No matter how broken your past may seem, God's grace is powerful enough to forgive, restore, and give you a new future. Looking at the book of Philemon, Pastor Chris Teien explains how the story of Onesimus reveals God's heart for reconciliation, forgiveness, and transformed relationships. Discover how God's grace heals past failures, removes barriers, and builds a future filled with hope through Jesus Christ.

In This Message

1. God's Grace Changes How We See Others
(Philemon 17; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14)
Paul urged Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as a beloved brother in Christ rather than simply as a runaway slave. God's grace transforms the way believers view people by replacing resentment with compassion and forgiveness. Those who have received God's grace are called to extend that same grace to others.

2. God's Grace Removes Barriers and Pays the Debt
(Philemon 18-19; Colossians 2:13-14; Romans 6:23)
Paul offered to personally repay any debt Onesimus owed, providing a beautiful picture of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. Christ paid the debt our sins deserved so that we could be fully forgiven and reconciled to God. Grace does not ignore justice but satisfies it through Christ's sacrifice.

3. God's Grace Restores Relationships
(Philemon 20-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
Paul expected God's grace to produce forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewed fellowship between Philemon and Onesimus. While forgiveness may involve a process of rebuilding trust, God's grace makes restored relationships possible through humility, repentance, and love. The gospel transforms broken relationships into opportunities for God's glory.

4. God's Grace Builds a Future Filled with Hope
(Philemon 23-25; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 4:10)
Paul closes his letter by pointing believers toward the ongoing work of God's grace in their lives. While some remain faithful and others drift away, God's grace continually calls His people to trust Him, persevere, and build their future on Christ rather than their past. The foundation of the Christian life is not personal achievement but the sustaining grace of God.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

Many Christians wonder why their faith feels routine instead of exciting. Looking at Colossians 1:24-29, Pastor Chris Teien explains that the secret to a vibrant Christian life is not gaining more knowledge but faithfully serving others and participating in God's mission. Discover how serving, sharing the gospel, and helping others grow in Christ unleashes a bold faith that transforms both your life and the lives of those around you.

In This Message

1. Bold Faith Serves Others with Christ's Strength
(Colossians 1:24-25; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 20:28)
Every believer has a ministry, regardless of occupation, age, or stage of life. God has uniquely placed each Christian where they can influence others for Christ. As believers faithfully serve through the power of the Holy Spirit, God uses ordinary acts of obedience to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

2. Bold Faith Shares the Gospel Wherever God Has Placed You
(Colossians 1:26-27; Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:14-15)
The mystery once hidden has now been revealed: salvation through Jesus Christ is available to everyone. Believers are called to share this message wherever they live, work, and serve. Every conversation becomes an opportunity to plant seeds of faith and point people toward the hope found in Christ.

3. Bold Faith Helps Others Grow to Spiritual Maturity
(Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:24-25)
Christian ministry goes beyond introducing people to Jesus. It also includes teaching, encouraging, correcting, and helping believers mature in their faith. God uses His Word and His people to shape lives that increasingly reflect the character of Christ.

4. Bold Faith Depends on Christ's Power, Not Personal Ability
(Colossians 1:29; Philippians 3:12-14; John 15:5)
Paul recognized that lasting spiritual fruit comes through Christ's power rather than human effort. Although believers work diligently, they rely on the Holy Spirit to strengthen, equip, and sustain them. As Christians continue pressing forward in faith, God faithfully completes the work He has begun in their lives.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

A godly mother's greatest legacy is not found in what she owns or accomplishes, but in the faith she passes on to the next generation. Looking at the life of Timothy and the influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, Pastor Chris Teien explains how faith, grace, integrity, and prayer can shape children, grandchildren, and future generations. Discover how God uses ordinary people who faithfully invest in others to leave an eternal legacy.

In This Message

1. Pass On a Genuine Faith
(Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 1:3-5)
Timothy's spiritual foundation was shaped through the faithful influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. God often uses parents, grandparents, and mentors to plant the seeds of faith that grow throughout a lifetime. Every believer has the opportunity to influence the next generation by consistently pointing others to Christ.

2. Lead with Grace and Loving Guidance
(Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 22:6; Proverbs 29:15, 17)
Biblical parenting combines loving instruction with healthy boundaries and consistent discipline. Children thrive when they receive both grace and truth, learning not only what God commands but why His ways are good. Patient guidance helps shape character that honors Christ throughout life.

3. Encourage God-Given Gifts in Others
(2 Timothy 1:6-7; Exodus 18:17-23; Esther 4:14)
Paul encouraged Timothy to "fan into flame" the gifts God had given him. Parents, grandparents, mentors, and church families all play an important role in helping others discover, develop, and faithfully use their God-given abilities. Encouragement and wise mentoring often prepare people for the opportunities God has planned.

4. Model Integrity Every Day
(Proverbs 31:25-31; Deuteronomy 4:9)
Children and younger believers learn as much from a person's example as from their words. A life marked by faithfulness, humility, honesty, and dependence on God leaves a lasting spiritual legacy. Integrity is built through daily choices that consistently reflect trust in Christ.

5. Depend on God's Grace Instead of Perfection
(2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Proverbs 31:30)
No parent or mentor is perfect, but God's grace is always sufficient. The Holy Spirit provides the strength, love, wisdom, and self-discipline needed to faithfully serve others. As believers rely on God's grace rather than their own abilities, He uses their lives to shape future generations for His glory.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

Many people assume their past mistakes or present failures disqualify them from following Christ. Looking at Jesus' call of Levi in Luke 5, Pastor Chris Teien shows how Jesus calls unlikely people, transforms their lives, and uses them to reach others with the gospel. Discover why no one is beyond God's grace and what it means to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus.

In This Message

1. We Are Called to Follow Jesus
(Luke 5:27–28; James 1:5)
Jesus called Levi, a despised tax collector, to become His disciple. This message shows that Christ does not choose people because they are worthy, but because His grace transforms those who respond to His call.

2. We Must Leave What Holds Us Back
(Luke 5:28)
Levi left everything to follow Jesus. The sermon explores the barriers that often keep people from wholehearted discipleship, including fear, possessions, public opinion, and feelings of unworthiness.

3. We Publicly Identify with Jesus
(Luke 5:29)
Levi celebrated his new life by inviting friends and fellow tax collectors to meet Jesus. Genuine faith is not hidden but joyfully shared, creating opportunities for others to hear the gospel.

4. We Should Expect Criticism for Following Jesus
(Luke 5:30; Matthew 5:11–12)
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for spending time with sinners, and believers today may also face misunderstanding or opposition. Followers of Christ are called to remain faithful even when their commitment is questioned.

5. We Need Compassion for Those Who Need Jesus
(Luke 5:31–32; Matthew 28:18–20)
Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, and His followers are called to do the same. The sermon encourages believers to love people where they are, help them grow in Christ, and participate in making disciples.

6. We Grow as Disciples Who Make Disciples
(Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 18:8)
The message concludes by describing the characteristics of a mature disciple who helps others grow in their faith. Through discipline, service, perseverance, integrity, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and faithful obedience, believers become effective disciple-makers.

18m0526der The Bold Secret to Unleashing your Faith

Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

Broken relationships can feel impossible to repair, especially when real wrong has been done. Through Paul’s letter to Philemon, Pastor Chris Teien shows how God’s grace changes people, opens the door for forgiveness, and restores what sin has damaged. See how grace gives room for a willing response, transforms the useless into useful, and helps believers recognize God’s hand in the bigger story.

In This Message

1. Grace Gives the Freedom to Respond, Not the Pressure to Comply
(Philemon 8–9; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Paul could have commanded Philemon to receive Onesimus, but he chose to appeal on the basis of love. The sermon emphasizes that grace does not manipulate or force obedience, but invites people to respond willingly to what is right.

2. Grace Changes Useless into Useful
(Philemon 10–11)
Onesimus had once been unhelpful to Philemon, but after coming to Christ he became useful to Paul, Philemon, and the work of God’s kingdom. This point highlights how God can rewrite a person’s story and make someone valuable for His purposes.

3. Grace Respects the Other Person’s Free Will
(Philemon 12–14; Galatians 5:13)
Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon rather than keeping him without permission. Grace gives people room to do the right thing freely, willingly, and without compulsion.

4. Grace Sees God’s Hand in the Bigger Story
(Philemon 15–16)
Paul suggested that Onesimus’ separation from Philemon may have become part of God’s greater work. The sermon shows how grace looks beyond the immediate offense and recognizes how God can bring repentance, restoration, and deeper fellowship through Christ.

18m0526der The Bold Secret to Unleashing your Faith

Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

No one can snatch you out of Jesus’ hand — and no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand either. You are doubly secure when you truly belong to Christ. Are you sometimes afraid you’ll lose your salvation if you stumble or fail? In this encouraging clip, Pastor Chris reminds us from John 10:28–29 and Ephesians 1:13–14 that your salvation isn’t based on your perfection but on God’s promises. Even when you fall short, God’s Spirit is at work in you, shaping you to become more like Jesus. Stop relying on your own strength to stay faithful, and start resting in God’s unshakable grip. Let this truth bring peace to your soul and motivate you to grow in Christ every day.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2285086/episodes/16925910

Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

Some people seem too broken to change, and sometimes we feel that way about ourselves. Through the opening verses of Philemon, Pastor Chris Teien shows how God’s grace redefines identity, reshapes love, and draws believers into His restoring work. Learn how grace does more than patch a life together, it makes people new in Christ.

In This Message

1. When Grace Changes You, It Redefines Your Identity
(Philemon 1–3; 1 Corinthians 15:9–10; 2 Corinthians 5:14–21)
Paul writes to Philemon as a fellow believer whose identity is shaped by Christ rather than status, wealth, or position. The sermon emphasizes that grace does not merely improve people, but makes them new creations who are forgiven, reconciled, and sent as ambassadors for Christ.

2. When Grace Changes You, It Shapes How You Love and Trust
(Philemon 4–5; Romans 5:8; Philippians 4:6; James 5:16; Hebrews 4:16)
Paul thanks God for Philemon’s love for the saints and faith in the Lord Jesus. Grace produces gratitude, prayerfulness, sacrificial love, and deeper trust in Christ as believers learn to pray first, follow God’s Word, and care for others.

3. When Grace Changes You, It Draws You into God’s Purpose
(Philemon 6)
Grace is not meant to remain private or internal. It pulls believers into partnership with other Christians, service through the local church, and participation in God’s mission for the sake of Christ.

4. When Grace Changes You, It Refreshes Others
(Philemon 7; Proverbs 11:25)
Philemon’s love brought joy and encouragement because he refreshed the hearts of God’s people. The sermon shows that grace works through words, presence, hospitality, patience, prayer, and practical care to strengthen others in the faith.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

What grows in a life that stays connected to Christ? Drawing from Colossians 1, Pastor Chris Teien shows how the gospel bears fruit by changing lives, growing believers in wisdom, and preparing them to serve others. Consider how God can use a faithful Christian life to plant gospel seeds, disciple new believers, and produce lasting spiritual fruit.

In This Message

1. Fruit Comes Through Living in the Lord
(Colossians 1:6–8; John 15:5; Galatians 5:22–23)
The gospel bears fruit as it changes lives through the grace of God. This message emphasizes the need to stay connected to Jesus, depend on the Holy Spirit, use spiritual gifts, and spread the seed of God’s Word so others can come to Christ.

2. Every Kind of Fruit Includes Growth in My Life and Those Around Me
(Colossians 1:9–10; Ephesians 5:7–10)
Paul prayed that believers would grow in spiritual wisdom, understanding, and a life that honors the Lord. Spiritual fruit includes personal obedience, deeper knowledge of God, and the growth that comes as believers invest in others.

3. Be Patient and Prepared While Waiting for the Fruit to Appear
(Colossians 1:11)
Fruit often takes time to grow, so believers need endurance, patience, and joy while they wait. The sermon encourages Christians to keep planting gospel seeds, expect God to work, and be ready to help people respond to Christ and grow in faith.

18m0526de The Bold Secret to Unleashing your Faith

Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

Easter is more than a memory from the past. In Luke 24, the empty tomb shows that Jesus is alive, His promises are true, and His resurrection changes how believers live now. Pastor Chris Teien shows how the victory of Jesus gives courage to obey, hope to endure, and confidence to share the gospel.

In This Message

1. Live Boldly by Doing What You Know You Need to Do
(Luke 24:1; Psalm 119:105; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 10:24–25; James 1:22; 1 John 1:9)
The women went to the tomb early in the morning to honor Jesus, even while they were grieving and uncertain. The sermon emphasizes faithful obedience in ordinary spiritual practices, including time in God’s Word, prayer, church involvement, repentance, generosity, gratitude, and sharing faith.

2. Live Boldly with an Eternal Perspective
(Luke 24:2–6; Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 11:6; John 11:25)
The stone was rolled away, and the women discovered that Jesus was not among the dead. This point shows that believers can keep going when obstacles seem immovable because the resurrection gives eternal hope and confidence in God’s power.

3. Live Boldly by Trusting His Promises
(Luke 24:7–9; Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44–45; Luke 18:31–33)
The angels reminded the women that Jesus had already told them He would suffer, die, and rise again. The sermon highlights the importance of remembering and standing on God’s promises, especially when circumstances are confusing or painful.

4. Live Boldly by Believing and Sharing the True Gospel Message
(Luke 24:10–12; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 17–22)
The women told the apostles what they had seen, even though their words were first dismissed. This point focuses on the true gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and gives new life to all who believe in Him.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith 

The cross was not an accident, a tragedy outside God’s control, or a last-minute rescue plan. Looking at Isaiah 53, Pastor Chris Teien shows how Jesus fulfilled God’s plan by enduring rejection, carrying sin, suffering in our place, and winning victory through His death and resurrection. Gain a deeper understanding of why the cross matters and how Christ’s sacrifice brings forgiveness, peace with God, and new life.

In This Message

1. Jesus Endured Rejection So You Could Be Redeemed
(Isaiah 53:1–3; Romans 10:17; John 1:10–11)
Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be overlooked, despised, and rejected. The sermon shows that Jesus willingly entered human weakness and rejection so sinners could be redeemed and reconciled to God.

2. Jesus Carried Your Sin to the Cross
(Isaiah 53:4–6; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23)
Jesus bore human pain, suffering, transgression, and iniquity. He took the punishment sinners deserved so that forgiveness, healing, and peace with God could be received through faith in Him.

3. Jesus Willingly Went to the Cross to Take Your Place
(Isaiah 53:7–9; Luke 23:4, 14, 32–33)
Though innocent, Jesus remained silent before His accusers and was condemned unjustly. His suffering was not weakness, but obedient love as He stood in the place of sinners and fulfilled God’s redemptive plan.

4. Jesus Was Crushed to Make You Right with God
(Isaiah 53:10–11; Romans 3:23–26; Romans 5:1)
The suffering of Christ reveals both the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God’s love. Through His sacrifice, Jesus satisfied God’s justice, bore our iniquities, and justifies those who believe in Him.

5. Jesus Won the Victory to Set You Free to Live a New Life
(Isaiah 53:12; Romans 4:25; Romans 6:4; Romans 8:11; Acts 2:23–24)
Jesus poured out His life unto death, was numbered with transgressors, and rose in victory. Because of His resurrection, believers can live a new life through the power of the Holy Spirit with hope, purpose, and freedom in Christ.

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Helping you apply God's Word and follow Jesus in everyday life. Learn more at ChrisTeien.com and Rockwell.church  Find episode transcripts at Well.faith