Luke 10:33-37 NIV
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
REFERENCES: Matthew 25:35-40, Luke 10: 25-30
You are the hiring manager and your boss tells you to not give the job to a person of color because he believes they will be irresponsible even though they are qualified. Do you follow your boss's order because you fear getting fired or do you stand up for your belief to advocate this socially unjust situation and risk your job?
Optional opening: You have ten dollars in your pocket and as you go to the store, you spot a homeless person begging for food, do you walk past him and pretend you didn’t see them or do you hand him the ten dollars you intended for yourself?
As believers, we are called to more than practicing our faith within the four walls of the church, we are called to be the church outside those walls. We represent God’s love by loving, helping, and valuing others. Our existence is an answer to the world’s social and racial problems, do you consider yourself a solution?
We have Church in buildings, but we can only be the Church in the world.
In order to make an impact in the world, we need to first realize there is a problem. We must realize the fact that social and racial injustices exist in our community. Next, we must no longer be blind to the problems but be intentional on how we create solutions by standing up for what we believe in as children of God.
To empathize is not simply to feel, but to do something because of what you feel towards the hurt of others. As children of God we are called to empathize with those who hurt and stand up for those who may not be able to speak up for themselves.
Jesus came to Earth, not just so we could be free from sin and live eternally, but to show us how to live here on Earth. We have been called to be answers to the issues going on in our world. You have been called, commissioned, and crafted to live an intentional life of empathy and love. To fear God and love people should be our priority.
This weekend we honored Juneteenth a recognized federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This week, consider taking time to read an article about the full history, maybe attend a community event or participate in an activity at your workplace or school that helps to raise awareness of this historic event. Share your experience with the group.
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