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The Culture of God's Word: Faithful Ministry in a Post-Christian Society
When It Comes to Spreading the Gospel, Relevance Is Irrelevant
· A thoroughly biblical approach to social witness and the transformation of souls
· Reminds us that while we have a part to play in evangelism, it is God who Gives the increase
Some fight to recover Christian culture; others abandon any hope of transforming culture. Both mindsets are at odds with the early church. The apostles weren't seeking to convert cultures but people, because God's word cultivates its own culture--the culture of the word. When the word is sown, the culture is grown. Our mission remains the same a stubborn commitment to proclaim God's word.
In The Culture of God's Word, Harold L. Senkbeil and Lucas V. Woodford reclaim the biblical approach to transformation and social witness. By returning to the apostles' own example in the book of Acts, we are reminded of the power of the gospel. God's word embraces broken hearts and broken lives and transforms them in Christ Jesus. The church is born of God's word and grows by God's word. The pursuit of relevance has failed. The culture wars distract from the mission. But God's word cultivates a faith that endures in a chaotic world.
"Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." --1 Corinthians 3:7
· A thoroughly biblical approach to social witness and the transformation of souls
· Reminds us that while we have a part to play in evangelism, it is God who Gives the increase
Some fight to recover Christian culture; others abandon any hope of transforming culture. Both mindsets are at odds with the early church. The apostles weren't seeking to convert cultures but people, because God's word cultivates its own culture--the culture of the word. When the word is sown, the culture is grown. Our mission remains the same a stubborn commitment to proclaim God's word.
In The Culture of God's Word, Harold L. Senkbeil and Lucas V. Woodford reclaim the biblical approach to transformation and social witness. By returning to the apostles' own example in the book of Acts, we are reminded of the power of the gospel. God's word embraces broken hearts and broken lives and transforms them in Christ Jesus. The church is born of God's word and grows by God's word. The pursuit of relevance has failed. The culture wars distract from the mission. But God's word cultivates a faith that endures in a chaotic world.
"Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." --1 Corinthians 3:7
176 pages, Hardcover
Published February 18, 2026
6 people are currently reading
1939 people want to read
About the author
Harold L. Senkbeil
23 books39 followersRev. Dr. Harold L. Senkbeil (b. 1945) served as a parish pastor in the LCMS for 32 years, most recently at Elm Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elm Grove, Wisconsin (1987-2002), and as Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2001 he was recognized by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in the bestowing of the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. Dr. Senkbeil is a 1988 recipient of the Servus Ecclesiae Christi Award. Since July 2008, he has served as both Adjunct Professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, as well as Executive Director with DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is one of the best arguments I've read against Christian nationalism. It’s a succinct book that packs a wallop based on how well it communicates what it means for God’s Word to form the culture in the first place rather than being focused on changing the culture of the world. The two overarching themes of the church transcending culture and the church running counter to culture are exemplified in discussions on how contextualization should not overshadow the Bible, most notably in that, “We must never aim to evangelize people into some passing sociological human subculture but into the timeless transcendent company of all the faithful.”
In a post-Christian nation, Christians would do well to heed the notion that, “Today, we’re not striving to convert cultures but people living in diverse cultures.” Calling on the church's mission to be in the world, but not of the world, the authors present a convincing case for why it matters more that we are living out what the Bible says as opposed to trying to adapt the Bible to make it more understandable or palatable to the culture around us. The chapters on worship and how the church can grow a culture based on the Word are practical, life-giving, and foundational in specifying how overemphasizing culture can lead to the downfall of the Word taking root in people's hearts. Readers keenly interested in what The Culture of God’s Word looks like will find this a book to return to again and again, particularly as it provides a framework for thinking through culture in its proper context when aligned with the Bible.
Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...
Many thanks to Baker Publishing Group for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
In a post-Christian nation, Christians would do well to heed the notion that, “Today, we’re not striving to convert cultures but people living in diverse cultures.” Calling on the church's mission to be in the world, but not of the world, the authors present a convincing case for why it matters more that we are living out what the Bible says as opposed to trying to adapt the Bible to make it more understandable or palatable to the culture around us. The chapters on worship and how the church can grow a culture based on the Word are practical, life-giving, and foundational in specifying how overemphasizing culture can lead to the downfall of the Word taking root in people's hearts. Readers keenly interested in what The Culture of God’s Word looks like will find this a book to return to again and again, particularly as it provides a framework for thinking through culture in its proper context when aligned with the Bible.
Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...
Many thanks to Baker Publishing Group for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2026
This is a pastoral re-centering of the church on the Word. We live in a post-Christian society, so church leaders must navigate that landscape. This book aims to answer questions, guide church leaders, and give God’s Word the room to work powerfully in the world around us.
The Culture of God’s Word is geared toward those in ministry, though anyone deeply involved in their local church will find this book worth reading.
I was unfamiliar with the authors before reading, and learned that both come from a Lutheran background – a tradition outside my own ecclesial background. I was curious to see if I would come across anything that felt “Lutheran” to me, but that never really happened.
This led me to wonder: How does their Lutheran theology shape their emphasis on the Word? How do their traditions and history shape who they are today and impact the moment we are in? These questions came to mind since I don’t have direct experience with the Lutheran tradition.
Though the book rarely shows its Lutheran roots, the emphasis on the Word as active, living, and culture-shaping reflects a deeply confessional flavor. The contents of the book center on God’s ability to work through His Word. Even though I come from a different ecclesial tradition, I found that emphasis refreshing and familiar.
What is interesting is that I’m on staff at a Restoration Movement Church, which holds closely to the teachings of Acts and the New Testament Church. We strive to model the book of Acts as closely as we can. This book aims to utilize that same model.
“The book of Acts is a practical guide to mission in every generation. It shows how the first Christians were driven not by their cultural context but by the word of Christ to change hearts and lives of people living very much in the world, yet not of it. They weren’t seeking to convert cultures but people who lived in various cultures.”
That thesis frames the entire argument.
The book begins with a prayer, setting the tone of the book and helping the reader to invite the Holy Spirit in as they begin their journey through the book. (This might be the most Lutheran-esque part of the book, since it has the choice of call and response within the prayer).
Each chapter of the book begins with a passage from Acts that guides the teaching. The chapters unfold the author’s vision with titles such as…
The Church Is Created by the Word of God
The Church Lives in One Transcendent Culture
The Church Proclaims Christ Jesus
The Church’s Worship Transcends Cultural Context
The Church Lives in the World, Not of the World
The Church Grows from the Culture of the Word
As the authors grow their content and argument chapter by chapter, the last chapter of the book ends with many practical and thoughtful application points.
The whole premise of the book centers around the church’s mission of not changing the culture around them, but letting God’s Word build the culture it speaks of. Their argument begins and centers around an early statement in chapter 1, when they say, “The power for the growth of the kingdom is in the word itself.” I found myself dwelling on this statement for about a week.
It’s an incredible truth: the Word actively creates a culture of its own, and it’s the one we read about in Acts.
The framework church leaders need is already embedded in Scripture. As it is read, studied, and lived out, the Word changes lives and therefore the way people live and work.
So, for church leaders, how does this thought contrast with pragmatic, metrics-driven ministry?
How does this confront anxiety in ministry leadership?
How does this speak to churches tempted by political alignment?
This book helps to take the pressure off, allow pastors to loosen their white-knuckle grip, and lean on the power of God’s Word to grow, build, and shape the world around them.
The authors don’t shy away from the fact that societies and cultures “wield extraordinary influence in how people live and work.” Churches must take their surrounding context into consideration in order to be effective, but the Word of God takes priority over context. Senkbeil and Woodford are adamant that the mission of the church isn’t a culture war, but instead, “The people before us are not potential recruits in a culture war we’re fighting but lost souls seeking a hope which spans all generations, cultures, and time.” If we want to mimic the first-century church, we must put emphasis on the growth of God’s Word and not the growth of numbers.
At times, the argument feels more theological than practical until the final section. While reading this book, I began to wonder how churches could put these theological ideas into practice, all the while agreeing with what they were saying. With the practical steps being at the end, I would have enjoyed them sprinkled in throughout the book.
The book presents really strong arguments that are all based on Scripture. One thing I would have loved to see would be more background and personal stories from the authors. I don’t know much about them, outside of the short bio included in the sleeve of the book. With this being a book directed towards pastors, some personal stories, successes, or failures would have added some life and connection points to the audience.
This book felt easy to read, coming in at 150 pages. Many subheadings and a conversational writing style made it easy to digest and read through. It’s intended for pastors; I could see elders, ministry leaders, and committed members gleaning rich insight from its content.
I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders as I read it, and also a slight conviction. First, it’s an opportunity to take the pressure off and let God’s Word show its transformative power through your ministry. In a ministry climate obsessed with relevance, strategy, and survival, this book reminds us that the church’s life has always come from the living and active Word of God. And that’s where the conviction comes in. It’s a healthy reminder to pastors: there is an immense weight in being faithful to preach God’s Word well.
Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review!
The Culture of God’s Word is geared toward those in ministry, though anyone deeply involved in their local church will find this book worth reading.
I was unfamiliar with the authors before reading, and learned that both come from a Lutheran background – a tradition outside my own ecclesial background. I was curious to see if I would come across anything that felt “Lutheran” to me, but that never really happened.
This led me to wonder: How does their Lutheran theology shape their emphasis on the Word? How do their traditions and history shape who they are today and impact the moment we are in? These questions came to mind since I don’t have direct experience with the Lutheran tradition.
Though the book rarely shows its Lutheran roots, the emphasis on the Word as active, living, and culture-shaping reflects a deeply confessional flavor. The contents of the book center on God’s ability to work through His Word. Even though I come from a different ecclesial tradition, I found that emphasis refreshing and familiar.
What is interesting is that I’m on staff at a Restoration Movement Church, which holds closely to the teachings of Acts and the New Testament Church. We strive to model the book of Acts as closely as we can. This book aims to utilize that same model.
“The book of Acts is a practical guide to mission in every generation. It shows how the first Christians were driven not by their cultural context but by the word of Christ to change hearts and lives of people living very much in the world, yet not of it. They weren’t seeking to convert cultures but people who lived in various cultures.”
That thesis frames the entire argument.
The book begins with a prayer, setting the tone of the book and helping the reader to invite the Holy Spirit in as they begin their journey through the book. (This might be the most Lutheran-esque part of the book, since it has the choice of call and response within the prayer).
Each chapter of the book begins with a passage from Acts that guides the teaching. The chapters unfold the author’s vision with titles such as…
The Church Is Created by the Word of God
The Church Lives in One Transcendent Culture
The Church Proclaims Christ Jesus
The Church’s Worship Transcends Cultural Context
The Church Lives in the World, Not of the World
The Church Grows from the Culture of the Word
As the authors grow their content and argument chapter by chapter, the last chapter of the book ends with many practical and thoughtful application points.
The whole premise of the book centers around the church’s mission of not changing the culture around them, but letting God’s Word build the culture it speaks of. Their argument begins and centers around an early statement in chapter 1, when they say, “The power for the growth of the kingdom is in the word itself.” I found myself dwelling on this statement for about a week.
It’s an incredible truth: the Word actively creates a culture of its own, and it’s the one we read about in Acts.
The framework church leaders need is already embedded in Scripture. As it is read, studied, and lived out, the Word changes lives and therefore the way people live and work.
So, for church leaders, how does this thought contrast with pragmatic, metrics-driven ministry?
How does this confront anxiety in ministry leadership?
How does this speak to churches tempted by political alignment?
This book helps to take the pressure off, allow pastors to loosen their white-knuckle grip, and lean on the power of God’s Word to grow, build, and shape the world around them.
The authors don’t shy away from the fact that societies and cultures “wield extraordinary influence in how people live and work.” Churches must take their surrounding context into consideration in order to be effective, but the Word of God takes priority over context. Senkbeil and Woodford are adamant that the mission of the church isn’t a culture war, but instead, “The people before us are not potential recruits in a culture war we’re fighting but lost souls seeking a hope which spans all generations, cultures, and time.” If we want to mimic the first-century church, we must put emphasis on the growth of God’s Word and not the growth of numbers.
At times, the argument feels more theological than practical until the final section. While reading this book, I began to wonder how churches could put these theological ideas into practice, all the while agreeing with what they were saying. With the practical steps being at the end, I would have enjoyed them sprinkled in throughout the book.
The book presents really strong arguments that are all based on Scripture. One thing I would have loved to see would be more background and personal stories from the authors. I don’t know much about them, outside of the short bio included in the sleeve of the book. With this being a book directed towards pastors, some personal stories, successes, or failures would have added some life and connection points to the audience.
This book felt easy to read, coming in at 150 pages. Many subheadings and a conversational writing style made it easy to digest and read through. It’s intended for pastors; I could see elders, ministry leaders, and committed members gleaning rich insight from its content.
I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders as I read it, and also a slight conviction. First, it’s an opportunity to take the pressure off and let God’s Word show its transformative power through your ministry. In a ministry climate obsessed with relevance, strategy, and survival, this book reminds us that the church’s life has always come from the living and active Word of God. And that’s where the conviction comes in. It’s a healthy reminder to pastors: there is an immense weight in being faithful to preach God’s Word well.
Thank you to Baker Publishing Group for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This heartfelt encouragement to the church argues that the Bible is the central, formative force for the life of the church worldwide. Overall I found it hopeful, encouraging, and sincere in its desire to reestablish the Word of God as the core around which a Christian's life, and the life of the church, spins. Organized in six short chapters, it could be used for a church staff book study or seminary student supplementary reading.
Some specific positives: It affirms the inspiration and authority of scripture over the life of the believer. Affirms the reality of the diverse, universal church, reminding us that our local and national manifestations of church are not all there is. The authors identify Christendom as the cultural norm for centuries that is now ending, which has led to such cultural angst among believers. They pointedly and specifically argue against Christian Nationalism. The book consistently uses scripture for examples that support its premise, offers hope in the person of Jesus against the challenges of culture, and points to the history of the church that has overcome the challenges of many cultures through the years. It affirms liturgy, creeds, and catechesis as unifying practices beneficial to all believers. We are not converting a culture, the authors remind us, but individuals within cultures. I appreciate their exhortation to avoid "culture warring" and instead focus on loving, serving, and teaching righteousness.
However, a few concerns arose: The authors locate the sermon as the central feature of communal worship services; though they mention prayer and communion, preaching is emphasized as central. After repeatedly claiming the authority and centrality of Scripture, they cite John 8, the story of the woman caught in adultery, without noting its disputed authority. So a little inconsistent there.
They misunderstand Mosaic Law when they describe Jesus, touching the dead body of the widow of Nain's son, as defiling himself. "According to the Mosaic law, anyone other than immediate family, who willfully touch the dead body to file their personal holiness." and "Everywhere Jesus went he absorbed sin." No, rather, he demonstrated that he was the source of life by touching a dead body and raising it to life again. Mosaic ritual cleanliness is not equal to moral purity.
They make a common mistake in mixing their metaphors of war and farming: The church "is ever at war" but a few sentences later, "she's sowing God's word" (p 99).
Some specific positives: It affirms the inspiration and authority of scripture over the life of the believer. Affirms the reality of the diverse, universal church, reminding us that our local and national manifestations of church are not all there is. The authors identify Christendom as the cultural norm for centuries that is now ending, which has led to such cultural angst among believers. They pointedly and specifically argue against Christian Nationalism. The book consistently uses scripture for examples that support its premise, offers hope in the person of Jesus against the challenges of culture, and points to the history of the church that has overcome the challenges of many cultures through the years. It affirms liturgy, creeds, and catechesis as unifying practices beneficial to all believers. We are not converting a culture, the authors remind us, but individuals within cultures. I appreciate their exhortation to avoid "culture warring" and instead focus on loving, serving, and teaching righteousness.
However, a few concerns arose: The authors locate the sermon as the central feature of communal worship services; though they mention prayer and communion, preaching is emphasized as central. After repeatedly claiming the authority and centrality of Scripture, they cite John 8, the story of the woman caught in adultery, without noting its disputed authority. So a little inconsistent there.
They misunderstand Mosaic Law when they describe Jesus, touching the dead body of the widow of Nain's son, as defiling himself. "According to the Mosaic law, anyone other than immediate family, who willfully touch the dead body to file their personal holiness." and "Everywhere Jesus went he absorbed sin." No, rather, he demonstrated that he was the source of life by touching a dead body and raising it to life again. Mosaic ritual cleanliness is not equal to moral purity.
They make a common mistake in mixing their metaphors of war and farming: The church "is ever at war" but a few sentences later, "she's sowing God's word" (p 99).
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is a great read for church staff and leadership. The authors remind us of the most important part of ministry: God's Word going forth and reaching the nations. Ministry can be difficult, such as in the modern Western culture that is so often driven by self, not surrender. This book has short chapters with relevant teachings, and the last chapter includes discussion questions for churches to reflect on various aspects of how they serve their congregation.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews