Making Sense of Us: Exploring Six Stories That Shape How We Live

by John Starke, Michael Keller (Other), Rebecca McLaughlin

Outside your window, music bleeding through the walls, sirens at all hours—you start tuning it out. But even when you stop noticing it, the city’s noise is still affecting you, shaping your everyday life.

In the same way, we live in a culture that’s constantly telling us stories—stories about who we are, what matters, and how to be happy. Even when we don’t notice them, they’re shaping us. These cultural narratives help us make sense of ourselves and our world. These are the stories we live by, the scripts we inherit, the frameworks we rely on to tell us who we are and how to live.

Making Sense of Us is a 7-week video curriculum that helps young and newer Christians, and even non-Christians, explore key narratives that have shaped Western culture. You’ll see how these stories fall short, and how the one true story of the gospel fulfills our deepest longings.

Explore key narratives that have shaped Western culture—our stories about self, happiness, science, justice, liberty, and progress.See how the gospel answers common cultural longings. Understand why people in our culture find these stories compelling, and learn to share how the gospel speaks a better word.Learn on your own or with your church. This 7-week video curriculum is suitable for individuals, groups, or church-wide study.

Making Sense of Us is a timely and captivating study. It’s rare in that it balances timeless wisdom with clear application for the pressing issues of our day. I agree wholeheartedly with its theme—namely, that our culture offers counterfeit stories of identity and meaning, but only the gospel fulfills our deepest longings. —Sean McDowell, PhD, professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, author of more than 20 books, and a popular YouTuber

If you’ve ever wondered how to think critically and biblically about the stories the culture tells, and how to tell a better story, this resource is for you. Each teacher helps us consider how our greatest longings ultimately lead us to the only One who truly satisfies. I can’t recommend this resource enough. —Vanessa Hawkins, author and director of community life at Redeemer Lincoln Square, New York City

It’s tough to imagine a better lineup than the one TGC has put together here. Each of these leaders is an expert in reading both the Bible and our culture. The spirit of Tim Keller—and behind him, Lesslie Newbigin—is alive and well in them. Each cultural narrative is explained simply yet with enough of a twist that you’re left going, “Wow, that was fresh and profound.” —J. D. Greear, pastor of the Summit Church and author of Everyday How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World

Christianity’s influence on our society is undeniable and invaluable. The values our modern society holds most dear, and the goals it wants to progress toward, find their foundation in the fundamental ascendancy of the Christian worldview. Supposing progress—or any cultural longing—can exist apart from Christian values is a pie-in-the-sky pipe dream. As Glen Scrivener skillfully highlights in his Making Sense of Us lesson, it’s because we are, knowingly or not, immersed in a Christianized society that our desires make sense to begin with. —Wes Huff,historian, researcher, YouTuber, and vice president with Apologetics Canada

168 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2026

About the author

John Starke is the lead pastor at Apostles Church Uptown in New York City. He is the coeditor (with Bruce Ware) of One God in Three Persons and is the author of The Possibility of Prayer and The Secret Place of Thunder. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Jena, and their four children.

Reviews

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been working on both video and print edits this week. I’m confident this study will help church leaders and their congregations grow in their ability to turn everyday conversations toward the gospel.

Contributors include…

Michael Keller
John Starke
Rebecca McLaughlin
Sam Chan
Trevin Wax
Rachel Gilson
Bob Thune
Glen Scrivener

Watch an early-days preview video at culturalnarratives.org

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Making Sense of Us, The Gospel Coalition introduces the concept of cultural narratives and sheds light on seven of the most prevalent ones, examining them through the lens of the gospel. Well suited for small groups or Sunday school, this book serves as a helpful guide for discussing and applying biblical truth.

The book excels at its goals: (1) identifying these narratives, (2) understanding how they operate in our lives, (3) recognizing where they fall short, and (4) discovering how Christianity, surprisingly, offers more than these narratives promise.

Reasonable, Rational, Winsome

I was hooked from the first chapter, as Rebecca McLaughlin addresses the idea of the self. Referring to the Moana—a favorite in my family—she shows how it reflects the “siren song” of expressive individualism. This book challenged me as I began to recognize the different cultural narratives I have left unchecked in my own life, as well as those I need to be mindful of in my home.

I especially appreciated the “Conversation,” “Practice,” and “Application” sections, which provide discussion prompts and questions to help you prepare to engage with unbelievers or those who hold to prevailing cultural viewpoints. With thoughtful and compelling insights, this book presents a reasonable, rational, and winsome picture of Christianity.

I received a media copy of Making Sense of Us and this is my honest review. @diveindigdeep