⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Show Summary
In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains why the church must hold truth and love together. In a culture that often treats truth and compassion as opposites, Scripture calls believers to embrace both with faithfulness and humility.Drawing from Ephesians 4:15, 1 Timothy 3:15, and John 13:35, this episode shows why truth without love becomes harsh, while love without truth loses the message people truly need. The gospel itself reveals both the truth about human sin and the love of God displayed in Jesus Christ.Listen and Watch
What You’ll Learn
- Why truth and love are not enemies
- Why the church must guard biblical truth
- How love should characterize the people of God
- The danger of truth spoken without compassion
- The danger of love separated from biblical conviction
- How the gospel brings truth and love together in Christ
Scripture References
- Ephesians 4:15
- 1 Timothy 3:15
- John 13:35
Key Quote
Truth and love are not enemies. They belong together.
Why This Matters
The church’s witness is distorted whenever truth and love are separated. If truth is spoken without love, the message may be right, but the spirit can become harsh and unapproachable. If love is separated from truth, the church stops offering the message of sin, repentance, and salvation that people truly need.The gospel shows us a better way. Christ confronted sin and offered grace to sinners. The church must remain anchored in the authority of God’s Word while demonstrating genuine compassion to others.Call to Action
For more episodes of Contending for the Word Q&A, visit Contending for the Word Q&A on Servants of Grace.You can also watch the full playlist on YouTube: Watch Contending for the Word Q&A on YouTube.
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.
