Contending for the Word

Deception in the church rarely appears as something obviously false. More often, it sounds spiritual, borrows biblical language, and appeals to real spiritual longings—while subtly shifting authority away from Scripture. In this episode of Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins offers a closing reflection on February's series, Testing the Spirits: Exposing Counterfeits and Standing on the Truth. Rather than revisiting previous episodes, this message identifies recurring patterns found in counterfeit movements and false teaching within the church. In this episode, Dave discusses: • Why deception is often persuasive rather than blatant. • Warning signs when experience begins to outrank Scripture. • How authority subtly shifts from God's Word to individuals. • Why Scripture repeatedly commands believers to test and discern. • How God's Word provides clarity, confidence, and peace for Christians today. Biblical discernment is not about fear or suspicion, it is about faithfulness to God as He has revealed Himself in His Word. For more episodes of Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins and Dawn Hill provide a careful, biblical response to recent abuse allegations connected to figures within the prophetic and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. This is not reactionary commentary or sensational reporting. It is a pastoral and theological examination of authority, accountability, and leadership in light of Scripture. In this discussion, we address: • The difference between allegations, institutional responses, and theological systems. • How prophetic authority is framed within NAR contexts. • Why certain authority structures increase the risk of abuse. • The biblical qualifications for church leadership (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). • The necessity of plurality of elders, church discipline, and real accountability. • What genuine repentance and restoration should look like biblically. The New Testament warns not only about false teachers, but about destructive systems and authority patterns that place leaders beyond meaningful correction. Our aim is to help believers think clearly, process carefully, and remain anchored in Christ and His Word. If you have been hurt or destabilized by these movements, we pray this episode encourages you toward a healthy, gospel-centered local church where leadership is qualified, accountable, and shepherding in nature. For more from Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

How does God speak today—and how can Christians discern His voice with clarity and confidence? In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins addresses one of the most pressing questions in modern Christianity: the relationship between Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and contemporary prophecy claims. As "God told me" language becomes increasingly common, many believers feel pressure, fear, and confusion about hearing God's voice and obeying His will. In this episode, you'll learn: • How God has spoken decisively and sufficiently in His Word (Hebrews 1:1–2). • The Holy Spirit's role in illumination—not ongoing revelation. • Why modern prophecy culture often undermines biblical authority. • How to biblically test spiritual claims (1 John 4:1; 1 Thess. 5:19–21). • How prophecy culture connects to dominion theology and the Seven Mountain Mandate. • Practical guardrails that protect peace, clarity, and faithful obedience. Discernment is not fear or suspicion it is confidence rooted in the sufficiency and clarity of God's Word. For more episodes of Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

In this episode of The Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins examines how counterfeit movements gain traction inside the church, and why biblical vigilance is not optional for Christians today. False movements rarely begin with outright heresy. Instead, they often arise from legitimate concerns: cultural decay, a desire for revival, frustration with shallow Christianity, or a hunger for spiritual depth. Over time, biblical themes are exaggerated, isolated, or detached from the full counsel of God's Word, eventually replacing the gospel rather than serving it. Drawing from passages such as 2 Corinthians 11, Jude 3, 1 John 4:1, Matthew 24, and Acts 20, this episode explores: • How counterfeit movements disguise themselves as truth. • Why fear, simplicity, and unaccountable authority fuel their growth. • How false teaching subtly shifts the mission of the church. • What faithful vigilance looks like without paranoia or cynicism. Scripture calls believers not to panic, but to be watchful to test every teaching, remain rooted in the local church, and submit all authority to Christ as revealed in His Word. Vigilance is not fear. It is faithfulness. For more episodes of Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins examines the Seven Mountain Mandate by tracing its historical development, commonly claimed origins, and its shift from cultural engagement into a theology of dominion and control. This is not a political discussion, but a biblical and theological one. Scripture calls Christians to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), remain anchored in the sufficiency of God's Word, and guard the mission Christ entrusted to His church. In this episode, we explore: • How Christians have historically engaged culture without seeking dominion. • The frequently cited 1975 origin story and how it has been reshaped over time. • The influence of modern teachers who frame cultural control as a spiritual mandate. • Why the Seven Mountain Mandate distorts the Great Commission. • How believers can pursue faithful witness without confusing influence with control. Christ does not need the church to seize power in order to reign. Christ reigns now. The church is called to discipleship, proclamation, humility, and faithfulness to the Word of God. Key Scriptures: 1 John 4:1 • Matthew 28:18–20 • John 18:36 • Matthew 20:25–28 • 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 • Romans 1:16 For more episodes of Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

In this episode of The Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins examines the rise of counterfeit spirituality, false revival language, and experience-driven teachings that subtly shift authority away from Scripture. Instead of reacting with speculation or outrage, this episode calls believers to biblical discernment grounded in the sufficiency, clarity, and authority of God's Word. True spiritual depth is not found in emotional momentum or inward experience, but in faithfulness to Christ as He is revealed in Scripture. You'll be encouraged to test all things, hold fast to what is good, and stay anchored in the Word of God in an age of confusion and deception. For more episodes of Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

The Seven Mountain Mandate has become increasingly influential in certain Christian circles, shaping how some believers understand culture, authority, and the mission of the Church. In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins and Amy Spreeman examine the Seven Mountain Mandate carefully and biblically. Rather than reacting emotionally or politically, this episode evaluates the core claims of the Seven Mountain Mandate and asks whether they align with the gospel, the teaching of Scripture, and Christ's mission for His Church. This episode also explores what the Seven Mountain Mandate teaches, how it reframes the mission of the Church, why biblical discernment is essential, and how Scripture defines faithfulness, authority, and gospel mission. Christ has called His Church to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and remain faithful to His Word. This episode seeks to help believers test modern movements by Scripture and remain anchored in biblical truth. "Test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) For more from Contending for the Word, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

The word revival is used constantly today—to describe emotional gatherings, cultural movements, and spiritual excitement. But Scripture never calls believers to accept every spiritual surge without testing it. In this episode of Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins examines the biblical difference between true revival and false revival. Drawing from Scripture and church history, this episode addresses: • What the Bible actually means by revival • Why true revival is always produced by the Word of God • Common marks of false revival that elevate experience over Scripture • How repentance, obedience, and Christ-centered worship mark genuine revival • How Christians should respond with discernment rather than cynicism True revival does not revolve around personalities, platforms, or emotional intensity. It restores reverence for God's Word, produces repentance, strengthens the local church, and magnifies the glory of Christ. Believers are called not to panic or follow hype, but to test the spirits, remain anchored in Scripture, and walk faithfully in the ordinary means of God's grace. For more from Contending for the Word please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

Is centering prayer a biblical form of prayer, or does it subtly replace God's Word with experience? In this episode of Contending for the Word, Dave Jenkins is joined by Marcia Montenegro to examine centering prayer and contemplative mysticism in light of Scripture. While often presented as ancient, quiet, and spiritually enriching, these practices raise serious concerns about prayer, revelation, and the authority of God's Word. This episode carefully addresses: • What centering prayer actually teaches. • How contemplative mysticism differs from biblical prayer. • Why silence and technique are treated as pathways to God. • How experience can quietly replace Scripture as authority. • The theological roots of these practices and how they entered evangelical churches. • Why sincerity does not determine truth. • What Scripture teaches about prayer, meditation, and communion with God. This is not a personal attack or alarmist critique. It is a biblical examination calling Christians to discernment, faithfulness to Scripture, and confidence in the sufficiency of Christ. Prayer is not a technique. Silence is not a means of revelation. God has spoken, and Christ is enough. For more from Contending for the Word please visit us at Servants of Grace: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

Deception in the Church rarely begins with outright denial of Christ. More often, it enters subtly through shifts in authority, emotional appeals, selective use of Scripture, and the quiet redefinition of biblical truth. In this episode of The Weekly Watch, part of the Contending for the Word podcast, Dave Jenkins launches a new monthly theme: Discerning Truth in a Deceptive Age, Clarity for the Church Today. This episode lays the foundation by examining: • How deception typically begins and spreads within the Church. • Why false teaching often goes unchallenged. • The danger of elevating experience over Scripture. • Why discernment is not unloving but an act of obedience. • How believers can guard themselves by remaining anchored in the Word of God. Scripture repeatedly warns that deception will increase and that false teachers often arise from within the church. Because of this, biblical discernment is not optional for Christians today; it is essential for faithfulness to Christ and the health of His Church. As Jude 3 exhorts, believers are called to contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints—not with fear or pride, but with clarity, conviction, and confidence in God's Word. For more from the Contending for the Word podcast, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

As we conclude our December series on the 2025 State of Theology, this episode addresses a growing and sobering reality, widespread doctrinal confusion among self-identified evangelicals and a drifting confidence in the authority of God's Word. In this episode, Dave Jenkins examines what the State of Theology reveals, why these trends matter as we head into 2026, and how the deeper issue beneath the confusion is ultimately a crisis of biblical authority. Scripture is not merely informative, it is authoritative, sufficient, and binding on the Christian life. This episode also offers a clear call to biblical discernment, not suspicion or cynicism, but humble, trained discernment shaped by the Word of God. Listeners are encouraged to consider not only what they believe about the Bible, but how they functionally use it in everyday life, because what we do with the Bible reveals what we truly believe about the Bible. This episode calls believers to stand firm, guard their hearts, and grow in clarity, conviction, and confidence in Christ as we prepare for the year ahead.

In this Weekly Watch episode, Dave Jenkins addresses the growing moral confusion surrounding sexual ethics within the modern church. Drawing from Scripture, he explains why God's design for sexuality is good, purposeful, and rooted in creation, covenant, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As cultural pressures increase and biblical authority is questioned, Christians are called to speak the truth with clarity, conviction, and compassion. This episode calls believers to stand firm on God's Word, trusting that biblical clarity is always a kindness. For more from Contending for the Word please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/