⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Media Is Shaping Your Thinking
Episode Summary
Every day, what we watch, read, hear, and scroll through is shaping how we think. Media is not neutral. It communicates ideas, promotes values, and influences what we eventually regard as normal, acceptable, and true.
In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins considers the influence of media through the lens of Philippians 4:8. He explains how repeated exposure gradually forms our thinking and why Christians must carefully evaluate what they consume according to the truth of Scripture.
Biblical discernment is not driven by fear. It is rooted in wisdom and a growing knowledge of God’s Word. The more thoroughly Christians fill their minds with what is true, honorable, just, pure, and commendable, the better prepared they will be to recognize ideas that do not align with Scripture.
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In This Episode
- Why media is never merely entertainment
- How repeated exposure gradually shapes a worldview
- Why popularity does not determine whether something is good
- Questions Christians should ask about the media they consume
- How Scripture equips believers to recognize error
- Why biblical discernment is rooted in wisdom rather than fear
Guard Your Mind with Biblical Truth
Media will shape your thinking. The question is whether it will shape you toward the truth or away from it. Christians must remain aware of what they consume, practice discernment, intentionally fill their minds with Scripture, and ask the Lord for wisdom to think clearly.
A mind shaped by the Word of God is better prepared to recognize falsehood, resist deception, and live faithfully in a culture filled with competing messages.
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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 (G3 Press, 2022), 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.
