The Well | Religious life - going through the motions Archives

Craig (USA)

Meet Craig

Craig describes going through the motions of religion and not knowing what was in the Bible. He attended a new church where he began to study the Bible. He understood what Jesus did for Him and placed all his trust in Jesus for the removal of his sins. Craig talks about two tragedies that occurred for him and his wife – the death of their firstborn followed by a miscarriage. He shares what it’s like to go through those times knowing God’s in control and has a plan for his life.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

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Tags: Baby - death, Baby - illness, Certainty of eternal life, Christianity - lack of knowledge, Coping in a crisis, God - relying on God, God's plan for me, Miscarriage, My Christian life – coping with trials, Pregnancy - complications, Religious life - going through the motions, Religious life - rule following, The Bible - lack of knowledge

May 14, 2019 0

Tony (USA)

Meet Tony

Tony grew up in a Christian home. He thought accepting Jesus’ work on the cross was only about getting to heaven. Tony shares that he was prideful and self-righteous in the past in regards to his spirituality, and couldn’t see his own sin. Tony describes how God matured his understanding of what the gospel is, and what the gospel means for living day to day with a heart that truly wants to serve God.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

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Tags: Approval from others, Certainty of eternal life, Christian upbringing, Hell, My Christian life - dullness, Pride, Religious life - going through the motions, Self-righteousness, Sin - accepting I'm a sinner, The gospel - confusion about it

May 7, 2019 0

Matt (USA)

Meet Matt

Matt didn’t grow up in a Christian home. He experienced trauma as a teenager when his father died in an accident. Matt had bouts of depression at college and turned to alcohol. After he met his wife, they both started attending church. Matt says it was simply box ticking. In time, he got more curious about Christianity and the Bible. With the help of a pastor, he finally understood what the gospel was and what Jesus’ death and righteousness meant for him. He now wants Christ’s light to shine through him.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Soteria Church, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

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Tags: Accident, Alcohol abuse, Childhood - non-spiritual home, Christianity - curiosity, Christians - good examples, Depression, Emotional pain, Father - death, Religious life - going through the motions, Salvation - declared righteous by God, The Bible – curiosity, The gospel - don't know it

April 30, 2019 0

Julia (USA)

Meet Julia

Julia had a difficult childhood growing up in a home with her father who struggled with drugs and her mom who had to keep everything together. As an adult, Julia felt shame about her dad, and did things to win approval from others. Julia was brought up in the Catholic church and went through the motions of going to church. Her eyes were completely opened to the truth of the gospel when she learned that works would not get her into heaven. She also discovered she was lacking a personal relationship with Jesus. Julia accepted Jesus’ work on the cross to make her right with God, and now she knows she will get to heaven because of what He has done.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Soteria Church, Des Moines, USA.

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Tags: Anger - general, Approval from others, Catholicism, Childhood - from a drug home, Childhood - traumatic, Christians - good examples, Doing good deeds, Father - abusive, God - personal relationship with God, Low self-esteem, My Christian life - I thought I was a Christian, Religious life - going through the motions, Self-worth based on performance, Shame, Works-based religion

April 29, 2019 0

Devlin (South Africa)

Meet Devlin

Devlin says his story is all about looking for fulfillment. As a teenager, he tried different things to feel full such as achieving at school and partying. None of these satisfied. Devlin also struggled growing up because of his parent’s divorce. He felt anger towards God and had difficulties with his relationships. Then at a youth camp, Devlin trusted in Christ. He shares how he found the fulfillment he had been searching for, and God used his new found faith to help start a revival in Devlin’s school. Devlin also shares that he got caught up in habitual sin, yet despite his wandering away, God drew him back and he received Christ’s grace and forgiveness. He talks about the delight in obeying Christ’s way.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Common Ground Church, Capetown, South Africa.

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Tags: Emptiness, God - angry with God, God - forgiven by God, My Christian life - not living for God, My Christian life - obedience, Parents - divorce, Party lifestyle - high-school, Religious life - going through the motions, Searching for fulfillment, Sin - forgiveness, Sin - temptations

April 27, 2019 0

Gary (USA)

Meet Gary

Gary shares he had no spiritual interest. He did well in his career but suffered from anxiety – especially about dying. When questioned about it, he had no certainty he would go to heaven. God drew Gary to himself through a Bible study. Gary accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and now has the certainty of going to heaven. Gary relies on God to help him through times when he feels anxious, and God has helped him re-organize his life priorities so he can be a better husband and father.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

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Tags: Anxiety - general, Certainty of eternal life, Emptiness, Fear of death, Heaven - being a good person, Life priorities, Marriage - neglectful, Panic attacks, Parenting - neglectful, Religious life - going through the motions, Spirituality - don't care, Work life - over-working

March 26, 2019 0

Brady (USA)

Meet Brady

Brady shares that he was a practicing Catholic but his faith was more about going through the motions and he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Brady didn’t know he could have the certainty of eternal life and he thought doing good things would get him to heaven. A work colleague showed him the truth from the Bible, and Brady accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Brady describes how God has drastically changed his mindset about money and possessions.

Gospel

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This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

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Tags: Anxiety free, Catholicism, Certainty of eternal life, Christianity - view on money, Money behaviors, Parents - divorce, Religious life - going through the motions, Wasting money

March 26, 2019 0

Terry (Ecuador)

Meet Terry

Terry is from Ecuador but lives in Australia. In this interview, Terry shares how he thought he was a Christian, but didn’t have any knowledge of the Bible. Once the gospel was explained to him, Terry placed his faith in Christ and entered a personal relationship with Jesus. Terry talks about the blessing of his local church for his family and how they have chosen to support it.

Gospel

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This story was produced by MBM Rooty Hill, Sydney, Australia.

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Tags: Jesus – a relationship with Him, My Christian life - I thought I was a Christian, My Christian life - serving others, Religious life - going through the motions, The Bible – curiosity, The gospel - applying it to me, The gospel - don't know it

March 4, 2019 0

Mark (Australia)

Meet Mark

In Mark’s interview he talks about how he became a Christian and how his relationship with God has helped him in different areas of his life, including parenting and anxiety. Mark shares that he did not have a good relationship with his dad growing up. His dad suffered from bipolar disorder which made life very unstable for Mark. Mark didn’t learn how to have a personal relationship with Jesus until he was an adult during a time when his stepson was gravely ill. He describes being with his stepson in hospital and praying to God with a Bible in his hand. A stranger walked past Mark and showed him the verses in his Bible he needed to know to receive Christ. Mark has embraced God’s fatherly love for Him, which has healed the void left by his relationship with his earthly father.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by MBM Rooty Hill, Sydney, Australia.

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Tags: Anxiety - general, Child - illness, Childhood - unstable, Children - foster, Emptiness, Family - blended, Father - closeness, Father - illness, Father - strained relations, Feeling lost, Hope, Jesus – a relationship with Him, Jesus – relying on Him, My Christian life - obedience, Parenting, Religious life - going through the motions, Swearing, The Bible - lack of knowledge, The gospel - don't know it

March 4, 2019 0

Grant (USA)

Meet Grant

Grant shares that he was anxious about hell growing up and repeatedly prayed a prayer for salvation. Grant was raised in a Christian home but didn’t begin a personal relationship with God until someone challenged him if he was a true Christian or not. Since then, Grant has given control of his life to God, and God is leading him, teaching him and has tested him in the genuineness of his faith. Grant hopes to go to Bible college and become a youth pastor. He wants to use his life to serve God.