please click here to sign up.

Where: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

When: Sunday, May 18th

Time: 8:30 AM

Address: 1200 S Crandon Blvd

Key Biscayne, FL 33149

Pavilion #: C16 (near Lighthouse Compound)

VOUSternship

VOUSternship (Ages 18-28) applications are open for FREE now through May 9th! This is your chance to jump into a summer of purpose, growth, and hands-on ministry experience. Spots are limited and we kick off in just a few weeks—don’t wait! Apply today and take your next step at vouscollege.com/apply!

The Road to VOUSCon

Join us on the road to VOUSCon as we embark on a 40-day relay run through the state of Florida. From Jacksonville to Miami, runners from every region are invited to participate in carrying the good news. Our finish line? VOUSCon 2025. Led by a core VOUS team, we’ll link arms with partner churches along the way, spotlighting the body of Christ and championing the local church through weekly outreach initiatives.

Starting Line: Sunday, May 11
Finish Line: Thursday, June 19

Learn More

Sundays at VOUS

VOUS SoMi

8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM

VOUS City

10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM

VOUS Miami Gardens

10:30AM / 12:30PM

VOUS DD

10:30AM / 12:30PM

Church Online

10AM / 12:00 PM / 5PM Español


Growth Track

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

Sign Up for a Crew ->