Let's Talk - TopPodcast.com

Let’s Talk Reunion: The Blessings of Bible Study with Friends May 16, 2024

In this reunion episode of Let’s Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger highlight the blessings and benefits of digging into the Bible with other believers as they discuss their new Bible study on the book of Ephesians.

They talk about why they love Ephesians, what’s difficult about it, and what they gleaned from studying it together over the past two years. They also spend time catching up on their personal projects and plans for the summer.

Links from this episode:

Top Theology Stories of 2022 Dec 21, 2022

In this special edition episode, Collin Hansen is joined by Melissa Kruger as they look back on the big stories and trends of 2022, discuss how God has moved in and through their ministries, and share books that have stuck with them. They also take some time to thank you, their listeners, for encouraging them in the work of Gospelbound and Let's Talk.

To listen to the full episode on the Gospelbound podcast, click here.

Live from TGCW22: Growing in Gratitude Jul 27, 2022

In this episode of Let's Talk, recorded live at TGCW22 in Indianapolis, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger discuss gratitude—why we struggle with it and how to cultivate it in our lives.

If you've ever struggled to be thankful, listen in to this conversation for practical wisdom on walking in gratitude.

Note: This is the final episode of Let's Talk. We've had a great time making this podcast for three seasons, and we're grateful to all of you for listening! Check out more episodes of Let's Talk and other podcast shows from TGC at tgc.org/podcasts.

Your Questions, Answered! Mar 23, 2022

On this final episode of season 3 of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger answer listener questions that range all over the place, including:

What's a tip for improving communication in marriage?
DIY, yes or no?
What women's events have impacted you?
Why don't we talk about women and porn use in the church?
Do you like sports?
What's the remedy for compassion fatigue?
Do you all feel pressure to comment on social media about what's happening in the world?
What are practical ways to get time away from your kids?
How do you talk about sex in marriage?
How do you cope with seasons of loneliness?
What song do you want sung at your funeral?
How do you start a conversation when you're seated next to someone at a dinner party?

We hope you've enjoyed this season of Let's Talk!

Mentioned in this episode:

Recognizing and Fighting Idolatry Mar 16, 2022

What is idolatry in our day? The people of Israel were tempted to bow down to literal idols, and in many parts of the world, literal idols and effigies are still believed to hold enormous power. But in the post-Christian West, idolatry—though harder to define—is just as prevalent.

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about how and why we are tempted to make idols. Although some may think we slip into idolatry when we want too much, Jackie says that, actually, “Idolatry is wanting too little.” When we make idols, she says, we're looking to something that has been created to deliver us. But we need to look higher, above what is created to our Creator.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers

Related Resources:

Sin as Idolatry (essay)
How to Expose the Idols in Your Life
Juan Sanchez on Image, Identity, and Idolatry (podcast)

Obedience and the Law Mar 09, 2022

Christians are saved by grace, not by works of the law. So where does obedience fit into the Christian life?

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about how to have a biblical view of obedience and the law. They talk about how to make sense of the Book of James, whether God's law evolves, how to avoid legalism in our homes, and how we sometimes make laws out of our own preferences.

The Bible speaks of God's commands as a precious gift. Melissa says, “The law shows us what life by the Spirit looks like.” We should never trust in works of the law for our salvation, but by God's grace, as we mature in our faith, we will learn to treasure his commands.

Related Resources:

Identifying False Teaching Mar 02, 2022

Sometimes it's easy to spot false teaching, but not all false teachers are so recognizable. The false teachers to whom we are most susceptible may be the hardest to recognize. "There are people [around you] who are going unaware, unnoticed," says Jackie Hill Perry, "that are teaching things that are not in line with the faith, but you don't see it. Why? Because they look like you."

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about how to identify false teachers as well as the difference between false teaching and mere differences of interpretation. They also talk about how to have a conversation with a friend who follows someone you're concerned may be a false teacher.

Related Reading:

A Conversation About Race Feb 23, 2022

The year 2020 was a year when Americans talked about race. But many would question whether we've gotten better at talking about race, or if we're worse at it than ever. So much is said that is hurtful, yet not saying something may be perceived as saying something.

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger give practical advice from their own experience for how to talk constructively about race. They discuss why critical race theory has become so controversial, and they talk about books that have helped them understand the history or race relations in America.

Above all, they conclude that it's not what you say or don't say that determines whether you can have a productive conversation about race; it's whether you come into a discussion with compassion and humility.

Recommended Reading:

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Underground Railroad [TGC's Review] by Colson Whitehead
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson
Carved in Ebony by Jasmine Holmes

Related Resources:

How to Spot and Let Go of Shame Feb 16, 2022

Shame is not a subject that has historically been talked about much in Western culture, but that doesn't mean it's not a big part of how we function as a society. In recent years, books that explain shame—and help women shake it off—have topped the best seller lists.

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie, Jasmine, and Melissa discuss how the Bible views shame. The concept is present in the Scripture from the time sin entered the world. Jasmine explains, "Adam and Eve, they felt shame about the wrong thing. They weren't like, 'We disobeyed God. That's what the problem is.' They were like, 'Oh my gosh, we're naked. We need to hide. We need some clothes.' And God's like, 'Law broken, but you're naked. Okay, that's what you're worried about right now?'"

Listen in as our hosts talk about how we should identify shame and when and how we should let go of it.

Related Resources

When Others Fall Away Feb 09, 2022

We are living in an age of de-conversion. If you've had a Christian friend walk away from the faith, you know what a painful and confusing experience it can be. It may even shake your own belief.

In this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie, Jasmine, and Melissa talk about the pain of watching someone lose their faith. They discuss why so many people are deconstructing their beliefs and what sorts of things churches may be able to do walk with those who are doubting so that they don't ultimately walk away. They also note that while the language we use to describe doubt may be new, the phenomenon is not.

Related Resources

4 Causes of Deconstruction

The Importance of Boundaries Feb 02, 2022

Most people have trouble saying "no," and Christians may have an even tougher time because we worry we are being selfish. But because we are finite beings, we have to place limits on our time and relationships. Even Jesus, who was God incarnate, had boundaries; he walked away from the crowds that were thronging to him to be healed in order to spend time with his Father. (see Luke 5:15–16).

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about boundaries. According to Jasmine, "Boundaries are what enable us to serve God to the utmost of our ability by prioritizing the mission that he's given us on this earth." We shouldn't make boundaries out of laziness or the desire to avoid what is difficult. Jackie says, "I need to interrogate if I'm setting up a boundary because it's the wise thing to do or if I'm using it as an excuse to preserve my own comforts."

A key piece of determining where to set God-honoring boundaries is to remember that we are ultimately called to serve and glorify God, not other people. Of course, we should serve people, but that doesn't mean we should always do what they want us to, especially if it conflicts with the priorities God has placed on our life.

Related content:

What's the Point of Work? Jan 26, 2022

Work has existed from the time of creation when "The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (Gen. 2:15). Once sin entered the world, we still had to work, but it became much, much harder (Gen. 3:17–19). Work can be a subject filled with angst. Some people love their work. Some make work an idol, while others work simply because they need to put food on the table.

On this first episode of season 3 of Let's Talk, Jackie, Jasmine, and Melissa talk about how to think rightly about work. "There are real thorns and thistles with all of our work, even if it's not physical ones," Melissa says. Whether it's just we're tired or we're overworked. There are all these things that, I think, in perfection wouldn't have been true." Yet in spite of these thorns and thistles, we can still experience God-given purpose in work as we steward the opportunities God has given us.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mindset by Carol S. Dweck

Related Resources:

Faith and Work (TGC Course)
What Are You Called to Do? A Theology of Work (4-part series of articles)
4 Ways to Better Engage Women in the Workplace

Season Three Trailer Jan 19, 2022

Let's Talk, hosted by Jackie Hill Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Jasmine Holmes, is a podcast for women from The Gospel Coalition. Over the next nine weeks, Jackie, Jasmine, and Melissa will talk about how we can apply biblical wisdom to everyday life. They'll talk candidly about work, boundaries, race, shame, and much more.

Tune in to season three, episode one on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, and subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Top Theology Stories of 2021 Dec 21, 2021

Welcome to a preview special edition of Gospelbound and Let’s Talk. Join Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger, hosts of Gospelbound and the Let’s Talk podcast as they discuss a bonus season-end episode of these two TGC podcasts, which launched in 2020.

To listen to this entire hour-long episode featuring the top 10 Theology Stories of 2021, head over to the Gospel Bound podcast.

Live at TGCW21: Spiritual Disciplines in Busy Seasons May 07, 2021

In this episode of Let's Talk, recorded live at TGC's 2021 women's conference, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger discuss the importance of practicing spiritual disciplines, even in life's busiest seasons. They talk about what spiritual disciplines are and why we shouldn't see them simply as boxes to be checked. They consider how to identify idols that might keep us from time with the Lord, and they point out the warning signs that you're too busy for your own good.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
Five Things to Pray for Your Children
Dwell Scripture Listening App

Lies Women Believe Mar 26, 2021

"I'm defined by what I do."

"I should be able to do it all."

"I have to be married and have kids for my life to matter."

"Women don't need theology."

These are some of the lies Christian women (or men) may be tempted to believe. On this episode of Let's Talk, Melissa Kruger, Jackie Hill Perry, and Jasmine Holmes unpack why we find these lies compelling as well as why we shouldn't believe them. Jasmine points out that a way to combat lies is to follow the example of Mary, sister of Lazarus, by "choosing the better portion," to sit at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38–42). We do that by reading and believing his Word.

Mentioned in this episode:

Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

Related content:

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Conflict Mar 19, 2021

Most people either hate conflict or (secretly) love it. Both can cause problems, and conflict avoidance isn't always the most godly path.

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Jasmine Holmes talk about their own relationships with conflict. While none of them is naturally confrontational, Melissa points out that Jesus had a lot of conflict. Jackie says that she used to avoid conflict at all costs before she realized, "there is a beauty and an obligation, for the sake of love, to engage in certain conflicts."

Conflicts can reveal attitudes in our hearts that we aren't aware of. It was through conflict that Jackie realized her love for God was integrally connected to how she loves her neighbor: "How I was loving people who I was in conflict with revealed a lot about my heart for Jesus. I don't have the freedom, or the authority, or the right to not love you."

Listen to this discussion with an open mind, and let the Holy Spirit reveal and sanctify your attitude toward conflict.

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Spiritual Gifts Mar 12, 2021

Melissa Kruger, Jasmine Holmes, and Jackie Hill Perry all come from different church backgrounds with different views of spiritual gifts. Yet when they talk about this sometimes contentious subject, they find a lot to agree about. Scripture teaches that unless we exercise spiritual gifts in love, they are worthless. And when we truly understand God's design for the body of Christ, we won't be threatened by others' giftedness.

On this episode of Let's Talk, our hosts discuss whether spiritual gifts are tied to natural giftedness or whether they only show up only after conversion. They talk about how to discover spiritual gifts and whether we should use spiritual gift "tests" or inventories.

Related Content:

Favorite Music Mentioned in this Episode:

City Alight
Trust in You by Antoine Bradford
Be Held by Christy Nockels
Intercession by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Why We Pray Mar 05, 2021

Sometimes, when a person starts to understand Reformed theology and the sovereignty of God for the first time, it can confuse her prayer life. We wonder, if God has already determined what is going to happen, why pray? Yet God's Word commands us to pray! The Bible clearly doesn't see a contradiction between God's absolute sovereignty and the fact that he works through our prayers.

In this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about why we don't pray sometimes, and why we should. Jackie points out that Jesus, who knew God better than anyone else, was very, very prayerful. Prayer draws us close to God, even when he says "no" to something we ask for. Melissa says, "Being a parent has taught me I'd rather say 'yes' to my kids. I would rather do that most of the time. And when I say no, it's typically for their good. It's because I don't want them to get hurt. I see things they can't see. And so the nice thing about the Lord is He sees things we can't see."

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

'Thou Shall Not Judge' Feb 26, 2021

"Judgmental" is a negative descriptor in our culture, but the same culture holds some values so deeply that it "cancels" anyone who disregards them. And while cancel culture can bring great harm, it's existence points to the fact that not all judgment is bad. Jasmine Holmes says, "Even in our culture that is not a largely Christian culture, we understand that to judge is to protect. We want to make a judgment about people who are putting others in danger. We want to make a judgment about people who are victimizing others."

In this episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger talk about the confusion around a biblical view of judgment. They discuss the questions of when it's right and when it's wrong to judge others, and whether it's possible to make right judgments with the wrong heart attitude. They talk about the difference in judging those inside the church and out. Ultimately, the gospel and our own need for grace must inform how and why we judge other people.

Related Resources

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

People Pleasing Feb 19, 2021

It's not a bad thing to want to please others. So when do we cross a line into sinful people pleasing? Jasmine Holmes puts it succinctly: "It's when your identity is founded on other people's perception of you."

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine, Jackie, and Melissa all confess to people-pleasing tendencies that can become sin, though each faces different temptations. It's helpful to understand how your personality and gifting may bring with them a related temptation. Melissa shares that, in her own life, she has learned that it's possible to be nice to people in a way that isn't actually kind. The hosts also talk about how people pleasing affects parenting, and what they hope for their kids as they grown in independence.

Related Resources

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Fear and Anxiety Feb 12, 2021

Is our country ever going to be the same? Will I give my parents COVID? Are my children spending too much time in front of screens? Most likely, these questions, or others like them, have run through your mind in the past year. We live in an anxious age. If you sometimes feel like fear and anxiety are your roommates, you aren't alone! But we don't have to give fear and anxiety dominion over our lives or our minds.

In this episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine, Jackie, and Melissa talk about coping with anxiety and how to be honest about what is frightening—without living in fear. Jasmine says that when she's anxious, she turns to Psalm 16 because "the opposite of anxiety, for me, is joy." She says, "my prayer when I'm feeling anxious is, 'bring me closer to your presence. Bring me into your presence, because I know that this anxiety can't exist there.'"

Mentioned in this episode:

Why Am I Feeling Like This?: A Teen's Guide to Freedom from Anxiety and Depression by David Murray

Related content:

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

The Holiness of God Feb 05, 2021

Do we want to see the holiness of God? The answer might be more complicated than it seems. A glimpse of God's holiness immediately makes us aware of our own sin. But it's also the thing that empowers our obedience and gives us hope that all that is wrong with the world will be made right.

In this episode of Let's Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about our complicated relationship with holiness. If we fail to appreciate God's holiness, we fail to know God as he really is. Jackie warns, "We live in a society that continues to frame and shape God around its own cultural ideas, which means you have a God that's always changing. He's always becoming like whatever decade you live in, when he doesn't exist like that. I want a God who is not mutable like me, so that I can actually stand on something that's solid, for eternity."

Mentioned in this Episode

Dwell Bible App
Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him (forthcoming) by Jackie Hill Perry
Machete Season

Related Resources

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Our Spiritual Heroes Jan 29, 2021

Who shaped your spiritual life?

In this first episode of season two of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger consider the men and women, both living and dead, who have been their spiritual role models. They talk about historical figures as well as people they have known personally. They discuss about how to grapple with the flaws of our heroes, and why we might overlook some sins but not others.

Melissa notes that when we look at the "cloud of witnesses" who have withstood hardship, it helps us say, by the Spirit, "I can withstand, too."

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughan
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Related content:

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Season Two Trailer Jan 22, 2021

Let's Talk returns for a second season of conversations with Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger. Subscribe to Let's Talk and look for new episodes every Friday, starting January 29.

This season of Let’s Talk is sponsored by RTS Global, the online program at Reformed Theological Seminary. Learn more at rts.edu/online.

Gospelbound: The Hardest Year and the Hope That Never Fails Dec 18, 2020

As 2020 finally ends, it feels appropriate to look back on what we've learned and ultimately celebrate what God has done, even in the midst of one of the most difficult years ever collectively experienced.

In this special bonus episode of Let's Talk, Collin Hansen is joined by TGC colleague Melissa Kruger, who co-hosts the Let's Talk podcast. They discuss big trends and stories from 2020, share their hopes for 2021, and reflect on God's faithfulness displayed through TGC and many other areas of life.

To hear the full conversation, head over to the episode "The Hardest Year and the Hope That Never Fails", originally released on Gospelbound.

Sanity in a Pandemic Oct 23, 2020

In this bonus episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger update each other on life over the past eight months of lockdowns, schooling disruptions, online church, and family life in close quarters. They talk about the difficulties of lockdown as well as the unexpected blessings.

Jackie notes that the pandemic has been like a light that exposes both good and bad. One thing it has exposed is our inability to make and keep plans in our own power, something addressed in James 4:13–16. The lack of control we feel in a pandemic can also create greater dependency on God. Jackie says, "I think that's a blessing, honestly, to have to need God in a way that I've always needed him, but to actually recognize it."

We plan to be back with Season 2 of Let's Talk in early 2021. Subscribe today to receive new episodes when they are released!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Nannie Helen Burroughs: A Documentary Portrait of an Early Civil Rights Pioneer, 1900–1959
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
Gay Girl: Good God by Jackie Hill Perry
Mother to Son by Jasmine Holmes
Keeping the Heart by John Flavel
The Warmth of Other Sons by Isabel Wilkerson
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling

Related content:

This episode of Let’s Talk is sponsored by LifeWay, publisher of Jackie Hill Perry's first Bible study, Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today's Culture. Over seven sessions, you'll study the Book of Jude verse-by-verse, dive into themes of being called, loved, and kept, and learn how to point others to Jesus in grace and truth. While often overlooked, the Book of Jude remains as relevant today as the time it was written. Get your copy of Jude wherever books are sold or at LifeWay.com/Jude

Taming the Tongue . . . and the Thumb Aug 07, 2020

In this final episode of the first season of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger talk about taming the tongue—both in face-to-face life and online. We may dismiss sins of speech, from gossip to complaining to tearing someone down, as minor. But James compares the damage our words can do to a blazing forest fire lit by just a spark (3:5).

Jackie points out that Christians often say online what they would not say to someone's face. But if we truly fear God, we would honor him with our online speech. Melissa talks about how gossip breeds false intimacy in the moment, but ultimately destroys trust in a friendship. And Jasmine recommends safeguards to avoid rash speech online so that we don't get carried away and have to publicly apologize later.

Related content:

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. To get an idea of what this work looks like, take this story from South Asia: Several families living in slavery were being brutally abused, poorly fed, and forced to sleep outside in make-shift tents. When IJM and local authorities heard about the abuse, they planned a rescue operation to set these families free—and that operation took place in March of this year, setting 50 people free. You can help make this kind of restoration possible by becoming a Freedom Partner and sending IJM to rescue others. Freedom Partners give a monthly gift to IJM, so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today.

Building Friendships with People Unlike Yourself Jul 31, 2020

On this episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger talk about building and cultivating friendships with people who aren’t just like you. This may mean someone of a different race, different life stage, different socio-economic class, or who simply has a different personality than you do. Building these friendships often requires overcoming insecurity, more communication, and a willingness to show grace over perceived slights or offenses.

It's easy to be friends with people who are just like us, but when we put time and effort into friendships with people who are different from us, rich spiritual blessings result.

Related content:

Books Mentioned as Favorite Things

A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot (recommended by Melissa Kruger)
Knowing God by J. I. Packer (recommended by Melissa Kruger)
Desiring God by John Piper (recommended by Jackie Hill Perry)
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (recommended by Jasmine Holmes)
A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. To get an idea of what this work looks like, take this story from South Asia: Several families living in slavery were being brutally abused, poorly fed, and forced to sleep outside in make-shift tents. When IJM and local authorities heard about the abuse, they planned a rescue operation to set these families free—and that operation took place in March of this year, setting 50 people free. You can help make this kind of restoration possible by becoming a Freedom Partner and sending IJM to rescue others. Freedom Partners give a monthly gift to IJM, so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today.

Finding a Mentor and Being a Mentor Jul 24, 2020

A mentor is someone who "puts flesh on the Christian life," who helps you understand how to live what the Bible teaches. On today's episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger talk about the people who have mentored them and why being a mentor shouldn't be intimidating. They give practical advice on how to find a mentor and on how to be a mentor. For example it's important to communicate your expectations of the relationship, to decide how long the mentoring is going to last, and how formal or informal it will be.

Sometimes mentoring is intimidating because we fear we will be failures if the person we are mentoring doesn't grow, but Melissa points out that mentors are not meant to replace God in your life. Only he can make you grow. But a mentor can come alongside you and encourage you to listen to and live by God's Word.

Related content:

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. To get an idea of what this work looks like, take this story from South Asia: Several families living in slavery were being brutally abused, poorly fed, and forced to sleep outside in make-shift tents. When IJM and local authorities heard about the abuse, they planned a rescue operation to set these families free—and that operation took place in March of this year, setting 50 people free. You can help make this kind of restoration possible by becoming a Freedom Partner and sending IJM to rescue others. Freedom Partners give a monthly gift to IJM, so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today.

Decision-Making Jul 17, 2020

Some decisions, like who to marry, are big and will affect the rest of your life. Other decisions aren't as momentous, but they feel just as big.

On this episode of Let's Talk, Melissa Kruger, Jackie Hill Perry, and Jasmine Holmes talk about some of the big decisions they have made in life. They recognize that wise decisions come from seeking godly counsel, praying, meditating on God's Word. But even when a person does these things, the right decision isn't always abundantly clear.

Jasmine points out that we treat some decisions as if we are going to be bound by them forever. In the case of marriage, we are, but when it comes to other things we agonize over (such as school choice or the purchase of a home), we can make the best choice based on our current knowledge, and recalibrate sometime in the future if we need to. Wrestling through decisions isn't easy, but seeking God's guidance increases our reliance upon him.

In this episode, our hosts cover:

Cutting with the sharp end of the ax—making tough decisions with surety (1:44)
Inviting others into your decision-making (4:40)
How to discern between God leading you, your feelings, and your friends (9:21)
Living free of comparison in decision-making (13:26)
A process for healthy decision-making (19:09)
When God redeems a decision (25:34)
One of their favorite things (28:55)

Related content:

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. They take on the difficult, complex work of helping governments protect their own citizens from brutal systems of oppression that have, in some cases, flourished for centuries. With your support, children, women, and men trapped in cycles of awful violence, abuse, and slavery can be found. They can be rescued and they can be restored to health and wholeness. By becoming a freedom partner, you can make this transformation possible. Freedom partners give monthly so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world who are waiting to be free.

Hospitality in Different Contexts Jul 10, 2020

Please note that this conversation on hospitality was pre-recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this conversation encourages you to show hospitality once it is safe to gather again.

On today's episode of Let's Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Jackie Hill Perry, and Melissa Kruger talk about welcoming friends and strangers into their homes. Hospitality comes naturally to some, but to others it feels intimidating, intrusive, or just optional. But more than once, the Bible commands Christians to show hospitality ("Show hospitality to one another without grumbling" 1 Peter 4:9).

Inviting others into your home can feel like a lot of work. Melissa says that nearly every time she has guests over, she says to her husband, "Now why are we doing this?" That feeling is normal. "... The good that the Lord wants us to do, we're always going to be tempted not to do," Melissa says. "And I feel that almost every time. And I think knowing that you're going to feel it has helped me push through it." By the time her guests leave, she's usually really glad they came.

For more on how to practice hospitality, check out the links below. You can subscribe to Let's Talk on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Next week's episode will be a conversation on how to make good decisions.

Our hosts address:

Defining hospitality (4:05)
Stories of good hospitality (5:20)
Why hospitality is important (10:47)
How to display a spirit of hospitality (15:31)
Being hospitable in and out of church (18:00)
Being hospitable during busy seasons (22:08)
Facing fears that keep people from practicing hospitality (26:29)
A growing need for hospitality as culture grows more progressive (30:56)
One of their favorite things (33:02)

Related content:

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. They take on the difficult, complex work of helping governments protect their own citizens from brutal systems of oppression that have, in some cases, flourished for centuries. With your support, children, women, and men trapped in cycles of awful violence, abuse, and slavery can be found. They can be rescued and they can be restored to health and wholeness. By becoming a freedom partner, you can make this transformation possible. Freedom partners give monthly so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world who are waiting to be free.

Fighting Sin Jul 03, 2020

Sometimes, it surprises new Christians to find that they still struggle with sin. Although we have been united to Christ and justified by his righteousness, as long as we are on this earth, we still have a sinful nature and must daily resist temptation.

In this episode of Let’s Talk, Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes, and Melissa Kruger talk about the ongoing struggle against sin in the Christian life. They each talk about personal struggles with temptation and what strategies help them resist it. In order to be motivated to fight sin, we have to believe what God says about it. Melissa reflects,

I think fighting sin is an act of belief. It says, you know what? I am limited. I don't understand how this world works, but God does. He's the creator. He made me. He actually knows how I work best. So all of scripture is actually, all the law is saying this is how you work best. . . . What I think I want isn't actually what's good for me.

Listen in on their conversation and be renewed in your own determination to fight for holiness as they discuss:

Recognizing sin doesn’t go away when you come to faith—you have to fight it (1:52)
The fight against sin as a war—being battle-ready (6:25)
How Reformed theology may affect the fight against sin (8:45)
Understanding the enemy (13:52)
How friends help us fight the battle (16:27)
Knowing your sins and staying soft-hearted toward them (19:48)
The effect of covenant love on repentance (24:15)
When fighting sin feels like death (27:28)
What to say to people who don’t think they have sins to fight (28:55)
Measuring against the correct standard (33:22)
Scripture that encourages people to endure in the fight against sin (34:07)
One of their favorite things (37:17)

Related content:

Today’s episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. They take on the difficult, complex work of helping governments protect their own citizens from brutal systems of oppression that have, in some cases, flourished for centuries. With your support, children, women, and men trapped in cycles of awful violence, abuse, and slavery can be found. They can be rescued and they can be restored to health and wholeness. By becoming a freedom partner, you can make this transformation possible. Freedom partners give monthly so IJM teams can show up month after month to rescue people from slavery and walk with survivors as they heal. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world who are waiting to be free.

Overcoming Church Hurt Jun 26, 2020

Wounds inflicted within the church surprise us because we expect other Christians to act in godly ways. When they don't, it might make us question not only their faith, but our own. In this episode of Let’s Talk, Jasmine Holmes, Melissa Kruger, and Jackie Hill Perry talk about their own experiences in working through church hurt. Whether it's the pressure put on a pastor's kid to be perfect or the moral failure of a church leader, church hurt may follow us for the rest of our lives. But that doesn't mean God can't use it for good. It also doesn't mean we should stay away from church. As Jackie says in this discussion, "What healed me from church hurt was the church."

Our hosts discuss:

Church hurt is a thing (1:44)
Experiences with church hurt (3:31)
How church hurt impacts peoples’ lives (7:03)
The weight of relationships within the church (9:50)
How to deal with church hurt (14:10)
Spotting abuse and other signs of an unhealthy church (23:25)
Dealing with an unrepentant person in your church (27:31)
The church as a blessing (32:40)
One of their favorite things (36:48)

We hope you are enjoying these conversations on applying biblical wisdom to every day life. If so, please tell your friends about it and invite them to listen!

Related content:

This episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. Across Southern Asia, IJM works to rescue people out of slavery and trafficking. In Latin America, they help children and women who have survived all kinds of violence and abuse. In short, IJM is a community of Christ followers fighting for the freedom and protection of the most vulnerable in our world. Over the last two decades, more than 50,000 individuals have been set free, thanks to people like you who sent IJM to rescue them. But there are thousands more—children, men and women—who are still waiting for rescue. You can make a difference in their lives by becoming a Freedom Partner. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world.

Battling Discontentment Jun 19, 2020

In this episode of Let’s Talk, Melissa Kruger, Jackie Hill Perry, and Jasmine Holmes talk about how they fight against discontentment and envy. Because we live in a fallen world, we have to face the fact that life often won't be what we expect or desire.

Our hosts discuss:

Discontentment (1:58)
The difference between accepting that the world is broken and discontentment (3:46)
The root issues of trust and disbelief (9:59)
Community and honesty as tools for overcoming discontentment (10:58)
The complexity of Scripture on the matter (12:50)
The effect of age and wisdom on discontentment (16:18)
The effect of envy on our discontentment (21:30)
Refocusing our minds to choose contentment (27:55)
One of their favorite things (30:25)

But it takes discernment to know the difference between just dealing with life's imperfections and sinful discontentment. Melissa shares a change in her own thinking that transformed this battle: "What shifted is I recognized I have a heart problem, not a circumstance problem. So, that changes how I fight the battle. I realize, I'm going to be fighting this battle with discontentment my whole life, but I fight it differently."

During this season, Jackie, Melissa, and Jasmine will be doing a lot of talking as they seek to apply biblical wisdom to every day life. On each episode, they’ll discuss a topic like how to be godly on social media, how to make decisions, and how to build healthy friendships.

Related content:

This episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. Across Southern Asia, IJM works to rescue people out of slavery and trafficking. In Latin America, they help children and women who have survived all kinds of violence and abuse. In short, IJM is a community of Christ followers fighting for the freedom and protection of the most vulnerable in our world. Over the last two decades, more than 50,000 individuals have been set free, thanks to people like you who sent IJM to rescue them. But there are thousands more—children, men and women—who are still waiting for rescue. You can make a difference in their lives by becoming a Freedom Partner.

Visit IJM.org/LetsTalkto join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world.

Sharing Your Faith Jun 12, 2020

In this first episode of Let’s Talk, a brand-new podcast for women from The Gospel Coalition podcast network, hosts Jackie Hill Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Jasmine Holmes tell their own stories of coming to faith in Christ. Each woman comes from a very different background, but all three recognize that the grace of God led them to repentance and faith. They branch out from their own stories to talk more generally about how we should think about, pray about, and go about sharing our faith with those who don't know Christ.

Our hosts discuss:

An introduction to the podcast and our hosts (1:07)
Melissa’s story of coming to faith (3:41)
Jasmine’s story of coming to faith (5:14)
Jackie’s story of coming to faith (7:22)
The cumulative effect of sharing the gospel over time (8:44)
Sharing the gospel with people who’ve grown up in Christian home (9:56)
Growing in our ability to share our faith with different types of people (14:20)
A recipe for gospel presentation (20:13)
Moving easily into conversations about the gospel (24:33)
Takeaways for everyday application (30:59)
One of their favorite things (32:43)

Over the next nine weeks, Jackie, Melissa, and Jasmine will be doing a lot of talking as they seek to apply biblical wisdom to every day life. On each episode they’ll discuss a topic like fighting sin, overcoming church hurt, making decisions, and acting in a godly way on social media. We hope you'll subscribe today so that you can join them each week!

Related Content:

Gay Girl, Good God (audio)
We Talk About What We Love (article)
3 Overlooked Ways to Do Pre-Evangelism
Jackie Hill Perry on the Gospel for Sinners (audio)

This episode of Let’s Talk is brought to you in part by International Justice Mission. IJM is a global nonprofit working to end slavery and violence around the world. Across Southern Asia, IJM works to rescue people out of slavery and trafficking. In Latin America, they help children and women who have survived all kinds of violence and abuse. In short, IJM is a community of Christ followers fighting for the freedom and protection of the most vulnerable in our world. Over the last two decades, more than 50,000 individuals have been set free, thanks to people like you who sent IJM to rescue them. But there are thousands more—children, men and women—who are still waiting for rescue. You can make a difference in their lives by becoming a Freedom Partner. Visit IJM.org/LetsTalk to join today. Your consistent support will impact the lives of individuals all over the world.

Introducing Let's Talk: A New Podcast for Women May 16, 2020

Let’s Talk is a new podcast for women from The Gospel Coalition Podcast Network. On each episode, Jackie Hill Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Jasmine Holmes talk about a different topic and how to apply biblical wisdom to everyday life.

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