Episodios

  • Testing the Spirits: Contemplative Spirituality Q&A

    Testing the Spirits: Contemplative Spirituality Q&A
    Feb 10 2026
    In this Contending for the Word Q&A episode, Dave Jenkins is joined by Marcia Montenegro to examine contemplative spirituality and why Scripture commands believers to test the spirits rather than adopt man-made methods of spiritual growth. Contemplative spirituality is often presented as a deeper or more authentic Christian life, yet it is rooted in experience-driven practices that can introduce doctrinal error and subtly undermine the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. In this episode, Dave and Marcia address listener questions and explain why contemplative spirituality is not a neutral practice, but a spiritually harmful approach tied to unbiblical theology. This episode addresses: • What contemplative spirituality teaches and why it appeals to Christians. • How unbiblical approaches to spiritual growth distort sound doctrine. • The difference between biblical meditation and mystical practices. • Why experience must never replace Scripture as the final authority. • How Christians can respond with biblical discernment, clarity, and love. This Q&A is designed to help believers remain anchored in God's Word and stand firm against spiritual error in the church. For more from Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/ To view the full series on contemplative spirituality, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contemplative-spirituality-biblical-discernment/
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    2 h y 29 m
  • Why Discernment Is Not Optional in a Noisy Church Age

    Why Discernment Is Not Optional in a Noisy Church Age
    Feb 7 2026
    The church today is surrounded by spiritual noise, theological confusion, and growing authority drift. In this episode of The Weekly Watch on Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins explains why biblical discernment is not optional for Christians living in a confusing age. Drawing from Scripture, this message addresses the rebranding of false movements such as the New Apostolic Reformation, the rise of counterfeit spirituality that elevates experience over God's Word, and the growing tendency to treat doctrine as mere personal opinion. It also explains why biblical correction is often labeled unloving, and why Scripture teaches otherwise. Discernment is not fear-driven or reactionary. It is obedience to God. The Bible commands believers to test the spirits, examine teaching, and guard the gospel for the good of the church and the protection of vulnerable believers. This episode offers both warning and encouragement, calling Christians to remain anchored in Christ, His Word, the local church, and the means of grace. For more from Contending for the Word: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/
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    12 m
  • Why Biblical Theology Matters for Discernment

    Why Biblical Theology Matters for Discernment
    Feb 3 2026
    In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins begins our February focus on testing the spirits, exposing counterfeits, and standing firmly on the truth of God's Word. Many Christians who drift into false teaching do not do so because they reject Scripture, but because they lack a framework for understanding how the Bible fits together as one unified story centered on Christ. This episode explains why biblical theology is essential for true discernment and how it protects believers from fragmented Bible reading, counterfeit spirituality, and subtle gospel distortion. In this episode, you'll learn: • What biblical theology is and why it is not merely academic. • How fragmented Scripture reading weakens discernment. • Why false teaching often sounds biblical while redefining biblical terms. • How biblical theology safeguards the gospel. • Why discernment is about trajectory, not isolated mistakes. • How biblical theology stabilizes the church and produces maturity. Key passages include Luke 24, Nehemiah 8, Galatians 1, Ephesians 4, Colossians 2, and John 17. This episode is not about naming names or generating outrage. It is about helping ordinary Christians see truth clearly, recognize counterfeits, and remain anchored in the Word of God. "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." (John 17:17) For more from Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/
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    46 m
  • Discernment Is Not Optional for the Church Today

    Discernment Is Not Optional for the Church Today
    Jan 31 2026
    Discernment is not a niche concern. It is not reserved for pastors, theologians, or discernment ministries. According to Scripture, discernment is a biblical responsibility for every Christian. In this episode of The Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins concludes January's focus on Discerning Truth in a Deceptive Age by stepping back to explain why discernment matters, why it is often resisted, and why Scripture insists on it. This episode addresses: • Why Scripture repeatedly commands believers to test what they hear. • Why discernment is often labeled "unloving" in today's church culture. • How experience, emotion, and popularity can replace biblical evaluation. • How the digital age has made discernment more difficult. • Why online content must never replace the local church. • What biblical discernment actually is—and what it is not. • The spiritual cost of neglecting discernment. • Why discernment protects the gospel, the church, and God's people. Discernment is not about fear. It is about faithfulness to God and obedience to His Word. Contending for the Word exists to serve and strengthen the local church, not replace it. Our aim is to help believers grow in biblical clarity so they can contend for the truth with humility, courage, and grace. Key Scriptures: 1 John 4:1 Acts 17:11 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Philippians 1:9–10 Ephesians 4:15 John 14–17 For more from Contending for the Word, visit Servants of Grace: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/
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    15 m
  • Testing the Spirits: Biblical Discernment in a Deceptive Age

    Testing the Spirits: Biblical Discernment in a Deceptive Age
    Jan 27 2026
    Scripture commands believers not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). In an age saturated with sermons, podcasts, social media clips, conferences, and Christian content, biblical discernment is not optional—it is a spiritual responsibility. In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins explains why testing teaching is a command, not a preference. He lays out a clear, Scripture-centered framework for evaluating teaching, examines why discernment has become more difficult in the digital age, and warns of the serious consequences when Christians fail to test what they hear. This episode is not about cynicism, controversy, or naming names. It is about submission to the authority of God's Word, faithfulness to Christ, and love for the church. Discernment is not suspicion—it is obedience shaped by Scripture and humility. Key Scriptures: 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 7:15–20; Ephesians 4:14; Galatians 1:6–9; Hebrews 5:14; John 17:17. For more from Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/
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    35 m
  • Biblical Literacy: God’s Safeguard Against Deception

    Biblical Literacy: God’s Safeguard Against Deception
    Jan 24 2026
    In this Weekly Watch episode, Dave Jenkins explains why biblical literacy is not optional for the Christian life. Deception thrives where Scripture is unfamiliar, experience replaces truth, and personalities replace discernment. This episode calls believers to be anchored in God's Word as their final authority, source of truth, and protection in a deceptive age. For more from Contending for the Word, visit Servants of Grace: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/
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    12 m
  • New Age Is Old Age: Ancient Deception Repackaged in Modern Christian Language

    New Age Is Old Age: Ancient Deception Repackaged in Modern Christian Language
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins is joined by Doreen Virtue to expose a sobering truth: the New Age is not new at all. It is ancient rebellion against God, repeatedly repackaged with modern language, spiritual branding, and even borrowed Christian vocabulary. Drawing from Scripture and Doreen's personal testimony, this conversation shows how old spiritual errors—from Genesis 3 onward—continue to reappear today through practices such as manifestation, crystals, Reiki, channeling, "Jesus consciousness," and self-authority spirituality. What is often marketed as enlightenment is, in reality, spirituality without repentance and deception without submission to Christ. This episode calls Christians back to the sufficiency of Scripture, the authority of God's revealed Word, and the necessity of testing all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Discernment is not unloving—it is an act of love for God, His truth, and His people. Key themes include: • Why the New Age is ancient deception in modern packaging. • How Christian language is used to make spiritual counterfeits feel safe. • Truth revealed by Scripture versus truth "discovered" within the self. • The danger of syncretism and spiritual compromise. • Why believers must remain rooted in Christ, His Word, and the local church. This episode is part of the ongoing series Discerning Truth in a Deceptive Age. 📘 New Age Is Old Age by Doreen Virtue: https://amzn.to/3LDN9UX 🎧 More from Contending for the Word: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word/
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    52 m
  • Counterfeit Spirituality: Testing the Spirits in a Confused Church

    Counterfeit Spirituality: Testing the Spirits in a Confused Church
    Jan 17 2026
    Counterfeit spirituality is one of the greatest dangers facing the church today—not open rejection of Christ, but spirituality that sounds Christian while quietly redefining how we know God, hear God, and obey God. In this Weekly Watch episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins examines the rise of experience-driven spirituality and explains why Scripture commands believers not to celebrate every spiritual movement, but to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). This episode addresses: • What counterfeit spirituality is. • Why it is so appealing in our cultural moment. • How Christians must respond biblically. Drawing from Scripture, church history, and contemporary examples, this episode shows that emotional intensity is not the same as spiritual authenticity. True spirituality submits to God's Word, centers on Christ, and produces repentance, holiness, and obedience. Key texts include 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, John 14:15, and Luke 24:27. God is not silent. Scripture is sufficient. Christ is always enough. For more from Contending for the Word please visit our page at Servants of Grace: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-wordpage/
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    15 m