Title: Contending for the faith
Speaker: Pastor Franco Princi
Date: 22nd March 2026
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Summary: “Let us contend for the faith” is the challenge sitting at the heart of this episode, drawn straight from the book of Jude. The book of Jude is one of the New Testament’s shortest but sharpest letters, and this episode unpacks why Jude felt compelled to set aside his original topic and urgently call believers to defend what they had received. Written just decades after Jesus, Jude’s letter was addressed to a church dealing with people distorting the gospel from within and that challenge, as this episode makes clear, is just as relevant now.
The episode moves through Ephesians 6 and the famous armour of God passage, connecting each piece of Roman military equipment to something real in the life of a believer today. From truth as the belt that holds everything together, to faith as the shield that blocks the attacks that come our way, these are not abstract ideas, they are practical anchors for everyday spiritual life. The bigger challenge named throughout is apathy: the quiet drift that happens when life gets comfortable and the urgency of the gospel gets replaced by a “she’ll be right” attitude.
The episode closes with a sweep through core scriptures in Isaiah, John, Romans, and Corinthians, building the case for why believers need to know what they believe and why. The goal is not to win arguments, but to stay convicted, stay grounded, and keep pointing others toward the gospel while there is still time.
Key Points:
- Apathy is one of the greatest spiritual dangers we face. When life gets comfortable, conviction can quietly fade, and believers need to actively guard against drifting away from scripture.
- The armour of God in Ephesians 6 is not symbolic decoration. Each piece is a real spiritual tool: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God all serve a function in daily Christian life.
- Contending for the faith starts with personal conviction. You cannot defend what you do not know, and knowing scripture for yourself (not just relying on others) is what builds the strength to stand.
Reference Scriptures:
- Jude 1:1-3, 17-25
- Ephesians 6:10-17
- Isaiah 1:16-18
- Isaiah 28:9-12
- John 3:5-8
- John 4:14, 23-24
- John 7:37-39
- Acts 26
- Romans 5:5
- 1 Corinthians 12:3, 13:1
- 1 Corinthians 14:19, 39