Eclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
REFERENCES: EPHESIANS 5:22-33
Marriage is much more than just a wedding celebration or a change of status. It has a bigger and deeper meaning. If you’ve ever attended a wedding and have taken a moment to analyze the picture in a spiritual sense, you’ll see how the image of God is all over. The bride represents the church, and the father walking her down the aisle represents the Holy Spirit, who is bringing her to the groom, Jesus. This picture of marriage is interwoven throughout scripture. The Bible starts and ends with a marriage, with the creation of Adam and Eve and the return of Jesus for his bride, the church. So as we can see, marriage is not only a big deal, but it was also God’s idea from the very beginning. At times we might be tempted to only focus on how high or how far we can get with our relationships, but instead let us focus on who binds us together, the Holy Spirit. If we make Jesus our foundation, we can live secure and confident in our relationships, displaying the gospel to the world around us.
Marriage is not completion, it’s a new creation
While the weight of marriage and relationships is big, the small things should never be overlooked.
As the keys in a piano are limited yet make endless melodies, so can the little things in life create endless beauty. For example, being more intentional with our speech, celebrating others, and choosing to see the 80% good in people rather than the 20% bad are sure ways to start the journey to healthier relationships.
If we don’t dig, we won’t go deep. Relationships take real work, and oftentimes there’s some dirt along the way. Don’t let the mess hinder you from the meaning. Our relationships are some of the most valuable things we hold. A relationship is the sum of two healthy individuals.
Intimate relationships tend to expose our values. When you spend a lot of time with a person, you start to see their true nature. A healthy relationship will help you strengthen good values and encourage you to work on your weaknesses. It will sharpen who you are and lift you up when you're feeling down. Who we choose to walk our life with is crucial. When we surround ourselves with people who live in God's purpose to lift the name of Jesus, we become stronger than we think. We are all created uniquely as individuals but stand united as the beautiful bride of Christ.
Write down the 80% you appreciate about the people closest to you and how you can continuously celebrate them.
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