Encounter Grace Podcast

Grace Fellowship Church
  • 5.0 (36)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Biweekly

Encounter Grace is a weekly podcast from Grace Fellowship Church in Kinston, NC, where hosts Jason McKnight and Justin Tilghman help Christians think clearly and biblically about faith, culture, relationships,a nd leadership. Each episode tackles topics with thoughtful, practical conversations that equip believers to live wisely and walk faithfully in today’s world. Join us as we explore how grace meets everyday life.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep. 230 - Why Hebrews Matters

    Hebrews used to be one of Justin’s least favorite books of the Bible. Not because it was boring, but because it scared him. What do you do with passages that say it’s “impossible” to restore someone to repentance, or that there’s “no longer a sacrifice for sins” for those who deliberately keep sinning? Can a Christian go too far? Can you cross a line and discover that it’s too late to come back? For years, Justin read those warnings as though Christians were constantly standing on the edge of an eternal cliff. Then he realized something: he was reading the warning passages without paying enough attention to the message of Hebrews as a whole. And that changed everything. In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin explore why Hebrews was written, what its difficult warning passages are actually warning us about, and why the larger message of the book is not one of constant fear, but of the beauty, sufficiency, and faithfulness of Jesus. The warnings are real. They’re serious. But they’re part of a much bigger message: Don’t go back. Don’t give up. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He’s better. #EncounterGrace #WhyHebrewsMatters #BookOfHebrews #BibleStudy #JesusIsBetter #ChristianFaith #BibleQuestions #Theology #Jesus #ChristianPodcast

  2. Sep 24

    Ep. 229 - Discipleship that’s not a Checklist

    What does it actually mean to grow as a Christian? We often reduce discipleship to reading the Bible more, attending another study, serving on another team, or simply trying harder. Those things can matter, but biblical discipleship is much bigger than a checklist of spiritual activities. In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin look at Christian growth from three different perspectives: • God’s perspective: justification, sanctification, and glorification • The church’s perspective: teaching and training, mentoring and modeling, serving and sacrificing • Our personal perspective: cultivating a growing desire and delight in Christ Along the way, we talk about why spiritual growth isn’t always a straight line, why relationships are essential to discipleship, how serving and generosity shape us, and seven practical ways to keep growing in Christ. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I not growing spiritually like I think I should?” this conversation offers a framework for evaluating your discipleship without turning the Christian life into another performance-based checklist. The goal isn’t simply to do more Christian things. The goal is to become more like Jesus. #EncounterGrace #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #FollowingJesus #Sanctification #ChristianFaith #Christlikeness #SpiritualFormation #ChurchLife #BibleStudy #Jesus

  3. Sep 17

    Ep. 228 - Jesus Prayed for You. Here’s What He Asked For.

    What if you could actually hear Jesus pray for you? What would He ask the Father for? On the night before the cross, Jesus prayed not only for His disciples, but for “those who will believe in me through their word.” In other words, He prayed for future believers—including us. And what Jesus prayed for might surprise you, and definitely will encourage you. Jason & Justin explore Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and what it reveals about His desires for His Church: that we would be united with one another, that we would ultimately be with Him, and that the Father’s love would live in us. What’s more, Jesus’ prayer for His people didn’t end in John 17. From His prayer for Peter in Luke 22 to the reality of the risen Christ interceding for us in Romans 8 and Hebrews 7, Scripture gives us an incredible truth: Jesus didn’t just pray for His people once; He continually lives to intercede for us now. What might change if we really lived that? #EncounterGrace #John17 #Jesus #Prayer #Christianity #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #Faith #ChristianPodcast #JesusPraysForUs

  4. Sep 10

    Ep. 227 - 9/11: 25 Years Later

    Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, what have we actually learned? For those old enough this day is permanently etched into memory. We remember where we were, what we saw, and the realization that the world had suddenly changed.  A quarter-century later, Jason and Justin reflect on 9/11 through three lenses: America, Islam, and the gospel. Though governments, cultures, and conflicts continue to change, Believers belong to an unshakable Kingdom. Our hope ultimately rests not in national security or political power, but in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. Jeremiah rested in this as he lamented his own national tragedy, the destruction of Jerusalem.  “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 #September11 #September11Anniversary #911 #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWorldview #Christianity #Islam #Muslims #Gospel #FaithAndCulture #BiblicalWorldview #EncounterGrace

  5. Sep 3

    Ep. 226 - From Crack Addiction to the Pulpit: Khayyam Shepherd’s Story

    Twenty-five years ago, Khayyam Shepherd was trapped in crack cocaine addiction. His marriage was crumbling. He was facing eviction, problems at work, and the possibility of jail. After another day of getting high, he reached the point where he knew he could not fix himself. So he cried out to Jesus. “If you don’t help me, I’m going to die.” What happened next changed the trajectory of his life. Today, Khayyam is a pastor, teacher, community leader, and passionate advocate for building lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word. And now he has told his story in his new book, From the Pit to the Pulpit: How God Turned My Addiction Into a Calling. To celebrate the book’s release, we’re revisiting this powerful Encounter Grace conversation with Khayyam about addiction, surrender, redemption, discipleship, racial reconciliation, biblical truth, and the calling God brought out of the darkest chapter of his life. This is more than a story about overcoming addiction. It’s a story about what can happen when someone reaches the end of himself and discovers that Jesus is still there. #EncounterGrace #FromThePitToThePulpit #KhayyamShepherd #ChristianTestimony #AddictionRecovery #JesusChangesLives #Redemption #ChristianPodcast #Faith #Gospel #ChristianLiving #Testimony #GodsGrace

  6. Aug 27

    Ep. 225 - When Does Bad Theology Become Heresy?

    How wrong can your theology be and you still be a Christian? Not every theological mistake is heresy—but that doesn't mean every theological error is harmless either. So where exactly is the line? In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin revisit a debate that started during their recent conversation about hell: What's the difference between error, heterodoxy, and heresy? They explore how Christians have historically understood orthodoxy, why the church's historic witness matters, and what happens when a belief begins moving outside those boundaries. Along the way, they discuss real examples including Apollos, the Galatian controversy, Arianism, classic dispensationalism, annihilationism, and the resurrection debate in 1 Corinthians 15. They also wrestle with an important distinction: A heretical belief and a heretic aren't necessarily the same thing. How should we respond when a sincere Christian gets something seriously wrong? When does disagreement become dangerous? And how can we defend truth without labeling everyone who disagrees with us a false teacher? The goal isn't to become better at calling people heretics. It's to become more discerning Christians—holding tightly to biblical truth while extending the kind of grace and humility we hope others will extend to us when we're wrong. And this conversation isn't finished. Next time, we'll tackle false teachers, wolves, schismatics, and the question that started this whole discussion: What happens eternally to a heretic? If this episode helps you think more clearly about theological disagreement, share it with someone you've had these conversations with—and let us know where you think the line between heterodoxy and heresy should be drawn. #EncounterGrace #ChristianPodcast #Heresy #Heterodoxy #ChristianTheology #BiblicalTruth #Theology #Christianity #ChurchHistory #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #FalseTeachers #Orthodoxy #Faith #Jesus

  7. Aug 20

    Ep. 224 - What Really Happens After You Die? A Biblical Look at Hell, Judgment, and Eternity

    What happens the moment you die? Is hell real? What is the final judgment? Is there a second chance after death? And how should Christians think about eternity without fear or speculation? In this episode, Jason and Justin walk through what Scripture actually teaches about death, paradise, Hades, the final judgment, heaven, and hell. Rather than relying on popular myths or medieval imagery, they explore the Bible's unfolding story—from Genesis to Revelation—to answer some of Christianity's most important questions. You'll also hear why God's justice and mercy are not in conflict, why hell was never created for humanity, how Jesus' work on the cross changes everything, and why the biblical story ultimately leaves us with profound hope. Whether you've wrestled with these questions for years or you're hearing them for the first time, this conversation will help you think biblically about eternity and live today with greater confidence in God's grace. 👇 Let us know in the comments: What question about heaven, hell, or eternity would you like us to discuss next? #EncounterGracePodcast #Hell #Heaven #FinalJudgment #Eternity #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #Theology #Faith #JesusChrist #Gospel #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Grace #Apologetics

  8. Aug 13

    Ep. 223 - Did the Church Leave Books Out of the Bible? The Truth About the Canon

    Have you ever wondered why the Bible has 66 books? What about the Book of Enoch, the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocrypha, or the Ethiopian Bible? Were these books intentionally left out—or is there more to the story? In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin sit down with pastor and professor Dr. Randy Outland to explore one of Christianity's most important questions: How was the biblical canon recognized? Did church councils decide what counts as Scripture? What are the Apocrypha and the Gnostic Gospels? Why do Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians have slightly different Bibles? Can Christians really trust that the Bible they have today is God's complete Word? Whether you've encountered skeptical claims on social media or you've simply wondered how we know the Bible is trustworthy, this conversation provides historical context, biblical insight, and practical confidence for your faith. 📖 If you've ever asked, "How do we know the Bible is really God's Word?" this episode is for you. #Bible #BiblicalCanon #BookOfEnoch #Apocrypha #GospelOfThomas #ChristianApologetics #BibleQuestions #Scripture #Theology #EncounterGracePodcast #GraceFellowship #ChristianPodcast #FaithAndReason #ChurchHistory #BiblicalTruth

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Encounter Grace is a weekly podcast from Grace Fellowship Church in Kinston, NC, where hosts Jason McKnight and Justin Tilghman help Christians think clearly and biblically about faith, culture, relationships,a nd leadership. Each episode tackles topics with thoughtful, practical conversations that equip believers to live wisely and walk faithfully in today’s world. Join us as we explore how grace meets everyday life.

Information

  • Creator
    Grace Fellowship Church
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    229
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Grace Fellowship Church
  • Show Website
    Encounter Grace Podcast

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