What do you think?
Rate this book
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
About the author
Harold L. Senkbeil
24 books40 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 28, 2026
In this back to the basics book, we are reminded to be most influenced by God’s word, rather than the latest trends and strategies for growth and relevance. You will be encouraged to develop and practice compassionate soul care skills as you reach out and minister to those with broken hearts and aching souls.
I especially appreciated the thoughts about Christians and the allure of power. Rather than concerning ourselves with never ending political power grabs, we should be presenting ourselves as people of hope.
A very impactful thought is oft repeated throughout this book. “As the word is sown, the culture is grown.” A wonderful encouragement and helpful reminder to all of us who are about the business of spreading the good word.
I really loved the last chapter most of all. The most important points discussed in this book are drawn together and ideas are summed up so well. Biblical truths and practical applications are shared in a way that is both edifying and encouraging. The last chapter serves as a closing Benediction and I will remember it for a long while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lexham Press. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
I especially appreciated the thoughts about Christians and the allure of power. Rather than concerning ourselves with never ending political power grabs, we should be presenting ourselves as people of hope.
A very impactful thought is oft repeated throughout this book. “As the word is sown, the culture is grown.” A wonderful encouragement and helpful reminder to all of us who are about the business of spreading the good word.
I really loved the last chapter most of all. The most important points discussed in this book are drawn together and ideas are summed up so well. Biblical truths and practical applications are shared in a way that is both edifying and encouraging. The last chapter serves as a closing Benediction and I will remember it for a long while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lexham Press. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
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.
March 3, 2026
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader. If you like this post, you might like others on that site. Consider checking it out!
---
WHAT'S THE CULTURE OF GOD'S WORD ABOUT?
The authors describe their starting point pretty clearly right from the start:
In a culture that is safely described as post-Christendom*, their argument is simple: go back to the way that the book of Acts describes evangelism and church life. Don't try to ape the world, adapt the Christian message to passing cultural trends, embrace the world's values, etc. Just do what the Church and her leaders did in an equally non-Christian culture.
They spend about five chapters making the case for the reasoning behind that and what it should look like, and then wrap it up with a chapter on applying that.
* However you want to define that.
CHAPTERS 1-5
These chapters focus on developing the above quotation. Here's the list:
1 The Church Is Created by the Word of God
2 The Church Lives in One Transcendent Culture
3 The Church Proclaims Christ Jesus
4 The Church's Worship Transcends Cultural Context
5 The Church Lives in the World, Not of the World
That pretty much shows you how they go about building the case—again, focusing their examples and illustrations from Acts.
Not too surprisingly, chapter 4 was the highlight of these chapters for me—I'm a sucker for a good chapter on worship. I did have some quibbles with a few things in it—but I assume that's because I'm wrong about something they argued. Overall, it's probably worth half the price of the book.
THE CHURCH GROWS FORM THE CULTURE OF THE WORD
That's from the first page of Chapter 6 (that shares a title with the section heading above), and it made me instantly think of Stephen O. Presley's Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church —a book that makes the same argument (essentially) as this one, but it leans primarily on the first few centuries of the Church, rather than the inspired history of the first few decades after Pentecost.
Focusing on "worship, catechesis, hospitality, and vocation," the authors apply the previous chapters and call ministers to work in these areas. I thought it was a wonderful and needed conclusion to the book.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE CULTURE OF GOD'S WORD?
Now, I'm not a minister, and this book is written primarily for them—so take what I say with a larger grain of salt than you typically would. I do think that the laity can and should read books written for those who are (or are about to be) ordained to ministry—if only so we know what standards to hold them to. But still, this book wasn't written for someone like me.
I do think I'd have gotten more out of it if I were one. But that doesn't take away from all the things I appreciated about the book. I don't know if it's really all that revolutionary or unique in its outlook. This doesn't take away from the book either—it just means that these authors find themselves in good company. If you find yourself thinking about the Presley book, or The Core of the Christian Faith by Michael W. Goheen (or other books by Goheen), or other books along those lines—don't be surprised.
That said, it's a short, punchy read that accomplishes what other books do in fewer pages. It could be seen as a refresher on them, or a solid introduction to this kind of thinking for those new to it.
I found myself nodding a lot, appreciating the wisdom, and making notes to talk about certain ideas with others.
I heartily encourage others to pick it up—you won't regret it.
Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program. However, as always here, I read this book because it interested me and the opinions expressed are my own.
---
What do we mean by "culture of the word"? The culture of the word encompasses this kind of compassionate understanding, while acculturating individuals from distinctively different identities and customs into one overarching transcendent culture of the church universal and eternal. Paul's compassionate and considerate approach to gospel proclamation shows how to best foster the culture of the word. But there's no need to compromise Christian ethos or teaching to gain a hearing within a given subculture and grow the culture of the word.
WHAT'S THE CULTURE OF GOD'S WORD ABOUT?
The authors describe their starting point pretty clearly right from the start:
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 the 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.
Faithful mission in a chaotic world builds on this New Testament template; people in every context—every nation, tribe, and language—should be acculturated by the word of Christ. For two millennia Christians have held that the church cultivates its own transcendent culture in a rapidly shifting social context—the culture of the word.
In a culture that is safely described as post-Christendom*, their argument is simple: go back to the way that the book of Acts describes evangelism and church life. Don't try to ape the world, adapt the Christian message to passing cultural trends, embrace the world's values, etc. Just do what the Church and her leaders did in an equally non-Christian culture.
They spend about five chapters making the case for the reasoning behind that and what it should look like, and then wrap it up with a chapter on applying that.
* However you want to define that.
CHAPTERS 1-5
These chapters focus on developing the above quotation. Here's the list:
1 The Church Is Created by the Word of God
2 The Church Lives in One Transcendent Culture
3 The Church Proclaims Christ Jesus
4 The Church's Worship Transcends Cultural Context
5 The Church Lives in the World, Not of the World
That pretty much shows you how they go about building the case—again, focusing their examples and illustrations from Acts.
Not too surprisingly, chapter 4 was the highlight of these chapters for me—I'm a sucker for a good chapter on worship. I did have some quibbles with a few things in it—but I assume that's because I'm wrong about something they argued. Overall, it's probably worth half the price of the book.
THE CHURCH GROWS FORM THE CULTURE OF THE WORD
To faithfully grow the culture of the word there were four areas of good soil the New Testament church chose as places in which to sow the word: worship, catechesis, hospitality, and vocation. These areas remain vital to the church and must be engaged to ensure the seed is sown robustly.
That's from the first page of Chapter 6 (that shares a title with the section heading above), and it made me instantly think of Stephen O. Presley's Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church —a book that makes the same argument (essentially) as this one, but it leans primarily on the first few centuries of the Church, rather than the inspired history of the first few decades after Pentecost.
Focusing on "worship, catechesis, hospitality, and vocation," the authors apply the previous chapters and call ministers to work in these areas. I thought it was a wonderful and needed conclusion to the book.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE CULTURE OF GOD'S WORD?
The task of mission and evangelization in our neo-pagan world today is exactly as it was in the pagan world of the first apostles and evangelists: to rescue and to save people by the word of the gospel accompanied by deeds of love. The culture of this word brings renewal and hope because God's word always does what it says. The word of Christ Jesus crucified and risen heals holistically: it erases guilt, eradicates shame, and mends illnesses of both body and soul.
Now, I'm not a minister, and this book is written primarily for them—so take what I say with a larger grain of salt than you typically would. I do think that the laity can and should read books written for those who are (or are about to be) ordained to ministry—if only so we know what standards to hold them to. But still, this book wasn't written for someone like me.
I do think I'd have gotten more out of it if I were one. But that doesn't take away from all the things I appreciated about the book. I don't know if it's really all that revolutionary or unique in its outlook. This doesn't take away from the book either—it just means that these authors find themselves in good company. If you find yourself thinking about the Presley book, or The Core of the Christian Faith by Michael W. Goheen (or other books by Goheen), or other books along those lines—don't be surprised.
That said, it's a short, punchy read that accomplishes what other books do in fewer pages. It could be seen as a refresher on them, or a solid introduction to this kind of thinking for those new to it.
I found myself nodding a lot, appreciating the wisdom, and making notes to talk about certain ideas with others.
I heartily encourage others to pick it up—you won't regret it.
Disclaimer: I received this book as a participant in the Baker Publishing Group Nonfiction Reviewer Program. However, as always here, I read this book because it interested me and the opinions expressed 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).
April 10, 2026
This book is a grounding word to the church today, a reminder of not just the inerrancy or sufficiency of the Word but of its efficacy. To my mind there are two great ditches - one being the tendency to change everything in a panic, supposing that cultural relevance will save the church, and the other being the tendency to insist that we can just keep on keeping on and everything will be alright. Senkbeil and Woodford lay a foundation in what the Word is and does and has done before moving on to contemporary application. The final chapter of this book is what I was really looking for when I bought and picked it up, but by the end I was happy to breath a sigh of relief. It really all does come back to the Word Christ gave us.
Christian Nationalism is a hot button topic nowadays; I'm not satisfied with its treatment here. While I too will often quote "Put not your trust in princes," I also think the question of Christian political engagement deserves more specific consideration and application. It's difficult because the term means so many different things to different people. From some, it seems to me to amount to trying to achieve the kingdom of heaven through political means, and I will certainly agree that the kingdom is not enacted by the ballot but by the means of grace. On the other hand, I think Christians do well to think about achieving the good of our neighbor in the public square,e.g., the right to life.
Quibbles aside, this is a book I hope to return to. God help us to sow the good seed!
Christian Nationalism is a hot button topic nowadays; I'm not satisfied with its treatment here. While I too will often quote "Put not your trust in princes," I also think the question of Christian political engagement deserves more specific consideration and application. It's difficult because the term means so many different things to different people. From some, it seems to me to amount to trying to achieve the kingdom of heaven through political means, and I will certainly agree that the kingdom is not enacted by the ballot but by the means of grace. On the other hand, I think Christians do well to think about achieving the good of our neighbor in the public square,e.g., the right to life.
Quibbles aside, this is a book I hope to return to. God help us to sow the good seed!
March 13, 2026
The church is no longer the cultural force it once was. Should it fight to reclaim that influence? Reinvent itself for a new era? Senkbeil and Woodford argue for a different path: the field is the world, the seed is God's Word. As that Word is sown and bears fruit, a new culture grows: the church.
Using Acts as a blueprint, they make a compelling case that faithful proclamation of the word of God was enough to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire, and it's more than enough for today. At just 176 pages, this is a pocket-sized ecclesiology that doesn't waste a word. If you feel modern Christianity has drifted from its core mission, this book is a timely and worthwhile read.
Using Acts as a blueprint, they make a compelling case that faithful proclamation of the word of God was enough to spread the gospel across the Roman Empire, and it's more than enough for today. At just 176 pages, this is a pocket-sized ecclesiology that doesn't waste a word. If you feel modern Christianity has drifted from its core mission, this book is a timely and worthwhile read.
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.
May 4, 2026
The Culture of God's Word offers a sobering critique of the culture of the world and the culture of the Church. The primary focus of the book is the centrality of the Word of God within Christian congregations. It is an excellent analysis of the culture of the world and the culture of the Church when it is focused on and motivated by the Word of God
May 16, 2026
I volunteer as a youth leader at my church, and this is going to be a book that I recommend as one for all of the leaders to read together. It has so much applicability to modern evangelism and ministry for our post-Christian society. Excellent book. Highly recommend for anyone working or volunteering in ministry and for anyone who takes ministry leadership seriously.
April 20, 2026
This book is excellent! It is profoundly simple, and one every Christian should read. Truly, where the word is sown the culture is grown. I highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews