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Testing the Spirits: Biblical Discernment in a Deceptive Age
Show: Contending for the Word with Dave Jenkins Author: Dave Jenkins Date: January 27, 2026Show Summary
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 doctrine, 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.Audio Player
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Episode Notes
- Discernment is commanded: God does not assume His people will only encounter truth (1 John 4:1).
- Testing is not cynicism: Biblical testing is careful, humble evaluation under the authority of God’s Word (1 Thess. 5:21).
- The Bereans model faithfulness: Receive with eagerness; examine Scripture daily (Acts 17:11).
- Discernment requires Scripture knowledge: You can’t test what you don’t know.
- The digital age intensifies the challenge: Volume, clips, and algorithms can shape believers more than the Word (Prov. 18:17; 2 Tim. 4:3–4).
- A practical framework for evaluation: authority, handling of Scripture, view of Christ, view of sin/repentance, and fruit over time (2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 7:16–20).
- The cost of untested teaching: confusion, instability, emotional reasoning, gospel drift, and church drift (Eph. 4:14; Gal. 1:6–9).
- Growing discernment without cynicism: discernment grows through constant practice, humility, and church accountability (Heb. 5:14; Phil. 1:9–11).
- Online wisdom: test the message, watch for patterns, be careful with clips, and be responsible with what you share.
- Christ is the goal: discernment protects the gospel and anchors believers in the unchanging Christ (John 17:17; Heb. 13:8).
Key Scriptures
- 1 John 4:1
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
- Acts 17:11
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Matthew 7:15–20
- Ephesians 4:14
- Galatians 1:6–9
- Philippians 1:9–11
- Hebrews 5:14
- John 17:17
- Colossians 2:8
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Hebrews 13:8
Episode Highlights
- Discernment is not a personality trait—it is a spiritual responsibility.
- Testing the spirits is submission to Scripture as the final authority for faith and practice.
- Truth is not measured by sincerity, popularity, or emotional impact, but by God’s Word.
- Your favorite podcaster is not your pastor—online content must never replace the local church.
- Discernment is an act of love: it protects the gospel, the church, and vulnerable believers.
Takeaways / Reflection Questions
- What voices most shape my theology right now—Scripture and my local church, or online personalities and algorithms?
- When I hear a teaching clip, do I slow down to examine context and compare it with the Word?
- How is Scripture being used—handled carefully in context, or quoted as support for a preexisting idea?
- Does this teaching magnify Christ as Lord and Savior, or treat Him as a means to another goal?
- What fruit does this teaching produce over time—humility and obedience, or confusion and independence from accountability?
