How often do you pick up your phone without even thinking about it? What starts as a quick check can turn into an hour of scrolling, comparing, worrying, or simply disconnecting from the people right in front of you.

In this episode of Encounter Grace, Jason and Justin continue their series, One Practice That Will Change Your Life, by exploring a simple but powerful habit: taking a Screen Sabbath.

Our phones are incredible tools, but what happens when the tools meant to serve us begin controlling us?

Drawing from Scripture, including 1 Corinthians 6:12, Psalm 119:37, and Matthew 6:22–23, we discuss how our screen habits shape our attention, desires, relationships, and spiritual lives.

We'll explore:

• Why we instinctively reach for our phones

• How social media can fuel anxiety, comparison, and discontentment

• What the Bible teaches about guarding our eyes and attention

• Why digital boundaries aren't about rejecting technology

• Practical ways to take a Screen Sabbath and reclaim your time

Here's your challenge: Choose one intentional period this week to put your phone away. Maybe it's dinner with your family, an evening without social media, or an entire day of digital rest.

The goal isn't to get rid of technology. It's to make sure technology serves us rather than masters us.

At Encounter Grace, we're helping thinking Christians live faithfully in the real world, one step toward Jesus at a time.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Screen Sabbath concept

03:27 Defining a Screen Sabbath and its biblical basis

05:25 Personal stories of social media and anxiety

07:16 The importance of recognizing screens as neutral tools

09:03 Practical ways to implement a Screen Sabbath

11:06 The dangers of social media and doomscrolling

13:24 Biblical guidance on controlling the eyes and desires

16:12 The importance of physical Bibles and mindful media use

20:50 The societal and personal risks of digital addiction

22:20 Steps to establish a meaningful Screen Sabbath

#EncounterGrace #ChristianLiving #DigitalDetox #ScreenTime #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianPodcast #SocialMedia #DigitalWellness #FaithAndTechnology #ScreenSabbath

What if the first five books of the Bible reveal more about Jesus than you ever imagined?

Many Christians see the Old Testament as a story of law, judgment, and religious rituals, and the New Testament as a story of grace, forgiveness, and Jesus Christ. That paradigm misses something essential.

In Part 2 of "Why the Torah Matters," Jason and Justin continue exploring 12 foundational truths introduced in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy that shape our understanding of the entire Bible.

From God's redemption of Israel through the Exodus to His holiness, forgiveness, justice, and desire for genuine worship, we discover that the God of the Old Testament is the same gracious, compassionate, redeeming God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Most importantly, we explore how the Torah points us directly to Jesus, from the promised offspring in Genesis 3 to the Passover Lamb, the better Moses, and the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises.

In this episode, we discuss:• Why redemption and grace didn't begin in the New Testament• What the Torah teaches us about God's holiness and forgiveness• Why God has always desired our hearts, not merely religious rituals• The biblical foundations of justice, righteousness, and the people of God• Why Christians are called to live as pilgrims in this world• How Jesus is revealed throughout the first five books of Scripture

The Torah isn't simply the beginning of the Bible. It's the key to understand the entire Gospel story of redemption.

Click here to access Jason’s Roadmaps for the 5 books of the Torah: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bh6Wizd5HGBuLiMswHkqqTHxqrN7qC4_/view?usp=sharing

Join the conversation: What's one connection between Jesus and the Old Testament that changed the way you read Scripture? Let us know in the comments!

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#EncounterGrace #WhyTheTorahMatters #Torah #JesusInTheOldTestament #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology #OldTestament #ChristianPodcast #Pentateuch #UnderstandingTheBible

What if the Gospel story starts in Genesis? How does Leviticus matter today?

The first five books of the Bible, collectively known as the Torah or Pentateuch, lay the foundation for everything that follows in Scripture. Yet many Christians struggle to understand how these ancient books fit into our faith as a church.

In Part 1 of this Encounter Grace discussion, we begin exploring why the Torah is so important to understanding the Bible as a whole.

From creation and humanity's fall to God's covenant promises, His relationship with Israel, and the unfolding story of redemption, the Torah introduces essential themes that shape the rest of Scripture, and ground the Gospel.

Whether you're studying the Old Testament for the first time or have been reading the Bible for years, we hope this conversation encourages you to see these familiar books with fresh eyes.

Join the conversation: Which of the first five books of the Bible do you find most challenging to understand? Why?

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#EncounterGrace #Torah #Pentateuch #BibleStudy #OldTestament #BiblicalTheology #ChristianPodcast #UnderstandingTheBible