All Episodes

May 29, 2025 68 mins

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with Mark Matlock—author, ministry leader, and researcher with the Barna Group—for a thoughtful conversation about wisdom, spiritual formation, and reaching the next generation.

Mark shares insights from his book Faith for the Curious and how his research reveals that many people, especially younger generations, are more open to spiritual conversations than we might think. Together, they discuss how wisdom (especially from Proverbs) shapes our spiritual lives and why evangelism needs to shift from transactional encounters to relational engagement.

They also explore the ongoing mental health crisis and how it’s opening doors for evangelism and deeper discipleship.

Mark will also speak at our upcoming event on Mental Health and the Church and help lead the Urbana Mission Conference at the end of this year—see the links below to learn more.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

 

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

 

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

 

Listen in to learn more: 

(04:30) - Reframing Hope Through Wisdom and Expectations

(11:19) - Discovering Godly Wisdom for Discipleship

(21:14) - Understanding Spiritual Curiosity and Connection

(34:18) - Engaging Nonbelievers With Authentic Connection

(48:38) - Embracing Rejection and Mental Health

(52:34) - Navigating Generational Divides and Mental Health

 

--------------

 

Resources from Mark Matlock

Get Mark’s latest book, Faith for the Curious: https://tinyurl.com/52fsfapp

Learn more about the Urbana Missions Conference: https://www.urbana.org/ 

Hope for the Heart resources

 

Learn about our summer event on Mental Health and the Church: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/mental-health-and-the-church

 

Connect with Hope for the Heart on social! 

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

 

Learn more about the ministry and resources of Hope for the Heart: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/ 

 

Learn more about Hope Talks and catch up on past episodes: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/hopetalks/ 

 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

 

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

 

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

Sign up for our fall Hope Together conference: https://hopetogether.com/

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.