If we pay attention to what is going on around us, we can discern the deepest needs of our culture. Needs that are best addressed by the gospel. The following list is adapted from Marva Dawn’s A Royal Waste of Time.
Identity
Who am I?
Where did I come from?
Loyalty
To whom do I belong?
Whom shall I trust?
Values
By what shall I live?
What do I pass on to my children?
Power
How can I protect myself?
How can I be free?
A master story
How does it all fit together?
To what larger narrative do I belong?
Meaning
Why should I live?
What’s the purpose?
What’s my mission?
Hope
How can there be a future?
Why should I go on?
How can I cope with my troubles and struggles
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons