THOUGHTS
The Velo BlogVelo contributors provide practical and relatable content. These thoughts are intended to encourage edify and equip you as a developing leader to develop leaders.
Three Reasons Why He Must Increase and I Must Decrease
He must increase, but I must decrease. Jn. 3:30 There is something about our flesh that thinks, “While Jesus increases I can increase too.” Have you ever desired your influence to expand while expanding Jesus’ kingdom? Perhaps more people involved in your small group,...
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Three Essential Truths About God’s Building Plan
I have a certain admiration for handy people. The kind of people that rise early on a Saturday to gather building materials, tools, and supplies at their local mega-home improvement store, and then complete a home building project before the sun sets. There is a...
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Four Revolutionary Ideas For a Revolutionary Church
Jesus’ life, ministry, and teaching are profound and marvelous. They are full of life, and intended to inspire a revolution. Jesus is not an anarchist, but He is a revolutionary. And Jesus intends His church to be revolutionary. Revolutions are always sparked by an...
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How to Be Marsha in a Mary or Martha World
Many of us read the tale of two sisters, Mary and Martha, and tend to identify with one sister more than the other. If you are a Martha-type distracted with much serving then you likely feel guilt that you are not more Mary (or at least more merry). If you are a...
read moreFour Reasons to Love God and Your Neighbor
People are generally likely to appreciate the connection between loving God and loving their neighbors [Matt. 22:37-40]. Yet, most of us would have to agree that we tend to focus on one element to the neglect of the other. Those who appreciate the importance of social...
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Five Reasons Why We Should Gather In the Temple and House to House
Some of us like the intimacy of a small community group gathering. Others like the experience and dynamic of a larger gathering associated with weekend worship. Most of us have a preference. If we had to choose the small group experience, or the large group...
read moreRiding Bicycles and The Christian Life
Trusting and a bicycle built for two: I've had a lot of time for reflection since the passing of my husband 14 months ago. I was thinking back on one of our first conversations when Keith and I first met. He asked, “Do you like riding bikes?” I said, “Sure I do.” The...
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What We Believe About Systematic Theology – Part Two
A. What is the difference Calvinism vs. Arminianism? Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a...
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What We Believe About Systematic Theology – Part One
What is a Dispensational system of theology? We follow a dispensational system of theology, which is contrast below with the reform or covenant system. Dispensationalism is a system of theology that has a consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially...
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Five People You are Destined to Love
Who do you love? There are so many people that come to mind. Nevertheless, they might not be the ones that God has destined me to love. Have you ever wanted to know, “Lord who are the people that I am destined to love?” The author of the Book of Hebrews has some clues...
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Explaining Baptism to Children
There are many times when working with kids I am faced with the ever- present question “Why?” It is truly their favorite question to ask. If they see something unfamiliar to them they do not hesitate to ask. And lets be honest, even after an amazing thought out...
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What We Believe About an Attitude of Grace
There is a tension as local churches try to effectively carry out the mandate to see people restored in their relationship with God. There are some local churches that seem very harsh, inflexible, legalistic, and create apparent roadblocks to repentance and...
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What We Believe About Reaching the Next Generation
The problem: Francis Schaeffer observed, “Not being able to change, to change under the Holy Spirit, is ugly. The same applies to church polity and practice. In a rapidly changing age like ours, an age of total upheaval like ours, to make non-absolutes absolutes...
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What We Believe About Church Government
A. The New Testament does not clearly establish a model of church government: Church government helps to establish and maintain biblical order, authority, accountability and effectiveness. There are theological arguments that can be made to support the pastor or elder...
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The Essential Key to Christ’s Kingdom
Recently, my wife and I were out of town celebrating a special occasion. We had a nice room, in a nice hotel, in a nice location, with a nice view. So I was anticipating a very nice time. Imagine my chagrin when I put the key card to the sensor and the red light kept...
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Five Essentials for Effective Christian Parenting
I’m a parent of two young-adult children, and a pastor. I’ve gleaned some perspective on the process of parenting. Preliminarily, I’m grateful to God for our sons, and my wife Karen who has been a terrific mom to our boys. There are no perfect kids, there are no...
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The Purpose of Worship – Part 4
Site The woman at the well was curious about the location where God’s people were to worship: John 4:20 "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship." Jesus’ response shows that fruitful worship is...
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Three Ways Millennial Leaders can be an Example
Millennial leaders can be a stellar example to existing, emerging, and prospective leaders. I thank God that I get to serve at a church with an abundance of healthy next generation spiritual leaders. Spiritually healthy next generation leaders are a catalyst to create...
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