World Upside Down

What if Sunday morning worship is doing more to shape you than you realize? In this season 2 finale of World Upside Down, Dr. Mike Farley joins us to explore why the doctrine of creation is an often missing foundation in our Sunday liturgies.

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

Sunsets didn’t have to be stunning. Landscapes didn’t have to move us. So what does the beauty of creation reveal about the Creator—and about us as his image-bearers? In this episode of World Upside Down, we sit down with pastor and author Russ Ramsey to explore how the Christian doctrine of creation shapes our understanding of beauty and art.

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. 

Timestamps

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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-info

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