Knowing Culture

Culture Matters.
 
It matters because the place that we do ministry impacts how we do it. In other words, the "how" of ministry is in some ways determined by the "who, when, and where" of culture.
 
Churches need to understand the people they are called to reach. Through research, we understand what is going on in the world around us—and the struggles, challenges, and opportunities that the culture provides. 
 
When Paul preached the gospel he always understood the culture around him. At Psidian Antioch he proclaimed Christ in the midst of a Jewish cultural milieu—and spoke from their history and the Hebrew Prophets.  When he spoke at the Athenian Aereopogus, we quoted Stoic and Epicurean philosophers and began his message by acknowledging their religiousness.
 
Paul knew the culture—we should too. Then we can proclaim a Biblically faithful gospel to people who live in culture.

 

Note: One of our goals is to give you access to the broadest and the best research and information sources available.  We have made every effort possible to link to accurate sources, NAMB and CMR do not endorse nor agree with every source or research report that has a link on this site.