Enjoy the WELL Life in Christ - Pastor Chris Teien

For most of us work consumes the greatest portion of our lives. God gave us work as a gift and even warns us that if a person doesn’t work they shouldn’t eat. God can help you at work and reward you for your efforts. Your work truly does matter to God. Listen and be encouraged to grow in your faith and effectiveness at work. Pastor Chris Teien. 

Think about all the incredible prayer promises and detailed method given to us in the Bible. Different types of prayer to encompass all of life. Some people pray for others but they won’t pray for their own needs and desires – some people can’t seem to move beyond asking God for their own wants when they pray. James chapter 5 has a lot to say about praying. Listen and be encouraged to see the opportunity before you to help change the world and please the Lord through your prayer life. Pastor Chris Teien. 

The greatest day ever will be when Jesus returns - unless you haven't put your faith in Him. Jesus said He was coming back but He didn't specify when. The more we grow in our faith the more we long to see Jesus face to face. Life can get difficult when we are trying to live out His will for our lives and it can lead to hardships and conflicts. In James chapter 5 we are given some encouraging Scriptures to help us when it is difficult to patiently await Jesus return. Listen and be encouraged to use our remaining time wisely while we expectantly prepare for Jesus to come back. Pastor Chris Teien. 

Just about everyone dreams about how much better their life would be if they only had more money and some people spend their entire lives pursuing more wealth. The Bible has a lot to say about money and the wise ways to use it for a more fulfilling life. James warns those who think they will find joy and security in their riches. Listen and be encouraged to trust Jesus and grow in faith because your money is not enough. Pastor Chris Teien. 

While it’s easy to be happy and trust God while everything is working out according to our plans, mature Christ-followers count on life’s unpredictable timing and keep walking with Jesus even when it seems like life is falling apart. James helps us put our lives in perspective when he says, “Now listen, you who say, “’Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” in James 4:13-14 (NIV). Listen and be encouraged to see how God can help you grow and be more effective fulfilling His purpose for your life when you are flexible with your plans and let Jesus lead you on this crazy adventure we call life. Pastor Chris Teien. 

The Bible gives warnings and offers strategies to help us keep our inner anger from raging before we blow up relationships and destroy our reputation. Listen and be encouraged to find peace for those inner conflicts and avoid giving into to those angry outbursts. Pastor Chris Teien. 

True Wisdom is more than knowledge gained by life experience – it is also insight and strategies straight from God who created us and knows the best way for us live. In James 3:13-18 we get a glimpse of how wise people think and act, “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom…” Listen and be encouraged to pursue the pure wisdom of the Lord and live it out for God’s glory, your benefit and the good of all those around you. Pastor Chris Teien. 

The Bible warns us that our words matter. James writes, “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (James 3:6 NLT). While words can be destructive, they can also be encouraging, edifying, educational, healing and helpful. Listen and be encouraged to control your tongue before it destroys your life.  Pastor Chris Teien. 

We know that we can’t do enough good deeds to get ourselves into Heaven, instead we repent and give our lives to Jesus to be saved and experience eternal life with Him. Some people think that faith is all that is required in the Christian life, but James makes it very clear that if you truly have faith it will be evident by the good deeds you do. Some complain that New Testament writers Paul and James contradict each other when it comes to faith and works when they actually complement one-another’s teachings. Listen and be encouraged that real faith works. Pastor Chris Teien. 

If we are not careful it is easy to discount the value of people that are not like us or to give preference to rich and influential people over the poor and unknown. It must have been a problem in the early church too since James took time to warn them against doing that in the church and it is a relevant message for us today. When we learn to see people the way God sees them, we will enjoy greater relationships and be better able show Christ-like love. Some awesome people have made life commitments that make them seem poor, some who seem rich are miserably in debt and none of us choose our true skin color. Be encouraged to connect with all the people God brings across your path and see the great potential you both share together in Jesus. Pastor Chris Teien.