Encounter Grace Podcast

Grace Fellowship Church

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. 1D AGO

    Ep. 214 - Why We Turn to False Comfort (And What Actually Heals Us)

    Why do we keep going back to things that don’t actually satisfy? Whether it’s scrolling late at night, staying constantly busy, chasing approval, or numbing out with food, entertainment, or substances—we all have ways of coping when life feels overwhelming. But what if those patterns aren’t just bad habits… What if they’re pointing to something deeper? In this episode, we unpack the idea of BEEPS—Behaviors, Experiences, Events, People, and Substances—and how they become false sources of comfort when we’re dealing with unresolved emotional and relational pain. Drawing from Scripture and insights on attachment and emotional maturity, we explore: • Why we self-soothe the way we do • How attachment pain drives unhealthy patterns • Why quick relief never leads to lasting transformation • God’s better alternative: relational healing and true comfort This isn’t about behavior management. It’s about learning how to bring your pain to the only place it can actually be healed. Because healing doesn’t come from escaping pain… It comes from meeting God in it. #ChristianLiving #EmotionalHealth #FaithAndMentalHealth #Attachment #SpiritualGrowth #AnxietyHelp #RelationalHealing #JesusHeals #MentalHealthMatters #ChristianPodcast

    31 min

  2. MAY 14

    Ep. 213 - Stanley Cup, Salvation, & Leadership | Ryan Walter’s Story

    What happens when an NHL star encounters Jesus in the middle of a professional hockey career? In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason McKnight sits down with former NHL player, Stanley Cup Champion, and leadership coach Ryan Walter for an unforgettable conversation about hockey, faith, leadership, mindset, and spiritual growth. Ryan shares stories from 15 seasons in the NHL, including playoff intensity, guarding Wayne Gretzky, winning the Stanley Cup with Montreal, and the culture inside professional sports organizations. But beyond the hockey stories is something deeper — the story of how Christ got his attention and transformed his life. They also dive into: 🏒 Why the Stanley Cup playoffs are different 🧠 The power of culture and leadership language ✝️ Ryan’s journey to faith in Christ 📖 How reading the Gospels changed everything 🔥 Flow state, performance, and spiritual attentiveness 💭 The Thinking Tendencies model from his book Breakout ❤️ Marriage, family, discipleship, and staying spiritually hungry This conversation is full of wisdom, humility, joy, and practical insight for leaders, parents, coaches, pastors, and anyone wanting to grow in Christ and lead well. 📚 Learn more about Ryan’s books Breakout and Hungry at: RyanWalter.com If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to like, comment, subscribe, and share? It really helps us continue growing the Encounter Grace community. #EncounterGrace #RyanWalter #StanleyCup #NHL #ChristianPodcast #Leadership #FaithAndLeadership #Discipleship #Breakout #FlowState #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLeadership #WayneGretzky #MontrealCanadiens #Hockey #JesusChangesEverything #Mindset #LeadershipDevelopment

    45 min

  3. MAY 7

    Ep. 212 - Why the Ascension Matters - The Overlooked Link in the Gospel Story

    We have a future that is secure. The Ascension strengthens our faith, deepens our worship, and anchors our hope in the victorious reign of Christ. Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus did something that many Christians rarely think about — He ascended into heaven. We talk often about the Cross.We celebrate the Resurrection.We love Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. But the Ascension? It often gets overlooked. Yet the Ascension is not a minor detail in the story of redemption. It is the moment when the risen Christ is enthroned as King, begins His heavenly ministry as our High Priest, and becomes universally accessible to His people. The Cross accomplished our salvation.The Resurrection vindicated Jesus as Lord.The Ascension installed Him as reigning King.Pentecost applied His victory through the Spirit. In this episode, we explore why the Ascension is essential to the Gospel and why it still shapes our confidence, courage, and hope today. We discuss: Why Jesus anticipated His Ascension throughout His ministry What the eyewitnesses actually saw (Luke 24; Acts 1) What it means that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father How the Ascension gives believers confidence in Christ’s authority How Jesus is now accessible to believers everywhere Christ’s ongoing ministry of intercession on our behalf How the Ascension guarantees Christ’s return Far from being a forgotten doctrine, the Ascension reminds us that Jesus is not absent — He is reigning, interceding, empowering, and preparing to return. Because Jesus ascended: We have a King who reigns.  We have a Savior who intercedes. We have a Spirit who empowers. #Ascension #JesusIsLord #ChristianTheology #BibleTeaching #GospelTruth #FaithAndLife #BiblicalTeaching #ChristianPodcast #TheologyMatters #Resurrection #KingJesus #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #ChristReigns #HopeInChrist #Discipleship #ChurchLife #ChristianFaith #KingdomOfGod

    28 min

  4. APR 30

    Ep. 211 - Different Ways We’re Wired to Experience God

    Many Christians quietly wonder if they are doing something wrong in their spiritual life. Maybe you’ve tried to follow the same devotional routines others recommend… but instead of feeling closer to God, you feel distracted, discouraged, or disconnected. In this episode, we explore Gary Thomas’s Sacred Pathways — a framework that helps us understand how God uniquely designed each person to experience relationship with Him in the context of His Word and His Church. Some people connect most deeply through nature, others through study, others through serving, silence, creativity, or celebration. The problem is not that you don’t love God — it may simply be that you’re trying to relate to Him in ways that don’t match how He wired you. We’ll walk through the 9 Sacred Pathways and talk about how discovering your natural connection points can remove unnecessary guilt, increase joy in your spiritual life, and help you grow in authentic relationship with God. God is personal. It makes sense that our connection with Him would be personal too. If you’ve ever felt like your quiet time isn’t working, this conversation may help you discover a more life-giving way forward. #SacredPathways #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #QuietTime #SpiritualFormation #FaithJourney #ChristianPodcast #EmotionalHealth #RelationalSpirituality #ChristianDiscipleship #KnowGod #GrowInFaith #ChristianEncouragement #ChristianLeadership #EncounterGrace

    42 min

  5. APR 23

    Ep. 210 - Did the Church Make Easter, or Did Easter Make the Church?

    Did the early church invent the story of Easter… or did Easter give birth to the church? That question matters more than most people realize. Because if the Resurrection accounts were written decades later as theological storytelling, then Christianity rests on inspirational myth. But if the stories recorded in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20–21 reflect eyewitness testimony of real events… then the Resurrection isn’t just symbolic — it’s history that changed the world. In this episode, we explore four surprising features of the resurrection narratives that scholars like N.T. Wright point to as evidence of authenticity: • The surprising silence about Old Testament fulfillment • The unexpected absence of teaching about our future resurrection • The unusual portrayal of the risen Jesus • The striking prominence of women as primary witnesses If these stories were invented later, they likely would have looked very different. Instead, they read like something else entirely — honest reports of an event so unexpected, so disruptive, that it reshaped everything. And if Easter really did happen… then Christianity isn’t primarily about adopting a philosophy or moral code — it’s about responding to a reality. Because this is how the gospel always spreads: People encounter the risen Jesus… and everything changes. #Easter #Resurrection #HistoricalJesus #ChristianFaith #Apologetics #NTWright #GospelTruth #BibleStudy #FaithAndReason #ChristianPodcast #JesusIsRisen #EvidenceForFaith #EncounterGrace #TheologyMatters #HopeInChrist

    27 min

  6. APR 16

    Ep. 209 - One Practice That Can Change Your Life - Habit #3: Relational Circuits

    Have you ever said something in an argument and immediately thought, “That didn’t even feel like me”? Most relational damage doesn’t begin with bad theology or evil intent. It begins when something in our brain quietly shuts off. In this episode of our One Habit series, we unpack relational circuits — the brain’s God-designed capacity to stay connected under stress. You’ll learn: What relational circuits are and why they matter The early warning signs they’ve gone offline Why conflict escalates when connection capacity drops A simple three-step reset to bring them back online How this affects your marriage, parenting, leadership, and even your experience of God When relational circuits are off, winning matters more than love. When they’re on, connection matters more than control. If you want to speak truth in love, be slow to anger, and lead from steadiness rather than reactivity — this habit can quietly change everything. #RelationalCircuits #EmotionalMaturity #ChristianLeadership #MarriageGrowth #conflict #NervousSystem #SpeakTruthInLove #SlowToAnger #SpiritualFormation #EncounterGrace

    32 min

  7. APR 9

    Ep. 208 - Why We’re Always Jumping to Conclusions

    Why do we so quickly assume the worst about situations, relationships, or even ourselves? Someone doesn’t text back… and we assume something is wrong. A conversation feels awkward… and we conclude we said something foolish. We feel anxious… and our mind jumps to the worst-case scenario. Our brains are constantly interpreting events and creating explanations — often faster than we realize. But sometimes the explanations we believe most strongly are not actually the most accurate ones. In this episode, we explore why we naturally jump to conclusions, why those conclusions often lean negative, and how learning to slow down our interpretations can lead to healthier relationships, greater peace, and more Christlike love. We also discuss how our past experiences shape present assumptions, why our minds try to prepare us for the worst, and how we can learn to hold our conclusions more humbly. If you’ve ever struggled with overthinking, anxiety, relational misunderstandings, or assuming the worst about a situation, this conversation will help you develop greater clarity, wisdom, and emotional maturity as you seek to follow Christ in everyday life. #faith #christianliving #emotionalhealth #mentalhealth #renewyourmind #christianpodcast #spiritualgrowth #relationships #overthinking #anxiety #wisdom #discipleship #mindset #selfawareness #christianlife #thoughtlife #christianencouragement

    39 min

  8. MAR 31

    Ep. 207 - The Loneliness of Jesus on the Way to the Cross

    Holy Week invites us onto sacred ground. From the Garden of Gethsemane to the cross, Jesus walked a path of profound loneliness, abandonment, and suffering unlike anything we will ever experience. In this episode, we explore the deep connection between Psalm 88 and the final hours of Christ’s earthly life — a Psalm filled with darkness, raw honesty, and unresolved pain. What if the loneliness of Jesus is not just part of the story… but central to our salvation? Jesus experienced complete abandonment so that we would never ultimately be alone. His isolation secured our reconciliation. His darkness secured our hope. Join us as we reflect on: • The emotional and spiritual suffering of Jesus during Holy Week • Psalm 88 as a window into Christ’s experience • Why Jesus’ loneliness matters for our faith today • How the cross speaks to our deepest experiences of abandonment • Worshipping Christ for what He alone accomplished As we approach Good Friday and Easter, may this reflection deepen your worship, strengthen your confidence in the Gospel, and remind you that Christ has entered even the darkest places on our behalf. Christ alone accomplished our salvation. Christ alone is our hope. #HolyWeek #GoodFriday #JesusChrist #TheCross #Psalm88 #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeaching #GospelHope #ChristAlone #FaithInJesus #ChristianTheology #EncounterGrace #SpiritualFormation #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #Easter #Atonement #JesusSaves #ChristianEncouragement

    15 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
34 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
    213
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Grace Fellowship Church
  • Show Website
    Encounter Grace Podcast

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