World Upside Down

Why Your Words and Body Matter | Dr. Kris Holroyd | S2E10

Speaking words is a powerful, intimate, and deeply human thing to do. How does the story of creation inform this claim? Dr. Kris Holroyd guides us through the creation narrative, speech act theory, its implications for life and ministry, along with practical guidelines for Sabbath rest and recovery for our physical bodies in a busy world. 
Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:37 – Is Creation Relevant for Ministry?01:40 – God's First "Speech Act" Informs Life05:54 – The Purpose & Power of Preaching10:03 – Importance of "Word Ministry"18:10 – Stewarding our Speech19:51 – Speaking for the Creation25:56 – Speech + Matter = The Lord's Supper 30:16 – Sabbath as Resistance, Rest, and Renewal47:07 – How to Sabbath as a Pastor50:26 – Spiritual Prayers for the Physical Body
Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info

The Danger of Forgetting our Humanity | Dr. David Schrock | S2E9

How does God define our reality? What's the right way to live in his world? Dr. David Schrock helps us restore our sense of reality, ethics, and what it means to be human. Timestamps: 00:00 — New Book: "The Business of Is-Ness" 01:10 — Confusion About Creation 03:49 — The Creator & The Purpose of His Cosmos 05:18 — Remembering Sexed Differences 13:29 — Remembering Our Dependence and Neediness 15:26 — Remembering Our Spatial Limits in a Technological Age 19:06 — Dangers of Denying Our Humanness (Transhumanism & AI) 24:06 — How to "Humanize" Ourselves Again 27:02 — Thinking Biblically About Culture & Politics 30:08 — The Need to Recover Creation Theology 34:41 — Spiritual Disciplines for Recovering Our Humanity 46:52 — How to Age Well (Advice for Young & Old) 50:10 — Closing: Schrock's New Book Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info#DoctrineOfCreation #ChristianDiscipleship #Theology #Ontology #Embodiment #TheologyOfTheBody #Marriage #AIethics #Transhumanism #Sabbath #SpiritualDisciplines

How the Gospel Shapes Race, Culture & Identity | Gus Pritchard | S2E8

How does Scripture invite us to think about the categories of race, culture, ethnicity and identity? In this episode of World Upside Down, Pastor Gus Pritchard reflects on growing up in apartheid South Africa and argues that cultural identity is indeed creational, yet not fixed, and that the ultimate identity of Christians is found in their union with Jesus Christ. Timestamps: 00:00 — Opening & Aim (Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Identity) 02:05 — Apartheid Memories & Guarded Boundaries 12:02 — Adoption Training That Re-inscribes Segregation 15:01 — Define “Culture” & “Cultural Identity” (Language & Religion) 18:06 — Scriptural Drivers (Gen 2; Gen 10–11) 26:55 — Thesis: Cultural Identity Is Malleable 28:03 — Scriptural Examples: Ruth & Joseph 35:34 — 1 Cor 9 — “Becoming As…” for Mission 41:12 — Revelation 7 — Unity with Real Diversity 51:10 — Culture-Sharing vs. “Cultural Appropriation” 59:00 — What Counts as Cross-Cultural Marriage 1:16:24 — Union with Christ — Holding Identity Loosely Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info#CulturalIdentity #BiblicalTheology #RaceAndEthnicity #DoctrineOfCreation #UnionWithChrist #CrossCultural #Missions #Adoption #Marriage #ChurchUnity

How Creation Informs Modern Life | Dr. Christopher Watkin | S2E7

What does it really mean to be made in God’s image? Dr. Christopher Watkin unpacks this alongside the cultural mandate to show how Genesis 1 grounds our everyday life. Timestamps 00:00 — Opening & Big Questions (image of God, creation mandate) 00:50 — Guest Intro: Dr. Christopher Watkin 01:07 — “Cultural” vs “Creation” Mandate (why both terms work) 01:44 — “Thinking Through” Creation: Three Senses 03:33 — God Creates by Speaking: Truth, Power, Relationship 06:04 — Not Solipsistic: Trinity & a Relational Reality 08:03 — Love vs Power: Why the Trinity Changes Everything 12:03 — God Lacks Nothing: Creation as Gift, Not Need 15:19 — Church as Participation: Word, New Creation, Liturgy 17:48 — Diagonalization: A Biblical Path Beyond False Binaries 24:37 — Example: Image of God (humbling and dignifying) 25:19 — Method Hints: 1 Corinthians 1; Prodigal’s Two Brothers 29:47 — Politics & Camps: Commit Without Being Captured 33:36 — Truth → Strategy → Tactics (don’t reverse-engineer truth) 35:14 — Creation Before Fall: The Measure for Cultural Critique 42:02 — 1 Corinthians 15: Labor in the Lord Is Not in Vain 45:53 — Why French Philosophy Helped (reading from the “inside”) 54:03 — Sabbath: Humane Limits & Witness in a 24/7 Culture 57:41 — Work Without Idolatry; Good Work vs. Destructive Work 59:01 — “Communion Before Commission”: Identity Then Activity 1:00:08 — Fill and Subdue: Home & Public, Manual & Intellectual 1:05:05 — Closing & Giveaway Note Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info
 
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Dr. Watkin's book, "Thinking Through Creation: Genesis 1 and 2 as Tools of Cultural Critique": https://forms.gle/64orBgPu4Zj483ox8
#ImagoDei #CreationMandate #BiblicalTheology #Trinity #Sabbath #Vocation #Culture #Apologetics #Genesis #BiblicalCriticalTheory #Discipleship #Church #Philosophy #NewCreation

What Does "Redemption" Mean? | Dr. T. Desmond Alexander | S2E6

Is redemption just forgiveness, or far more? Dr. T. Desmond Alexander traces the Exodus Passover pattern, showing how it restores access to God’s presence and anticipates Christ. Along the way, he explains why redemption includes the renewal of creation—fueling real Christian hope.Timestamps 00:00 — Opening & Guest Intro 01:12 — Exodus: From Oppression to God’s Presence (Tabernacle's Goal) 03:02 — What is a Priest? 04:43 — Firstborn & Levites as Substitutes (Exod 13; Num 3, 8) 08:01 — Passover Pattern: Ransom, Purification, Consecration 14:05 — Jesus as the Passover Lamb (John, Revelation) 20:05 — “Royal Priesthood”: Access Now, Glory Not Yet (1 Pet 2) 24:02 — Justification as Ransom (“Redeem” Verbs: ga’al & pādâ) 26:34 — Beyond Verdict: Cleansed & Made Holy 29:03 — Biblical Theology vs. Systematic Theology 36:07 — Advice to Pastors: Keeping Christ Central 39:04 — Redemption of Creation (Isaiah; Rev 21–22) 46:10 — Beginning of New Creation in Christ 49:15 — Pastors: Model Reading Scripture; Teach the Big Story 52:05 — Wrap Up Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-infoEnter for a chance to win a copy of Dr. Alexander's book, From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology: https://forms.gle/64orBgPu4Zj483ox8#BiblicalTheology #Redemption #Passover #Exodus #Jesus #NewCreation #KingdomOfGod #BibleStudy #Theology #Christianity #Gospel #Seminary

The Story of All Stories (A Lecture Episode)

For Christmas, we're pressing pause on our regular World Upside Down programming. In this special episode, Dr. P delivers a sweeping, 40,000-foot overview of the Bible’s grand storyline—from creation and fall, through promise and exile, to fulfillment in Christ. Rather than focusing on a single text or theme, this message traces the coherence of Scripture itself: one unfolding story centered on God’s presence, God’s promises, and God’s King.
Though not originally delivered on Christmas, this message is especially fitting for the season. Christmas is most glorious when seen within the larger biblical narrative—the long-awaited arrival of the Seed of the woman, the Son of David, and the true restoration of humanity to the presence of God.
If you’ve ever wondered how the whole Bible fits together—or how your own story fits within God’s—this lecture offers clarity, depth, and hope.
Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info

Creatio Ex Nihilo: A Historical Survey | Dr. Brannon Ellis | S2E5

In this episode of World Upside Down, we trace how the early church confronted rival worldviews like Gnosticism, Marcionism, Arianism, and ancient materialism, and why confessing God as the maker of all things, visible and invisible was not a side issue, but essential to the gospel itself. Along the way, we consider how creation and redemption are inseparable, why the Trinity grounds creation as a free act of divine generosity, and how losing the doctrine of creation leads to confusion about truth, meaning, human dignity, and vocation.
Interested in going deeper? Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info

How to Read the Book of Revelation | Dr. Tom Schreiner | S2E4

What does Revelation tell us about the new creation? How does it transform your Christian life and ministry? Dr. Tom Schreiner walks through Revelation 21–22, showcasing how its symbolism feeds the imagination and nourishes our soul, pointing us towards what God is going to do to restore the world.
Timestamps:
00:00 — Topics to Cover in this Episode
01:17 — Eden in Rev 21–22 ("Healing of the Nations")
05:48 — New Creation is BETTER Than Eden
07:13 — Enhancing the Image of God
10:18 — Perfecting the Creation (City, River, No Temple)
13:42 — Should We Read Revelation Symbolically?
16:45 — Referents: What the Symbol Communicates (Beast, Dragon, etc.)
19:56 — Is There a Literal New Jerusalem?
23:43 — Revelation as the Climax of the Bible
26:27 — "Sea is No More" (End of Evil/Chaos)
30:39 — "Tree on Either Side of the River" (God Provides Forever)
33:04 — "Walls w/ Open Gates" (Safest Place Imaginable)
34:37 — “No Night” (No Moral Evil)
36:42 — What Can We Bring With Us? ("Glory and Honor of the Nations")
44:06 — "He Who Conquers" (Sonship Theme)
45:08 — About Dr. Schreiner (Serving the Church & Seminary Education)
53:45 — Ezekiel’s Temple (& New Testament as Interpretive Guide)
1:01:23 — Significance of the Ending to the Bible (Application for Today) Interested in going deeper?
 
Learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how you can take your next step toward robust theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-infoLeave a comment below and click the following link to be entered to win a copy of Dr. Schreiner's commentary on Revelation: https://forms.gle/xr28WFs3jWHmY6r89
 
#Revelation #NewCreation #NewJerusalem #Eschatology #BiblicalTheology #Apocalyptic #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #TomSchreiner #Theology

How Jesus & the Church Fulfill the Old Testament | S2E3

What did the Old Testament prophets expect when they spoke of a coming new creation, and how does Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection launch that new reality today? Dr. Nicholas Piotrowski and Pastor Roger Williams explore Jesus’s miracles, the overlap of the ages, and Paul’s vision of believers as firstfruits of God’s renewed world. This episode gives listeners a clear, hope-filled framework for understanding inaugurated eschatology, life in the Spirit, and what it means to be part of God’s new creation right now.
For those interested in going deeper, learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how to take the next step toward a Christ-centered journey of theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info

God-Centered Creation Theology | Dr. Jason DeRouchie | S2E2

What if Genesis 1–2 launches a God-centered story that the whole Old Testament keeps advancing until new creation dawns in Christ? Dr. Jason DeRouchie traces that amazing narrative through the Bible in our latest video of World Upside Down.
 
0:00 – Welcome to Dr. DeRouchie
0:34 – What You Should NOT Miss About Genesis 1 & 2
8:21 – God-Centered Understanding of the World
13:55 – The Light Always Triumphs Over the Darkness
15:57 – One Way of Applying Genesis 1 & 2
17:03 – The Garden of Eden as a "Sanctuary"
22:09 – The Rest of the Story: The Fall Resolved
28:19 – "De-Creation" Before New Creation
36:36 – Our Purpose in God's Story
38:38 – Moses' Hope: The Promised Land
42:08 – The Church as Seed of Jesus
47:04 – Humanity's Failure & Jesus' Death in Our Place
49:14 – Creation is the Context of Our Life
51:22 – The Old Testament is Messianic
 
For those interested in going deeper, learn more about Indianapolis Theological Seminary and how to take the next step toward a Christ-centered journey of theological education: https://go.indysem.org/request-more-info