Luke 12:22-32 (NIV)
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Additional scripture references: Luke 1: 6-7 NASB, 1 Samuel 1:11, Psalm 84:5, Hebrews 11:13-16
We’re called to live a fruitful life. Our fruit isn’t a result of our own striving, but rather a life surrendered to Jesus. In recognizing the truth of God's goodness and taking intentional steps towards modeling our lives after the gospel, we tap into a power beyond our comprehension. Despite the presence of grief and challenges in our lives, God remains unwaveringly good. Our Earthly journey presents us with a unique opportunity to know God as our savior and to offer praise, even amidst our suffering. As we pursue a life of eternal fruit we can lean into these keys along the way: prayer, practice, and pilgrimage.
Our power comes from partnering with God in prayer
A fruitful life starts with prayer. Like any relationship, conversation and time spent together, strengthens the bond. In the same way, prayer, like a conversation with God, brings us near to the heart of the Father. We can praise God in the mundane and miraculous parts of our day, knowing that our prayers produce fruitfulness.
25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Through prayer and supplication we can find encouragement that God is working on our behalf. As we choose to follow him daily, we put our faith into practice, trusting him in the middle. We are people that don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk, as we decide daily to live a life in surrender to Jesus.
We bear fruit through prayer, through practice, and lastly through pilgrimage. In scripture, we read of the Jewish people whose daily disciplines led them to pilgrimages. Three times a year they set aside time to journey to Jerusalem. Their faith moved them to value the journey. On the journey with Jesus, we are also pilgrims passing through, heaven bound here on Earth. The fruit we bear has an eternal impact. As we continue to build lives that honor Jesus, let us never forget our peace doesn’t come from a situation, but a person! No matter what season of life we find ourselves in we’re called to bear fruit — not temporary, withering fruit, but fruit that lasts.
Practice putting your faith into action by serving our city, this Saturday, May 20th at I Love My City — an opportunity to be the tangible hands and feet of Jesus through community service projects.
Sign up to serve at vouschurch.com/ILMC.
All of you that are already in our database will receive a text this upcoming Thursday from our new text platform. It isn’t spam, it’s really us! This will become a primary way for us to resource, equip, and update you. We encourage you to save this number and opt in for more updates.
VOUS High is youth community of VOUS and we are creating a space for middle schoolers to gather for service every Sunday.
Students will start with worship in the main auditorium and then be dismissed to their junior high space. This will be a moment to connect with other students, hear a message, and then discuss in small groups.
For more information and to RSVP your student, click here
Join us at the annual ILMC Thanksgiving Bash to distribute meal kits and turkeys. Also, bring a chair and cheer on your favorite team at our annual VOUS Bowl.
To serve, click here
Date: Saturday, November 23rd
Time: 9:00AM - 12:30PM
Location: Charles Hadley Park
1350 NW 50th St
Miami, FL 33142
Ready to kick off Thanksgiving with a burst of energy and community? Join us bright and early at Peacock Park for the VOUS 10K Turkey Trot! Whether you're a runner, a walker, or somewhere in between, this is a chance to start your day with some fresh air, great friends, and all-around fun! See you at the starting line!
To sign up for the Turkey Trot, click here
Date: Thursday, November 28th
Time: 6:00AM
Location: Peacock Park
2820 McFarlane Rd.
Miami, FL 33133
On Sunday, December 1st we're bringing our annual Tree Lighting tradition to both our SoMi and Miami Gardens Locations! Sign up to serve and join us for a night of fun! Invite your friends and let's welcome the Christmas season together!
Please note: There will not be a 6PM service at VOUS City. Instead, join us at VOUS Miami Gardens for the 6PM service, followed by the tree lighting celebration.
Date: December 1st
Time: 7:30PM
Location:
VOUS Miami Gardens
17801 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33169
VOUS SoMi
6767 Sunset Dr
South Miami, FL 33143
To serve, click here
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10AM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack