⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 3 min read
Church History Strengthens Biblical Discernment
By Dave Jenkins | Contending for the Word Q&AMany Christians want to recognize false teaching, stand firm in biblical truth, and avoid spiritual deception. Studying church history helps us recognize recurring errors, learn from faithful believers, and grow in confidence in Christ’s faithfulness to His church.In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains how learning from previous generations strengthens biblical discernment while keeping God’s Word as our final authority.Listen or Watch
Recognizing Recurring Errors
False teaching often changes its language without changing its substance. Questions about biblical authority, the person of Christ, salvation, and the sufficiency of Scripture have confronted the church for centuries. Church history helps believers recognize familiar errors beneath contemporary language.Learning from Faithful Christians
Hebrews 13:7 calls believers to remember faithful leaders, consider the outcome of their lives, and imitate their faith. Throughout church history, pastors, theologians, missionaries, and ordinary Christians have demonstrated courage and perseverance through their commitment to Christ and His Word.Their examples encourage us to remain faithful in our own circumstances while testing every teaching and example by Scripture.Approaching History with Humility
We are not the first generation to wrestle with difficult questions. Christians before us studied Scripture, defended the faith, and endured hardship for Christ. Learning from them helps us approach our own questions with humility and a willingness to receive biblical instruction.Trusting Christ’s Faithfulness
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promises to build His church. Through persecution, false teaching, and cultural opposition, Christ has continued to sustain His people. Remembering His faithfulness gives Christians courage to stand firm today.Four Ways to Apply This Episode
- Learn to recognize recurring patterns of false teaching.
- Study faithful Christians who stood firmly on God’s Word.
- Approach church history with humility and biblical discernment.
- Trust Christ’s ongoing faithfulness to His church.
Scripture References
- Romans 15:4
- Hebrews 13:7
- Matthew 16:18
Keep Growing in God’s Word
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Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
