Contending for the Word Q&A

Holiness is not opposed to grace. It is produced by grace. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains why holiness is directly connected to the gospel and why it matters for every Christian today. Drawing from 1 Peter 1:15–16, Titus 2:11–14, and Ephesians 2:8–10, this episode shows that the grace of God not only forgives sinners but also transforms lives. This message addresses two common errors: treating holiness as optional and treating holiness as a way to earn salvation. Scripture teaches neither. Instead, true holiness flows from belonging to Christ and is the fruit of saving grace. Listeners will learn: • Why the gospel saves us for holiness, not from it • How grace trains believers in obedience • Why holiness reflects the character of God • How holiness protects the clarity of the gospel The gospel is not only the message that forgives sin. It is the power that transforms lives. For more episodes of Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

How can Christians pursue holiness without falling into legalism? In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins addresses a common struggle in the Christian life: how to pursue obedience faithfully while avoiding performance-driven Christianity. Drawing from Galatians 3:1–3, Colossians 2:20–23, and Titus 2:11–14, this episode explains why legalism cannot produce true holiness and how God's grace actively transforms believers through the work of the Holy Spirit. Listeners will learn that holiness is not achieved through external rules, self-effort, or fear, but through grace-fueled obedience rooted in the finished work of Christ. Grace does not undermine holiness—it trains believers to walk in godliness. This episode offers biblical clarity, pastoral encouragement, and practical guidance for pursuing Spirit-dependent holiness with confidence, freedom, and joy in Christ. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

Spiritual growth often feels slow, uneven, and at times almost invisible. Many believers wonder whether real change is actually happening in their lives. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains how the Holy Spirit produces real, lasting spiritual growth—not instantly, but faithfully over time. Scripture shows that growth is God's work from beginning to end, accomplished through His grace and according to His purposes. Drawing from Philippians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and Mark 4:26–29, this episode provides a biblical framework for understanding sanctification. The Holy Spirit transforms believers gradually, shaping them through ordinary means such as the Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, and trials. Rather than measuring growth by speed or outward change alone, Scripture calls believers to look for increasing Christlikeness seen in humility, patience, perseverance, and deeper trust in God. If growth feels slow today, this episode offers biblical encouragement to remain faithful, trust the Spirit's work, and rest in God's promise to complete what He has begun. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

Many believers desire to grow in holiness but feel discouraged by repeated failure and spiritual exhaustion. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains why Scripture teaches that spiritual growth cannot be produced by willpower or self effort. Drawing from Zechariah 4:6, Romans 8:12–14, and Galatians 3:1–3, this episode highlights the central role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification. True growth does not come from trying harder. It comes from daily dependence on the Spirit, who renews the heart, produces obedience, and sustains the believer by grace. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

Wicca and witchcraft are increasingly normalized in modern culture, often presented as harmless, empowering, or therapeutic. But Scripture warns that these practices are not neutral. They are spiritually dangerous and rooted in deception. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Doreen Virtue explains how witchcraft and Wicca are being rebranded through media, marketing, and modern spirituality, and why many are being drawn into these practices. Drawing from her past involvement in the occult before coming to Christ, she explains: • Why witchcraft is often presented as appealing and harmless • The rise of "Christian witches" and spiritual syncretism • How occult practices promise power but lead to bondage • Why spiritual experiences and "working spells" can be deceptive • The biblical warning that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) • Why the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true source of freedom Christians are called not to fear, but to stand firm in truth, exercise discernment, and proclaim the gospel with clarity and compassion. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains that walking in the Spirit is not about emotional experiences or mystical impressions. It is about daily dependence on the Holy Spirit through God's Word. Drawing from Galatians 5:16–18, Romans 8:1–14, and John 6:63, this episode shows how believers grow in holiness, resist sin, and bear spiritual fruit over time through the Spirit's work. Walking in the Spirit is not about perfection. It is about faithful, daily obedience grounded in grace. 👉 For more episodes, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

What does it mean to live a life that is truly rooted in Christ? In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins reflects on Psalm 1 and Colossians 2:6–7 to show that the Christian life is not meant to be hurried, reactive, or driven by outward success, but steady, grounded, and nourished by God's Word. Scripture describes the blessed man as a tree planted by streams of water—firmly rooted, steadily nourished, and bearing fruit in season. This imagery reminds us that spiritual growth does not come from constant activity or emotional highs, but from abiding in Christ through ordinary means of grace. Dave explains how believers are called to walk in Christ just as they received Him—by faith—drawing strength not from circumstances or self-effort, but from Christ Himself. In this episode, you will learn: • Spiritual growth often happens quietly and over time • Faithfulness in Scripture, prayer, and repentance matters deeply • Stability in the Christian life comes from being rooted in Christ • God is at work beneath the surface, even when progress feels slow If you feel discouraged or tempted to measure your spiritual life by productivity or emotion, this episode will help re-center your heart on what truly matters. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins answers an important question for the Christian life: Why do spiritual habits matter for growth? Many believers wrestle with this topic. Some fear that spiritual habits lead to legalism. Others feel discouraged by inconsistency. Still others wonder whether habits really make a difference in their walk with Christ. But Scripture provides a clear and hopeful answer. Spiritual habits—such as prayer, reading God's Word, worship, and fellowship—are not ways to earn God's favor. They are means of grace that God uses to shape His people, deepen their dependence on Christ, and cultivate steady growth over time. In this episode, you'll learn: Why spiritual habits are means, not merits How growth is cultivated, not manufactured What it means to abide in Christ daily Why consistency matters more than intensity How habits help guard against spiritual drift Rooted in passages like 1 Timothy 4:7–8, John 15:4–5, and Psalm 1, this episode reminds us that God grows His people through ordinary, grace-filled faithfulness. If you struggle with consistency, don't aim for perfection—aim for faithfulness. Begin where you are, trust God's grace, and walk steadily with Him. 👉 For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

What does the Christian life look like in everyday practice? In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains how the Christian life is lived not merely in dramatic moments, but in the steady rhythm of daily faith, repentance, and obedience rooted in Christ. Drawing from Galatians 2:20, Colossians 2:6–7, and Luke 9:23, this episode shows that the Christian life begins and continues by faith, is grounded in union with Christ, and is sustained by the grace of God, not human effort. Believers are reminded that growth in the Christian life does not come from trying harder, but from trusting Christ more deeply and walking in dependence on Him in the ordinary moments of life. This episode will help you understand: • How the Christian life begins and continues by faith • What it means to live in union with Christ • Why ordinary obedience matters in daily Christian living • How grace, not willpower, fuels spiritual growth • How to walk faithfully with Christ in everyday life The Christian life is not a sprint of extraordinary moments. It is a steady walk of daily faithfulness, shaped by grace and rooted in Christ. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins reflects on the life-shaping power of God's Word as Scripture Questions month concludes. Drawing from Psalm 1 and 2 Timothy 3:16–17, this episode shows that the difference between a life of stability and a life of emptiness is not circumstance, but what we delight in. The one who delights in the Word of God is rooted, nourished, and fruitful, even in the midst of difficulty. God's Word does not merely inform—it forms. It teaches, corrects, and equips God's people to live faithfully in a fallen world. This episode calls listeners to move beyond information toward transformation, urging them to delight in God's Word and allow it to shape their thinking, desires, and obedience. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/