God loves you too much to leave you where you are. In this message, Pastor Chris Teien explains how every believer can move forward in their relationship with Christ by understanding God's work of sanctification and yielding daily to the Holy Spirit.

Salvation is the beginning of the Christian life, not the finish line. God rescues us, adopts us into His family, and then begins transforming us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. As we surrender ourselves to Him, walk by the Spirit, and keep our eyes fixed on Christ, we experience the deeper life God desires for every believer.

Outline

1. Salvation Is the Beginning of God's Best Plan for Your Life

When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, God forgives your sins, adopts you into His family, and gives you the hope of eternal life. Salvation launches a lifelong journey of growing to become more like Christ. (Galatians 4:5; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 1:4)

2. Discover Your Christ-Like Potential

Every believer has been united with Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to grow in spiritual maturity. As we walk in step with the Spirit, His character becomes increasingly evident in our lives. (1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 5:22-25; John 7:37-39)

3. Choose to Move Forward by Surrendering to Christ

Spiritual growth requires a daily decision to offer ourselves completely to God. Rather than conforming to the world, believers are called to yield every part of their lives to Christ and allow Him to transform them from the inside out. (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:13)

4. Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus

The Christian life is not about perfect performance but faithful dependence on Christ. As we continually focus on Jesus and rely on the Holy Spirit, He shapes us into His likeness throughout our lives. (Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:6; Galatians 2:20)

Takeaway

Don't settle for standing still in your faith. Yield yourself to Christ each day, depend on the Holy Spirit, and keep moving forward as God transforms you into the person He created you to be.

Illustrations

• A rocket launch illustrates that salvation is the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ, not the end.

• Farmers focus on a point in the distance to plow straight rows, reminding believers to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus rather than their circumstances.

• Riding a bicycle demonstrates that the Christian life requires continual forward movement rather than standing still or drifting backward.

Key Quotes

"God loves you too much to leave you where you are."

"Salvation is the launch, not the finish line."

"Keep your eyes on Christ and keep moving forward."

Search Topics

Sanctification, spiritual growth, Holy Spirit, Christian maturity, deeper Christian life, surrender to God, Romans 12, Hebrews 12, discipleship, Pastor Chris Teien

Full Episode & Transcript:

8m0106

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 

Jesus is a gift that just keeps giving! He has left one gift that lasts forever – have you received it? This gift may not always bring temporary happiness but it can fill you with the Joy of the Lord. Some wise men traveled from afar to visit baby Jesus and Simeon waited his whole life to see Jesus because they knew we needed this gift. The Apostle John wrote things down in his epistle so that we could know that we have this gift. Listen and be encouraged to unwrap and celebrate the true gift of Christmas. Pastor Chris Teien

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 

God often chooses to use People instead of Angels to accomplish His will. Two of the greatest servants were Joseph and Mary who were willing and prepared to be used by God to serve as Jesus parents. Listen and be encouraged to be ready and willing to experience the Joy that comes from serving the Lord by sharing the message and love of Jesus with others. Pastor Chris Teien

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 

Joy is better than happiness. Wrong priorities and distractions can rob you from the joy God wants you to experience. Listen to this short audio message and be encouraged with a simple and memorable year-round strategy to experience more joy in your life. Pastor Chris Teien

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 

Throughout life, God’s timing is always perfect. In this inspiring and heartfelt message, Pastor Chris Teien reminds us that Christmas is not about stress, shopping, or disappointment—but about Jesus arriving right on time. Through Scripture, real-life stories, and personal reflections, this message invites us to celebrate God’s plan, trust His timing, and boldly share Christ during this season and beyond. 

Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2285086/episodes/16335627

Key Points:

• God Planned to Send Jesus from the Beginning – Genesis 3:14–15. From the first sin, God had a plan to send a Savior to rescue humanity.
• God Gave Guidelines but People Needed Grace – Romans 8:3–4. The law revealed human weakness and pointed to the need for a Savior.
• Jesus Came at the Perfect Time to Rescue and Adopt Us – Galatians 4:4–5. God's timing brought salvation through Christ and adoption into His family.
• God’s Perfect Timing Continues in Our Lives – Romans 8:29. Even today, God is orchestrating events to shape us into the image of Christ.

Personal Stories from Pastor Chris:

• Honest reflections on the timing of meeting his wife Julie at just the right stage of spiritual maturity.
• Stories of faithful witnessing through Bibles and hope cards shared in daily life.
• Encouragement to embrace opportunities to share Christ during the Christmas season.
• Real-life examples of seeing God’s timing in everyday circumstances and ministry.

Notable Quotes:

• "God’s perfect timing sent Jesus into a broken world—and His timing is perfect in your life too."
• "Christmas isn’t about finding the perfect gift—it’s about receiving the perfect Savior."
• "Don't wait until it’s too late to respond to Christ—today is the day of salvation."

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Trust that God's timing is better than your own—especially in seasons of waiting.
2. Boldly share Christ with others during Christmas and all year long.
3. Reflect on the hope and certainty you have because of Jesus’ arrival and promised return.
4. Spend time simplifying and focusing on your relationship with Jesus this season.

Scripture References:

• Genesis 3:14–15 – Promise of the Savior after the fall
• Romans 8:3–4 – The law could not save; Christ could
• Galatians 4:4–5 – God’s perfect timing in sending Jesus
• John 3:16 – God’s gift of salvation through Christ
• Romans 8:29 – God's purpose to shape us into Christlikeness
• Hebrews 3:1 – Focus on Jesus, our apostle and high priest

Keywords:
 Christmas, God's perfect timing, gospel, trust in God, salvation, adoption into God's family, John 3:16, Galatians 4, Christian hope, sharing Christ

Closing Statement:
 God’s perfect plan was revealed when Jesus came at just the right time—and He is still working perfectly in your life today. Trust Him, celebrate Christ, and boldly live out your faith this Christmas season and beyond.

18m1125de

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 

Do you feel distant from God when life gets messy or when you’ve fallen into sin? Pastor Chris Teien unpacks the six stages of the Lord’s Prayer to provide hope and guidance for reconnecting with God. Discover how to persist in prayer through worship, repentance, and trust—even when you’ve made mistakes. Learn practical steps for forgiveness and how to find encouragement to keep moving forward in your faith.

Message Outline:

1. Worship and Surrender: Begin by acknowledging God’s greatness and aligning your will with His purposes (Matthew 6:9-10).
2. Petition and Intercession: Boldly ask for your needs and intercede for others, trusting God as your provider (Matthew 6:11).
3. Forgiveness and Repentance: Confess sins, forgive others, and restore relationships with God and people (Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:9).
4. Deliverance and Trust: Seek strength to resist temptation and find protection in God’s faithfulness (Matthew 6:13; Philippians 4:6-7).
5. Praise and Trust: Close your prayers with worship and gratitude, reaffirming trust in God (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).

Personal Stories and Illustrations:

• A humorous reflection on small temptations like candy and their deeper spiritual lessons.
• MMA fighter Vitor Belfort’s testimony of forgiveness and transformation through Christ.
• Real-life examples of how forgiveness sets you free and strengthens your faith.

Quotes:

• “Even when you mess up, you can boldly approach the throne of grace.”
• “Forgiveness is not excusing behavior; it’s releasing the offense to God.”
• “The Christian life is a battle—you may get knocked down, but you have to get back up and keep following Jesus.”

Actionable Takeaways:

• Begin prayers with worship and surrender.
• Reflect on unresolved conflicts and seek forgiveness.
• Memorize scripture like Psalm 119:11 to guard against temptation.
• Commit to persistent prayer, trusting in God’s grace and power.

Scripture References:
Matthew 6:9-13, 1 John 1:9, Philippians 4:6-7, Ephesians 4:32, James 4:7

Keywords:
Persisting in prayer, forgiveness, Lord’s Prayer, overcoming failure, Christian living, grace, temptation, repentance, faith, spiritual growth

18m1111

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 only pray to ask God for their wish-list while others spend time praying for others but think it’s selfish to pray for their own needs and wants. When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray He taught them to pray for “daily bread” and gave us other keys to receiving what we ask for in prayer.  Listen and be encouraged to get things from God through prayer. Pastor Chris Teien

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 

Listen and be encouraged to pursue the Father’s will as you pray expectantly and pray more effectively being guided by the Lords prayer “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10.  Pastor Chris Teien

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 

In Matthew 6:6 Jesus says, “When you Pray” and then he give some guidelines and promises to get us started. We will look at the importance of conversing with God through true prayer and not just vainly repeating memorized prayers and see how prayer helps fulfill God’s purpose in our lives when we pray properly. Listen and be encouraged to invest in prayer and enjoy the power and provision it brings. Pastor Chris Teien

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 hymn “Great is thy Faithfulness” has an encouraging line that says we have “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” and the greatest hope a Christian has is living for all eternity with Jesus and  we are going to look at what the Bible promises us about our eternal hope. If we are confident in our future we will make the right choices today. If we know there are better days ahead we will have the hope we need to get us through the difficulties we are experiencing now. Christ-followers should have peace and confident assurance that their future is secure in Jesus. Listen and hear how you can enjoy the hope you have in eternity right now. Pastor Chris Teien

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