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About

In this timely episode of the Resilient Pastor podcast, hosts Rich Velotis, Glenn Packiam, and Sharon Miller explore how churches can build momentum this fall while engaging a new wave of spiritually curious people. Drawing from real pastoral experience and groundbreaking Barna research with Mark Matlock, the conversation examines the shift from militant atheism and indifferent agnosticism to curious skepticism. Pastors share practical strategies for Vision Sundays, marriage series, newcomer lunches, and volunteer kickoffs, while diving deep into how to nurture curiosity, hold convictions with humility, and create hospitable spaces for genuine spiritual exploration.

Mark Matlock unpacks his latest research from Faith for the Curious, revealing that 67% of non-practicing Christians and nonbelievers show high spiritual curiosity and belief in the supernatural. The discussion offers pastors a hopeful, practical framework for reaching younger generations and deconstructing believers in a post-Christian culture.

Key Takeaways

• Many churches are experiencing a cultural shift toward curious skepticism — people who are spiritually open yet cautious, creating fresh opportunities for the gospel.
• The problem is often not what we believe but how we hold our convictions — pride and lack of humility repel curious people more than clear doctrine.
• Churches must move from answer-giving to hospitality toward curiosity, creating formational spaces for questions at every stage of faith, not just for newcomers.
• The Nicene Creed and historic confessions act as a “rope in a blizzard,” helping believers stay grounded while pursuing wonder.
• Mark Matlock’s framework — Worlds, Wonder, and Wisdom — equips Christians to engage others by first understanding their world, embracing wonder, and pursuing wisdom rather than being “right.”
• Preaching can nurture curiosity by addressing felt needs, asking new questions, making room for mystery, and incorporating interdisciplinary insights that point back to God.
• Building genuine relationships and practicing hospitality toward difference is more effective than transactional evangelism when reaching the spiritually curious.

Highlights

• “What was handed to you is actually good. It was just given to you with handles that break.” — Sharon Miller
• “Curiosity is great, but curiosity can also get you lost in the snowstorm if you don’t have a rope that helps you find your way home.” — Glenn Packiam on the value of creeds
• “We have to make people better pagans before we can introduce them to Christ.” — Mark Matlock, quoting C.S. Lewis on post-Christian culture
• “The opposite of faith isn’t doubt. Doubt and faith must coexist together.” — Rich Velotis
• “As pastors, we often see ourselves as bringing the answer more than curating the learning journey of another person.” — Mark Matlock
• “Keep drinking. Your first swig of the glass of the natural sciences is gonna lead you to atheism, but at the bottom of the glass, you’ll find God.” — Glenn Packiam

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