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“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-16
References: Joshua 24:14-16, John 21:18-19
In Joshua's last moments of life, we get to see the fruit of his maturity throughout the years. Joshua's life was made up of decisions. Even though his heart didn't always desire to do the things the Lord had called him to, the older he got, the more willing he became to walk into those places. When following God begins to be undesirable, we have to reflect on our desires and why they are not pointing to Him. Desires are fleeting, but decisions last. Joshua made his decision to embrace the call upon his life, which led him to finish strong.
The mature me doesn’t just start, the mature me finishes
When we step out in faith to serve the Lord, we may face challenges and setbacks. While it’s normal to falter and occasionally fall, it’s the speed at which you return to confidence after a setback that is a clear sign of maturity. This ability to ‘bounce back’ is a key aspect of building a strong character - the person you are when no one is watching. Joshua didn’t choose popularity with people as his guide. He chose obedience to God. Instead of looking to please people, make a decision to serve God.
The book of Joshua reminds us if we don’t love God, we will not serve Him. But it is usually not a lack of love that stops us from serving Him; rather, our desires for things of this world. Maturity in Christ is being willing to be led to places where we don’t want to go and having faith that God always goes first. As we saw Joshua portray, the Bible calls us to seek to please God more than we seek to please man.
Joshua’s famous words are much more than a mantra. They define the faith which makes us into who God has called us to be. Daily, we’re faced with having to choose to be challenged over our comfort. Making difficult decisions forces us to grow and become more like Christ. If we stumble and experience setbacks, God is still good; He never leaves us to walk alone. Rather, He works in us to cultivate strong character and holiness. But it is always our choice to take the first step of surrendering our desires to Him. Then, even when serving God becomes less than desirable, the ‘Mature Me’ lets unshakable faith stand in the gap.
Sometimes becoming a ‘Mature Me’ requires reflection. Take time this week to reflect on one area you feel God is calling you to mature in. Write down your areas of growth and your commitment to surrender. Be ready to share next Crew week!
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
