Revelation through culturally understood practices

In attempting to gain a greater understanding of the Old Testament, and how it fits into the context of the Ancient Near East and its various parallels to the practices of Israel, many scholars have concluded that God used many culturally understood practices of Israel's neighbors to convey truth and revelation concerning Himself. This happens quite a bit in the Old Testament, where we can see a parallel of a religious practice in Israel from one of their neighbors, but YHWH used it to reveal something new or different in contrast to the pagan beliefs.

It occurred to me the other day that I haven't heard much of this taught (or perhaps haven't been paying attention to it) concerning the New Testament. That is to say, if God used culturally understood practices of Israel's pagan neighbors to reveal Himself in the Old Testament, did He abandon this practice in post-incarnation revelation?

If not, then are their parallels in Greek mythology that would have been understood by those in the first century which God may have used to reveal revelation concerning Himself or Jesus? In regards to the New Testament, most scholars have been somewhat dismissive that their are parallels in the pagan beliefs of the day that enlighten our NT understanding. It is more commonly approached apologetically or polemically, rather than as understanding a possible parallel that God used in reforming the minds of the first century peoples to understand His truth.

The thing that really got me thinking is, does God still teach us today through our culture, and how so? If He does, how do we discern truth from someone making a stretch and reading too much between the lines? What is He revealing about Himself to us as a people today through the "world"... or is this no longer a tool of communication since His Word has been preserved for us?

Anyway, this is what the imagination will do to you sometimes. I have no answers, only more questions. :)