Joshua 5:13-15 ESV
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
REFERENCES: Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 7:3-5
If you’ve ever seen a mosaic , you’ll notice that no two pieces of glass are alike. Each piece is unique in shape, color and texture; but connected by a common adhesive that keeps them together. As God’s divine creation, our differences are variations of what we have in common: an image of the living God. When we seek to see our similarities, we can better love, understand and serve each other.
We are all equally human
We do not need to live in in-groups and out-groups. When we group each other we end up living our lives by labels, but what we think is different is actually a variation of the same thing. We get to choose what we see. As God’s children we are called to honor all.
Unless we practice seeing another person's perspective, we can unintentionally discriminate against their reality. Choose to become more aware of how your decisions can become biased towards another person.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5
While we may be tempted to apply the world’s filter to how we see others, it is imperative that we see our fellow man through the eyes of God. We are all made in His image regardless of our perceived differences, therefore we are all worthy of being treated honorably while extending respect and compassion to others. Only the label of “neighbor” applies when it comes to how we should interact with people. As brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we are to be the blueprint for unity.
This week, have a racial consultation with a trusted friend. Pray that the Holy Spirit exposes any blind spots that need to be corrected while revealing the similarities within your differences. Remain open to their perspective while being honest with your own, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of fostering unity among the body of Christ. Also: consider signing up for The Third Option VOUS Care group or reading “The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation” by Pastor Miles McPherson to better expand your awareness.
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
This isn’t just another conference. It’s a holy moment to encounter Jesus, be filled with His presence, and reset your heart around what matters most. Over three days of powerful worship, teaching, and community, you’ll be equipped to lead with clarity and live with boldness.
From curated workshops to next-level add-ons, VOUSCon is designed to meet you where you are and where you lead—whether that’s in your church, your workplace, or the middle of a major life decision. Every session is crafted to grow your faith and strengthen your voice.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
When: Thursday, June 19th - Saturday, June 21st
Where: Watsco Center
1245 Dauer Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33146
VOUSCon is here! On Wednesday before kicking off VOUSCon 2025 in strength and unity we are going to pray.
Don't miss the moment to join us in prayer. Please RSVP by clicking here for our FREE VOUSCon Prayer Night
When: Wednesday, June 18th
Time: 7:00PM
Where: Watsco Center
1245 Dauer Dr
Coral Gables, FL 33146
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
Serve Day is happening Saturday, July 12th, and we want to get ALL of our crews involved in loving our city so please sign your crew up for a Serve Day project! To see the projects and sign up, please click here! Please have your form in by Wednesday, July 2nd.
When: Saturday, July 12th
Where: All VOUS Locations
Time: 10:00 AM
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 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