False teachers are everywhere. They lead people astray with their feel-good messages that prey on our emotions and core needs to be seen, known, and loved. They give sermons focused on self and what God owes us instead of what we owe Him. Half-truths and straight-up lies are coming at us from all directions, and disciples desperately need discernment.
We need to know sound doctrine, live it out, and share it with others.
But first, what is sound doctrine?
What is sound doctrine?
Maybe you’ve heard it mentioned, but aren’t sure about the meaning of “sound doctrine”. Simply put, it means uncorrupted or right teaching.
It’s the right teaching in the bible, the words inspired and preserved by God himself, that saves the sinner and sanctifies the saint. (2Pet. 1:21, Rom.1:16, 1, Thess. 2:13, 1Pet. 1:23)
Since God is the only perfectly pure being, He alone is the source for absolute truth. If we want to know sound doctrine, we must turn to God’s word for wisdom.
“Doctrine is the framework of life – the skeleton of truth, to be clothed and rounded out by the living grace of a holy life.” ~ Adoniram Gordon
Where do we find sound doctrine?
Paul said in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the word of God, so then if we want to learn sound doctrine then we have to open our bibles. If we want to teach sound doctrine, we have to study our bibles, And if we want to live out sound doctrine, then we have to believe and obey the teachings in our bibles.
I use the King James Version of the Bible, and found sound doctrine mentioned four times.
In the KJV, sound doctrine is spoken of in the pastoral epistles from the apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus.
Sound doctrine in the KJV bible:
1 Timothy 1:10 KJV – For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
2 Timothy 4:3 KJV – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Titus 1:9 KJV – Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Titus 2:1 KJV – But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
The apostle Paul encourages pastors to teach sound doctrine to counteract the lies, to convince the naysayers, and convict the consciences of those who are steeped in sin.
What is the purpose of sound doctrine?
Jesus also had a lot to say about the truth of the word of God. He said that it proves out the true disciples, and makes them free. John 8:31-32 Jesus also said that the truth sanctifies the believers, and that God’s word is truth. John 17:17
Sound doctrine is so important to every disciple because it gives them the mind of Christ, makes them like Him, and motivates them to love Him and know Him more. The closer we are to Jesus, learning truth from the Master, and living it out, the better we will represent Him in this lost world. People desperately need Jesus. The real Jesus, who is discovered within the pages of scripture, not popular books or TV shows, or videos on social media.
Our actions and attitudes are shaped by the thoughts, so if our theology is off, our behavior and lifestyle will be off. But when we have a right view of God and His word, will, and ways, because we have learned sound doctrine, then we will live sanctified and shine for Christ!
“Bible literacy matters because it protects us from falling into error. Both the false teacher and the secular humanist rely on biblical ignorance for their messages to take root, and the modern church has proven fertile ground for those messages. Because we do not know our Bibles, we crumble at the most basic challenges to our worldview.”
~ Jen Wilkin
5 Ways to learn sound doctrine
They say the best way to discern truth from error is to be so familiar with the real thing, that you can spot a fake a mile away. So for a disciple to be able to identify false doctrine, they need to soak up sound doctrine.
If you want to know sound doctrine, here are some practical steps you can take:
- Read your bible consistently. If you are just beginning your journey with Jesus, start in the book of Matthew and read through the New Testament. Doing so, you will learn the character of Christ, His teachings, and the lifestyle you should live as His disciple.
- Study your bible. Learning basic bible study principles is a game-changer when it comes to understanding sound doctrine. It may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. I have several articles here that will help you study the bible for yourself. And I also offer a free 17-page guide to how to study the Bible in my Resource Library. There is more information on how to sign up for that on this page.
- Attend a church that preaches sound doctrine. If what you are hearing from the pulpit doesn’t line up with what the bible says, then run! Even if you’ve been there your whole life, if the truth isn’t taught, it’s not the place for you.
- Sign up for discipleship. Discipleship is an avenue for growth for new believers. It’s a relationship centered on the word of God that helps you grow in faith, character, and wisdom. Biblical discipleship also provides tactics for the disciple to become a disciple-maker themselves. You can read more about discipleship here.
- Pray for discernment. If you want to make sure that you are learning and teaching sound doctrine and not believing false teachers, prayer is a must. Prayer invites the Lord into every situation in your life and communicates to Him your desire for His wisdom.
James 1:5 KJV – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Obstacles to overcome in your search for sound doctrine
The devil knows that a woman armed with knowledge of the truth is dangerous to his agenda. He throws out roadblocks to keep us from hearing sound doctrine and from living it out.
Things like distractions, doubt, discouragement, and drama are all in his arsenal. We need to recognize them for what they are, and resist the devil’s attempts to trip us up and stunt our growth.
Another obstacle to overcome in your search for sound doctrine is overwhelm. There are countless teachings out there, and you can find them in mere seconds. It can be overwhelming. That’s why I encourage you to start with your own personal study of the word of God, before searching for answers on the internet or social media.
Sound doctrine is necessary for spiritual growth
Despite the obstacles, searching for sound doctrine is a necessary part of the disciple’s life and spiritual growth. Without it, they will flounder and fall, because they are not rooted and grounded in truth.
So I encourage you to learn sound doctrine today, by reading your bible, studying it, attending a bible-believing and teaching church, getting discipled, and praying for discernment.
Those 5 elements are essential for learning sound doctrine, as well as maturing in Christ-likeness. And that is the goal of every disciple’s life, to be more like Jesus.
More about learning sound doctrine
My Top 10 Resources for Spiritual Growth
More on spiritual growth
Learning to Be a Discreet Woman
3 Reasons Prayer is Essential for Your Spiritual Growth
The Importance of a Sober Mind for Spiritual Stability
Get a “My Jesus Journal” for spiritual growth
I designed and published a tool to help Christian women to know Jesus more intimately. My Jesus Journal focuses your time in the word on learning more about the Lord and cultivate a closer relationship with Christ.
Intended to be used alongside your daily Bible reading, My Jesus Journal has space to record the date, the scriptures you read, and lined spaces to write your observations about Jesus you saw in the text. The bottom of that page has a verse from the KJV Bible about Jesus. The next page has space to write prayers related to what you discovered in your reading. There are also extra prayer pages in the back of the book.
Mark 12:30 tells us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but we cannot love someone we do not know. The more time we spend intentionally seeking Jesus in the pages of scripture, the more we will know Him and love Him. My Jesus Journal aids us in our quest to learn and love and know Jesus more deeply.
Beautiful, portable, and affordable!
If you are looking for help to grow in your knowledge of Jesus, build intimacy into your relationship with Him, and deepen your love for the Lord, then My Jesus Journal is just what you need!
Beautifully designed with your spiritual growth in mind, I perfectly sized My Jesus Journal to fit into your purse, backpack, or diaper bag. You can grow on the go when you use wait times in the Doctor’s office, the carpool line, etc. for Bible study.
My Jesus Journal is extremely affordable, so you can purchase just one for yourself, or consider buying one for your entire ministry, to begin a season of seeking Jesus together. It makes an excellent gift for any Christian woman in your life! Click on the picture to order today:
Looking for a guest blogger?
If you need someone to contribute articles to your website, or to collaborate with you on a project, you can view my portfolio and my beliefs to see if I would be a good fit for your readers. If so, please email me at dailyhisdisciple@gmail.com with what you are looking for, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Pray With Confidence
Prayer is essential to learning sound doctrine. If you desire a stronger prayer life, then check out Pray With Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the regular contributors. Here are some links I think will be a blessing to you:
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
Check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are many great options for your spiritual growth!