S11:E2 Why Studying Culture Maters

What happens when we read the Bible faithfully but miss the culture we’re speaking into?

In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore dig into why biblical studies and cultural studies must go hand in hand for pastors, leaders, and everyday Christians. From sexuality to money, from language to power, interpretation always happens inside a culture.

Ignore that, and our preaching either falls flat or feels dictatorial.

🎙️ In This Episode:

• Why evangelicals and post-evangelicals default to biblical studies but often ignore cultural dynamics
• How terms like “gay” or even “marriage” carry radically different meanings in different communities
• Why listening to culture is essential before speaking the gospel into it
• Practical stories from Hyde Park, Wheaton, and Boystown on how cultural contexts shape identity and desire
• What pastors and parents can learn about engaging teens and younger generations

📌 Highlights:

• [00:05:00] Why evangelicals are blind to cultural dynamics
• [00:09:00] Romans 1 and the problem of assuming “gay” means the same thing across times and places
• [00:16:00] Learning cultural dynamics by listening in coffee shops, not just reading books
• [00:21:00] Why assumptions about money, power, and sexuality can shut people off from the gospel
• [00:24:00] The call to humility and presence in our cultural engagement

Pastors don’t just need to read their Bibles; they need to read their neighborhoods. Without cultural awareness, even the most faithful biblical interpretation can miss the mark.