Let's Talk: Truth in Love

Doug Tweed and Jes Williams
  • 5.0 (5)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

Let’s Talk: Truth in Love explores the essential connection between truth and love through the teachings of Jesus. Each episode dives into key biblical principles to help listeners know God’s love, understand God’s truth, and live out their faith with purpose. Join us for meaningful conversations on topics like the multifaceted identity of Jesus, prayer, forgiveness, and how to bring His Kingdom to earth in everyday life.

  1. 5D AGO

    Obstacles to a Good Life

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, we take a hard look at the real barriers that keep us from living the life God intends for us. Jesus said He came so we could have life “to the full” (John 10:10), and Scripture defines that good life as one filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). So why do so many of us struggle to experience it? The answer lies in the obstacles we face every day. Like a demanding obstacle course, the Christian life is simple in its foundation—but not easy in its execution. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33), and Hebrews reminds us to lay aside every weight and sin that entangles us as we run with endurance, keeping our eyes fixed on Him. In this conversation, we explore five major obstacles to a godly life:• Lack of knowledge and understanding – When we don’t truly know God or His truth, we are easily shaped by culture instead of Scripture.• Satan and the forces of darkness – A real enemy who deceives, distracts, and distorts truth to pull us away from God.• The power of sin – Sin doesn’t just influence us; it can enslave us if left unchecked.• Self – Our greatest daily challenge is choosing who will be Lord of our lives—God or ourselves.• Habit – Patterns of thinking and behavior can either trap us or help us grow, depending on what we repeatedly choose. The good news is that we are not left to face these obstacles alone. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, and a life of intentional obedience, we can overcome. As Scripture reminds us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” and “we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.” This episode will challenge you to recognize the obstacles in your own life—and encourage you to run the race with endurance, faith, and your eyes fixed on Jesus. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. To learn more, visit:👉 www.friendsofthekingministries.org God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode!

    34 min

  2. APR 3

    Resurrection Is Both Now and Not Yet

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, we dive into the heart of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ—and what it truly means for us today. At Easter we celebrate, “He is risen!” But resurrection is not just a past event… and it’s not only a future hope. It is both now and not yet. The Apostle Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15 that without the resurrection, our faith would be empty. But Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead—He rose into a new kind of life, one that is eternal, powerful, and victorious over sin and death. After His resurrection, He appeared to many witnesses—first to the women, then to the apostles, and even to hundreds more—forever changing the course of history. Yet there is no resurrection without the cross. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself, took on human flesh, and died for our sins. Through His resurrection, He defeated death and reclaimed all authority in heaven and on earth. As Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). But what does that mean for us? Scripture teaches that resurrection is not only something we will experience in the future—it has already begun. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead. But through faith in Him and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are made alive now—born again, new creations, children of God. This is a real and present transformation—a spiritual resurrection from death to life. And still, there is more to come. The fullness of resurrection is not yet complete. One day, we will be fully transformed—free from pain, sin, and death—living in a new heaven and a new earth with God forever. As Scripture promises, “We shall be like Him.” Understanding both the “now” and the “not yet” changes everything. It gives us hope for today and certainty for eternity. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. To learn more, visit:👉 www.friendsofthekingministries.org God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode!

    28 min

  3. MAR 20

    The Obedience of Faith

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, we explore a powerful and often misunderstood phrase from the Apostle Paul: “the obedience of faith.” Found at both the beginning and end of the book of Romans, this phrase captures the very heart of the Christian life—but what does it really mean? Many Christians fall into one of two extremes. Some emphasize obedience so strongly that faith becomes about performance—trying to prove we are “good enough” for God. Others focus so much on grace that obedience seems optional, reducing faith to belief without transformation. But Paul points us to something deeper: not just whether we obey, but why we obey. From Genesis to Revelation, God has always desired obedience—not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and trust. The Old Testament reveals obedience driven by fear and reward, but God’s ultimate goal has always been something greater: the willing, joyful obedience of children who trust their Father completely. In this conversation, we unpack what it means to truly trust God—His goodness, His wisdom, His love, and His perfect faithfulness. Like Abraham, who “believed God,” real faith is more than belief in God—it is trusting Him enough to follow Him. It’s like trusting a great doctor: belief means nothing if you don’t take the prescription. The good news is we are not left to do this on our own. Through the Holy Spirit living within us, we are empowered to grow in this kind of faith-filled obedience. And even as we stumble and learn, God’s grace covers us and continues to transform us. The obedience of faith is not about earning God’s love—it’s about responding to it. It’s the life of trusting, following, and becoming more like Jesus every day. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. To learn more, visit:👉 www.friendsofthekingministries.org God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode!

    30 min

  4. MAR 6

    How Prodigals Become Prodigies

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, we explore a powerful transformation described in Scripture: how people who once squandered their lives can become individuals who live out the extraordinary potential God created within them. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” But what does that transformation really look like? We begin with the familiar story often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–31). The word “prodigal” means someone who wastes what they’ve been given—squandering wealth, opportunity, or responsibility. Yet Jesus’ story reveals a deeper truth: the younger son who wastes everything eventually comes to his senses and returns to his father, where he is met not with condemnation but with compassion, restoration, and celebration. Through repentance and grace, what was lost becomes found, and what was dead comes back to life. But there is another prodigal in the story—the older brother. Though he never left home, he also wasted something precious. While everything his father owned was already his, he never truly embraced it. His resentment and legalistic mindset kept him from experiencing the joy, generosity, and love of his father’s heart. In many ways, Christians today can fall into the same trap—living near the Father but failing to fully receive the incredible gifts already given to us in Christ. Scripture tells us that God has blessed His children with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3) and given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3–4). Through Jesus our Savior and King, the indwelling Holy Spirit, the truth of God’s Word, the gift of prayer, and the fellowship of the Church, we have been entrusted with riches far greater than the robe, ring, and feast in the parable. Yet too often these treasures remain unused—left “in the closet,” so to speak—while we live far below the life God intended for us. The good news is that every prodigal can become a prodigy. When we return to the Father, rediscover our identity as His beloved children, and embrace what He has already given us, our lives can reflect the purpose and power He designed from the beginning. Ultimately, the greatest prodigy is not found in talent or ability—it is found in love. As Jesus taught, the defining mark of His disciples is that we love one another (John 13:34–35). When we live in that love, the world sees the transforming work of God in us. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. To learn more, visitwww.friendsofthekingministries.org, where you can also read columns written for the Kingsport Times-News over the past eighteen years. God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

    28 min

  5. FEB 20

    Self-Examination & Self-Denial

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, released just after Ash Wednesday, we explore two essential spiritual disciplines for every Christian—self-examination and self-denial. While many church traditions observe Lent as a focused season of repentance, fasting, and preparation leading to Easter, these practices are not limited to six weeks on the calendar. They are vital habits for anyone who desires spiritual renewal and deeper intimacy with God. Jesus commands us both to love ourselves and to deny ourselves—two truths that seem to create tension. We unpack what that really means. Loving yourself is not arrogance or self-absorption; it is seeing yourself as God sees you—His beloved, valued and designed with purpose. At the same time, denying yourself does not mean denying your worth. It means surrendering self-rule, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness, trusting God to be Lord of your life. As Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” We also discuss the powerful spiritual practice known as the Daily Examen—a simple, intentional pause to invite God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23–24). Through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we allow Him to reveal where we followed His leading, where we resisted Him, and how we can align more fully with Christ. True self-examination isn’t about fixing others; it’s about letting God transform us. Finally, we explore fasting as self-denial—not as religious performance or a way to manipulate God, but as a discipline that trains our hearts to depend on Him. Whether fasting from food, social media, or another attachment, the goal is greater love for God and deeper compassion for others (Isaiah 58). Even in discomfort, we learn to trust, to serve, and to live under Christ’s Lordship. Self-examination and self-denial are not about self-rejection—they are about discovering our true identity in Christ and aligning our lives with His Kingdom. As we daily surrender to Him, we experience His peace, His joy, and the freedom to share His love and goodness with the world. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. To learn more, visitwww.friendsofthekingministries.org, where you can also read columns written for the Kingsport Times-News over the past eighteen years. God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

    29 min

  6. FEB 6

    What IS Salvation?

    In this episode of Let’s Talk: Truth in Love, we take on one of the biggest and most frequently used words in Christianity—salvation. It’s a word many of us have heard all our lives, yet few have paused to ask: What does the Bible actually mean when it talks about being saved? We begin by exploring the biblical meaning of salvation itself. In Scripture, to be saved means to be rescued, delivered, or made whole. From the Hebrew yesha and Yeshua (“God saves”) to the Greek sozo, the Bible presents salvation as far more than a single moment—it is God’s work of restoration, reconciliation, and healing. In both the Old and New Testaments, salvation includes rescue from danger, healing from sickness, deliverance from enemies, and ultimately, reconciliation with God. At the heart of the gospel, salvation addresses humanity’s greatest problem: separation from God caused by sin. Sin brings death—not because God is cruel, but because separation from the source of life results in death. In love and justice, God sent Jesus—the Lamb of God—to reap what we had sown. On the cross, Christ experienced our separation so that we could be restored. Through repentance, faith, and receiving the Holy Spirit, that separation ends, and we are born again—born of God, with God’s own Spirit now dwelling within us. But Scripture doesn’t stop there. The Bible also teaches that we are being saved—a continuing work of God that heals the damage sin has done and breaks its power over our lives. Through the Holy Spirit, God restores identity, heals wounds, renews minds, and transforms relationships. Salvation becomes an ongoing process of wholeness, freedom, and transformation as God works in us and with us. Finally, we look ahead to the ultimate salvation still to come—the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, where every tear is wiped away and we will see Christ as He is. Salvation, from beginning to end, is God’s loving plan to rescue, restore, and bring His children fully home. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books: • Moon in the Darkness • Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus • Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available online. To learn more, visit https://friendsofthekingministries.org, where you can also read columns written for the Kingsport Times-News over the last eighteen years. God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

    36 min

  7. JAN 23

    Eight Steps Toward God's Blessings

    Let’s Talk: Truth in Love turns from the goal of a happy life to the path that leads there. After defining happiness as the union of peace and joy rooted in our true circumstances as children of God, we now return to Jesus’ very first recorded sermon—the Sermon on the Mount—to discover how that life begins. Jesus opens His ministry with eight surprising statements we call the Beatitudes. Far from offering simple encouragement or moral advice, Jesus lays out a progression—a set of spiritual steps that form the foundation of a transformed life. He begins by declaring the blessing of being “poor in spirit,” recognizing our deep need for God. From there, He leads us through mourning what is broken in the world and in ourselves, embracing humility and meekness, and developing a deep hunger for righteousness. As these steps build upon one another, Jesus shows us what true righteousness looks like in action—mercy toward others, purity of heart that allows us to see God at work, and becoming peacemakers who reflect our Heavenly Father’s character. Finally, He prepares us for the cost of living this way: opposition and persecution in a broken world that resists God’s Kingdom. Yet even here, Jesus calls us blessed, reminding us that “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.” This episode reveals that the Beatitudes are not isolated sayings but a connected journey—one that leads us into deeper intimacy with God, greater compassion for others, and a life shaped by the values of God’s Kingdom rather than the culture around us. These are the first steps toward the peace and joy that define a truly happy life in Christ—not just for a new year, but forever. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available online. To learn more, visithttps://friendsofthekingministries.org, where you can also read columns written for the Kingsport Times-News over the last eighteen years. God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

    33 min

  8. JAN 9

    How To Have a Happy New Year

    In this first episode of the new year, Let’s Talk: Truth in Love asks a question we all hear—and hope for—every January: Can we really have a Happy New Year? For Christians, the answer is a confident yes—but not for the reasons our culture usually suggests. Happiness is not found in better circumstances, stronger resolutions, or greater control over life. It is found in understanding our true circumstances as children of God. In this conversation, we begin by redefining two important words: happy and new. Biblically, happiness is the union of peace and joy—peace that brings wholeness and freedom from fear, and joy that causes our hearts to laugh even when life is hard. “New” doesn’t mean simply repeating the same patterns with fresh effort; it means new and improved—the kind of transformation God brings through a renewed mind (Romans 12:2). From there, we explore the divine circumstances every believer already lives in. Scripture tells us that God has already given us every spiritual blessing we need for life and godliness (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3–4). Through the Bible, we know God’s character and promises. Through Jesus, our Savior and Lord, we have peace with God, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and victory over evil. Through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we are empowered, transformed, and held in intimate fellowship with the Father and the Son. This episode reminds us that God’s peace and joy are not merely despite our circumstances—they flow from the far greater, unchanging reality of who God is and who we are in Him. Even as we walk through a broken world, “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). When we open the gifts God has already given us, we discover that a truly Happy New Year is not something we achieve—it’s something we receive. Looking for more? Dive deeper into the truth in love with these three insightful books:• Moon in the Darkness• Be with Jesus, Be like Jesus, Be for Jesus• Christ in Us is the Hope of Glory These books are available online. To learn more, visithttps://friendsofthekingministries.org, where you can also read columns written for the Kingsport Times-News over the last eighteen years. God bless, and we look forward to having you join us for the next episode.

    28 min
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About

Let’s Talk: Truth in Love explores the essential connection between truth and love through the teachings of Jesus. Each episode dives into key biblical principles to help listeners know God’s love, understand God’s truth, and live out their faith with purpose. Join us for meaningful conversations on topics like the multifaceted identity of Jesus, prayer, forgiveness, and how to bring His Kingdom to earth in everyday life.

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Tweed and Jes Williams
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Doug Tweed and Jes Williams
  • Show Website
    Let's Talk: Truth in Love