The Culture Jesus Lived In

In the last few months I have been studying more and more about the culture that our bible was written in. I think we in America have forgotten that the bible is a eastern book written to those from that culture and that Jesus was from that culture as well. I have found a great resource in listening to Rob Bell (Lead Teacher at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids Michigan) and researching Ray Vanderlaan's website. I have also began reading a few books on Jewish history, spirituality, etc. I was recenly talking to a friend of mine who is in ministry and it greatly disturbs me how I had never heard much of this stuff before. We both felt cheated. I wonder why many American preachers struggle to give us the context of what is going on in a passage. From all this study I have done, I have been amazed at the stories that God is telling us through scripture. There are layers and layers of great truths to be found if we just dig a little deeper. Maybe this is the metanarrative I have been looking for.