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They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said.
REFERENCES: MARK 10:38-52; 1 KING 4:29; 1 JOHN 3:16
Hopefully, you’ve never found yourself in this scenario, but chances are, you have. James and John placed themselves in the situation of asking to be seated beside Jesus in glory. They didn’t realize it at the moment, but they completely let their skewed ambitions take over and overstepped their bounds. Thankfully, Jesus was gracious in correcting them, as he always is. He continued his walk with his disciples, letting them see the example of where their true motivation should lie. Further down the road, they encountered Bartimaeus, whose response to Jesus was a sincere request for change, not a position or power. We ought to take it as a true indication of following the heart of God when we consistently seek change that makes us more like him. Offering up our motivations to him daily ensures we are doing what he asks of us. With our hearts laid bare before God, he brings us to a place of giving rather than gaining. In a stance of humble service, God takes delight in us and does more with our gifts, talents, and abilities than we can imagine. So, get ready because there’s a journey of change that is fulfilling and waiting for you.
Our ambition has to die day after day at the foot of the cross to be more like Jesus.
The disciples’ lofty request makes it clear that they’ve missed the power of the moment of Jesus telling them what was to come. Instead of acknowledging his future sacrifice, they reacted like those who did not really know him. Jesus reminds them of their calling to walk in humility and to exhibit greatness through serving, not by seeking glory. Jesus said to them, and tells us today, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
Bartimaeus is a blind man along the road, who cries out for healing, as Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. Jesus doesn’t assume what Bartimaeus wants, but is a personal God who asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimeaus could see the path of Jesus better than the disciples who had never lost their physical eyes, he doesn’t have eyesight but he has insight
Godly change occurs when we allow Jesus’ selflessness, compassion, and love to saturate our hearts. This requires taking off the blinders and being sensitive to God’s plan for our lives, as opposed to submitting to our own motivations. Consistently being honest and sincere with God about our needs, invites his restorative power into our lives and removes our selfish ambitions. He’ll see to it that things are accomplished and that you’re equipped to last the journey.
Pinpoint the areas in your life that need change, then speak this sincere prayer, “Jesus, I want to be more like you. Help me to do whatever you ask.”
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
Saying yes to Jesus marks a brand new beginning. Baptism is your next step. It's how you go public with your faith and celebrate the new life God has given you. The past is behind you, and a fresh future is ahead. This is your moment. We are having baptisms this Sunday, July 27th, across all of our locations, and on the beach.
To sign up for baptisms, please click here.
This back-to-school season, we have the opportunity to show up for our city in a meaningful way. On Saturday, August 2, we’re hosting a Back to School Bash at the Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center, located inside Charles Hadley Park. It’s a chance to serve local families by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and making sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to start the year with confidence.
Donate - Fill backpacks for families in need for the school year. You can purchase supplies locally and bring to a VOUS Location or donate online.
Serve - Help host our annual Back To School Bash for families in our community — distribute backpacks, check-in guests, and serve our city during a morning of fun and games.
When: Saturday, August 2nd
Where: Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center
Address: 4900 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Team Rally: 10:20AM
Starting Sunday, August 3rd, we will be moving to brand new service times at all of our locations!
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
The countdown is on! If you're ready to take your next step in ministry, leadership, or higher education, now is the time to apply. VOUS College application deadline is July 31st for both our degree-seeking and leadership programs. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a life-changing semester. Start your journey at vouscollege.com/apply.
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack
