The Theology Of...: Recent Episodes
Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens
Two collegiate bible nerds explore the theology behind some of the secular-seeming things in daily life. Every Wednesday, Ryker and Benjamin will dive into the meaning behind the mundane - and seek to find the bigger, Christ-centered story behind the everyday things of life in the 21st century.
An episode from the archives! Benjamin and Ryker talk about where to find God–not in the valleys or on the mountaintops–but in the flatlands of ordinary life.
Show Notes (The Theology of The Mundane) S3:E1
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:40) Update
(3:40-7:40) Introduction
(7:40-14:20) Where is God on Mondays?
(14:40-18:57) Diagnosis: We are Creatures of Habit
(18:57-22:24) Tension: Ordinary or Dull?
(22:24-29:32) The Mundane is the Seedbed for the Miraculous
(29:47-38:02) Jesus Christ: King of the Monumental and the Mundane
(38:17-47:04) Application
(47:15-51:35) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- The mundane has been a consistent theme woven throughout this podcast
- God is King of the ordinary as much as the extraordinary
- God’s goal isn’t to exterminate the mundane, but to fill it with significance
- Jesus didn’t float around the earth: He slept and ate and paid taxes just like we do
- We should look expectantly for what God will do, not only during a mission trip or the start of a new job, but in the everyday rhythms of life
Resources:
- Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren
https://www.amazon.com/Liturgy-Ordinary-Sacred-Practices-Everyday/dp/0830846239
- The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Conspiracy-Rediscovering-Hidden-Life/dp/0060693339
- “Meaning in the mundane” by Chase Kuhn
https://moore.edu.au/resources/meaning-in-the-mundane/
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Presence-God-Brother-Lawrence/dp/1614279683
Music
“Christmas” - Luke Hall
“Edge of Desire” - Luke Hall
“In The Air” - Luke Hall
“Final” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=r-hScflEQS2Cg5vguVdLag
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2024. All rights reserved.
Happy 1st birthday, The Theology Of...! Ryker and Benjamin take some time to talk about and pray for what's coming next for the podcast and ask that you join them in prayer for the coming season.
We are so unbelievably thankful for you, our listeners and supporters, and would love to hear from you! You can drop us a line on our social medias (Facebook & Instagram) or write us an email at thetheologyof@outlook.com.
That's all for now, but we hope to see you soon!
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thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
Wrapping up this season of the podcast, Benjamin and Ryker tackle five listener-suggested mini-topics and reflect on what God has done the past two seasons.
Show Notes (The Theology of Etc., Part 2) S2:E10
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:51) Introduction
(4:09-18:10) The Theology of Sleep
(18:33-25:07) The Theology of Colors
(25:22-33:13) The Theology of Love
(33:35-39:37) The Theology of Change/Transition
(40:00-46:40) The Theology of Monsters
(47:05-50:34) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Sleep is a daily reminder that we are human, that God is God, and that we must rely on Him for true rest and rejuvenation
- Life is technicolor, not monochrome, and the very fact that color exists as a spectrum demonstrates the lavish creativity of God
- Love is much more than a word - and is manifested through the actions and existence of Jesus of Nazareth
- Times of transition are more than “in-between times” - they are especially strategic and noteworthy occasions where God chooses to make Himself known
- The Gospel is the greatest monster story ever told
Resources:
Sleep
- “The Theology of Sleep” by Fred Sanders
- Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren
- “A Brief Theology of Sleep” by John Piper
Colors
- Color Symbolism in Christianity
Love
- “A Biblical Theology of Love” by Tony Reinke
- Mere Sexuality by Todd Wilson
- Love Does by Bob Goff
- Crazy Love by Francis Chan
- Loveology by John Mark Comer
- “Episode 275: Jonathan Pokluda + Outdated”
Change/Transition
- “A Theology of Transition by Rev. Cecil Van Niejenhuis
- Navigating through Life Transitions - The Theology of Work Project
- A Short Theology of Change by Dennis Rogers
Monsters
- The Theology of Monsters: Parts 1-7 by Richard Beck
- “Zombies, Postmodernism and Art” by Jonathan Pageau
Check out our stickers/magnets & get one for yourself!!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/TheTheologyOf/shop
Music
“Buzz Cut” - Luke Hall
“Epilogue” - Luke Hall
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
“Jazzy” - Luke Hall
“Through Everything” - Benjamin Corneliusen
“It Comes in Waves” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Follow Benjamin on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/benjamincorneliusen
Check out Benjamin's website:
https://www.benjamincorneliusen.com
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, Benjamin and Ryker sit down with Zach Kilimann to discuss his unique educational experience spanning from the living room to the soccer field. In doing so, they explore how God has wired our minds to learn and grow in our present, now and not yet reality. Huge shout out to Zach for joining us for this conversation, thanks for bringing your insight to this episode!
Show Notes (The Theology of Education) S2:E9
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:40) Introduction
(1:40-8:12) Getting to know Zach
(8:12-20:44) What is Education?
(21:00-39:20) Biblical Survey
(39:40-45:17) Outside the Classroom Walls
(45:17-47:17) Learning the Hard Lessons
(47:17-48:49) Learning in Community
(48:49-50:46) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Education exists in way more places than within the four walls of the classroom
- Failure and tradition are some of the best, most unexpected teachers we could ask for
- Education is a central pillar of the Christian faith, as demonstrated through the prominence of wisdom literature
- Jesus is the Ultimate Teacher, whom we are meant to point towards rather than compete with
Resources:
- Refuge Reimagined: Biblical Kinship in Global Politics by Mark R. and Luke Glanville
https://www.amazon.com/Refuge-Reimagined-Biblical-Kinship-Politics/dp/0830853812
- World Relief
https://worldrelief.org/refugees-immigrants-and-displaced-people/
- “Towards a theology of education” by Huw Humphreys
https://huwhumphreys.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/towards-a-theology-of-education/
- “The Bible and Education: Ways of Construing the Relationship” by David Smith
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-bible-and-education-ways-of-construing-the-relationship/
- “Towards a theology of education” by I. T. Ramsey
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00239707608556914?journalCode=cbre19
- “The Spirit-Led Coach: an Alternative Approach to Athletic Coaching” by Sean Silverii
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1274&context=dmin
Music
“Ambient Project” - Tyler Hall
“Begin Again” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, Benjamin and Ryker chart out the theology of exploration, discovering how the unknown frontier can be holy ground.
Show Notes (The Theology of Exploration) S2:E8
Help us find topics for our Season 2 Finale!!
https://forms.gle/6bSCkEXJ2bZKx9ie7
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:02) Introduction
(2:02-8:57) What is Exploration?
(9:27-28:30) “Exploring” the Bible
(28:52-31:55) God’s Playground
(31:55-34:50) The Open Book of Nature
(34:50-38:14) The Journey of the Christian Faith
(38:35-40:29) Adventuring in the Wrong Places
(40:29-45:25) A Whole New World...
(45:25-49:01) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Exploration is an open-ended journey into the unknown
- The mundane parts of our lives are charged with with untapped exploratory potential
- Exploration is a key theme in the Bible, either as a good, Edenic adventure or a bad, Exilic wandering
- Knowing God is like exploring uncharted territory on a map
- The New Heavens and New Earth will be an entirely new world for us to explore
- Outward exploration leads to inward exploration; foreign exploration leads to domestic exploration
Resources:
- “Revisiting the Theology of Exploration in Times of Disorder” by Stephen D. Perry
https://providencemag.com/2020/09/revisiting-theology-space-exploration-times-disorder/
- “Christians Ought to Be the World’s Greatest Explorers” by Justin Buzzard
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christians-ought-to-be-the-worlds-greatest-explorers/
- “A Biblical Theology of the Wilderness” by Nicholas T. Batzig
https://feedingonchrist.org/biblical-theology-wilderness/
- “On Chasing One’s Hat” GK Chesterton
http://essays.quotidiana.org/chesterton/running_after_ones_hat/
- The Faith of Leap: Embracing A Theology of Risk, Adventure & Courage by Michael Hirsch
https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Leap-Embracing-Adventure-Shapevine/dp/0801014158
- Fine Lines Documentary
https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Lines-Conrad-Anker/dp/B081ZXN8RV
Music
“Buzz Cut” - Luke Hall
“Begin Again” - Luke Hall
“Flute and Piano” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
In this second half of our conversation with Isaac and Lincoln from The Arcadian Wild, we infuse the biblical theology of creativity with practical insights into the creative process. A huge thanks to Isaac and Lincoln for such a wonderful conversation and joining us for these last two episodes!! We truly appreciate them and everything they’re doing.
Show Notes (The Theology of Creating, Part 2) S2:E7
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:56) Introduction
(1:56-9:08) The Imago Dei as Creators
(9:08-13:45) Co-Creating with God
(13:45-22:14) God: Creation and Incarnation
(22:14-27:58) “Toddlers in a Cathedral”
(28:15-42:29) Marred Creation
(42:51-51:31) Redeemed Creation
(52:05-58:42) Creating in Community
(58:42-1:01:29) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- To use “I’m only human” as an excuse is a horrible inversion of the way things are supposed to be
- Eden was never meant to be the end, but the beginning
- We are like toddlers slobbering over blocks in the light of a stained glass window, rearranging the beauty of God’s original creation
- Writer’s block is not a state that comes in ebbs and flows, but is our default state that stems from the hardening of the ground in Genesis 3; nevertheless, through silence and solitude, we can still make beautiful things out of the tough dirt
- Every small act of creation is a means of participating in the redemption of the world and waging war against darkness
- We all have the opportunity to be signposts for others on the highway to redemption
Resources:
- “A Theology of Making” by Makoto Fujimura
https://www.christianunion.org/the-magazine/2235-a-theology-of-making
- Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey
https://www.everymomentholy.com/
- Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald
https://www.amazon.com/Ordering-Private-World-Gordon-MacDonald/dp/0785288643
- Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life by Thomas J Terry and J Ryan Lister
https://www.amazon.com/Images-Idols-Creativity-Christian-Reclaiming/dp/0802418481
Music
All of the interlude music this week was provided to us courtesy of The Arcadian Wild - be sure to follow them on your favorite streaming service and check them out below!
“Silence, A Stranger” (instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
“Civil War” (instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
“A Benediction” (instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
Check out The Arcadian Wild:
http://www.thearcadianwild.com/
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, Ryker and Benjamin welcome another dynamic duo onto the podcast: Lincoln and Isaac from the band The Arcadian Wild! Discussing Scripture and songwriting, the guys explore the Edenic origins of creating and what it means for us to be image-bearers of our Creator. A huge thanks to Lincoln and Isaac for joining us on this journey - be sure to tune in next week for Part Two of our conversation!
Show Notes (The Theology of Creating, Part 1) S2:E6
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:03) Introduction
(2:03-14:37) The Arcadian Wild Biography
(14:37-20:02) What is Creativity?
(20:02-36:04) Biblical Survey: Eden and the Fall
(36:04-47:02) Principium
(47:02-50:19) Biblical Survey: The Tabernacle and the Golden Calf
(50:19-1:01:41) Biblical Survey: The Son of a Carpenter
(1:01:41-1:08:36) Biblical Survey: Recreation
(1:08:36-1:10:48) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Creativity is not limited to a group of artistic elites because creativity is a framework through which we view the mundane
- The Judeo-Christian creation narrative is vastly different from Ancient Near East equivalents, especially the emphasis of intentionality, order, and love
- At the Fall, human beings tried to become a receptacle of something we were never meant to contain
- The Greek concept of the muse points to the Holy Spirit as the ultimate muse
- Creativity was infused into Jesus’s earthly ministry, surfacing subtly in His behavior and interactions
- God is not making all new things; He is making all things new
Resources:
- “A Theology of Making” by Makoto Fujimura
https://www.christianunion.org/publications-media/christian-union-the-magazine/past-issues/winter-2019/2235-a-theology-of-making
- Theology of Making Class
https://www.windriderproductions.com/theology-of-making
- “A Theology of Making” by Geoff Gentry and Bryan Ye-Chung
https://www.alabasterco.com/blogs/articles/a-theology-of-making
- “Heaven & Earth” by BibleProject
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/heaven-and-earth/
Music
All of the interlude music this week was provided to us courtesy of The Arcadian Wild - be sure to follow them on your favorite streaming service and check them out below!
“Spring: Wake” (Instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
“Fall: War” (Instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
“Winter: Will” (Instrumental) - The Arcadian Wild
“Summer: Walk” (Instrumental) -The Arcadian Wild
Check out The Arcadian Wild:
http://www.thearcadianwild.com/
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, the guys have a talk about talking. The topics of this episode span from the parallelism of the Tower of Babel and Pentecost to the significance of biblical names and much much more. Unlike the mute idols, we can find joy in the fact that our God is a God who speaks.
Show Notes (The Theology of Language) S2:E5
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:46) Introduction
(1:46-5:15) Talking about Talking
(5:40-17:00) Biblical Survey
(17:19-20:16) Why the word “Word”?
(20:17-26:05) The Significance of Names
(26:30-30:14) Fallen Language
(30:14-35:12) Redeemed Language
(35:13-39:00) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Language is not invented, but rather is primal
- Language pervades every part of our life, more than we often think
- Our social interaction and our language are quite connected, drawing bridges across even the most diverse of backgrounds
- Just because we are affected by language barriers, doesn’t mean that God Himself is affected by them
- Names are some of the most rich hyperlinks in all of Scripture
- Our language can be very destructive - but can also build one another up
- Language can be redeemed in the simple statement of the way things are
- The ultimate reunification of language is a celebration of our individual cultures
- We mimic God’s words of creation in our own words
Resources:
- Bible Project Podcast, Ep. 186 - “Taking God’s Name in Vain?” featuring Dr. Carmen Imes
https://bibleproject.com/podcast/taking-gods-name-vain/
- “A Theology of Language: Dr. Vern Polythress Speaks” The Missions Podcast
https://www.abwe.org/blog/theology-language-dr-vern-poythress-speaks
Music
“Begin Again” - Luke Hall
“Jazzy” - Luke Hall
“Epilogue” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, Benjamin and Ryker welcome onto the podcast John Higgins, the creator of the YouTube channel The Bible Is Art, taking us into a deep dive of the objectivity and design of beauty. Big thanks to John for joining us today, we really admire everything he’s doing and appreciate the time he took to share his wisdom with us!
Show Notes (The Theology of Beauty) S2:E4
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:33) Introduction
(1:33-8:48) Background / The Objectivity of Beauty
(8:48-12:18) Origin of The Bible Is Art
(12:18-15:02) The Core Elements of Beauty
(15:02-21:52) Unity and Diversity
(21:52-29:37) Hierarchy
(29:37-39:34) Layers
(39:34-42:32) Balance
(42:32-49:12) Form
(49:12-51:24) The Beauty All Around Us
(51:24-54:44) How Should We Respond?
(54:44-56:51) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Beauty is a topic about which Christians often lack clarity and objectivity, but designers have been talking about beauty’s form for years
- Just because we can’t know everything about beauty doesn’t mean we can’t know some things about beauty
- The core elements of beauty are: unity, diversity, hierarchy, layers, balance, and form
- God has created the world in layers, inviting us to peel them back (Proverbs 25:2)
- Scripture is genius, not only because of its unsearchable depth, but also its profound simplicity
- When you look at these aesthetic properties, they find their ultimate fulfillment in God Himself and indirect fulfillment in creation and humanity
Resources:
- The Bible is Art
https://www.thebibleisart.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9sPRleqnVIasw8wnUGBVyA
Music
“1_2” - Luke Hall
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, Benjamin and Ryker stitch together a theology of clothing, discussing both fashion and function and how they can be used to bring God glory.
Show Notes (The Theology of Clothing) S2:E3
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:34) Introduction
(1:34-2:53) Why do we Wear Clothes?
(2:53-27:36) Biblical Survey
(27:36-30:51) Clothed in Righteousness
(30:51-34:18) Modesty
(34:18-38:45) What Should we Wear to Church?
(38:45-40:05) Fair Trade
(40:05-41:25) Practical Application
(41:25-43:23) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Clothes originated as an inadequate covering for our shame, but God redeemed them into a beautiful symbol of atonement
- The God of the Universe wore dirty diapers
- More likely than not, Jesus was naked on the Cross, thereby linking the crucifixion story to Genesis 3
- We should worry not about clothing ourselves in fabric, but clothing ourselves in righteousness
- The best dress code we can follow is to evaluate the motivations behind the clothes
- To some, wearing their “Sunday best” is a sign of reverence, but to others, it can become a stumbling block that keeps people from hearing the message of the Gospel
- If clothes can make a statement, then what are your clothes saying?
Resources:
- “A Biblical Theology of Clothing” by Nick Batzig
https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/a-biblical-theology-of-clothing
- Fashion Theology by Robert Covolo
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KGWG36P/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
- “Put Some Clothes On” by Nancy Guthrie
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/put-some-clothes-on/
- Dress and Clothing in the Hebrew Bible: “For All Her Household Are Clothed in Crimson” Edited by Antonios Finitsis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/056768640X/?tag=thegospcoal-20
- “Blue Jean Sundays” by Janet Surette
https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/blue-jean-sundays/
Music
“The Warming” - Luke Hall
“Flute & Piano” - Luke Hall
“If Only ” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
This week, the guys have the privilege of welcoming Mark Buchanan, the first of our guests this season, onto the podcast to talk about the surprisingly rich theology of walking. A big thank you to Mark for coming alongside us this episode, and sharing his wisdom about this awesome topic! Make sure to check out his books and the ministry he’s doing.
Show Notes (The Theology of Walking) S2:E2
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:51) Intro
(1:51-9:06) Mark’s Biography
(9:06-13:48) Why Walking?
(13:48-25:00) Biblical Survey
(25:00-33:27) Benefits of Walking
(33:27-39:33) Stories about Walking
(39:33-46:35) Practical Application
(46:35-48:17) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Walking is a metaphor ingrained within us, describing the journey of life that all of us have embarked on
- In the Ancient Middle East, the idea of a god who would walk with man in an intimate relationship was unheard of
- The central events in biblical history involve walking: The Garden of Eden, Abraham’s journey, the Exodus, Jesus’s ministry, and Paul’s ministry
- Walking allows us to see life at its true scale and ourselves with own vulnerability
- Walking has untapped potential physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually
Resources:
- “Walking Theology” by the Walking Truth blog
https://paulandfaithwalking.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/walking-theology/
- Three Mile an Hour God by Kosuke Koyama
https://www.amazon.com/Three-Mile-Hour-Kosuke-Koyama/dp/0334054214
- Practicing the Present by John Koessler
https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Present-Neglected-Art-Living/dp/0802418686
Music
“Mysterious” - Luke Hall
“Jazzy Jumper” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Season Two! To kick things off, Benjamin and Ryker have a conversation about the theology of work, a good part of God’s original design that is relevant for us both now and forevermore.
Show Notes (The Theology of Work) S2:E1
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:58) Introduction
(4:23-6:56) What’s so Important about Work?
(6:56-19:54) Biblical Survey
(19:54-25:14) Work: Tov or Tohu Va-Vohu?
(25:34-29:04) Debunking Myths about Sacred & Secular Work
(29:04-34:41) Discerning the Future - Calling & Vocation
(35:04-37:11) Christians in the Workforce
(37:11-42:56) A Look into Redeemed Work
(42:56-45:35) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Work is so ingrained in our day-to-day, sometimes more than we recognize, but we often separate it from our Christian values and experiences
- Humans were mandated to work prior to the Fall, showing that work is part of God’s good design
- Work will be a part of New Jerusalem, but the fulfilling kind and not the frustrating kind
- Christians should be at the top of the scale in any forms of work - because we work for the glory of God, not simply money or status
- Working for God should be our chief end - no matter our vocation/position
- When God isn’t explicitly telling us what to do next, a good place to start is to look at the crossroads between our skills, our passions, and others’ needs
- Through our work, we become “subcreators”, mimicking our Creator as His image bearers - creating things out of things He’s already given us
Resources:
- The Theology of Work
https://www.theologyofwork.org
- “A Story About Work [Labor of Love]” by Tim Mackie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX3MlqNMLps
- “Work’s Future [Labor of Love]” by Tim Mackie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5evInBXzpCE
Music
“Buzz Cut” - Luke Hall
“Cello Sketch” - Luke Hall
“Spring Rain” - Luke Hall & Benjamin Corneliusen
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Season 2 of The Theology Of podcast, hosted by Benjamin & Ryker, two college-aged Bible nerds who love studying Scripture and having meaningful, biblical conversations. We invite you to join us on this journey as we traverse the secular-seeming things of life and how to view them in a Christ-centered way. Every Wednesday morning, we'll explore a new topic and how we can live it out in our daily lives. Welcome aboard!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetheologyof
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Email: thetheologyof@outlook.com
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Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/the-theology-of-dot-dot-dot
Anchor.fm: https://anchor.fm/thetheologyof
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Benjamin and Ryker want to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and cheers to a happy, healthy 2021. We are so thankful for all the support you've shown us these past few months and can't wait to see where God leads next!! Stay tuned for Season 2...
Check out our stickers/magnets & get one for yourself!! -> REDBUBBLE SHOP
https://www.redbubble.com/people/TheTheologyOf/shop
Visit us on Facebook & Instagram (and give us a like/follow while you're at it!)
https://www.facebook.com/thetheologyof
https://www.instagram.com/thetheologyof
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
Wrapping up this season of the podcast, Benjamin and Ryker tackle five listener-suggested mini-topics and reflect on what God has done the past fourteen episodes.
Show Notes (The Theology of Etc.) S1:E15
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:54) Introduction
(2:54-9:40) The Theology of Organization
(10:00-18:35) The Theology of Modesty
(18:50-28:50) The Theology of Holidays
(29:00-35:00) The Theology of Friendship
(35:15-39:40) The Theology of Podcasts
(40:00-43:55) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Bringing chaos into order is part of our role as Image Bearers
- The heart of modesty is the humility of Christ, not a list of rules
- Holidays can reset our perspectives, giving us Sabbath rest
- If the Church is the Body and the Temple, friendship is the ligaments and the mortar
- By listening to these episodes, you’re living out Psalm 1:2!
Resources:
- “Modest Theology and a Theology of Modesty” by Seth Stewart
https://www.rootedministry.com/blog/modest-theology-and-a-theology-of-modesty/
- “A Theology of Holidays” by Theologica Ordinarius
https://theologiaordinarius.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/a-theology-of-holidays/
- The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25141/25141-h/25141-h.htm
- “Paul’s Theology of Friendship” by David E. Briones
https://faculty.wts.edu/posts/pauls-theology-of-friendship/
Check out our stickers/magnets & get one for yourself!! -> REDBUBBLE SHOP
https://www.redbubble.com/people/TheTheologyOf/shop
Music:
“Retro Upbeat” - Luke Hall
“Spring Rain” - Luke Hall & Benjamin Corneliusen
“Sunrise” - Benjamin Corneliusen
“Ambient Project” - Tyler Hall
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Follow Tyler:
https://www.tjaudioengineering.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tylerhallphotography/
https://www.facebook.com/tjaudioengineering
Follow Benjamin:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSsZ_7od_0xO0iZC2Fhm4MA
https://www.facebook.com/benjamincorneliusen/
Thank you all for your support this season. We are so thankful for you and this project!
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
We're thankful for you!
Ryker and Benjamin just wanted to say a quick 'thank-you' to all who have listened, supported, or spread the word about this project thus far. It's been such an impactful journey that we have learned a lot from - and we hope that you have, too!
Make sure to submit your ideas for our Season 1 Finale HERE. Please do so by November 28th, 2020!
https://forms.gle/f78ijPAG7aY5otUo6
We'll be taking this week off to spend with our families and prepare for our Finale. Make sure to tune in on December 9th when it's released!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
In the penultimate episode of this season of the podcast, Benjamin and Ryker reflect on the mindblowing topic of memory. Get ready to think about thinking!
Show Notes (The Theology of Memory) S1:E14
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:09) Introduction
(2:09-5:28) Why Memory?
(5:28-26:13) Biblical Survey
(26:28-30:58) Nostalgia
(30:58-33:31) Fallen Memory
(33:31-41:39) Redeemed Memory
(41:54-48:38) Application
(48:38-49:43) Excerpt from “A Liturgy for those Facing the Slow Loss of Memory”
(49:43-51-30) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Memory shapes our perception of the present, like lenses with which we look at the world
- Memory reorients our perspective of the sequence of salvation (The Exodus came before the Law)
- Nostalgia is a disguised expression of our ultimate craving for God
- Often our ministry is about reminding, not teaching
- Neither Dementia nor Alzheimers, spiritual Amnesia nor mental trauma can separate us from the love of God
- Memory is communal currency which can be shared with others
Resources:
- “A Liturgy for those Facing the Slow Loss of Memory” by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
Recited with permission from Rabbit Room Press - all rights reserved to Rabbit Room and Douglas McKelvey. Thank you for letting us use this for this project!
https://www.everymomentholy.com/liturgies
- “Without memory, who are we?” by Matthew Hosier
https://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/without-memory-who-are-we
- The Weight of Glory by CS Lewis
https://www.amazon.com/Weight-Glory-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060653205
- “Memory: A Theological Reflection” by Dorothy A. Lee
https://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/getmedia/22ee05fe-1451-4026-8ae3-af0cc0f395b5/DorothyLee-Memory.aspx
- Wordsower International Revelation Recitation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YD__DCKb7o
- Wordsower International Website
http://www.wordsower.org
Music:
“Epilogue” - Luke Hall
“1_2” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This time on The Theology Of, Benjamin and Ryker explore the harmony between music and faith to pinpoint how music can be used for the glory of God.
Show Notes (The Theology of Music) S1:E13
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:45) Introduction
(2:45-4:32) What is Music?
(4:32-9:43) A Brief History of Music
(9:43-18:11) Biblical Survey of Music
(18:35-23:34) Why do we make Music?
(23:34-33:03) Why do we Sing at Church?
(33:25-40:42) Worship Music vs. Popular Music
(41:00-48:05) Song Recommendations
(48:05-50:55) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- The dichotomy of sacred and secular music has been around for centuries
- We make music to express ourselves, to join into something greater than ourselves, to find that ever-elusive secret chord
- Singing is primarily a response to God
- Worship music allows the members of the church to align their hearts with one another
- The ultimate purpose of music is to help us tune our hearts towards God
Music Recommendations:
Deeper Well
Enter the Worship Circle
Citizens
half・alive
Chris Renzema
Zach Winters
Josh Garrels
John Mark Pantana
The Brook & The Bluff
Busty and the Bass
Lawrence
The Arcadian Wild
KB
PEABOD
Resources:
- “Theology of Music Ministry” - Grace Community Church
https://www.gracemaryville.org/homepage/ministries/theology-philosophy-of-ministry/theology-of-music-ministry/
- “Theology of Music, Part One” - The Worship Community
https://www.theworshipcommunity.com/theology-of-music-part-one/
- “The Theology and Place of Music in Worship” by RCA Commission on Worship
https://www.faithward.org/the-theology-and-place-of-music-in-worship/
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because he wasn’t a very good Samaritan! Benjamin and Ryker spend this episode of the podcast wondering how in the world theology can relate to this joke and others like it.
Show Notes (The Theology of Humor) S1:E12
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:19) Introduction
(2:19-13:56) What is Humor?
(14:14-20:00) Is God Funny?
(20:00-23:06) Is Jesus Funny?
(23:06-27:10) Is the Bible Funny?
(27:28-30:15) Should we be Funny?
(30:15-34:50) Fallen/Redeemed Humor
(34:50-38:41) Improv
(39:02-42:00) Recap
(42:00-44:11) Resources
(44:11-45:04) A Couple Jokes
(45:04-47:06) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Humor is amusingly subverted expectations, probably
- The Gospel is full of paradoxes which are mysterious but not illogical
- God the Father is probably humorous, but His jokes go way over our head
- Both Jesus and Scripture are really funny at times, but we should be careful not to anachronistically turn them into standup comedy
- Fallen humor is rotten, low-hanging fruit, redeemed humor is fresh, high-hanging fruit
- Godly humor is humbling, community-building, and perspective-resetting
Resources:
- The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Was-Thursday-Nightmare/dp/0141191465
- “Does God Have a Sense of Humour?” by Stephen Masty
https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2014/01/god-sense-humour.html
- “Beyond a Joke? The Place of Humour in the Christian Life” by Susanna Baldwin
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/article/beyond-a-joke-humour-in-the-christian-life/
- “Humor as Theology” by Scot McKnight
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2019/12/31/humor-as-theology/
Music:
“Beach Trance” - Luke Hall
“Funky” - Luke Hall
“Experimental Jazz” - Tyler Hall
Follow Luke:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Follow Tyler:
https://www.tjaudioengineering.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tylerhallphotography/
https://www.facebook.com/tjaudioengineering
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This episode, the guys dive into why we party, how we can glorify God in our celebration, and some traditional celebrations across a number of cultures.
Show Notes (The Theology of Celebration) S1:E11
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:47) Introduction
(1:48-11:17) Why Celebrate?
(11:36-14:34) Should We Celebrate?
(14:35-18:13) The Dangers of Celebration
(18:35-23:00) Celebrations: Judaism
(23:00-24:08) Celebrations: Christianity
(24:08-25:19) Celebrations: Universal
(25:47-32:56) Celebrations: Scriptural
(32:56-39:05) Living a Life of Celebration
(39:05-41:36) The Final Toast/Outro
Key Takeaways:
- God made us to celebrate in His goodness and live life to the fullest
- We must beware of the ‘extremes’: abstinence & indulgence
- Celebration is woven into the storyline of Scripture, bringing about numerous traditional festivities in many different religions and upbringings
- We, as Christians, have the ULTIMATE reason to celebrate!
Resources:
- The Spirit of Disciplines by Dallas Willard
https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Disciplines-Understanding-Changes-Lives/dp/0060694424
- Living a Life of Celebration by Gregory Brown
https://bible.org/seriespage/13-living-life-celebration
- A Theology of Celebration by MissionMusings
https://munsonmissions.org/2020/03/10/a-theology-of-celebration-part-ii/
- Christian Celebration by 5FeetAway
http://5feetaway.com/christian-celebration/
- Partying with Jesus by Doug Ponder
https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/partying-with-jesus/
Music:
This week’s music is new, exclusive content from our friend Tyler Hall!
“3/11” - Tyler Hall
“Ambient Proj” - Tyler Hall
“Experimental Jazz” - Tyler Hall
Follow Tyler:
https://www.tjaudioengineering.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tylerhallphotography/
https://www.facebook.com/tjaudioengineering
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
In the second half of their conversation about food, Benjamin and Ryker explore this delicious theme through the New Testament, addressing topics such as fasting, Communion, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Show Notes (The Theology of Food, Part 2) S1:E10
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:06) Introduction
(2:06-4:05) Food and Community
(4:05-13:47) Biblical Survey: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
(14:06-16:55) Our Constant Hunger for God
(16:55-20:05) Fasting
(20:05-21:40) The Last Supper
(22:00-28:20) Biblical Survey: The Church Age and the Age to Come
(28:39-31:16) Practical Application
(31:16-32:45) Resources and Recipes
(32:45-34:59) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- The table forces us to come face to face with one another
- Jesus’ use of food was theological, demonstrating His love for both the prestigious and the destitute
- Our cyclical need for food shows us our lack of self-sufficiency and corresponding total dependence on God
- The elements of Communion illustrate death and resurrection through the crushing and processing of grapes and grains
- We might not entirely know what Heaven will look like, but we do know that it will involve food
Resources:
- A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester
https://www.amazon.com/Meal-Jesus-Discovering-Community-Mission/dp/1433521369
- Practicing the Present by John Koessler
https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Present-Neglected-Art-Living/dp/0802418686
- “Food and Feasting” Article Series
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/series/food-and-eating/
Music:
“Jazzy Jumper” - Luke Hall
“Spring Rain” - Luke Hall & Benjamin Corneliusen
“It Comes in Waves” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This episode, Benjamin and Ryker dig into the mouthwatering theology of food, tracing the theme through the Old Testament and discussing its beautiful design and purpose.
Show Notes (The Theology of Food, Part 1) S1:E9
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:23) Introduction
(3:23-5:45) Why Food?
(5:45-11:16) Biblical Survey: Creation & The Fall
(11:16-17:12) The Attributes of Food
(17:34-20:46) Food in the Post-Fall World
(20:46-30:06) Biblical Survey: Israel & More
(34:55-35:47) Food: A Glimpse of Redemption
(35:47-37:38) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Food is part flavorful, part functional
- Through food, we can learn about God’s grace, provision, lavishness, care, and overall character
- Food was designed to illustrate our dependence on God, but instead we have twisted it to illustrate our independence on God
- Through cooking, we mimic God’s creativity
- Food is designed to work in tandem with community
Resources:
- A Meal with Jesus by Tim Chester
https://www.amazon.com/Meal-Jesus-Discovering-Community-Mission/dp/1433521369
- Practicing the Present by John Koessler
https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Present-Neglected-Art-Living/dp/0802418686
- “Food and Feasting” Article Series
https://au.thegospelcoalition.org/series/food-and-eating/
Music:
“Untitled” - Luke Hall
“Beach Trance” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This episode, Benjamin and Ryker talk about home: a warm, inviting place with great capacity for both beauty and brokenness.
Show Notes (The Theology of Home) S1:E8
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:40) Introduction
(1:40-10:00) What is Home?
(10:00-16:55) Our Experience with Home
(17:14-23:35) Home Tour
(23:35-36:30) Biblical Survey
(36:30-38:08) Now and Not Yet
(38:24-44:46) Practical Application
(44:46-46:37) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- A house is a building, but a home is so much more
- Home is an elusive ideal that can give us glimpses of our eternal home, yet is often marred by the Fall
- We must temper our theology of home with the principles the Hearth and the Threshold
- The theme of home in the Bible is interwoven with the theme of salvation since the Gospel is about God bringing us Prodigal rebels back home
- If our mission is to bring the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, home is a great place to start
Resources:
- “A Theology of the Home” by John Tweeddale
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/theology-home/
- “Paul’s Theology Visualized as a House Being Built” by Justin Taylor
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/pauls-theology-visualized-as-a-house-being-built/
- “Hearth and Threshold: Thoughts on a Theology of Home” by Jessica Brown
https://www.arthouseamerica.com/blog/hearth-and-threshold-thoughts-on-a-theology-of-home.html
- “Redeeming Home: A Christian Theology of Place in a Placeless World” by RuthAnne Irvin
https://equip.sbts.edu/publications/journals/augustine-collegiate-review/acr-11-summer/redeeming-home-christian-theology-place-placeless-world/
Music:
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
“It Comes in Waves” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This week on The Theology Of, Benjamin and Ryker discuss the many facets of travel, including the overwhelming use of travel in Scripture, the positive and negative aspects of wanderlust, and some personal travel stories.
Show Notes (The Theology of Travel) S1:E7
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:08) Introduction
(2:08-3:18) What is Travel?
(3:18-6:30) Why do we Travel?
(6:30-15:52) The Scriptural Instances of Travel
(16:11-20:30) How does the Bible call us to Travel?
(20:30-25:45) Spiritual Journeys
(25:45-27:53) Is Travel an End or a Means?
(28:09-33:20) Wanderlust: The Good
(33:20-36:35) Wanderlust: The Not-So Good
(36:35-41:44) Practical Applications
(42:05-45:23) Our Own Experiences
(45:24-47:37) Resources
(47:38-49:36) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Travel is the formative journey from one context to another
- The theme of travel is everywhere in the Bible
- Every journey we take is a reflection of our overarching spiritual journeys
- Exploration honors God because it links His creativity with our capacity to enjoy it
- Reflection and storytelling are necessary products of God-honoring travel
Resources:
- Faith on the Road: A Short Theology of Travel and Justice by Joerg Rieger
https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Road-Theology-Travel-Justice/dp/0830840966
- The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected by Nik Ripken
https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-God-Story-Faith-Resurrected/dp/1433673088
- “How to Read the Bible: Setting” - BibleProject
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FuT8WtoAK0
- The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
https://www.amazon.com/John-Bunyan-Pilgrims-Progress/dp/1541072642
Music:
“Flute and Piano” - Luke Hall
“Show Me You Love Me” - Ty Combs
“Jazzy Jumper” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Follow Ty on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rNEL0VRxuHIXgPCdtUWn3?si=_SDz8IY4Qd6aF-FfpezDkg
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This episode, the guys look at the meaning behind our secularized view of games and sports - and how we can bring back God’s original intent of delighting in His creation and glorifying the Creator.
Show Notes (The Theology of Games) S1:E6
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:12) Introduction
(3:12-5:08) The History of Games and the Church
(5:08-7:10) Defining Games
(7:20-17:38) Tenet #1: Playful
(17:38-23:53) Tenet #2: Competitive
(23:53-26:30) Tenet #3: Rule-Governed
(26:44-34:11) The Corruption of Games
(34:11-35:58) The Redemption of Games
(36:13-42:02) Our Personal Experiences with Games
(42:02-43:31) Resources
(43:31-45:13) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Games can be defined as being: 1) Playful, 2) Competitive, and 3) Rule-Governed
- God is the God of both the purposeful and purposeless, and our results-driven culture is at risk of overshadowing the latter with the former
- Healthy competition is constructive (bringing out the best in one another) rather than destructive
- Rules don’t ruin fun, rules protect fun
- Pride and idolatry can distort our view of games, but Christ can redeem our view of games back to its Edenic design
Resources:
- Sport and Character: Reclaiming the Principles of Sportsmanship by Craig Clifford and Randolph M. Feezell
https://www.amazon.com/Sport-Character-Reclaiming-Principles-Sportsmanship/dp/0736081925
- More than a Game: A Theology of Sport - Jeremy R. Treat, The Gospel Coalition/Themelios article
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/more-than-a-game-theology-of-sport/
- Dodgeball Theology: A Youth Worker's Guide to Exploring Play and Imagination by Blair Spindle
https://www.amazon.com/Dodgeball-Theology-Workers-Exploring-Imagination/dp/0834151146
Music:
“If Only” - Luke Hall
“Begin Again” - Luke Hall
“The Warming” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This week, Benjamin and Ryker finish their conversation about godly community, taking a closer look at its four main inhibitors before discussing eight key ingredients to healthy, biblical relationships.
Show Notes (The Theology of Community, Part 2) S1:E5
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-2:47) Introduction
(2:47-16:10) Inhibitors of Healthy Community
(3:12-7:47) National
(7:47-10:14) Generational
(10:14-12:39) Spiritual
(12:39-16:10) Temporal
(16:25-47:25) Recipe for Healthy Community
(17:13-20:03) Ingredient #1: Shared Experience
(20:03-24:40) Ingredient #2: Vulnerability
(24:40-28:15) Ingredient #3: Intentionality
(28:15-32:58) Ingredient #4: Honesty
(33:10-37:10) Ingredient #5: Humility
(37:10-40:49) Ingredient #6: Soft Borders
(40:49-43:55) Ingredient #7: God-Centered
(43:55-47:25) Ingredient #8: God-Given
(47:37-54:34) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Our world is full of things that promise “connection and friendship”, but those things rarely ever connect us the way God is calling us to
- National, generational, spiritual, and temporal hurdles can get in the way of us building genuine, Christ-like community
- Shared experience, soft borders, and intentionality are facets of community that open doors to starting genuine relationships
- Vulnerability, honesty, and humility are facets of community that really dig deep, uniting communities in trust and love
- The core of our daily relationships is their centeredness around Christ and the understanding of His love working in and through us
Resources:
- Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community - Robert Putnam
http://bowlingalone.com
- A Theology of Community - Tim Dickau
https://www.gcbchurch.ca/blog/a-theology-of-community
- Life Together - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Together-Exploration-Christian-Community/dp/0060608528
- “Bread and Wine” - Josh Garrels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3czjl58TBM
Music:
“If Only” - Luke Hall
“Dystopia” - Luke Hall
“Mysterious” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
In the first half of this two-part conversation about the theology of community, Benjamin and Ryker define their terms and dig into biblical references about community to create a brief scriptural overview of the topic.
Show Notes (The Theology of Community, Part 1) S1:E4
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:33) Introduction
(1:33-6:02) What is Community?
(6:02-29:11) A Biblical Survey of Community
(6:23-13:42) The Trinity
(14:02-16:46) Creation
(16:46-18:20) The Fall
(18:20-20:27) The Nation of Israel
(20:46-23:00) The Disciples
(23:00-28:38) The Church
(28:38-29:11) The Reunion
(29:27-34:15) Summary/Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Community wasn’t created by God, community is part of God’s very nature
- Through the Trinity, we have a perfect view of genuine Christ-like community
- Part of being created in the Imago Dei is interacting and walking alongside one another
- The Church is not just united with one another, but is also united with Christ Himself
- Scripture is saturated with perfect examples of genuine community
Music:
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
“The Warming” - Luke Hall
“Flute & Piano” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This episode, Ryker and Benjamin explore the four major types of seasons and how their liturgical cadence redirects our gaze towards the immutable I AM.
Show Notes (The Theology of Seasons) S1:E3
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-1:26) Introduction
(1:27-4:21) What’s Your Favorite Season?
(4:21-14:54) Seasons in Nature
(15:08-21:17) Seasons in Scripture
(21:30-26:56) Seasons in the Church (Liturgy)
(26:57-34:07) Seasons in our own Lives and Practical Application
(34:25-38:48) Further Thoughts
(38:48-41:44) Resources
(41:45-44:16) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- The natural seasons are laced with design patterns (like the cycle of death and resurrection) that remind us of God’s nature
- The cyclical fluctuation of seasons juxtapose the unchanging nature of God
- The liturgical calendar uses seasons to focus the Church on different theological truths
- To make the most of each season of life, we must let go of the reigns and trust that God is in control
Resources:
- Every Moment Holy - Doug McKelvey
https://www.everymomentholy.com
- Seasons - Hillsong Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFEwV77n1Ng
- My Utmost For His Highest - Oswald Chambers
https://utmost.org/
- Christian, Which Spiritual Season Are You In? - His Heart’s Desire Ministries
https://hisheartsdesireministries.com/christian-which-spiritual-season-are-you-in/
Music:
“Bend” - Luke Hall
“If Only” - Luke Hall
“It Comes in Waves ” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This week, Ryker and Benjamin unpack both the opportunities and dangers of our current Digital Age. They also explore how we, as Christ followers, can glorify the Creator with our use of technology and our digital relationships with others.
Show Notes (The Theology of Technology) S1:E2
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:04) Introduction
(3:04-4:28) Digital Technology vs. General Technology
(4:28-6:36) Why Technology?
(6:36-9:40) Technology is Inherently Neutral
(9:55-17:00) Information Overload and the Age of Distraction
(17:00-20:48) Unlimited Potential
(20:49-27:47) Making Real Things… Virtual?
(28:05-35:54) Practical Application
(35:55-40:04) Resources
(40:04-42:23) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Technology is such an integral part of our lives, as we live in a digitally-driven age. If God is sovereign over everything in our lives, we need to find where it fits in our philosophy as Christ followers
- Technology is inherently amoral, meaning that its morals come from the actions of the user. Thus, it has great potential - for both bad and good
- Because of technology, we are constantly being bombarded with information. As wise stewards, we must be mindful of these messages entering our minds
- Technology is simultaneously a mission field and a war zone
Resources:
- We Need a Theology of Technology - Will Sorrell, The Gospel Coalition article
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/need-theology-technology/
- The Theology of Technology - NeedHim Global
https://needhim.org/the-theology-of-technology/
- YouVersion Bible App (Prayer Feature)
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
- Logos Bible Software
https://www.logos.com/
- Unreached of the Day
https://joshuaproject.net/pray/unreachedoftheday/app
- STEP Bible
https://www.stepbible.org
Music:
“Mysterious” - Luke Hall
“One Up” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
This week, the guys explore the art of storytelling and the narrative arc of the Ultimate Story: The Bible.
Show Notes (The Theology of Storytelling) S1:E1
Welcome to our first episode! These show notes will be added every week to provide you with timestamps and a table of contents for the audio, our key takeaways, and resources for you to dig deeper into these topics for yourself.
Table of Contents & Timestamps:
(0:00-3:13) Introduction
(3:13-9:23) Why are Stories so Compelling?
(9:23-16:11) Scripture: The Ultimate Story
(16:11-21:20) The Overarching Narrative of Scripture
(21:41-25:09) Micro and Macro Stories in Scripture
(25:09-30:14) How to be a Storyteller
(30:37-39:14) Practical Application
(39:31-45:34) Recommendations and Resources
(45:34-47:11) Outro
Key Takeaways:
- Stories are ingrained in our being, shaping the way we see ourselves, our surroundings, and the people around us
- The Bible is not just a story, but the Story that all other stories point back to
- The storyline of Scripture matches Freytag’s Pyramid perfectly
- Just as each individual scene adds depth to the surrounding scenes in individual Bible stories, so also each individual story adds depth to the overarching biblical narrative
- Stories can be diminished by bad content and/or bad quality
- As the audience or the author, it is important that we use stories as unique opportunities to fix our eyes upon Jesus
Resources:
- The Bible Project: How to Read the Bible Series - Tim Mackie & Jon Collins
https://bibleproject.com/
- ESV Literary Study Bible
https://www.crossway.org/bibles/esv-literary-study-bible-hcj/
- Teaching Through the Art of Storytelling: Creating Fictional Stories that Illuminate the Message of Jesus - Jon Huckins
http://jonhuckins.net/book/
- Streetlights Bible
https://www.streetlightsbible.com/
- The Bible Project: Read Scripture Book, Videos, Podcasts, literally everything- Tim Mackie & Jon Collins
https://bibleproject.com/
Music
“It Comes in Waves” - Luke Hall
“Balloons” - Luke Hall
“Funky” - Luke Hall
Follow Luke on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0nvVzvhz2ATr1TlLS3kEM0?si=TO4CR2lyRbmE-wpdVatwUg
Follow Luke on SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/c_luke_hall
Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2020. All rights reserved.
Welcome to our podcast!! We're two college-age Bible nerds who love studying Scripture and having meaningful, biblical conversations. We invite you to join us on this journey as we traverse the secular-seeming things of life and how to view them in a Christ-centered way. Every Wednesday morning, we'll explore a new topic and how we can live it out in our daily lives. Welcome aboard!
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