⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Testing Everything by Scripture | Biblical Discernment Explained
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Host: Dave Jenkins
Ministry: Servants of Grace
Show Summary
In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains one of the most direct commands in the Word of God regarding discernment: “Test everything.” Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22, this episode shows how believers are called to evaluate every teaching, claim, and experience by the unchanging authority of Scripture—holding fast to what is good and rejecting every form of evil.
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Episode Notes
Key Scriptures
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22
- Acts 17:11
- Isaiah 8:20
Episode Highlights
- Why “test everything” is a biblical command, not a suggestion
- How Scripture functions as the final authority for discernment
- What it looks like to examine teaching carefully (the Bereans as a model)
- Why testing requires humility, discipline, and dependence on the Holy Spirit
- How to hold fast to what is good and reject what contradicts God’s Word
Central Truth
Testing everything means evaluating every claim, every teaching, and every experience by the unchanging authority of God’s Word—and refusing anything that contradicts it.
Practical Application
- Evaluate everything by Scripture—everything.
- Don’t accept teaching simply because it sounds spiritual or feels right.
- Don’t elevate experiences above the Word of God.
- Examine the Scriptures daily and resist pressure to embrace ideas that contradict God’s truth.
- Remember: discernment is protective—it guards your heart and strengthens your faith.
Call to Action
For more biblical resources, visit our page at Contending for the Word Q&A at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube. Subscribe to Contending for the Word Q&A wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow along on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Share this episode to help others grow in biblical discernment and stand firm on the Word
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.
