Cross-cultural teaching fills many of us with apprehension. ‘Is how I’m communicating culturally comprehensible? Am I making too many assumptions? Or too few? How can I find cultural illustrations that aren’t exclusive?! How can I apply this passage meaningfully without fully knowing this culture?’

It is good to be considerate and careful. But sometimes we’re in danger of putting too many boundaries in place that limit what God’s word can say. We forget he is a God of all peoples and nations, and that his word crosses boundaries. We allow our apprehension and fear to mean we never step outside our cultural bubble.

But cross-cultural teaching is both possible and paramount. With that in mind, here are some top tips to help:

  1. How do you define cross-cultural teaching? Whenever we are not teaching at our own church/in our ministry context, we are teaching cross-culturally. So regardless of outward appearance or geographical location, understand that each church will have its own distinctive culture.
  2. Cultivate cultural humility. We will never be fully competent at understanding the many cultures present in our churches, or the ones we visit around the world – but we can recognise our own limitations. God opposes the culturally proud but gives grace to the culturally humble.
  3. The two ‘tions’ of appreciating different cultures to your own: conversation and observation. Listen well, ask questions and, crucially, keep strong opinions to yourself.
  4. God intends you to be you. Teaching is ‘truth through personality’ according to Martin Lloyd-Jones, so don’t pretend to be someone you are not (and certainly don’t copy someone you think they might want you to be!). People see through a charade.
  5. When teaching in a different cultural context, work hard to adapt illustrations and applications to help the hearer connect with the text as seamlessly as possible. Set aside more time to do this than you would usually, and don’t be too proud to ask from help from those from the culture you’re speaking into.
  6. If possible, expose yourself to something of the culture before preaching into it. Friends, articles, films, podcasts are good places to start. Our eyes and ears should be open at all times. Keep a note of your observations and possible points of connection.
  7. Pray for a heart that is full of God’s love. Teaching is ‘truthing in love’ (Ephesians 4:15) – speaking God’s truth because we love his people. When your hearers know you are for them and not against them, cultural barriers come down.
  8. God has a heart for the world (John 3:16). Therefore, if he gives you a chance to engage with people who don’t look like you or talk like you or sound like you, then that’s his good plan. Opportunities like this will enable you to see the breadth, depth and height of his love for the world and it’s his gift from him to enable me to glimpse it.
  9. If possible, run any talk past a brother or sister who is familiar with the context.
  10. The more we preach in cultures different to our own, the more we will get to know our hearers and the more we will understand that they are just like us. We will see that they share the same challenges, problems and are encouraged by the same truths and experiences that encourage us.

And here are a few things to avoid.

  1. Avoid assumptions about people based on their appearance, whether these are assumptions about their spiritual maturity or anything else.
  2. Avoid a gospel that is any other than the one we have received. Preach the word in season AND out of season, when it is well-received and when you feel hostility. Remember, the good news of our crucified Saviour (1 Corinthians 2:2) is a message of foolishness to the world (both Jew and Gentile), but a message of wisdom that comes from God.
  3. Avoid feeling over-responsible for the way the message is received. We work hard to proclaim the gospel, but we are merely sowers. It is God alone gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7), so we must entrust that to him. Don’t beat yourself up if hearts remain hard; we don’t know how God might work in someone’s heart – maybe even years down the line.

You might have reached the end of this article and found these tips theoretically helpful. But currently, that’s all they are – theory. What is stopping the theory from becoming practice? Can you identify why you might feel uncomfortable teaching in a particular culture?

Here is a diagnostic question I have found helpfully challenging: ‘Does God love these people?’ Answer: yes! Therefore, what is in me and my heart that is making me nervous or anxious of preaching in a different culture? Is it the time? The travel? The difference? Be honest with yourself.

Jesus tells us that Revelation 7:9 is the future. The new creation is a place of wonderful, rich diversity. If you really, practically believe that is true, how can you play your part?