The Theology Of... Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens
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- Religion & Spirituality
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.
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A Prayer for What's Next
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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Reach out to us with any suggestions, thoughts, or love!
thetheologyof@outlook.com
Copyright Benjamin Corneliusen & Ryker Lutjens 2021. All rights reserved. -
S2E10: Etc. (S2 Finale)
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. -
S2E9: Education (feat. Zach Kilimann)
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. -
S2E8: Exploration
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. -
S2E7: Creating, Part 2 (feat. The Arcadian Wild)
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. -
S2E6: Creating, Part 1 (feat. The Arcadian Wild)
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.