⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 7 min read
Sound Doctrine and Spiritual Growth: Starting the Year Anchored in Truth
Show Summary
As we begin 2026, many Christians are setting goals for more Bible reading, more prayer, and more service. Those are good and necessary priorities. But there is one area that is often overlooked and yet absolutely essential for spiritual growth: sound doctrine.In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins answers the question: “Why is sound doctrine essential for spiritual growth?” He explains how doctrine simply means teaching, why every Christian already believes some kind of doctrine, and why the real issue is whether our doctrine is healthy and biblical. Drawing from passages like 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Titus 2, 2 Timothy 4:3–4, and 2 Peter 3:18, Dave shows how sound doctrine grounds us in truth, shapes holy living, protects us from deception, and always points us to Christ.Listen to This Q&A
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🎥 Watch this episode on YouTubeKey Scriptures
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Titus 2
- 2 Timothy 4:3–4
- 2 Peter 3:18
- John 14:6
Episode Highlights
- Sound doctrine is healthy, biblical teaching that produces spiritual maturity.
- Scripture, not feelings or experiences, must shape our faith and practice.
- Sound doctrine leads to godly living and obedience, not mere head knowledge.
- Healthy teaching protects us from deception and itching-ear messages.
- All true doctrine centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Why Sound Doctrine Is Essential for Spiritual Growth
As a new year begins, many Christians set goals for more Bible reading, more prayer, and more service in the local church. Those are good and vital aims. But there is another area that is often ignored and yet absolutely essential for spiritual growth: sound doctrine. When we talk about doctrine, we are simply talking about teaching. Every Christian believes doctrine the question is not whether we have doctrine, but whether the doctrine we have is sound, healthy, and biblical.In the New Testament, the apostle Paul repeatedly warns Timothy and Titus to hold fast to sound doctrine. The Greek word translated “sound” carries the idea of what is healthy or wholesome. Sound doctrine leads to a spiritually healthy life, while false teaching leads to confusion, decay, and spiritual ruin. We live in an age where feelings often replace truth and where many people chase after experiences rather than the Word of God. But true growth begins when our faith is shaped by God’s Word, not by our emotions. Our emotions must be submitted to and regulated by Scripture.1. Sound Doctrine Grounds Us in the Truth of God’s Word
First, sound doctrine grounds us in the truth of the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Paul tells Timothy that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The foundation of spiritual maturity is knowing who God is and what He has said in His Word.Without the truth of Scripture informing our lives, and without our hearts being submitted to the authority of God’s Word, we will not have doctrinal clarity. Instead, we will drift. But when we build our lives on the Word of God, we stand firm even when the culture around us shifts and changes. God’s Word is steady and unchanging, and sound doctrine anchors us to that unchanging truth.2. Sound Doctrine Shapes Holy Living
Second, sound doctrine shapes holy living. Doctrine is not merely about accumulating information or winning theological arguments. Healthy doctrine leads to transformed hearts and lives. Titus 2 shows us that sound doctrine produces godliness: older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, and self-controlled; older women are to teach what is good; younger women and men are to live self-controlled, upright lives.If what we claim to believe does not affect how we live, it is not truly biblical doctrine. The truth of God always bears fruit in obedience. Sound doctrine will humble us, lead us to repentance, and move us toward greater Christlikeness in every area of life.3. Sound Doctrine Protects Us from Deception
Third, sound doctrine protects us from deception. In 2 Timothy 4:3–4, Paul warns that a time will come when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. We are living in such a time.From social media influencers to false teachers in pulpits, there is no shortage of voices that twist the Word of God. Sound doctrine acts like armor. It guards us against error and keeps us focused on Christ and His gospel. When we know what the Bible teaches, we are less easily carried away by persuasive personalities or popular trends.4. Sound Doctrine Points Us to Christ
Fourth, sound doctrine always points us to Christ. All true, biblical teaching centers on Jesus His person, His work, and His Word. To grow in grace is to grow in our knowledge of Christ, as 2 Peter 3:18 exhorts us. Every passage, every truth, every doctrine ultimately leads us to worship the Savior who is Himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).Application: How to Pursue Sound Doctrine in Daily Life
How, then, should we respond? First, stay rooted in the Word of God. Let your Bible reading be more than routine. Read the text, study it, meditate on it, memorize it, and apply it. Take God’s Word into your heart and walk it out in obedience, and do all of this in the context of God’s people in a faithful local church.Second, value biblical preaching. Sit under qualified men who will open the Scriptures faithfully, teach them clearly verse by verse and line by line, and point you to Christ from the text.Third, guard your heart. Don’t chase emotional highs or so-called new revelation. Cling instead to God’s unchanging truth in His written Word.Fourth, grow in community. Surround yourself with believers who prize the truth and pursue holiness together. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It is the result of being nourished by sound doctrine and applying that truth to your life day by day.As we begin this new year, remember: your faith will only be as strong as the truth it is built upon. Sound doctrine is not a luxury for theologians; it is a necessity for every Christian who desires to grow in grace, discernment, and holiness. Let us be people of the Word, anchored in the truth and ready to contend for it with love and conviction.Takeaways & Reflection Questions
- Where are your beliefs being shaped more by feelings or culture than by Scripture, and how can you bring those areas under the authority of God’s Word?
- How is sound doctrine currently influencing your daily decisions, your relationships, and your involvement in the local church?
- What practical steps can you take this year to deepen your understanding of biblical doctrine (for example, reading, study, teaching, or discipleship)?
