VOUS Church

Rich Wilkerson, Jr. — Put Your Foot Down

Stand firm. The message of continuing to carry out the mission even when obstacles arise. But HOW do you stand firm? What does that look like in our daily lives? In his message titled "Put Your Foot Down," Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. tells us how to set a firm foundation. When we don't have stable, equal footing in life, that which isn't not difficult, becomes dangerous.

Referencing the story of Joshua, Moses' successor leading the Israelites, we learn that sometimes we too can waste our season of wilderness by complaining, being anxious or doubtful of our future. Doing so delays the destiny God has for us. But instead of thinking the worst, we should change our perspective, believing that God is doing a new thing in us. When we become restless in the current tide, we must hold on and push through. For it is in the mundane moments that memorable ones are made. 

Before we decide to put our foot down and say enough is enough to the negative thinking, our toxic habits or those who've outlived their season in our lives, we first have to remove and replace, allowing God to prune us from the inside out.

As we step further into our calling, our comfort zones are compromised but we must remember to be "strong and courageous," just like God reminded Joshua to be.

So today, put your foot down and stand firm on God's promises that He WILL see you through just like before and watch as your life begins to change.

Vision Sunday: Rich Wilkerson, Jr. - "Stand Firm"

With the 3-year anniversary of VOUS Church approaching, Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. laid out the vision of the church in this next year, with the day appropriately called "Vision Sunday."

In his talk, "Stand Firm," Pastor Rich illustrates the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. As the Israelites get closer to the Promised Land, they begin to reminisce on their past, believing that their current journey will only lead to their demise. Moses encourages them to have faith, be courageous and remain planted in order to move forward.

With a new vision for the life of VOUS Church, Pastor Rich encourages the community to stand firm even when obstacles arise. As the church continues to expand, we should honor the journey that led to this point but stay committed to what's up ahead.

Although reaching our destiny in life is the goal, it comes at a cost. The cost may mean ridding ourselves of old habits and toxicity but if we learn to stand our ground in faith, God will deliver us. Then we will be able to take on what he has for us. We also have to be willing to absorb the attacks, knowing that they will come but having the confidence that the opposition will produce growth. 

We may be in a season where we aren't sure we can take on more because of stress. But stress is not our issue, it's our capacity. We're able to handle everything in our lives only when we ask God to expand our capacity. And let's never forget that we stand firm to hold others up. With so many in the world hurting and feeling lost, we as a community need to be a place where they are built up, not broken down. 

Rich Wilkerson Jr. - The Hannah Hotline

Have you ever tried calling into a radio station repeatedly but couldn't get through? As followers of Christ, there's a hotline we can use and never have to worry about a busy signal or hearing a dial tone - our calls always go through to God.

 

With a message titled "The Hannah Hotline," Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. explores the importance of prayer in our lives. In the Bible, Hannah presented a great example of using prayer as the hotline to God. Frustrated with her reality of being barren, Hannah brought her disappointments to God through intimate communication. 

 

When we experience difficulty it's easy to complain about our circumstance and look to things around us as a way to cope. We have to learn to tune out the noise of the world and remain in God's presence because an occasional praise is no match for consistent prayer.

 

Through Hannah's story, we learn three components of her prayers that we can apply to our lives. First, Hannah prayed from her heart. She embraced the hurt and bitterness she felt, brought that to God and was able to take on God's lens of her life. With prayer, Hannah never tried to impress others. So much so, Eli believed she was drunk in public. But from her situation, we learn that when you're desperate for God, you're not concerned with how you look - only God's attention matters. Finally, Hannah's prayers demonstrate how our prayers should be attached to God's glory. Why do we want the thing we're requesting? And how will God be glorified in you receiving it? 

 

The more we pray, God will either answer our prayers or reorder our priorities. When we are vulnerable, have the right posture and keep God at the center of our wants and desires, we can always count on God picking up our calls.

Lecrae - Joy Through Sacrifice

We live in a culture that encourages us to bury failure and pain. It’s a social media society where escape into the latest, shiny thing along with a desperation for likes and followers is the norm. Pitfalls such as depression and trauma need to be avoided at all costs, even though we’ve all been there at one point or another. But what if the very things we run away from, the raw hurt and pain, could produce in our lives true purpose and identity?

This week at VOUS Church we had the special honor of hearing from the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, Lecrae. He dove deep into the idea that joy and pain go hand-in-hand by giving a glimpse into his own story of hardship. 

In Hebrews 12:2, we also see how Jesus was able to see past the sorrow of the cross, to joy at the right hand of the Father. Through Jesus’ example, we are invited to look at our own pain, hard as it may be, and find joy on the other side.  

To find joy, we first need to identify the past hurts, mistakes or failures we've been stuffing away and struggling with internally.  Then we can face the pain head-on, let go of striving and allow the experience to mold us into new creations. 

God doesn’t call us to hide our wounds. Like Lecrae, there may be a point in our lives where we must face the music and deal with the darkness in our lives. But embracing the process, rather than running from it, is just the radical step needed to create lasting joy in our lives. 

God can turn the bleakest moment into a story of triumph if we are willing to let him use it. Our scars can testify to healing only if we show them.

Adrian Molina — Book Of Romans: The Law of Love

Chad Veach — When Life Doesn't Work Out / VOUS Conference 2018

VOUS CONFERENCE 2018

WHEN LIFE DOESN'T WORK OUT
CHAD VEACH

CONFERENCE SUNDAY

Rich Wilkerson Jr. — The Book of Romans: 3 Words We Love to Forget

When you think of weddings, you can quickly imagine the classic lines: for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. The words hold weight because there is a level of accountability around them. Upholding the marriage vows becomes the daily determination of the couple.

In our continued talk through the Book of Romans, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr illustrates that Christians too have made a vow that holds us accountable to what we profess to believe. Our promise is to live lives of sacrifice, service and submission. But how often do we follow through?

The issue may be that it’s not uncommon, upon hearing the words sacrifice, service and submission, to think that we’re playing from a losing position. And according to the world’s standards, it’s not appealing to take on those acts because it may open us up to be taken advantage. However, Paul makes it clear that we are not operating according to the pattern of the world. Because of Christ’s example, we can powerfully live out our lives.

The primary challenge in living lives of sacrifice, service and submission is to change our thinking. In fact, we’re encouraged to renew our minds, to have a paradigm shift to have forward progress. Once we do, we understand that when we sacrifice, we are giving up one thing for something better. When we act in service to one another, we are building up a stronger church. And when we submit, we are giving over authority to the One who created heaven and earth.

While the world wants us to forget our vows, let’s instead remember that we find our fullest life when we walk them out. Christ didn’t save us so that we’d set up for weak, small or burdened lives. Take heart in following Jesus’ model of sacrifice, service and submission, for by them he conquered death, hell and the grave. Because he rules, we can live victoriously with him.

Rich Wilkerson, Jr. — The Book of Romans: God's Sovereignty, Our Responsibility

DawnCheré Wilkerson — The Book of Romans: Made for More

A constant struggle as humans is the issue with identity: Who are we? What do others see? Where do we belong? Our identity might have been influenced by the time we were born, the family we were born into, what we have done, or the societal class we’ve landed.

But, what if there’s more. More to who we are than what we’ve done. More than the temporary situations we find ourselves. The “more” is to begin with the end in mind – with eternity set in our hearts.

As we continue our collection of talks on The Book of Romans, Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson reminded us that we were Made for More. That our identity should be unwavering in who we are in Christ – as more than conquerors. We are to be the culture carriers of our world, not led by the pressing needs of today, but by the perspective of eternity.

In his writing, Paul challenges us to live governed by the spirit, and not the flesh. Paul unravels a beautiful picture of our standing as children of God, that we are co-heirs with Christ, sharing in his suffering so we may also share in his glory. That we are made to hope, and not to simply endure the waiting seasons in life.

As God perfects his will in us, this is our conviction: Even when we may not see the pathway to our purpose, we don’t settle for less but hold on to his promises, knowing we have a father who loves us unconditionally. Knowing we’re made for more.

DawnCheré Wilkerson — Eye To Eye / VOUS CONFERENCE 2018

VOUS CONFERENCE 2018

 

SESSION 2

 

DAWNCHERÉ WILKERSON

"EYE TO EYE"