Sharing Life, Leadership and Well Faith
Sharing Life, Leadership and Well Faith
Insights from pastoral ministry, with practical ideas for leading, serving, discipling others, and encouraging your church.
Updated October 20, 2026 Why I Value the New Living Translation Many years ago, when I first started following Jesus, I would listen to Chuck Swindoll on Insight for Living almost every weeknight. Since there was no local church I…
It was a good year for the “Well Faith with Chris Teien” sermon audio podcast. The 2025 Buzzsprout Recap Report shows over 14,000 downloads from all over the world (127 Countries) including nearby with 1,225 from Virginia, MN and 717…
If you’ve ever assembled a team of volunteers to work on a church project, you know it can be both inspiring and incredibly challenging. And if that project involves selecting and installing playground equipment, the complexity grows quickly. What starts…
Over the last three decades of serving as a pastor, I’ve come to understand that silence can sometimes feel safer than speaking up. When someone sets their course and locks in their agenda, even a well-meant caution or redirection can…
A recent Lifeway Research study highlights the many reasons some U.S. Protestant churchgoers choose to skip Sunday worship—sometimes even regularly. While safety during severe weather is a top concern (77%), other common reasons include enjoying good weather outdoors (55%), getting…
At the heart of the Christian life is a call to grow and to reproduce. As we finish this series on what it means to be a “WELL Disciple”—one who Worships, Evangelizes, Learns, and Loves—we are reminded that the journey…
We all want to grow. In our spiritual lives, in our relationships, in our impact. But sometimes the path to growth can feel unclear or overwhelming. In a world filled with distractions, changing values, and endless opinions, how can we…
You and I might spend about 70 to 80 years on this earth. That’s not very long when you compare it to eternity. So the big question is: What are we living for? What really matters? Trading the American Dream…
If you are a pastor or a committed Christ follower with significant Bible study experience, you may find this fast-paced method of earning a master’s degree helpful. It can be an effective way to formalize your knowledge and enhance your…
We communicate the latest news and share our messages (a.k.a. sermons) in many ways. Social Connections Facebook Page Instagram Page Pinterest Site Watch Full Worship Service recorded live on YouTube Message-only on YouTube Video Podcast …
Google’s Notebook LM created this ten-minute podcast episode with two AI voices discussing my sermon on Church Unity. Click audio file to hear it. The AI’s Summary: This excerpt is a sermon delivered by a pastor to a church congregation.…
I read an interesting article that suggested that skipping church could lead to depression and suicide. “Yet there’s another, non-technology possible contributor to the mental health crisis that’s getting less attention but may be just as significant. That is the…
As a church planting pastor renting the public school for our Sunday church service and Wednesday night kids program, we were surprised when we were told we couldn’t meet due to Covid restrictions. I remember recording my first “church at…
I’ve been actively involved serving in local churches for over 30 years. I could share a long list of reasons why people came to a church and reasons why people left a church. Some people stay for a season and…
The past weekend I borrowed a trailer to take Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to the Duluth MN Distribution Center. For almost 20 years I had a big enclosed church trailer in my driveway to use whenever I needed. As a…