Can I Still Trust Jesus After Church Hurt? (feat. Mark Matlock)

In this first episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, Bobby McGraw sits down with author and speaker Mark Matlock to talk about spiritual curiosity, church hurt, hypocrisy, and why Jesus is still worth another look. Mark shares how his posture toward faith conversations shifted from quick, combative answers to relational honesty, and he reflects on the difference between believing Christian ideas and actually knowing Jesus.For anyone who has been wounded by church, disappointed by religious people, or unsure where to take their questions, this conversation offers a gentle reminder: keep your eyes on Jesus.Key TakeawaysSpiritual curiosity is not something to fear. It can be a doorway into deeper faith.Faith is more than knowing beliefs about Jesus. It is learning to trust and follow Him.Jesus spoke truth without humiliating, alienating, or punishing people with His words.Church hurt can go deep, affecting our ability to trust both people and God.You do not have to have every answer to take one honest next step toward faith.Chapter Markers00:00 - Welcome to Mark Matlock02:39 - Magic, India, and Relational Faith06:19 - From “God Said It” to Honest Curiosity09:15 - Believing Ideas vs. Knowing Jesus11:30 - Killing the Inner Pharisee15:09 - Why We Cannot Grow Alone17:31 - What It Means to Trust Jesus23:17 - The Image of God and the Ache for More27:15 - When Church People Let You Down30:17 - Hypocrisy, Humility, and Community33:00 - Will You Let Me Be Not Okay?38:15 - Advice for the Spiritually Curious40:42 - Alpha and Safe Places to Ask Questions42:25 - The Longing for Something More43:53 - What Mark Would Say to Someone Hurt by Church45:32 - Where to Connect with MarkLinks and MentionsAlpha - Mentioned as a helpful, no-pressure place to explore spiritual questions.WisdomHacker.com - Mark’s work on biblical wisdom and everyday life.The Wisdom Hacker on Instagram - Mentioned by Mark as a way to connect.Mark Matlock on Facebook - Mark engages in conversations with people from different backgrounds.Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, follow the podcast, and send this episode to someone who may still be carrying questions about faith, church hurt, or whether Jesus is worth trusting again.