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If My Walk Doesn’t Match My Talk, Am I Really Saved?
What do you do when your faith feels more like a Sunday performance than a Monday reality? When you say the right words, show up at the right times, but deep down you know your steps don’t match the talk?
That’s the raw question we’re diving into in this episode of The Average Pursuit. Because let’s be honest: in the Appalachian mountains—and in church culture everywhere—it’s easy to impersonate faith. We know how to dress right, smile at the door, and bow our heads in prayer. But impersonation is not the same as imitation. And Jesus calls us into something far deeper.
In Ephesians 5:1–21, Paul reminds us that the Christian walk isn’t about looking religious on the outside. It’s about living as God’s beloved children on the inside. In this conversation, Jonathan unpacks three truths that separate appearance from belonging:
Impersonation vs. Imitation – Why showing up to church without surrendering your heart is like wearing a mask, and how being God’s child changes the walk from the inside out.
Struggle vs. Show – Why ongoing battles with sin don’t mean you’re not saved—and how hiding sin is far more dangerous than confessing it.
Identity Over Performance – Why your salvation doesn’t rest on your perfect walk but on Jesus’ perfect work.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Because I sin, does that mean I’m not saved?”—this episode will meet you in that wrestle with honesty and hope.
Scriptures to sit with:
Romans 7:15–19
Matthew 23:27–28
Ephesians 5:1–2
1 John 1:6–9
2 Corinthians 13:5
Philippians 1:6
Reflection Questions:
When I sin, do I hide it—or bring it into the light?
Am I impersonating religion, or imitating Christ?
Does my confidence rest in my performance, or in Christ’s finished work?
This week’s challenge:
Pray: “Lord, help me stop hiding. Give me courage to bring one area of my life into the light.”
Then tell one trusted person the struggle you’ve been keeping in the dark. Let confession open the door to healing.
📖 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:1–21
🌐 Learn more about The Average Pursuit HERE
🤝 Connect with Jonathan on social media → HERE
✨ If this episode stirred something in you, share it with a friend who’s tired of pretending. And don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the next dive into The Deep End.
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By Jonathan SheppardWhat do you do when your faith feels more like a Sunday performance than a Monday reality? When you say the right words, show up at the right times, but deep down you know your steps don’t match the talk?
That’s the raw question we’re diving into in this episode of The Average Pursuit. Because let’s be honest: in the Appalachian mountains—and in church culture everywhere—it’s easy to impersonate faith. We know how to dress right, smile at the door, and bow our heads in prayer. But impersonation is not the same as imitation. And Jesus calls us into something far deeper.
In Ephesians 5:1–21, Paul reminds us that the Christian walk isn’t about looking religious on the outside. It’s about living as God’s beloved children on the inside. In this conversation, Jonathan unpacks three truths that separate appearance from belonging:
Impersonation vs. Imitation – Why showing up to church without surrendering your heart is like wearing a mask, and how being God’s child changes the walk from the inside out.
Struggle vs. Show – Why ongoing battles with sin don’t mean you’re not saved—and how hiding sin is far more dangerous than confessing it.
Identity Over Performance – Why your salvation doesn’t rest on your perfect walk but on Jesus’ perfect work.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Because I sin, does that mean I’m not saved?”—this episode will meet you in that wrestle with honesty and hope.
Scriptures to sit with:
Romans 7:15–19
Matthew 23:27–28
Ephesians 5:1–2
1 John 1:6–9
2 Corinthians 13:5
Philippians 1:6
Reflection Questions:
When I sin, do I hide it—or bring it into the light?
Am I impersonating religion, or imitating Christ?
Does my confidence rest in my performance, or in Christ’s finished work?
This week’s challenge:
Pray: “Lord, help me stop hiding. Give me courage to bring one area of my life into the light.”
Then tell one trusted person the struggle you’ve been keeping in the dark. Let confession open the door to healing.
📖 Scripture reading: Ephesians 5:1–21
🌐 Learn more about The Average Pursuit HERE
🤝 Connect with Jonathan on social media → HERE
✨ If this episode stirred something in you, share it with a friend who’s tired of pretending. And don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the next dive into The Deep End.