To All The World
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Every culture has common stories that explain who we are, what’s wrong with us, how to fix it, and how to live. These are called cultural narratives. But sadly, our culture’s stories regularly let us down. They fall short of the more complete story found in the gospel. How do we help the people in our lives see this truth?
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Who am I? Our culture says, “Listen to your heart! Look deep inside and you will find your true self.” But if that’s true, why are we still insecure? It’s because that’s not what we’re made for. Jesus calls us to make our lives count—not by fulfilling all our dreams but by being crucified with him.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
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Intermediate
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Why are we here? What’s our purpose in life? Our culture says it’s this: “To pursue comfort and pleasure on our own terms.” The Bible tells a different story. It teaches that happiness is possible, but it’s a byproduct. If you chase the Son, and you may be surprised to find that you’ll get happiness thrown in.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
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Intermediate
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How do we know what to trust? How do we discern between reality and deep fakes? Our culture says, “Science is the answer.” Only reason can tell us what’s true. The culture also tells us that science and faith are incompatible, but the Bible doesn’t pit faith against reason, or force us to choose between science and God. Instead, it gives us a bigger story where science finds a place as a tool for exploring God’s creation.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
How do you tell right from wrong? Our culture says, “Injustice is self-evident, and you don’t need to believe in God to do what’s right.” But without God there’s no standard for justice, and we’re on a crash course for moral train wrecks. What we need instead is a God who has real justice bona-fides. One who justly judges every act of evil committed both against you and by you, and who doesn’t just condemn the guilty but also speaks a word of justice that restores.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
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Intermediate
Advanced
Why do we feel trapped? How can we escape all the world’s wrongs? Our culture says, “Throw off oppression, want, and misery,” and then you’ll find freedom, joy, and fulfillment. In our culture, we think of liberty exclusively in terms of removing constraints. But true liberty—true freedom—includes a form of constraint because it also releases us from evil, sin, and death.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Is there any promise for the future? Where will we find hope? Our culture says, “The past is all dark, but the future can be better.” Is the Bible’s story different? Yes, it teaches us that progress is real, but the arc of history is long, and it bends down and then up.
To learn more about cultural narratives, check out these resources:
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced